ILLINOIS ENDANGERED SPECIES PROTECTION BOARD MINUTES OF THE 160th MEETING MIDEWIN NATIONAL TALLGRASS PRAIRIE, WILMINGTON, IL 15 NOVEMBER, 2013 (Approved at the February 20, 2014 Special Meeting) BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Vice-chair Glen Kruse, Dr. Joyce Hofmann, Mr. Jim Robinett, Ms. Susanne Masi, Dr. John Taft, Dr. Jeff Walk. BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Chair Dan Gooch, Secretary John Clemetsen, Ms. Laurel Ross, and Dr. Jim Herkert BOARD MEMBER VACANCIES: One OTHERS PRESENT: Ms. Jeannie Barnes (Illinois Natural History Survey), Mr. Randy Heidorn (Illinois Nature Preserves Commission), Mr. Joe Kath (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), and Ms. Anne Mankowski (Endangered Species Protection Board). 160-1 Call to Order Welcome and Introduction of Guests Vice-chair Kruse called the meeting to order at 9:30 A.M., asked Board members to introduce themselves, and noted that there was a quorum. He then asked audience members to introduce themselves. 160-2 Adoption of Agenda Vice-chair Kruse asked for a motion to approve the agenda. Dr. Walk so moved, Dr. Hofmann seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously. 160-3 Approval of Minutes of the 159th (08/16/13) Meeting Vice-chair Kruse asked for a motion to approve the 159th meeting minutes. Ms. Masi so moved, Dr. Walk seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously. 160-4 ESPB Staff Report Ms. Mankowski, Director of the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board, gave her report (Attachment A). Mr. Robinett noted Ms. Mankowski’s overtime and asked about the status of additional Board staff hiring efforts. Ms. Mankowski explained that she had been working with IDNR Procurement and Personnel staff since just before the beginning of the fiscal year to work on contractually hiring an executive assistant, a listing and recovery coordinator for plants, and a listing and recovery coordinator for animals. Ms. Mankowski reviewed that as has been explained to her, although the Board is exempt from Personnel Code, under current authorities the Board needs to hire staff via the IDNR’s procurement and personnel systems and there are many restrictions of Procurement Code that make it very difficult to contractually hire staff. It was noted that the Board needs head count. 160-5 IDNR Staff Report Mr. Kath, IDNR Endangered Species Manager, gave his report (Attachment B). 160-6 INPC Staff Report Mr. Heidorn, Director of the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission, gave his report (Attachment C). 1 160-7 Board Appointments Ms. Mankowski reported that since the August 2013 meeting, the Board had not received information regarding any action on the Board recommended appointment of Jill Riddell. 160-8 2013 Ethics Training for Appointees to State Boards and Commission Ms. Mankowski reported that all Board members and staff had completed the required annual ethics training for Boards and Commissions. 160-9 2014 Illinois List Review: A Review of the Process, Board Preliminary Approvals to Date, and Outstanding Species Issues The Board agreed to not review again the powerpoint presentation of the Illinois List 5-year review process and schedule that has been presented at each meeting during the process, but noted that the presentation would still be included in meeting minutes (see Attachment D). Ms. Mankowski reviewed the multiple outstanding issues to date and noted that resolving them will require a good deal of work by both IDNR Database staff and ESPB staff. The intention is that all outstanding issues should be resolved by the time the Board moves to confirming preliminary decisions – currently planned for the February 2014 meeting and she indicated that she will review the status of, and recommendation for, each at that meeting. 160-10 2014 Illinois List Review: Recommendation for Changes to Part 3 of the List of Illinois Endangered and Threatened Plants Ms. Mankowski presented her recommendations for listing status changes for Part 3 of the plants (see Attachment E) and engaged Board members in reviewing the species data and information compiled and answered Board member questions. Mr. Robinett moved to approve no changes in the status of all species included in Part 3 of the plant review for which Board staff recommended no change. Dr. Hofmann seconded the motion and it was approved unanimously. Dr. Hofmann moved to change the status of Rubus odoratus (Purple-flowering Raspberry) from endangered to threatened and Ms. Masi seconded the motion. There was discussion that the species is cultivated and sold in the nursery trade, so the origin of some populations may be questionable and the Board voted unanimously to change the status from endangered to threatened. Dr. Walk moved to change the status of Sarracenia purpurea (Pitcher Plant) from endangered to threatened and Dr. Hofmann seconded the motion. There was discussion of staff recommendation, TEC comments, and staff response that is included in the species review. Ms. Masi reviewed her comments about the number of EOs and sizes of reported populations and threats of brush and invasive species encroachment and water quality issues at nearly every site. She noted three populations that she reported as extirpated and Ms. Mankowski reviewed that one is not reported in the Database as extirpated and one that has not been seen since 1905 and was never established as an element occurrence in the Database. Vice-chair Kruse asked if the species is known to go dormant and reappear after a number of years, Dr. Taft and Ms. Masi responded that they did not believe so. There was some additional discussion that reviewed the information presented in the species review. Dr. Taft noted that bog habitats are restricted and especially vulnerable to multiple threats and stated that he did not feel that apparent improvements to status and distribution were clear and consistent enough to warrant a change from endangered to threatened. Dr. Hofmann indicated that she felt this was a very difficult evaluation due to the varied reported population sizes and habitat vulnerability. There was discussion that several populations have persisted for many years and three are quite large. Following discussion the Board voted and the motion failed, with members Kruse and Walk voting for, members Masi, Robinett, and Taft voting against, and 2 member Hofmann abstaining. Mr. Robinett moved to change the status of Stenanthium gramineum (Grass-leaved Lily) from endangered to threatened, Dr. Hofmann seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously. Dr. Hofmann moved to change the status of Synandra hispidula (Hairy Synandra) from endangered to threatened, Ms. Masi seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously. Dr. Taft moved to change the status of Rhynchospora alba (Beaked Rush) from threatened to endangered, Dr. Hofmann seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously. Dr. Hofmann moved to change the status of Rubus schneideri (Bristly Blackberry) from threatened to endangered and Dr. Walk seconded the motion. There was discussion reviewing information in the species review explaining apparent confusion about the taxonomy of this and related taxa at this time. Dr. Taft reviewed that the identification of some specimens at the Illinois Natural History Survey had recently been questioned. It was discussed that other members of the setosus complex are present in Illinois, but none are listed as endangered or threatened, and if they were all considered under the species-level, it would increase the numbers of element occurrences and distribution across the state. Dr. Taft noted that it seemed some clarity about this species and others in the complex should be resolved before further evaluating the status. Following discussion the Board voted and the motion failed, with members Hofmann, Kruse, and Masi voting for and members Robinett, Taft, and Walk voting against. Dr. Walk moved to change the status of Sisyrinchium atlanticum (Eastern Blue-eyed Grass) from threatened to endangered, Ms. Masi seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously. Dr. Walk moved to change the status of Tradescantia bracteata (Prairie Spiderwort) from threatened to endangered, Dr. Hofmann seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously. Mr. Robinett moved to remove from threatened status Tomanthera auriculata (Ear-leafed Foxglove), Ms. Masi seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously. Dr. Hofmann moved to remove from threatened status Viola conspersa (Dog Violet), Dr. Walk seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously. All Board preliminarily approved revisions to Part 3 of the Illinois lists of endangered and threatened plants during the meeting, included: Board preliminarily approved revisions to the Illinois List – Part 3 of plants Endangered to threatened: Rubus odoratus Purple-flowering Raspberry Stenanthium gramineum Grass-leaved Lily Synandra hispidula Hairy Synandra Threatened to endangered: Rhynchospora alba Beaked Rush Sisyrinchium atlanticum Eastern Blue-eyed Grass Tradescantia bracteata Prairie Spiderwort Remove from endangered: None Remove from threatened: Tomanthera auriculata Ear-leafed Foxglove Viola conspersa Dog Violet 3 Add as endangered: None Add as threatened: None No listing status change recommended: (data do not warrant change) Ranunculus rhomboideus Prairie Buttercup Rhexia mariana Dull Meadow Beauty Ribes hirtellum Northern Gooseberry Rubus pubescens Dwarf Raspberry Rubus schneideri Bristly Blackberry Rudbeckia missouriensis Missouri Orange Coneflower Sabatia campestris Prairie Rose Gentian Salvia azurea subsp. pitcheri Blue Sage Sambucus