Recovery Plan for the Pedate Checkermallow (Sidalcea Pedata) and Slender-Petaled Mustard (Thelypodium Stenopetalum) Recovery Plan
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Recovery Plan for the Pedate Checkermallow (Sidalcea pedata) and Slender-Petaled Mustard (Thelypodium stenopetalum) Recovery Plan for the Pedate Checkermallow (Sidalceapedata) and the Slender-petaled Mustard (Thelypodium stenopetalum) Prepared by Region 1 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Portland, Oregon Approved: Region 1, U. ish and Wildlife Service Date: 2 3,/if DISCLAIMER PAGE Recovery plans delineate actions required to recover and protect listed species. Plans are published by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, sometimes prepared with the assistance ofrecovery teams, contractors, State agencies, and other affected and interested parties. Recovery teams serve as independent advisors to the Fish and Wildlife Service. Plans are reviewed by the public and submitted to additional peer review before they are adopted by the Fish and Wildlife Service. Objectives ofthe plan will be attained and any necessary funds made available subject to budgetary and other constraints affecting the parties involved, as well the need to address other priorities. Recovery plans do not obligate other parties to undertake specific tasks and may not represent the views nor the official positions or approval of any individuals or agencies involved in the plan formulation, other than the Fish and Wildlife Service. They represent the official position ofthe Fish and Wildlife Service only after they have been signed by the Regional Director or Director as approved. Approved recovery plans are subject to modification as dictated by new findings, changes in species status, and the completion of recovery tasks. Literature Citation: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1998. Recovery Plan for the Pedate Checkermallow (Sidalceapedata) and the Slender-Petaled Mustard (Thelypodiuni stenopetalum). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, Oregon. 68 pp. ii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Current Status: The pedate checkermallow (Sidalceapedata) and the slender- petaled mustard (Thelypodium stenopetalum) are both listed as endangered and occur in Big Bear and Holcomb Valleys, San Bernardino County, California, in wet to moist montane meadow habitat. Current occupied habitat for the pedate checkermallow is estimated to be fewer than 8.1 hectares (20.0 acres) at 17 recorded sites. Current occupied habitat for the slender-petaled mustard is estimated at approximately 8.5 hectares (21.0 acres) divided among the six recently-occupied locales. Occupied habitat is secure at one fully protected site for each species. The checkermallow is partially protected at five additional sites and the mustard is partially protected at four additional sites. Restorable habitat for both species can be found in the vicinity ofBig Bear Lake and Baldwin Lake. An estimated 24.3 hectares (60.0 acres) of occupied or restorable habitat are available for these endangered species. Habitat Requirements and Limiting Factors: The pedate checkermallow and the slender-petaled mustard are restricted (endemic) to the Big Bear and Holcomb Valley areas in the San Bernardino Mountains ofsouthern California. These species occupy similar wet to moist meadow habitat associated with swales and shallow drainages and are primarily located on the perimeters ofBig Bear Lake and Baldwin Lake. Although the species frequently cooccur, pedate checkermallow is more widely distributed than slender-petaled mustard. Commercial and residential development, changes in surface hydrology, recreational activities, and livestock grazing have reduced and fragmented pedate checkermallow and slender-petaled mustard habitat. Protection and management of occupied habitat, restoration ofdegraded habitat, fencing ofoccupied habitat, and elimination of other threats are necessary to affect recovery ofthese species. Recovery Priority Pedate checkermallow: 2c Slender-petaled mustard: Sc iii : Recoverv Objective: This plan was devised to bring the species to a point where they may be reclassified from endangered to threatened. The conditions required for delisting have not yet been fully established, but tentative delisting criteria are included. Recovery Criteria: The pedate checkermallow and the slender-petaled mustard can be considered for reclassification to threatened status by 2007 (and possibly as early as 2001) if and when: 1. Thirteen populations of Sidalceapedata and six populations of Thelypodium stenopetalum and adjacent suitable habitat for each species are fully protected through land management agreements, land ownership by a resource agency or conservation organization, conservation easement, or other permanent means of protection. 2. Populations are stable or increasing with allowances for natural fluctuations. Tentatively, delisting ofeach species might be considered when, in addition to the reclassification criteria, the following criteria have been met: 1. Any necessary protection, restoration and enhancement recommended as a result ofprescribed research or management contingency plans are successfully completed. 2. Current and potential threats to populations of both Sidalceapedata and Thelypodium stenopetalum at all sites with high or moderate protection priorities (Appendix 13) have been eliminated. 3. Natural populations of Sidalceapedala and Thelypodium stenopetalum at all protected sites show positive trends for establishment and recruitment for a minimum of five consecutive generations (at least 15 consecutive years for Sidaicca pedata and 10 consecutive years for Thelypodium stenopetalum). iv 4. Populations of Sidalceapedata and Thelypodium stenopetalum are representative ofthe current genetic and geographical range of each species and occur in habitats that collectively represent the full range of parameters observed during prescribed research and monitoring efforts. Actions Needed 1. Protecting , enhancing, and conserving extant populations ofSidalcea pedata and Thelypodium stenopetalum and adjacent suitable habitat for each species. 2. Developing and effectively implementing a cooperative management plan (or plans) to guide and ensure the monitoring, maintenance, and conservation ofall populations ofthese species. 3. Restoring or enhancing lands suitable for by Sidalceapedata and Thelypodium stenopetalum to provide sufficient, suitable habitat for both species. 4. Conducting research on the population dynamics, ecology, and physiology ofthese species that will enable the a) adaptive management ofexisting populations and habitat, b) establishment of additional populations, and c) restoration, enhancement, and development of supplementary habitat. 5. Educating the public through educational outreach programs designed to heighten public awareness ofthe need for the protection and recovery of these rare species as a step toward maintaining biodiversity. V : Costs (in $lOOOs) for reclassification ofthe pedate checkermallow and the slender-petaled mustard: Year Need 1 Need 2 Need 3 Need 4 Need 5 Total 1998 29 27 12 10 3 81 1999 21 24 12 10 3 70 2000 13 21 16 5 2 57 2001 13 16 16 5 2 52 2002 12 15 16 0 2 45 2003 12 15 8 0 2 37 2004 12 13 6 0 2 33 2005 12 13 6 0 2 33 2006 12 12 6 0 2 32 2007 12 12 6 0 2 32 Total Estimated Cost to Reclassification = $ 472,000 (additional recovery costs beyond the year 2007 have yet to be determined) The above costs do not include land acquisition costs and additional costs related to the ownership and operation of these lands. Land acquisition may not be necessary, but if acquisition is needed to secure habitat, the costs will be determined at a later date. Dates of Reclassification: Reclassification likely will occur by 2007, assuming full implementation of this plan. Research and other tasks prescribed by this plan are necessary to determine the potential for complete recoveries and delistings. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS DISCLAIMER PAGE 11 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 111 LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES viii I. INTRODUCTION 1 Species Overview 1 Taxonomy 1 Description 3 Historic Range and Population Status 4 Current Range and Population Status 5 Life History and Ecology 17 Habitat Description and Ecological Relationships 18 Reasons for Listing: Decline and Current Threats 22 Development Activities 22 Grazing by Horses and Burros 23 Alteration of Hydrology 24 Recreational Activities 24 Conservation Efforts: Research 24 Conservation Efforts: Management and Protection 26 Federal Actions 26 State Actions 27 Local Agencies 29 Other Organizations 30 Recovery Strategy 32 II. RECOVERY 34 Objectives and Delisting Criteria 34 Recovery Tasks 35 III. IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE 55 Vii IV. REFERENCES 60 V. APPENDICES 63 Appendix A: Individuals and Agencies Contacted 63 Appendix B: Protection Priorities 64 Appendix C: Summary ofAgency and Public Comments 67 LIST OF TABLES 1. Current and Historical Occurrences ofSidalceapedata 7 2. Current and Historical Occurrences of Thelypodium stenopetalum 13 LIST OF FIGURES 1. Location ofOccurrences of Sidalceapedata in the Big Bear Valley, San Bernardino County, California 11 2. Location of Occurrences of Thelypodium stenopetalum in the Big Bear Valley, San Bernardino County, California 15 Viii I. INTRODUCTION Species Overview The pedate checkermallow Sidalcea pedata (S. pedata) and the slender-petaled mustard Thelypodium stenopetalum (T stenopetalum) are restricted (endemic) to moist mountain meadow habitat in the Big Bear and Holcomb Valley areas in the San Bernardino Mountains of southern California. As a result of their increasingly restricted distribution and threats to their native habitat, both species were listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on August 31, 1984