PORTLAND, Ore. - Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a proposal to reclassify rough popcornflower from endangered to threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) with an accompanying 4(d) rule. The proposed rule will publish in the Federal Register tomorrow, opening a 60-day public comment period that runs through February 10, 2025.
Rough popcornflower is an herbaceous plant endemic to seasonal wetlands in Douglas County, Oregon. With the help of many collaborators, this plant is more abundant and widely distributed than it was at listing. Threats have been reduced or eliminated enough that it no longer meets the definition of an endangered species.
“We are grateful to have incredible partners who are working with us to restore and protect rough popcornflower populations. Endangered species recovery doesn’t happen in a vacuum — we owe our recovery success to these partnerships.” said Service Oregon Office state supervisor Kessina Lee.
Partners in this effort include the Bureau of Land Management, Oregon Department of Transportation, Oregon Department of Agriculture, The Nature Conservancy, City of Sutherlin, Douglas County, Douglas Soil and Water Conservation District, Phoenix School, and private landowners.
The proposed 4(d) rule would provide for the conservation needs of the species. It would also allow the plant to retain essentially all the same protections it currently has as an endangered plant.
The Service is committed to collaborative conservation, transparency, and science-driven ESA findings. Supporting materials, such as the species status assessment report, are available on the Service’s website at ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/2500, at regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS–R1–ES–2024–0005, or both.
The Service encourages any interested parties to provide input and substantive comments during the 60-day public comment period. The Service will consider comments from all interested parties received or postmarked by February 10, 2025. The proposal and information on how to submit comments can be found on or after December 11, 2024, at www.regulations.gov by searching under docket number FWS–R1–ES–2024–0005.
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