Parish s Alkali Grass (Puccinellia parishii)

Transcription

1 Parish s Alkali Grass (Puccinellia parishii) Legal Status [Species photo to come] Taxonomy State: S1 1 California Rare Plant Rank: 1B.1 2 Federal: Bureau of Land Management Sensitive Critical Habitat: N/A Recovery Planning: N/A Notes: Parish s alkali grass (Puccinellia parishii) was proposed for listing as an endangered species under the federal Endangered Species Act in 1994 but was removed from the candidate list in 1999 when new data demonstrated that the species was more abundant and widespread than previously believed and was not subject to the degree of threats sufficient to warrant continuance of candidate status (59 FR ; 64 FR ). Parish s alkali grass is an annual in the grass family (Poaceae) (Jepson Flora Project 2011). Parish s alkali grass was first described by A.S. Hitchcock in 1928 in Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington from a collection by Parish in 1915 (as cited in IPNI 2008). There have been no taxonomic revisions to this species. Parish s alkali grass stands approximately 1.25 to 9.5 inches tall (Greene and Sanders 2006). Descriptions of the species physical characteristics can be found on the Jepson eflora (Jepson Flora Project 2011) and in the West Mojave Plan species account (Greene and Sanders 2006). 1 S1: Critically imperiled. 2 1B: Rare, threatened, or endangered in California and elsewhere; X.1: Seriously threatened in California. 1 March 2012

2 Distribution General Parish s alkali grass occurs at one location in Southern California, in San Bernardino County, and at scattered locations in northern and eastern Arizona and western New Mexico (Figure SP-P21). Distribution and Occurrences within the Plan Area Historical The single California occurrence of Parish s alkali grass is in the Plan Area. It is known only from the type locality at Rabbit Springs in the Lucerne Valley in San Bernardino County, and has never been found anywhere else in California (Greene and Sanders 2006; CDFG 2012a). There is no evidence that suggests that the historical distribution of Parish s alkali grass within the Plan Area differs from its current distribution. Recent Natural History Parish s alkali grass is still present at its only occurrence in California, on privately owned land at Rabbit Springs. In 1992, this population was estimated at 150 individuals occupying an area approximately 500 square feet; however, it was later discovered that this count also included individuals of Great Valley alkali grass (Puccinellia simplex), a similar, more common grass species (Greene and Sanders 2006). It was collected again in 1993, and was described as fairly common (Sanders 1993, cited in Greene and Sanders 2006). Most recently, it was collected by Andre and Thomas in 2005, who described it as rare (Consortium of California Herbaria 2011). A more accurate survey of this population has not yet been conducted. Habitat Requirements Parish s alkali grass occurs only in desert alkali springs and seeps and depends on continuously wet or moist soil during the growing season (59 FR ). Consequently, the population size fluctuates 2 March 2012

3 according to climatic conditions. A few populations in other states occur on sites where the soils are subirrigated and are wet during the winter and spring (63 FR ). Parish s alkali grass grows in open areas on alkaline clay soils and does not occur in areas of dense vegetation. Strongly alkaline and/or saline surface water must be present for at least part of the year, typically during winter and spring. Surface water is neither rapidly moving nor stagnant, but moves intermittently across the surface in a thin sheet or along the margins of rivulets that convey water during the wet season (Greene and Sanders 2006). It is known to occur at elevations between 2,296 and 7,216 feet (59 FR ). Table 1. Habitat Associations for Parish s Alkali Grass Land Cover Type Habitat Designation Habitat Parameters Supporting Information Alkali springs and seeps Primary habitat Alkaline clay soils, 2,296 feet to 7,216 feet elevation CNPS 2011; Greene and Sanders 2006; 59 FR Reproduction Parish s alkali grass is an annual herb that germinates during the winter and blooms from April through May (Greene and Sanders 2006; CNPS 2011). Flowers are probably wind-pollinated and seed dispersal is facilitated by wind and water. Parish s alkali grass sets seed by late spring and is typically completely senesced by early summer (Greene and Sanders 2006). Like most annual grasses, the seeds are probably short-lived (Greene and Sanders 2006). Population Status and Trends Global: G2G3, Imperiled and vulnerable (CDFG 2012b) State: S1, Critically imperiled (CDFG 2012b) As of 1998, Parish s alkali grass is known from 29 occurrences, only one of which occurs in California (63 FR ). It is a rare plant throughout its range. In New Mexico it is listed as Endangered 3 March 2012

4 (New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department 1995), and in Arizona it is a Protected Native Plant on the Highly Safeguarded list (Arizona Department of Agriculture 1999). Fluctuations in the number of individuals within the California population are likely, but have not been quantified. In 1992, this population was estimated at 150 individuals, but this count was determined to be inaccurate as it also included individuals of Great Valley alkali grass. Threats and Environmental Stressors Activities resulting in altered soil moisture content are the main threat to Parish s alkali grass (Greene and Sanders 2006). Such activities may include, but are not limited to groundwater pumping, water diversion, and flood control (CNPS 2011). In 1993, Sanders (cited in Greene and Sanders 2006) noted substantial numbers of several non-native plant species invading the habitat for Parish s alkali grass, including several salt-tolerant species that may have already begun to displace Parish s alkali grass at the site. Greene and Sanders (2006) highlighted urban and rural residential development as the most significant long-term threat. Livestock have access to the majority of the Parish s alkali grass sites in California and elsewhere. Although livestock do not graze on this grass, the potential for trampling still poses a threat to this species. Trampling by livestock at sites in Arizona and New Mexico has led to increased soil disturbance, which can result in increased soil erosion and surface water runoff (59 FR ). Conservation and Management Activities Currently, there are no existing conservation or management activities for this species. Parish s alkali grass occurs on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and is a covered species under the West Mojave Plan (BLM 2005). Possible management proposed by the BLM for Parish s alkali grass in the Plan Area includes acquiring the privately owned land on which this species occurs and placing it under management of a non-profit organization (Greene and Sanders 2006). 4 March 2012

5 Data Characterization Currently, there is no reliable information regarding the size of the California population. Previous efforts to quantify the size of this population produced unreliable data as Great Valley alkali grass was misidentified as Parish s alkali grass and was included in the count. Current and accurate counts of Parish s alkali grass are needed at the California site in order to attain information regarding size of and fluctuations in this population. Management and Monitoring Considerations Management strategies have been identified for Parish s alkali grass (Greene and Sanders 2006): 1. Public or private conservation-oriented acquisition of the Rabbit Springs site; 2. Coordination with local water authorities for potential measures to maintain the water table at this site; and 3. Management of non-native species at this site. Monitoring visits at this site should be conducted in order to assess the condition of this population over time. In addition, surveying areas supporting desert alkali springs and seeps may result in the discovery of unknown populations of Parish s alkali grass. Predicted Species Distribution in Plan Area Literature Cited Species model summary and results will be provided following model development. 59 FR Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Endangered Status for the Plant Puccinellia Parishii (Parish's Alkali Grass). March 28, March 2012

6 63 FR Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reopening of Comment Period on Proposed Endangered Status for Puccinellia Parishii (Parish s Alkali Grass). July 20, FR Review of Plant and Animal Taxa That Are Candidates or Proposed for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Recycled Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions. October 25, Arizona Department of Agriculture Highly Safeguarded Protected Native Plants. Arizona: State of Arizona. Accessed November 29, protplantlst2.htm. BLM Final Environmental Impact Report and Statement for the West Mojave Plan. Volume 1. Moreno Valley, California: BLM. January cdd/wemo.html. BLM All BLM Special Status Plants. Last revised November 2, Accessed November 15, pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/ca/pdf/pa/botany.par file.d at/all%20ca%20plants%20detailed%20report pdf. CDFG. 2012a. Puccinellia parishii. Element Occurrence Query. California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB). Rarefind Version 4.0 (Commercial Subscription). Sacramento, California: CDFG, Biogeographic Data Branch. Accessed February CDFG (California Department of Fish and Game). 2012b. Special Vascular Plants, Bryophytes, and Lichens List. California Natural Diversity Database. October Accessed November 15, plants_and_animals.asp. CNPS (California Native Plant Society) Puccinellia parishii. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants. Online ed. Version 8-01a. Sacramento, California. Accessed November 15, March 2012

7 Consortium of California Herbaria Accession results for Puccinellia parishii. Accessed November 29, Greene, J., and A.C. Sanders Parish s alkali grass. West Mojave Plan. U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. January Accessed November 15, pdf/pdfs/cdd_pdfs.par.a91c678c.file.pdf/parishalkgrass1.pdf. IPNI (International Plant Names Index) Plant Name Details: Puccinellia parishii. Accessed November 15, Jepson Flora Project Puccinellia Parishii. J.I. Davis. Jepson eflora [v. 1.0]. Berkeley, California: University of California. Accessed December New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department List of New Mexico State Endangered Plant Species. New Mexico: Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department; Forestry and Resources Conservation Division. Accessed November 29, Regulations/docs/19_21%20ENDANGERED%20PLANTS.pdf. 7 March 2012

8 Species Range in California Utah Nevada!( Current Occurrence Point!( Historic and Unknown Occurrence Point Note: Occurrence point size graphically represents the precision level code for the data point but is not scaled geographically. Arizona!( Z:\Projects\CEC\j6668_DRECP\MAPDOC\MAPS\BaselineBioReport\SpeciesProfiles I January 15, Miles P a c i f i c O c e a n Sources: DRECP Species Occurrence Database (2011), CWHR (2008), CEC (2010), USGS (2010), ESRI (2010) Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) Baseline Biology Report MEXICO FIGURE SP-P21 Parish s Alkali Grass in the Plan Area (N=1)