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May 1989 Vol. XIV No. 5 Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Technical Bulletin Service, Washington, D.C. 20240 Agriculture, Wetlands, and Endangered Species: The Food Security Act of 1985 Jana Nelson Food Security Act Coordinator Region 1 Federal, State, and local agencies, mid-1970's, however, only 99 million included a number of important conserva- working in cooperation with landowners acres (40 million ha) remained. Losses tion measures in the Food Security Act. and non-profit organizations, are reaping in some areas have been even more The five main provisions that address increasingly significant benefits for agri- severe, with California having lost over 90 wildlife habitat on agricultural lands are culture, wetlands, and wildlife, including percent of its historical natural wetlands. known as Swampbuster, Sodbuster, Con- endangered species. Valuable oppor- The Service estimates that about 450,000 servation Reserve Program, Section 1314 tunities for building closer coordination additional acres (182,000 ha) are still dis- conservation easements, and Section between agricultural and wildlife interests appearing each year nationwide. Over 87 1318 debt restructure easements. (See were made possible through the conser- percent of wetland losses in recent years BULLETIN Vol. XIII, No. 2, for details.} vation provisions of the Food Security Act can be attributed to agricultural practices. Related programs, such as the Agri- of 1985 (also known as "the Farm Bill"). Over 20 percent of listed species in the cultural Credit Act of 1987, Executive The fate of wetlands and endangered United States, including the least Bell's Orders 11988 and 11990 for the protec- species is closely linked to agriculture. vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus), bald eagle tion of floodplains and wetlands, and a Cropland and pastureland comprise about (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), and Yuma May 1987 Memorandum of Understand- 60 percent of the Nation's land base, and clapper rail (Rallus longirostris yumanen- ing between the Service and the Farmers nearly 45 percent of federally listed sis), stand to benefit if wetlands are con- Home Administration (Farmers Home), Endangered and Threatened species are served. The status of Endangered plants, enhance the Service's opportunities for associated with some form of agriculture. such as salt marsh bird's-beak (Cor- habitat protection. Within Region 1 (see map on BULLETIN dylanthus maritimus ssp. maritimus) and The Fish and Wildlife Service's primary page 2) of the Fish and Wildlife Service bunched arrowhead (Sagittaria fas- role in these programs is to serve as a (Service), almost 30 percent of listed spe- ciculata), also could improve. technical consultant to Farmers Home, cies have been affected by agricultural Because of the increasing recognition the Soil Conservation Service, and the practices, and about 15 percent have given to wetlands and the impacts of agri- Agricultural Stabilization and Conserva- been adversely affected by the filling of culture on the environment, Congress (continued on page 6) wetlands. Wetlands—including coastal marshes, mangrove swamps, ponds, springs, seeps, and such intermittently wet areas as vernal pools, prairie potholes, playa lakes, and bottomland hardwood for- ests—are highly productive ecosystems. They provide necessary food, water, and shelter for many species of animals and plants. It is estimated that approximately one-half of the animals and almost one- third of the plants currently listed in the United States as Endangered or Threat- ened species depend on wetlands for their survival. Wetlands typically are mar- ginal for crop production due to tillage problems and inconsistent yields; how- ever, when conserved, wetlands can ben- efit landowners by filtering pollutants, increasing groundwater recharge, improv- ing water quantity and quality, reducing downstream flooding, and decreasing soil erosion. When the Pilgrims landed, there were approximately 215 million acres (87 mil- lion hectares) of wetlands in what is now This valuable wetland habitat on Farmers Home Administration inventory property in the conterminous United States. By the Oregon may be protected under a planned conservation agreement. ENDANGERED SPECIES TECHNICAL BULLETIN Vol. XIV No. 5 (1989) IMllillllil ilU JIUIUIilliMULILl: !1 Mil! L L 1E.11 vutpes) predation is most likely to blame for the rail's 30 percent population decline in the past 3 years. Winter counts at all major marshes throughout the San Fran- cisco Bay area since 1981 indicate that the current population of this subspecies is approximately only 450 birds. Re- sponses to the problem may include intensive rail-predator studies during the breeding season; a public education effort by the California Fish and Game, other interested agencies, and key environmen- tal groups; and a statewide California Fish and Game study of red fox problems. The Animal Damage Control section of the U. S. Department of Agriculture has Regional News begun a concentrated effort to trap and remove red foxes preying on Endangered light-footed clapper rails (Railus long- Regional endangered species staffers and California Department of Fish and irostris levipes) at Seal Beach National recently reported the following news: Game met to discuss remedies for the Wildlife Refuge, California. Predation by recent population crash of the California Region 1 - Representatives of the San foxes has contributed to an alarming Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, clapper rail (Railus longimstris obsoletus), decline in the population of this highly vul- Sacramento Endangered Species Office, an Endangered bird. Red fox (Vulpes nerable bird. The California Department of Fish and Game has agreed to allocate a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 3, Federal Bldg., Fort Snelling, Twin portion of its Section 6 (Endangered Spe- Washington, D.C. 20240 Cities, MN 55111 (612-725-3500); James cies Act) grant-in-aid funds to this effort. Steve Robinson, Acting Director C. Gritman, Regional Director; Gerald R. (202-343-4717) Lowry, Assistant Regional Director; The U. S. Geological Survey has begun Ralph O. Morgenweck James M. Engel, Endangered Species long-term studies of water quality and Assistant Director for Fish Specialist. nutrient levels in Upper Klamath Lake, and Wildlife Enhancement Region 4, Richard B. Russell Federal Bldg., Oregon. Rapidly deteriorating water (202-343-4646) 75 Spring St., S.W., Atlanta, GA 30303 quality in the lake is responsible for die- William E. Knapp, Chief, offs of two Endangered fishes, the Lost Kennelh B. Stansell, Deputy Chief, (404-331-3580); James W. Pulliam, Regional Director; John I. Christian, River sucker (Deltistes luxatus) and short- Division of Endangered Species and Deputy Assistant Regional Director; David Habitat Conservation nose sucker (Chasmistes brevirostris). (703-358-2161) Flemming, Endangered Species Massive blue-green algae blooms have Marshal P. Jones, Chief, Specialist. driven dissolved oxygen levels below Office of Management Authority those acceptable for maintaining the spe- Region 5, One Gateway Center, Suite 700, cies during certain summer months. In (703-358-2093) Newton Corner, MA 02158 (617-965- Clark R. Bavin, Chief, 5100); Ronald E. Lambertson, Regional addition to the Geological Survey, agen- Division of Law Enforcement Director; Ralph Pisapia, Assistant cies contributing funds to the study (703-358-1949) Regional Director; Paul Nickerson, En- include the Klamath Indian Tribe, U. S. dangered Species Specialist. Bureau of Reclamation, Klamath County, TECHNICAL BULLETIN City of Klamath Falls, Pacific Power & Michael Bender, Editor Region 6, P.O. Box 25486, Denver Federal Light, and Klamath County Farm Bureau. (703-358-2166) Center; Denver, CO 80225 (303-236- The study will examine changes in land Regional Offices 7920); Galen Buterbaugh, Regional Direc- uses around the lake and regulation of tor; Robert E. Jacobsen, Assistant Region 1, Lloyd 500 Bldg., Suite 1692, 500 water levels. Regional Director; Larry Shanks, Endan- * * * ••" • ;• N.E. Multnomah St., Portland, OR 97232 gered Species Specialist. (503-231-6118); Marvin Plenert. Region- A meeting was held with personnel of al Director; Robert P. Smith, Assistant Region 7,1011 E. Tudor Rd., Anchorage, AK the Burns, Oregon, District of the Bureau Regional Director; Jim Teeter, Chief, Divi- 99503 (907-786-3542); Walter O. Stieglitz, of Land Management (BLM) to negotiate sion of Endangered Species and Habitat Regional Director; Rowan Gould, Assis- implementation of Malheur wire-lettuce Conservation. tant Regional Director; Ron Garrett, En- (Stephanomeria malheurensis) recovery dangered Species Specialist. activities for 1989. The BLM will fund this Region 2, P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, NM 87103 (505-766-2321); Michael J. Spear, Region 8 (FWS Research and Development season's work on census studies, seed Regional Director; James A. Young, nationwide), Washington, D.C. 20240; over-wintering, competition with non- Assistant Regional Director; Steve Richard N. Smith, Regional Director; Al native cheat grass, and experimental out- Chambers, Endangered Species Sherk, Endangered Species Specialist piantings of S. malheurensis nursery Specialist. (703-358-1710). stock. Cooperation from Boise State Col- lege and Portland's Berry Botanic Garden U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regions will again be crucial to the success of Region 1: California, Hawaii. Idaho, Nevada. Oregon. Washington, American Samoa. Commonwealth of the Northern these efforts. Mariana Islands, Guam,