Oxytropis Besseyi Var. Salmonensis
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SPECIES: Scientific [common] Oxytropis besseyi var. salmonensis – Barneby [Challis Crazyweed] Forest: Salmon–Challis National Forest Forest Reviewer: Brittni Brown; John Proctor Date of Review: 2 March 2018; 01 April 2018 Forest concurrence (or YES recommendation if new) for inclusion of species on list of potential SCC: (Enter Yes or No) FOREST REVIEW RESULTS: 1. The Forest concurs or recommends the species for inclusion on the list of potential SCC: Yes_X__ No___ 2. Rationale for not concurring is based on (check all that apply): Species is not native to the plan area _______ Species is not known to occur in the plan area _______ Species persistence in the plan area is not of substantial concern _______ FOREST REVIEW INFORMATION: 1. Is the Species Native to the Plan Area? Yes _X_ No___ If no, provide explanation and stop assessment. 2. Is the Species Known to Occur within the Planning Area? Yes _X _ No___ If no, stop assessment. Table 1. All Known Occurrences, Years, and Frequency within the Planning Area Year Number of Location of Observations (USFS Source of Information Observed Individuals District, Town, River, Road Intersection, HUC, etc.) June 18, Not Challis–Yankee Fork Ranger IDFG Element Occurrence EO 1979 reported District Number: 7 Lime Creek, Alt. 93 nearly 11.5 EO_ID: 4278 miles SE of Challis to Lime Creek Old EO_ID: 10888 Road, E to Section 31. 6,800 feet elevation. July 29, 400+ Challis–Yankee Fork Ranger IDFG Element Occurrence EO 1988 mature District Number:17 plants Gooseberry Spring, US Route EO_ID: 1418 93, cross Salmon River at Round Old EO_ID: 3710 Valley and E to road turning N, about 1.4 miles past the Year Number of Location of Observations (USFS Source of Information Observed Individuals District, Town, River, Road Intersection, HUC, etc.) crossing. Turn on first road going E and follow to the end (turns to dirt). Gravelly to ashy reddish soil, sloping but not particularly unstable; N and S slopes, 0-20 degrees. 5,960 feet elevation. July 11, Not Lost River Ranger District, IDFG Element Occurrence EO 1975 reported Challis–Yankee Fork Ranger Number:25 District EO_ID: 284 Doublespring Pass, along dirt Old EO_ID: 1110 road between Dickey and May, at Doublespring Pass, on low ridge just south of the pass. Rocky soils, 8,350 feet in elevation. July 18, 76-150 Lost River Ranger District Irwin, J.J. 2014. “A Floristic 2011 plants Custer County, White Knob Inventory of East-Central Idaho, Mountains: head of Stag Creek USA.” Master’s thesis, where the ridge splits toward University of Wyoming, Castle Rock, 18.8 air mi W of Laramie. Mackay. Xeric, coarse textured soil on barren ground, 20-degree slope, SW aspect, trachyandesite geology, 8,885 feet in elevation. June 24, 76-150 Challis–Yankee Fork Ranger Irwin, J.J. 2014. “A Floristic 2011 plants District Inventory of East-Central Idaho, Custer County, Pahsimeroi USA.” Master’s thesis, Mountains: breaks on the east University of Wyoming, side of the Gerry Gulch Laramie. watershed, 8.5 air mi NE of Challis. Xeric soil within desert scrub vegetation, 17-degree slope, SW aspect, trachyandesite geology, 6,007 feet in elevation. August 16, 26-75 plants Challis–Yankee Fork Ranger Irwin, J.J. 2014. “A Floristic 2011 District Inventory of East-Central Idaho, Custer County, Salmon River USA.” Master’s thesis, Mountains: E of White Cloud University of Wyoming, Peaks: ridge dividing Pine and Laramie. Sheep Creeks, 25.6 air mi N of Year Number of Location of Observations (USFS Source of Information Observed Individuals District, Town, River, Road Intersection, HUC, etc.) Sun Valley. Xeric soil within a forb dominated vegetation, 16- degree slope, WSW aspect, trachyandesite geology, 9,927 feet in elevation. a. Are all Species Occurrences Only Accidental or Transient? Yes___ No_ X _ If yes, document source for determination and stop assessment. b. For species with known occurrences on the Forest since 1990, based on the number of observations and/or year of last observation, can the species be presumed to be established or becoming established in the plan area? Yes_ X_ No___ If no, provide explanation and stop assessment c. For species with known occurrences on the Forest predating 1990, does the weight of evidence suggest the species still occurs in the plan area? Yes___ No___ Provide explanation for determination: N/A. Occurrences have been recorded since 1990. If determination is no, stop assessment d. Map 1, Challis crazyweed range in Idaho and surrounding states and provinces (NRCS 2017) NRCS (United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service). 2017. Oxytropis besseyi (Rydb.) Blank. var. salmonensis Barneby, Salmon River locoweed. Internet website: https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=OXBES. Accessed on October 17, 2017. e. Map 2, Challis crazyweed occurrences on the Salmon–Challis National Forest (IDFG. 2017. Idaho Fish and Wildlife Information System, Species Diversity Database, Idaho Natural Heritage Data. Accessed on February 27, 2017.) 3. Is There Substantial Concern for the Species’ Capability to persist Over the Long-term in the Plan Area Based on Best Available Scientific Information? Table 2. Status summary based on existing conservation assessments Entity Status/Rank (include definition if Other) Global Rank G5T3+ — Vulnerable (At moderate risk of extinction due to a restricted range, relatively few populations (often 80 or fewer), recent and widespread declines, or other factors. A “+” follows the G and/or T rank if the species is an Idaho endemic and has the sole rank global and/or trinomial rank authority.)1 State Rank S3— Vulnerable (At moderate risk of extinction due to a restricted range, relatively few populations (often 80 or fewer), recent and widespread declines, or other factors.)1 USDA Forest Region 1: Not listed2 Service Region 4: Sensitive Salmon–Challis National Forest3 USDI FWS Not listed as a candidate species4 Other Idaho Native Plant Society: 2016 – on list, not yet ranked5; 2011 – GP36 BLM: Type 4 (These are species generally rare in Idaho with small populations or localized distribution and currently have low threat levels. However, due to the small populations and habitat area, certain future land uses in close proximity could significantly jeopardize these species.)7 1. Idaho Natural Heritage Program. 2016. IDNHP Tracked Plant Species 2016. Accessed January 12, 2018 2. USFS Region 1. 2011. 2011 Sensitive Species List Idaho and Montana. Website: http://fsweb.r1.fs.fed.us/wildlife/wwfrp/TESnew.htm. Accessed January 10, 2017. 3. USFS Region 4. 2016. Proposed, Endangered, Threatened, and Sensitive Species List. On file. Accessed January 11, 2017. 4. USFWS. 2017. Candidate species believed to or known to occur in Idaho. Website: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/reports/species-listed-by-state-report?state=ID&status=candidate. Accessed January 12, 2018. 5. Idaho Native Plant Society. 2016. INPS Rare Plant List May 2016. https://idahonativeplants.org/rare-plants-list/ Accessed January 10, 2018. 6. Idaho Native Plant Society. 2011. Results of the twenty-fifth Idaho Rare Plant Conference – The Idaho Native Plant Society rare plant list. Website: https://idahonativeplants.org/rpc/pdf/2011_Results_IRPC_v2.2.pdf. Accessed on January 11, 2018. 7. BLM. 2016. Bureau of Land Management Idaho Special Status Plants List Aug 2016. On file. Accessed 15 January, 2018. Table 3. Status summary based on best available scientific information. Species (Scientific and Common Name): Oxytropis besseyi var. salmonensis (Challis crazyweed) Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations 1 B1 Challis crazyweed is known from three historic (predating 1990) IDFG. 2017. Idaho Fish and Wildlife Distribution on occurrences and three contemporary (post-1990) occurrences on the Information System, Species Diversity Salmon–Challis Salmon–Challis National Forest (IDFG 2017). Of the historic occurrences, Database, Idaho Natural Heritage National Forest two are from the Challis–Yankee Fork Ranger District, and one is from the Data. Accessed February 27, 2017. Lost River Ranger District. Of the contemporary occurrences, two are Irwin, J.J. 2014. “A Floristic Inventory from the Challis–Yankee Fork Ranger District, and one is from the Lost of East-Central Idaho, USA.” Master’s River Ranger District. Although, a floristic inventory of the SCNF took thesis, University of Wyoming, place (Irwin 2014), targeted systematic surveys have not been Laramie. conducted. Spahr, R., L. Armstrong, D. Atwood, Challis crazyweed is a narrow endemic variety restricted to the and M. Rath. 1991. Threatened, immediate vicinity of the Salmon River Canyon generally between endangered, and sensitive species of Clayton, downstream to the north of Challis and Mackay, in Custer the Intermountain Region. U.S. Forest County (Spahr et al. 1991). Irwin (2014) encountered Challis crazyweed in Service, Intermountain Region, Ogden, scattered, isolated populations “at all elevations” in the dry mountains of Utah. the East Fork Salmon River and Big Lost River watersheds on the Salmon– Challis National Forest. Irwin noted that this taxon was previously unknown from alpine-subalpine elevations and that additional surveys are warranted. Suitable habitat for Challis crazyweed (see Criterion 6) is likely distributed as patches within suitable volcanic substrates; some patches may be small or isolated to the degree that species interactions are limited by movements between patches. Local sub-populations may act as a meta- population or a patchy population. For these reasons, this criterion was ranked “B1.” Confidence in Rank: High, Medium, or Low Species (Scientific and Common Name): Oxytropis besseyi var. salmonensis (Challis crazyweed) Criteria Rank Rationale Literature Citations 2 B Challis crazyweed is a narrow Idaho endemic; its distribution is limited to Barneby, R. C. 1952. “A Revision of the Distribution in the Salmon River, Big Lost River, and Pahsimeroi River canyons in Custer North American Species of Oxytropis surrounding County in central Idaho (NatureServe 2017). DC.” Proceedings of the California geographic area Academy of Sciences, Fourth Series.