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| 618 |
Highways and Rare Plant Conservation: Research towards a Successful Interface |
| Focus Area
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Status
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Cost
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Timeframe
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Wildlife and Ecosystems
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Unmet
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$500,000-750,000
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Over 3 years
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The Pagosa skyrocket (Ipomopsis polyantha) is a rare plant, endemic to
Mancos shale soils, and found only in and around Pagosa Springs in
Archuleta County, Colorado. Plants are between 1 and 2 feet tall, with
deeply divided leaves, and have showy white flowers flecked with purple
dots. The plant is a biennial, surviving for one to many years as a
rosette before flowering and dying. The plant is currently known from
only three populations (most within 4 square miles) and predominantly
on private lands (over 75% of occupied/suitable habitat) with no
protection. Plants not on private lands are found mostly on highway
right-of-ways (ROWs). Highway ROWs constitute 12 percent of
occupied/suitable habitat combined, and 50 percent of occupied
habitat. Roadsides are currently less disturbed than adjacent private
lands where grazing, landscaping, and building destroy plants and seed
banks. Because of its rarity and the threats posed by the growing
residential area, the Pagosa skyrocket is currently listed as a
candidate under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA). The species
is expected to be proposed for listing under ESA in 2009. To conserve
Pagosa skyrocket, and to allow for more flexibility and better
management of the ROWs, we jointly propose the following research
ideas: 1) Effectiveness Monitoring of Avoidance and Minimization
Measures - To conserve Pagosa skyrocket, the Colorado Department of
Transportation (CDOT) is in the process of recommending guidelines that
will be implemented when activities in ROWs have the potential to
adversely affect the plant or its habitat. Current draft CDOT
guidelines for Pagosa skyrocket identify early coordination, avoidance
and minimization of disturbances, topsoil stockpiling, transplanting of
individuals, underground borings, keeping equipment on roadways,
equipment staging out of habitat, limiting access points, application
of geotextile fabric where equipment drives, reseeding of disturbed
areas with native seed, and limiting herbicide application and mowing.
To date, monitoring for Pagosa skyrocket is limited and no monitoring
assessing the effectiveness of the prescribed guidelines is planned or
has been initiated. A monitoring protocol designed specifically to
address CDOT management questions and needs, and to assess the
effectiveness of the guidelines would be a great benefit. This
monitoring, if coordinated with private landowners, could also assess
the status of the species rangewide; which if stable, could lead to a
reduction in regulatory constraints. 2) Development of Propagation,
Transplanting, and Introduction Protocols - The majority of rare plant
transplanting and species introduction programs are unsuccessful.
However, a close relative of Pagosa skyrocket, scarlet gilia (Ipomopsis
aggregata) is widely available in the horticultural industry and is
notoriously easy to grow. A well researched and thoughtful grow-out
effort is highly likely to be successful for Pagosa skyrocket. As a
first step, a conservation genetics study will be conducted to guide
introduction efforts. We propose here to research through greenhouse
and in situ (on site) studies how best to germinate and grow plants;
and to study in the field the best transplanting techniques and develop
protocols for these activities. We also propose to research how best
to establish new populations of the species. 3) Public Outreach
Coordination, and Identification of Conservation Easements -
Residential development within Pagosa skyrocket habitat is inevitable
and imminent. CDOT is already anticipating projects associated with
new subdivisions planned in the area. Because over 75% of the known
sites are currently on private land, conservation opportunities are
limited by the public's lack of knowledge of the species and
understanding of the funding opportunities available to them for the
species' conservation. A person living in the local area of Pagosa
Springs will be employed part-time through this effort to conduct
public outreach efforts, to conduct site visits on private lands, and
for local coordination. This person would inevitably be successful in
securing conservation opportunities for Pagosa skyrocket and promoting
CDOT's management and conservation efforts. We are hopeful this person
may also be successful in identifying properties for conservation
easements.
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This project will be an excellent demonstration of a successful interface between ROW management and rare plant conservation, arenas generally thought to be at odds. The partnering that will occur as a result of this project will provide an invaluable resource for the future management of ROWs as well as the conservation of the Pagosa skyrocket. Understanding the effectiveness of avoidance and minimization measures will allow for better management of teh Pagosa skyrocket and the lessons we will elarn may be applicable for other rare plant species where ROWs are important for management (e.g. Kremmling milkvetch - Astragalus osterhoutii and many others). Developing protocols for growing, transplanting, and creating populations of Pagosa skyrocket will allow for increased flexibility in management. Public outreach promoting CDOT's management and Pagosa skyrocket conservation will be a great asset for both. Lastly, conservation easements would greatly enhance the conservation of the species and could provide mitigation for unavoidable impacts to Pagosa skyrocket. We expect that other rare plants in the Pagosa Springs area, found on CDOT ROWs may also benefit from this project.
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| Suggested By
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Posting Date
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K. Neet & J. Peterson (CDOT), D. Anderson & P. Lyon (CNHP), E. Mayo and Gina Glenne (USFWS)
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April 6, 2009
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