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Current Status:

Threats to the species include habitat alterations resulting from the Muddy Creek Reservoir, off-road vehicle use, water and road development on private land, and changes in habitat management on both public and private land.

Achievements:

Habitat purchases, land exchanges, and formal land management designations (e.g., Areas of Critical Environmental Concern) for the species have been initiated by the Bureau of Land Management. Seed collections for storage and for propagation studies have been made, and transplanting, habitat management, and population monitoring studies have been initiated. In addition, for the past 2 years, research has been conducted on the pollination biology of the Osterhout milk-vetch. Informal section 7 consultations with the Colorado Department of Transportation and Colorado River Water Conservation District have ensured that road maintenance and other activities are conducted in ways that minimize disturbance to the species and its habitat.

Current Recovery Needs:

Necessary recovery actions for the Osterhout milk-vetch include continued research to determine the best habitat management practices for the species, negotiating with habitat owners and managers to put such practices into place, and continued monitoring of populations to better understand the species' reproductive success and population trends.

Partnerships

Bureau of Land Management: This Federal agency has developed habitat management plans for populations of the Osterhout milk-vetch under its jurisdiction, and has pursued land purchases and exchanges to protect priority populations on other lands. The Bureau has been involved in inventorying and mapping all known populations of the species on its lands and has served as a local contact and source of expertise for conserving the Osterhout milk-vetch on both private and public land.

The Nature Conservancy: The Conservancy has conducted habitat management and monitoring research, drafted a habitat management plan, and facilitated habitat purchases and exchanges.

Recovery Plan Status:

Plan approved 9/30/92.