Interagency Rare Plant Team Inventory Results - 1998 through 2003. 1 2 DEBORAH J. CLARK AND DAVID A. TAIT 1Bureau of Land Management, 150 East 900 North, Richfield, UT 84701 2U.S. D. A. Forest Service, Fishlake National Forest, 115 East 900 North, Richfield, UT 84701 ABSTRACT. Fishlake National Forest, Dixie National Forest, Bureau of Land Management - Richfield Field Office, and Capitol Reef National Park became partners in an Interagency Agreement to inventory and monitor threatened, endangered, and sensitive plant species shared by these agencies. From 1998 to 2003, the Interagency Rare Plant Team surveyed and recorded over 650 new locations for 32 TES plant species, covering more than 70,000 acres of federally managed lands. Geographical Information System and Global Positioning System technologies were used to predict and map all known and newly discovered occurrences of rare plants in the study area. Sufficient population numbers and occurrence data were gathered during the course of this study to pursue delisting of one of the federally listed threatened species and has allowed the Utah Natural Heritage rarity status of seven sensitive species to be downgraded. Knowledge gained about these species and their habitat requirements has helped determine which species are truly rare and in need of additional conservation actions. In addition, results from this study help determine which species and populations should be monitored to find out if specific human activities are affecting them and will enable federal land managers to ensure that those plants are protected. INTRODUCTION the interagency botanist with surveys and monitoring for shared TE&S species The Bureau of Land Management throughout their ranges, regardless of Richland Field Office (BLM), U. S. D. agency boundaries. Through the A. Forest Service, Dixie National Forest interagency agreement, agencies are able (DNF) and Fishlake National Forest to pool funding so limited TE&S (FNF), and Capitol Reef National Park funding is more efficiently used to hire a (CARE) share management multi-agency team. responsibilities for many of the same Threatened, Endangered & Sensitive The study area is located in south plant species (TE&S). To enable each of central Utah, in the Northern Colorado these agencies to better manage their Plateau region. It extends from shared TE&S species, they decided to Hanksville (along Highway 24) west to create an interagency botany position Loa, north into the San Rafael Swell and and hire an employee to act as team south through the Waterpocket Fold and leader for an interagency rare plant team. encompasses approximately 3,000 A BLM employee was hired for the team square miles. Unique geological coordinator position and stationed at conditions in combination with the arid CARE. As funding allows, additional climate and great elevation range within seasonal employees are hired to assist the study area have created 32 microhabitats that support over 40 rare ranked as sensitive by the agencies and and endemic plant species. The study the Utah Natural Heritage Program area includes lands on DNF and FNF (UNHP). The majority of species are that are over 11,000 feet elevation and ranked by UNHP as Global 1 or 2/State extends down through CARE onto BLM 1 or 2. This ranking is defined as (1) to approximately 4,000 feet elevation. critically endangered throughout its Plant communities range from high range, with 5 or fewer occurrences mountain grasslands, spruce/fir forests, known; and (2) endangered throughout and aspen woodlands down through its range, imperiled globally/statewide pinyon-juniper woodlands, sagebrush, because of rarity with only 6 to 20 shadscale grasslands, and sparsely known occurrences. vegetated badlands. The study area encompasses CARE, Eight federally listed and one which has been a magnet for recreational candidate for federal listing species were activities for many years. The park itself selected as the primary focus for is primarily an undeveloped area that surveys; Cycladenia humilis var. jonesii receives almost three-quarters of a (Jones cycladenia) (FWS 1986), million visitors each year. Many of Erigeron maguirei (Maguire’s daisy) these visitors hike established trails or (FWS 1985b, FWS 1996), Pediocactus explore the backcountry. Lands adjacent despainii (San Rafael cactus) (FWS to the park are managed by the U.S.D.A. 1987), Pediocactus winkleri (Winklers Forest Service and BLM and offer cactus) (FWS 1998), Sclerocactus hiking, camping, off-highway vehicle wrightiae (Wright’s fishhook cactus) use, and horseback riding opportunities. (FWS 1979), Spiranthes diluvialis (Ute Many of the areas that have high ladies-tresses) (FWS 1992b), recreational use also have rare plant Townsendia aprica (Last Chance populations within or adjacent to them. townsendia) (FWS 1985a), Therefore, the whereabouts of rare plants Schoencrambe barnebyi (Barneby’s in areas of high use and whether the reed-mustard) (FWS 1992a), and plants are being affected by human Aliciella cespitosa, formerly Gilia activities is essential information for caespitosa (Rabbit Valley gilia) (FWS federal land managers. Four of the 1985c). Table 1 shows the distribution federally listed plant species occur in the of each of the above species by agency. northern portion of the park and on adjacent BLM lands and are in active An additional 30+ sensitive species cattle grazing allotments. For these four occur within the study area. They are Table 1. Federally protected plants by agency distribution Species Status Agencies Found On CARE BLM DNF FNF Cycladenia humilis var. jonesii Threatened X X Erigeron maguirei Threatened X X X Aliciella cespitosa Candidate X X X X Pediocactus despainii Endangered X X X Pediocactus winkleri Threatened X X Schoencrambe barnebyi Endangered X X Sclerocactus wrightiae Endangered X X Spiranthes diluvialis Threatened X X Townsendia aprica Threatened X X X X 33 species, it is essential for park and BLM formations, slope, aspect, and elevation management to know the whereabouts of to create a profile of potential habitat by these plants and whether cattle grazing species. In addition to accurately may affect them. depicting known and potential habitats, this analysis refines the range of the METHODS target species and helps resource The primary purposes of this study managers plan how many people will be are to (1) conduct intensive surveys for needed to accomplish the surveys. the target species on potential habitat Depending on funding availability for within the study area, (2) determine the upcoming season, one or more potential for impacts by visitor, seasonal employees are hired to assist recreational or livestock use if possible, the interagency botanist with surveys and (3) implement monitoring programs and monitoring. for species most likely to be affected by After completing this initial work, the human impacts. interagency rare plant team conducts Prior to each field season, surveys in potential habitat for the target representatives of the participating species. Surveys begin in the early agencies and the interagency botanist spring at lower elevations and as the meet to discuss priorities for surveys and season progresses the team moves to monitoring. A list of species and areas higher elevations, thus ensuring proper to be surveyed is selected for the search times for each species. During upcoming field season. The list usually the appropriate blooming time for each contains several of the target species species, areas are surveyed by walking plus a few sensitive species that an wandering transects through all agency needs more information about. accessible areas and/or by using When an agency receives funding to binoculars to search cliffs. If an area conduct rare plant inventories adjacent contains potential habitat for two or to, but outside the primary study area more species and those species bloom at they present this information at the different times, then that area is searched annual meeting. These additional survey multiple times to ensure surveys are as areas are discussed and if agreed upon thorough as possible for each species. by the group, then the team conducts All areas surveyed are noted on surveys outside the primary study area. topographical maps, regardless of This cooperation and flexibility of the whether the target or any sensitive group has allowed the team to survey the species were found. This information is Tushar Mountains on FNF, outside the then entered into GIS so resource primary study area for several endemic managers can quickly see if an area has species. Findings from these additional been surveyed and whether TE&S plants surveys are included in this paper. were found. Following this meeting, the interagency For each new occurrence of a species, botanist compiles all available team members complete a modified information and location data on the version of the UNHP Site Visit Account species selected for the season’s Survey Form, take photographs, and fieldwork. This information is entered map its location on 7.5’ quadrangle into Geographic Information System maps. Wherever possible, a Global (GIS). It is then overlaid with geologic Positioning System (GPS) is used to 34 map the precise location of each new Boulder Mountain on DNF for Potentilla occurrence. All new localities are then angelliae and the Tushar Mountains on entered into a master database and GIS FNF for a suite of endemic species, the that are shared by the participating team is able to assist the Forest Service agencies. This ensures long-term with these additional needs. retrieval capabilities for current and To date, the team has surveyed over future resource managers. 70,000 acres of federally managed lands. RESULTS This includes approximately 29,000 acres on Capitol Reef National Park, Surveys have been conducted since 17,000 acres on Bureau of Land 1998 by the interagency botanist, a Management, 11,000 acres on Dixie seasonal team leader hired by CARE, National Forest and 13,000 acres on and numerous seasonal team members Fishlake National Forest. The effort has hired by each of the agencies.