Status of Listed Species and Recovery Plan Development
Dwarf Bear-poppy
Arctomecon humilis -- Endangered
Utah
Current Status:
The poppy's exacting soil requirements make it extremely susceptible to habitat loss and destruction resulting from recreational and commercial off-road vehicle use, mining claim assessment work, and urban expansion.
Achievements:
Regulatory closing of poppy habitat on Federal land has reduced habitat damage caused by off-road vehicles. This protection and the end of Utah's severe drought have helped reverse the poppy's drastic decline of the past 5 years. Research on the biology and ecology of the species has been initiated, as well as population and habitat monitoring. In addition, the poppy will be considered in the Habitat Conservation Plan being developed for the desert tortoise in Washington County. Various formal and informal section 7 consultations also have been completed, primarily with the Bureau of Land Management regarding road rights-of-way and utility corridors. All section 7 consultations have resulted in no-jeopardy biological opinions, and projects have been able to be redesigned to avoid impacting this species.
Current Recovery Needs:
The poppy requires continued and increased habitat protection on Federal lands, as well as protection on State and private lands.
Section 6 Funding and Activities:
The Utah Natural Heritage Program, under the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, received $6,000 in FY 1992 for surveying and monitoring the species.
Partnerships
Bureau of Land Management: The Bureau has actively managed the species' habitat, established an off-road vehicle management plan for habitat protection, and been involved in population monitoring studies.
Utah Natural Heritage Program: This partner in recovery has been inventorying potential habitat and monitoring populations.
The Nature Conservancy: The Conservancy has constructed a fence that protects part of the dwarf bear-poppy population on State and Bureau of Land Management lands.
Brigham Young University and Utah State University: Brigham Young University's Botany Department is researching the species' biology and ecology, while The Bee Biology and Systematics Laboratory at Utah State University has completed intensive research on species pollination.
Utah Native Plant Society: The Society developed an audio-visual program explaining the importance of conserving dwarf bear-poppy habitat and distributed the program to schools in Washington County.
Recovery Plan Status:
Plan approved 12/31/85.
Utah Natural Heritage Program: This partner in recovery has been inventorying potential habitat and monitoring populations.
The Nature Conservancy: The Conservancy has constructed a fence that protects part of the dwarf bear-poppy population on State and Bureau of Land Management lands.
Brigham Young University and Utah State University: Brigham Young University's Botany Department is researching the species' biology and ecology, while The Bee Biology and Systematics Laboratory at Utah State University has completed intensive research on species pollination.
Utah Native Plant Society: The Society developed an audio-visual program explaining the importance of conserving dwarf bear-poppy habitat and distributed the program to schools in Washington County.
