PORTLAND, Ore. – Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that rough popcornflower has been reclassified from an endangered to a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The Service also finalized a species-specific 4(d) rule that provides for the conservation needs of the species. This reclassification of rough popcornflower aligns with efforts by the President Donald J. Trump administration to reduce regulatory burdens while continuing to advance conservation.
“This milestone reflects what we can accomplish together,” said Bridget Fahey, the Service’s acting regional director for the Pacific Region. “Thanks to the dedication of our partners, rough popcornflower is firmly on the road to recovery.”
Rough popcornflower is an herbaceous plant found only in seasonal wetlands in the Umpqua River Basin of Douglas County, Oregon. Since its listing, the species has increased from about 7,000 plants in eight populations to more than 2 million plants across 18 populations. This remarkable increase is due in part to discovery of previously unmonitored populations, as well as extensive recovery efforts including reintroductions, population augmentations, and targeted treatment of invasive plant species. As a result, threats have been reduced or eliminated to the point that the species no longer meets the definition of an endangered species.
The Fish and Wildlife Service partnered in this recovery effort with the Bureau of Land Management, Oregon Department of Transportation, Oregon Department of Agriculture, The Nature Conservancy, the City of Sutherlin, Douglas County, Douglas Soil and Water Conservation District, Phoenix School, Friends of Ford’s Pond, and private landowners.
A win for this species is also a win for local pollinators. Rough popcornflower provides nectar for bumble bees, honeybees, flies, moths, and a variety of other insects that help sustain healthy ecosystems.
The final species-specific 4(d) rule allows for certain activities that benefit rough popcorn flower, even though under the Act those activities would normally be prohibited. This flexibility ensures continued conservation support as it progresses toward full recovery.
The final rule and supporting materials are available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FWS–R1–ES–2024–0005.
Contact: fws_press_r1@ios.doi.gov
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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information about our work and the people who make it happen, visit https://www.fws.gov/pacific or connect with us via Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and Flickr.
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