U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office

Summary of Conservation Agreements

The following is a list of Conservation Agreements the Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office has developed or is currently developing in cooperation with Federal, State or local partners, and/or private landowners to protect certain sensitive species in Nevada.  Early conservation preserves management options, minimizes the cost of recovery, and reduces the potential for restrictive land use policies in the future.  Effective conservation agreements may reverse the species' decline, ultimately eliminating the need for protection under the Endangered Species Act.

If you are planning a project and determine that any of these Conservation Agreement species or their habitat may be affected by the project, we ask that you support the conservation of the species by ensuring that your project is consistent with the goals and objectives of the Conservation Agreement and/or Conservation Strategy for the species.

 BIRD

Sage Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus)

The sage grouse is a species listed as sensitive in the State of Nevada and petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act.  The Western States Sage and Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse Technical Committee, under direction of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, has developed and published guidelines to manage and protect sage grouse and their habitats in the Wildlife Society Bulletin (Connelly et al. 2000).

 FISH

 Virgin River Spinedace (Lepidomeda mollispinis mollispinis)

The Virgin River spinedace is a small minnow endemic to the Virgin River Basin in Nevada, Utah and Arizona.  A conservation agreement and strategy for the species was developed in 1995 and revised in 2002 in order to expedite conservation measures needed for the continued existence and recovery of the species.  Successful implementation of the measures in the conservation agreement and strategy must continue in order to preclude the need to list the species under the Endangered Species Act.

AMPHIBIANS

Amargosa toad (Bufo nelsoni)

A conservation agreement and strategy was developed for the Amargosa toad and co-occurring sensitive species in the Oasis Valley of Nye County, Nevada in September 2000.  The agreement involves a partnership between numerous Federal, State, and local entities.  The agreement outlines specific conservation measures which will identify, and reduce or eliminate threats to the species, enhance habitat, and maintain a properly functioning ecosystem for the species of Oasis Valley.  Successful implementation of the measures in the conservation agreement will ensure the long-term survival of the Amargosa toad.

Columbia spotted frog (Rana luteiventris)

Conservation agreements and strategies developed in 2003 for the Toiyabe and Northeast subpopulations of the Great Basin population of the Columbia spotted frog.  The agreements and strategies were developed to expedite implementation of conservation measures for the respective subpopulations of the species as a collaborative and cooperative effort among resource agencies, governments, and land owners.  The desired outcome is to ensure the long-term conservation of the two subpopulations of the species within its historic range, and to contribute to development of statewide conservation efforts for the Great Basin population of the Columbia spotted frog.

Relict leopard frog (Rana onca)

Currently, the relict leopard frog is a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act.  This species was considered extinct from 1950 to 1991, until 3 populations were rediscovered at Lake Mead National Recreation Area in southern Nevada.  The National Park Service is the lead agency for preparing a Conservation Agreement for the species with assistance from cooperators including the Nevada Department of Wildlife, Arizona Game and Fish, and our office.  The final agreement is anticipated to be signed by cooperators in November 2003.  Implementation of the conservation agreement and strategy is intended to protect the species and its habitat, implement necessary conservation actions, and preclude listing of this candidate species.

PLANTS

Tahoe Yellowcress (Rorippa subumbellata)

The Tahoe yellowcress is a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act, and is listed as critically endangered by the State of Nevada and as endangered by the State of California.  A conservation strategy and agreement has been developed to guide the conservation and management of Tahoe yellowcress and its habitat, which occurs in the shorezone of Lake Tahoe.  Successful implementation of this strategy should preclude the need to list the species under the Endangered Species Act.

Williams Combleaf (Polyctenium williamsiae)

Williams combleaf is listed as critically endangered by the State of Nevada.  A conservation agreement is being developed to facilitate and guide the long-term conservation and management of Williams combleaf.  Additionally, a management plan is currently being drafted which will include all existing data, information from field surveys, and monitoring protocols.  If successful, the management plan, together with a long-term conservation agreement, should preclude the need to list Williams combleaf under the Endangered Species Act, and potentially allow the State of Nevada to delist the species.

ECOSYSTEMS

Spring Mountains National Recreation Area

The Spring Mountains ecosystem in Clark and Nye Counties of southern Nevada has long been recognized as an island of endemism, harboring 25 plant and wildlife species found nowhere else in the world.  Most of the Spring Mountains ecosystem is managed by the U.S. Forest Service as the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.  A conservation agreement for the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area was established in 1998 and protects many endemic and rare species of the Spring Mountains ecosystem.  In 2000, the conservation agreement was included as part of the Clark County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP).  Successful implementation of this conservation agreement and conservation activities under the MSHCP are necessary to ensure the long-term survival of these rare species.