Publication

Pecos Sunflower 2013-2017 Monitoring Report

Date: 2018/01/01

Author(s): Roth D.

Publication: New Mexico Energy, Minerals, & Natural Resources Department, Forestry Division Report prepared for U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

URL: https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/sfd/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/S6-HELPAR.31.pdf

Abstract:

Pecos sunflower (Helianthus paradoxus Heiser) is a wetland plant that grows on wet, alkaline soils in spring seeps, wet meadows, and along stream courses and pond margins (USFWS 2005). It has seven widely spaced populations in west-central and eastern New Mexico, and adjacent Trans-Pecos Texas. Incompatible land uses, habitat degradation and loss, and groundwater withdrawals are historic and current threats to the survival of Pecos sunflower. sunflower was listed Threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA), as amended, on October 20, 1999 (64 FR 56582-56590). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) designated Blue Hole Cienega as Critical Habitat for Pecos sunflower in 2008 (73FR 1776217807). In addition, the State of New Mexico lists Pecos sunflower as endangered under the New Mexico Endangered Plant Species Act (19 NMAC 21.2), and it is listed threatened by the State of Texas (31 TAC 2.69(A)). The USFWS Recovery Plan grouped the seven populations of Pecos sunflowers into 4 disjunct recovery regions, including the Santa Rosa region in eastern New Mexico (USFWS 2005). The recovery strategy is to protect and manage significant, sustainable portions (termed “core conservation areas”) of each of the four region’s sunflower habitats against the threat of future habitat loss and degradation. At least one core conservation area and one isolated stand of Pecos sunflower need to be protected in each region to meet the recovery criteria. All core conservation habitats must contain good or excellent populations. A good population for Pecos sunflower recovery purposes is a stand of at least 5,000 individuals during most (7 out of 10) years. Blue Hole Cienega Nature Preserve was identified as a core conservation area for the Santa Rosa Recovery Region (Figure 1).