Astragalus Ampullarioides Welsh (Welsh) (Shivwits Milk-Vetch) and Astragalus Holmgreniorum Barneby (Holmgren Milk-Vetch) 5-Year
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Astragalus ampullarioides Welsh (Welsh) (Shivwits milk-vetch) and Astragalus holmgreniorum Barneby (Holmgren milk-vetch) 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Utah Field Office – Ecological Services 2369 West Orton Circle, Suite 50 West Valley City, Utah 84119 5-YEAR REVIEW Shivwits milk-vetch / Astragalus ampullarioides Holmgren milk-vetch / Astragalus holmgreniorum 1.0 GENERAL INFORMATION 1.1 Reviewers Lead Regional or Headquarters Office: Mountain-Prairie Regional Office, Seth Willey, 303-236-4257 Lead Field Office: Utah Ecological Services Field Office, Heather Barnes, 801-975-3330, ext 158 Cooperating Field Office: Arizona Ecological Services Field Office, Tucson suboffice, Mima Falk, 520-670-6150, ext 225 Cooperating Regional Office: Southwest Ecological Services Regional Office, Wendy Brown, 505-248-6664 1.2 Methodology Used to Complete the Review The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) initiated a 5-year review of the Astragalus ampullarioides (Shivwits milk-vetch) and Astragalus holmgreniorum (Holmgren milk-vetch) on April 7, 2006 (71 FR 17900-17902). This 5-year review was conducted as an individual effort by the lead endangered species botanist for A. ampullarioides and A. holmgreniorum. It summarizes and evaluates information provided in the finalized Recovery Plan and current scientific research and surveys related to the species. All pertinent literature and documents used in this review are on file at the Utah Ecological Services Field Office. The primary source of information used in this analysis was the September 2006 Astragalus holmgreniorum (Holmgren Milk-vetch) and Astragalus ampullarioides (Shivwits Milk-vetch) Recovery Plan (USFWS 2006) (referred to throughout this document, as the Recovery Plan). This document, attached as Appendix B, represents the best scientific and commercial information available for these species. 1.3 Background 1.3.1 FR Notice Citation Announcing Initiation of This Review 71 FR 17900-17902, April 7, 2006 2 1.3.2 Listing History Original Listing FR notice: 66 FR 49560- 49567, September 28, 2001 Date listed: The final rule became effective on October 29, 2001 Entity listed: Species: Astragalus ampullarioides (Welsh) Welsh Species: Astragalus holmgreniorum Barneby Classification: Both are listed as Endangered 1.3.3 Associated Rulemakings Designation of Critical Habitat Title: Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for Astragalus ampullarioides (Shivwits Milk-Vetch) and Astragalus holmgreniorum (Holmgren Milk-Vetch); proposed rule FR Notice: 71 FR 15966-16002, March 29, 2006 Title: Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for Astragalus ampullarioides (Shivwits Milk-Vetch) and Astragalus holmgreniorum (Holmgren Milk-Vetch); revised proposed rule FR Notice: 71 FR 56085-56094, September 26, 2006 Title: Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for Astragalus ampullarioides (Shivwits Milk-Vetch) and Astragalus holmgreniorum (Holmgren Milk-Vetch); final rule FR Notice: 71 FR 77972-78012, December 27, 2006 1.3.4 Review History Since the Federal listing of both Astragalus species in 2001, no status review or 5-year review has been conducted for this species. However, during 2006, public notice solicited public and peer review and comment during public comment periods regarding the proposed rule for critical habitat (71 FR 15966-16002, March 29, 2006), notice of proposed changes to critical habitat announced simultaneously with the economic analysis (71 FR 56085-56094, September 26, 2006) and the draft Recovery Plan for public comments (71 FR 43514, August 1, 2006). A final Recovery Plan for both species was announced on September 29, 2006 (71 FR 57557-57558). The final designation of critical habitat for both species was announced on December 27, 2006 (71 FR 77972-78012). To complete the review, we evaluated all information that has become available on both species since its listing in 2001. All information was peer reviewed during the designation of critical habitat and finalization of the Recovery Plan. No significant new information has become available since these actions. 3 1.3.5 Species’ Recovery Priority Number at Start of 5-year Review The Recovery Priority Number of both species is 5C. This ranking indicates a high degree of threat from activities such as urban development, off-road vehicle (ORV) use, grazing (for A. ampullarioides), displacement by nonnative invasive plants, mineral development and, in particular, imminent conflicts with land development. The 5C ranking further indicates the presence of significant obstacles accompanying a relatively low potential for full recovery. The ranking also is indicative of the plants’ taxonomic standing as full species. 1.3.6 Recovery Plan or Outline Name of Plan or Outline: Astragalus holmgreniorum (Holmgren Milk-Vetch) and Astragalus ampullarioides (Shivwits Milk-Vetch) Recovery Plan Date Issued: September 2006 Dates of Previous Revisions: None 2.0 REVIEW ANALYSIS 2.1 Application of the 1996 Distinct Population Segment Policy 2.1.1 Is the species under review a vertebrate? No, the species is a plant; therefore, the DPS policy is not applicable. 2.2 Recovery Criteria 2.2.1 Does the species have a final, approved recovery plan1 containing objective, measurable criteria? Yes. The final Recovery Plan announced on September 29, 2006, is current, contains objective and measurable criteria, and is used as guidance for recovery. 2.2.2 Adequacy of Recovery Criteria 2.2.2.1 Do the recovery criteria reflect the best available and most up-to date information on the biology of the species and its habitat? Yes 1 Although the guidance generally directs the reviewer to consider criteria from final approved recovery plans, criteria in published draft recovery plans may be considered at the reviewer’s discretion. 4 2.2.2.2 Are all of the five listing factors that are relevant to the species addressed in the recovery criteria (and is there no new information to consider regarding existing or new threats)? Yes 2.2.3 List the recovery criteria as they appear in the Recovery Plan, and discuss how each criterion has or has not been met, citing information. Achievement of the recovery objectives for A. holmgreniorum and A. ampullarioides are measured by a double set of recovery criteria: population-based criteria and threats-based criteria. All criteria should be met in order to propose reclassification. Some criteria has been developed jointly to apply to both milk-vetches; however, they should be met independently for each species to be independently reclassified or delisted. To reclassify these species from endangered to threatened status, the following population based recovery criteria should be met: (P-1) Population trends for four out of six extant A. holmgreniorum and A. ampullarioides recovery populations are primarily stable or improving, as indicated by species presence, mean occupied habitat, density of occupied habitat, and demographic modeling, over a 20-year period; (P-2) The habitat base for each recovery population is large enough to allow for natural population dynamics, population expansion where needed, and the continued presence of pollinators, with sufficient connectivity to allow for gene flow within and among populations; and, (P-3) Population and habitat management is implemented for all recovery populations in accordance with site-specific management plans. Population trends are to be assessed over a 20-year period. Both A. holmgreniorum and A. ampullarioides showed decline in past years of droughts and some rebound in recent years of higher or more normal precipitation. However, we do not yet have data over a long enough time period to determine if the recovery populations are primarily stable or improving. THREATS-BASED CRITERIA The following recovery criteria address threats to the two milk-vetches, arranged according to the five listing factors. Reclassification of A. holmgreniorum and A. ampullarioides from endangered to threatened status will be considered when threats to the species’ long-term survival, as appraised individually for each criteria, are abated as follows. 5 Factor A. The present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of habitat or range. (T-1) Permanent land protection is achieved for a minimum of four A. holmgreniorum and four A. ampullarioides recovery populations. Protection has not yet been achieved permanently for any population of either species. (T-2) Management agreements or plans are in place and being implemented for all A. holmgreniorum and A. ampullarioides recovery populations. Progress is being made in the form of a written management plan for A. ampullarioides on Tribal lands. (T-3) The long-range conservation of A. holmgreniorum and A. ampullarioides is included as an explicit provision in a long-term plant conservation agreement with the State of Utah. Currently, no State program is involved in any agreements across the range of both species for conservation; however, a letter of intent is holding some areas owned by the state of Utah’s School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration for purchase for conservation. Factor B. Overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational purposes. No threat of overutilization for commercial, recreational, scientific, or educational purposes has been identified for either A. holmgreniorum or A. ampullarioides. Therefore, no recovery criteria are needed to address