DRAFT REVISED RECOVERY PLAN FOR HELLER'S BLAZING
STAR (LIATRIS HELLERI) PORTER AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public input on a draft
revised plan to recover a perennial herb Heller's blazing star Porter,
which was listed as threatened on November 19, 1987, on the federal
list of endangered and threatened animals and plants.
Heller's blazing star blooms from July through September, producing
a spike of lavender flowers 3 to 8 inches tall. The species grows only
in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina on high-elevation
cliffs, ledges, rock outcrops, and balds. There are eight populations
remaining.
This species and many of its rare associates are extremely vulnerable
to seemingly minor threats, such as trampling by hikers, climbers, and
sightseers. More pervasive potential threats to the species include
acid precipitation and other forms of atmospheric pollution that have
been found to be concentrated at higher elevations in the Southern Appalachians.
Residential and recreational development have eliminated or reduced
populations at some locations.
A draft revised recovery plan describes actions considered necessary
for the conservation of Heller's blazing star, establishes criteria
for recognizing the recovery levels for downlisting or delisting the
species, and estimates the time and cost for implementing the recovery
measures needed. Major objectives of the recovery plan are to protect
currently occupied habitat, restore historical habitat for reintroduction
of the species, conduct applied research, and increase public awareness.
The Service will collect written comments on this recovery plan over
the next 60 days. Copies of the plan can be obtained by writing to the
State Supervisor, Asheville Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
160 Zillicoa Street, Asheville, North Carolina 28801, or by calling
828/258-3939.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency
responsible for conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish and wildlife
and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.
The Service manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System
comprised of more than 500 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small
wetlands, and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national
fish hatcheries, 64 fish and wildlife management offices, and 78 ecological
services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws,
administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations,
restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife
habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation
efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds
of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment
to state fish and wildlife agencies.
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