Monitoring and survey of Cymopterus williamsii (Williams’ springparsley), north-central Wyoming Prepared for Bureau of Land Management Wyoming State Office by Joy Handley Wyoming Natural Diversity Database Dept. 3381,University of Wyoming Laramie, WY 82071 July 2019 BLM Cooperative Agreement No. L16AC00389 Supplement 5 ABSTRACT Cymopterus williamsii (Williams’ springparsley), a Wyoming endemic, was surveyed for detailed information about known occurrences and to initiate monitoring in selected occurrences 2016-2018. Specific location, population distribution, and habitat data were collected for four occurrences that were only known from specimen collections, while more extensive mapping and data were gathered for seven other known populations. One new occurrence was found by chance. Status assessment, monitoring results, and conservation concerns are provided based on prior knowledge, current and future land uses, and new understanding gained from these surveys. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Collections and taxonomic work by Ronald Hartman, of the Rocky Mountain Herbarium (RM), remains central to understanding current taxonomy and status. Collections by B.E. “Ernie” Nelson and graduate students have contributed greatly to current knowledge. The facilities and resources of RM were fundamental to this study. Walter Fertig surveyed and addressed the species status in previous reports, and worked with Rob Thurston to develop and refine a potential distribution model for Cymopterus williamsii through Wyoming Natural Diversity Database (WYNDD). Kaylan Hubbard, of WYNDD, assisted with fieldwork and photography. Trey Davis and Josh Criswell, of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Tensleep Preserve, provided lodging and facilities, as well as logistical and vehicle assistance, during the fieldwork. Robin Jones, of Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, made recommendations for the materials site along Bighorn Mountain Road. Robin and Sunny Taylor, owners of Flying Diamond Ranch, granted me access to Barnum Mountain Road in Johnson County, allowing me to survey an area of Cymopterus williamsii known only from a 1975 collection. James Wolf, of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wind River/Bighorn Basin District, provided information about the Brokenback Fire. Tanya Skurski, BLM Wyoming State Office; Karen Hepp, BLM Worland Field Office; Charlotte Darling, BLM Buffalo Field Office; and Bonnie Heidel, WYNDD; provided project coordination. This project was conducted as a challenge cost-share between BLM and WYNDD. Report citation: Handley, J. 2019. Monitoring and survey of Cymopterus williamsii (Williams’ springparsley), north-central Wyoming. Report prepared for Bureau of Land Management - Wyoming State Office by Wyoming Natural Diversity Database - University of Wyoming Laramie, Wyoming Cover photo and all other photos by the author unless labeled otherwise ii TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 1 METHODS ..................................................................................................................................... 1 2016............................................................................................................................................. 1 2017............................................................................................................................................. 2 2018............................................................................................................................................. 3 SPECIES INFORMATION ............................................................................................................ 3 RESULTS ....................................................................................................................................... 4 Geographical Distribution ........................................................................................................... 4 Habitat ......................................................................................................................................... 9 Population Biology and Demography ....................................................................................... 15 MONITORING ............................................................................................................................. 16 Transects ................................................................................................................................... 16 Discussion ................................................................................................................................. 28 CONSERVATION CONSIDERATIONS .................................................................................... 31 Potential Threats to Currently Known Populations .................................................................. 31 Notes Regarding Present or Anticipated Activities .................................................................. 33 Summary ................................................................................................................................... 35 LITERATURE CITED ................................................................................................................. 36 Appendix A. Element Occurrence Records and Maps for Cymopterus williamsii and a New Element Occurrence Record and Map for Physaria didymocarpa var. lanata Appendix B. Transect Maps and Coordinates Appendix C. 2016 - 2018 Transect Datasheets Appendix D. 2017 and 2018 Censuses of EO #008 Appendix E. Deadman Butte Materials Site Correspondence iii FIGURES Figure 1. Cymopterus williamsii in flower. Figure 2. Rangewide distribution of Cymopterus williamsii. Figure 3. Cymopterus williamsii habitat ca 2 miles southwest of Deadman Butte, ca 6 miles north of Arminto (EO #001). Figure 4. Cymopterus williamsii habitat along the E-K Trail, near the heads of E-K Creek and Cottonwood Creek (EO #003). Figure 5. Cymopterus williamsii habitat along Thirty-three Mile Road (County Road 110) between Eagle Creek and Buffalo Creek (EO #004). Figure 6. Cymopterus williamsii habitat along Slip/Mayoworth Slope Road (County Road 67). between Red Spring Hill and the head of Martin Draw (EO #007). Figure 7. Cymopterus williamsii habitat along Barnum Mountain Road (EO #010). Figure 8. Cymopterus williamsii habitat along Billy Creek Road (BLM Road 6207) (EO #020). Figure 9. Cymopterus williamsii habitat above Middle Fork Powder River, Outlaw Cave Campground (EO #032), part of the 2006 Outlaw 2 Fire. Figure 10. Cymopterus williamsii habitat on the ridge between Billy and Canyon creeks, and Bader Gulch (EO #033). Figure 11. Comparison of average temperatures (°F) at Ten Sleep 16 SSE weather station. Figure 12. Comparison of snowfall (inches) at Ten Sleep 16 SSE weather station. Figure 13. Comparison of precipitation (inches) at Ten Sleep 16 SSE weather station. Figure 14. Occurrences of Cymopterus williamsii with monitoring transects established in 2016- 2017. Figure 15. Transect at EO #001 start. Figure 16. Transect at EO #001 end. Figure 17. Transect at EO #008 start (edge of 1996 North Brokenback Fire). Figure 18. Transect at EO #008 end. Figure 19. Unburned transect at EO #020 start. Figure 20. Unburned transect at EO #020 end. Figure 21. Burned transect at EO #020 start (2003 Big Spring Fire). Figure 22. Burned transect at EO #020 end. Figure 23. Transect at EO #027 start. Figure 24. Transect at EO #027 end. Figure 25. Unburned transect at EO #032 start. Figure 26. Unburned transect at EO #032 end. Figure 27. Burned transect at EO #032 start (2006 Outlaw 2 Fire). Figure 28. Burned transect at EO #032 end. Figure 29. Transects established in 2016 and reread in 2017. Figure 30. Transects read all three years. Figure 31. Transects read in both 2017 and 2018. Figure 32. 2015 remains of the 1996 North Brokenback Fire, in the vicinity of EO #008. iv Figure 33. Cymopterus williamsii in the 2016 remains of the 2006 Outlaw 2 Fire, EO #032. Figure 34. Livestock trailing and road in EO #015. Figure 35. Slash pile near EO #022, private land nearby. The Cymopterus williamsii population is principally on and around the dolomite outcrop near the center of the photo. Figure 36. EO #015 DEQ Deadman Butte Materials Site. Figure 37. Cymopterus williamsii habitat between Red Fork Powder River and North Fork Little Canyon Creek (EO #027). TABLES Table 1. Location information for known occurrences of Cymopterus williamsii. Table 2. Summary of 2016 transect data for Cymopterus williamsii. Table 3. Summary of 2017 transect data for Cymopterus williamsii. Table 4. Summary of 2018 transect data for Cymopterus williamsii. Table 5. Change in plant numbers in the EO # 020 paired transects. Table 6. Change in plant numbers in the EO # 032 paired transects. v INTRODUCTION Cymopterus williamsii (Williams’ springparsley) is endemic to the southern Big Horn Mountains in north-central Wyoming and is a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Sensitive Species (USDI BLM 2001, 2010). The status of C. williamsii was previously addressed in three reports (Fertig 1993, 1999; Handley 2016) and in a state species abstract (Fertig 2000). Need for renewed surveys in the BLM Buffalo and Casper Field Offices and initiation of monitoring were identified based on: a lack of surveys on the east side of the Big Horn Mountains since 1992; the potential for more detailed field mapping with the Global Positioning System (GPS); and