“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…
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.”
