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Ruth’s golden aster (Pityopsis ruthii)
is a small, perennial plant that grows in the crevices of phyllite boulders
in and adjacent to the Hiwassee and Ocoee rivers in Polk County, Tennessee.
The plant grows to approximately 1 foot in height and, as evidenced by the
name, blooms a deep golden color in late summer and early fall.
It is believed that the plant thrived in
these rivers due to the natural flooding cycles that scoured the boulders
and riverbanks of competing vegetation. Today, however, the flooding cycles
have been drastically altered by dam construction and subsequent water
releases for recreational activities and hydropower. On the Ocoee River
specifically, water releases for white-water rafting, kayaking, and
hydropower have negatively impacted the plant as a result of the frequency
and magnitude of these events. These man-made flooding cycles occur so
frequently that young plants are not able to become established on the
boulders before they are washed away by the next release. This is preventing
recruitment of new plants in this population. In addition, these "flood
events" are much smaller in magnitude than what occurred naturally and
are not high enough to keep the riverbanks cleared of competing vegetation.
In addition to the flooding problems, the plant is inadvertently trampled by
recreational boaters utilizing the boulders as
take-out points for resting and picnicking. On the Hiwassee River, the
primary threat for the golden aster is encroachment by vegetation that
outcompetes the plant for space and sunlight. |
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view
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Because of these threats, the plant was listed as
federally endangered on July 18, 1985. Since that time, personnel with the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, Cherokee National Forest, Tennessee Department of
Environment and Conservation/Division of Natural Heritage, Tennessee Valley
Authority, the University of Tennessee/Knoxville, and the Tennessee Aquarium
have been actively involved in the protection and recovery of this species.
Activities include:
- Annual monitoring of
the populations on each of the rivers to determine population
trends.
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- Placement of signs on
the boulders in the Ocoee River informing rafters and kayakers of
the sensitive nature of the plants and the need to avoid these
areas.
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- Development of
techniques to successfully propagate the plant and reintroduce the
species to suitable boulders in both rivers.
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- Manual and chemical
removal of encroaching vegetation.
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County
Distribution Map and Species Account
If you are interested in learning more about this
plant, please contact Tim Merritt at 931-528-6481, ext. 211, or
timothy_merritt@fws.gov.
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