tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48659928973096532082024-03-21T19:40:08.912-07:00Utah native plantsNews, updates, sightings, horticultural notes, conservation activities, and general ramblings and rantings with respect to Utah's incredible diversity of vascular and non-vascular native plants.Tony Frateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06203800945783503602noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865992897309653208.post-21591832192545998272024-02-24T00:30:00.000-08:002024-02-24T00:56:55.079-08:00Honey bee apiaries on public lands and in natural areas<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Some references relating to concerns about honey bees especially when apiaries are placed on public lands or in/near natural areas follow:</span></p><p><b style="font-family: arial;">Commercial honeybees threaten to displace Utah’s native bees</b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Nick Bowlin March 7, 2019, </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>High Country News</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.hcn.org/issues/51-5/public-lands-commercial-honeybees-threaten-to-displace-utahs-native-bees-pesticides/" target="_blank">https://www.hcn.org/issues/51-5/public-lands-commercial-honeybees-threaten-to-displace-utahs-native-bees-pesticides/</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Fighting for Flowers: </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Native Bee Conservation and </span><span style="font-family: arial;">the Dangers of Honeybee Permitting on Public Lands </span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Thomas Meinzen, Grand Canyon Trust, March 2020 presentation</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.unps.org/miscpdf/MeinzenProtectBeesMarch2020.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.unps.org/miscpdf/MeinzenProtectBeesMarch2020.pdf</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Will Putting Honey Bees on Public Lands Threaten Native Bees?</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">https://e360.yale.edu/features/will-putting-honey-bees-on-public-lands-threaten-native-bees</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">by Jennifer Oldhamd, September 15, 2020, </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Yale Environment 360</i> (published by the Yale School of the Environment)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Article quotations:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">As suitable sites become scarce, commercial beekeepers are increasingly moving their hives to U.S. public lands. But scientists warn that the millions of introduced honey bees pose a risk to native species, outcompeting them for pollen and altering fragile plant communities.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">“There are no feral honey bees in Utah — the winters are too long and cold,” Cane said. “This is essentially the most intact native bee fauna in the U.S. It’s worth protecting.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Environmental groups want to block honeybees from Utah’s national forests</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">By Brian Maffly, Aug. 23, 2020, </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Salt Lake Tribune</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.sltrib.com/news/environment/2020/08/23/environmental-groups-want/" target="_blank">https://www.sltrib.com/news/environment/2020/08/23/environmental-groups-want/</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Investigating Imperiled Bumble Bee Species Distributions and Habitat Associations</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Oct 1, 2023 to Jan 30, 2026, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">USDA Research Project:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/project/?accnNo=445663" target="_blank">https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/project/?accnNo=445663</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;">Bumble bees are critically important pollinators for wild plants and agricultural crop production, but are declining globally. Bumble bee population declines have been attributed to several interacting stressors, including land-use alteration and climate change. </span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Project 1100 </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Various articles from 2019 to 2021 including:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><a href="https://www.projectelevenhundred.org/_files/ugd/012248_509ac542f75c4637909aaefcc3fdc3dc.pdf" target="_blank">Why Honey Bee Apiaries Should Never Be Permitted On National Public Lands</a></b> by Vincent Tepedino (2019).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.projectelevenhundred.org/the-science" target="_blank">https://www.projectelevenhundred.org/the-science</a></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Xerces</b></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial;">An Overview of the Potential Impacts of Honey Bees to Native Bees, Plant Communities, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">and Ecosystems in Wild Landscapes: </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Recommendations for Land Managers</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://xerces.org/sites/default/files/2018-06/16-067_02_Overview%20of%20the%20Potential%20Impacts%20of%20Honey%20Bees_web.pdf" target="_blank">https://xerces.org/sites/default/files/2018-06/16-067_02_Overview%20of%20the%20Potential%20Impacts%20of%20Honey%20Bees_web.pdf</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Comment: contains many recommendations with respect to the placement of apiaries on public lands and natural areas.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Citation:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Hatfield, R. G., S. Jepsen, M.Vaughan, S. Black, E. LeeMäder. 2018. An Overview of </span><span style="font-family: arial;">the Potential Impacts of Honey Bees to Native Bees, Plant Communities, and Ecosystems in </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Wild Landscapes: Recommendations for Land Managers. 12 pp. Portland, OR: The Xerces </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Society for Invertebrate Conservation.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Want To Save The Bees? Focus On Habitat, Not Honey Bees</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">By Rich Hatfield and Matthew Shepherd on 6. July 2023</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://xerces.org/blog/want-to-save-bees-focus-on-habitat-not-honey-bees" target="_blank">https://xerces.org/blog/want-to-save-bees-focus-on-habitat-not-honey-bees</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Honey Bees in North America: </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Why Getting a Hive Won’t </span><span style="font-family: arial;">“Save the Bees”</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">by Rich Hatfield and Matthew Shepherd (Xerces), 2023</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://xerces.org/sites/default/files/publications/22-011.pdf" target="_blank">https://xerces.org/sites/default/files/publications/22-011.pdf</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>Tony Frateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06203800945783503602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865992897309653208.post-47634769454467720942024-02-21T02:22:00.000-08:002024-02-21T02:27:12.635-08:00Why preserve the natural world?<p><span style="font-family: arial;">This question is closely related to the "Why care?" question that arises when talking about why we should avoid causing plant species to become extinct.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">How about this: <b>We exist because of plants</b>.<b> </b>The very air that we breathe is because of plants. They sustain us and shelter us. Yet we give them so very little respect.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">A <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2024/02/underground-tree-new-plant-species-biodiversity-loss/" target="_blank">February 15, 2024 World Economic Forum</a> report provides even more logical reasons such as: <b>half of the world's GDP is dependent on nature</b>. Yet we are likely losing species due to rapid habitat loss without even realizing it. Kew estimates that there may be as many as 100,000 unnamed plant species over and above the roughly 400,000 that are known.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Preserving the natural world is critical to our very survival as well as our economic well-being. It should be our highest priority. Without it, we have nothing.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Tony Frateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06203800945783503602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865992897309653208.post-5422505461176233152024-02-20T01:56:00.000-08:002024-02-20T02:02:48.765-08:00Valley fever spread is a reflection of global warming<p><span style="font-family: arial;">In 2021, a University of Utah Health article noted that "Valley Fever," a fungal disease more commonly associated with California and Arizona might in fact be more common in Utah than has been thought:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://healthcare.utah.edu/press-releases/2021/09/valley-fever-more-common-utah-previously-thought-researchers-find" target="_blank">https://healthcare.utah.edu/press-releases/2021/09/valley-fever-more-common-utah-previously-thought-researchers-find</a></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #414042;"><span style="font-family: arial;">From the article:</span></span></p><p><span face=""Sofia Pro", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-family: courier;">"Valley Fever is caused by </span><em style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--base-em-color); font-family: courier; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Coccidioides</em><span face=""Sofia Pro", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-family: courier;">, a fungus that can infect the lungs. The fungus lives in the soil but becomes airborne when dust is disturbed, such as by construction or high winds. If people inhale that dust, they can become infected, but the disease isn't contagious from person to person."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;"><span face=""Sofia Pro", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"" style="background-color: white; color: #414042;">"With climate change, temperatures are increasing," says</span><a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="bf60f20f-7438-4411-b927-415789f28b2e" href="https://healthcare.utah.edu/find-a-doctor/adrienne-l-carey" rel="noopener" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: var(--base-link-text-decoration); vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="Adrienne L. Carey [u0385820]"> Adrienne Carey, M.D.,</a><span face=""Sofia Pro", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"" style="background-color: white; color: #414042;"> infectious disease specialist at U of U Health. "With increased temperatures and drier conditions, the map will change, and it should probably be expected to spread northward. Aside from a highly publicized outbreak in 2001 at Dinosaur National Monument, there really is a lack of data about how common Valley Fever is within the state of Utah."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: courier;"><span face=""Sofia Pro", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"" style="background-color: white; color: #414042;">"The team identified 364 cases of Valley Fever that occurred between 2009-2015 and met the research criteria for "proven" or "probable" </span><em style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: var(--base-em-color); margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Coccidioides</em><span face=""Sofia Pro", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"" style="background-color: white; color: #414042;"> infection."</span></span></p><p><span face=""Sofia Pro", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-family: courier;">"Interestingly, one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States, St. George, is in southwestern Utah," Carey points out. "With the rapid growth of construction that's occurring, there's increased risk for people to come in contact with the fungus."</span></p><p><span face=""Sofia Pro", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-family: courier;">"People who are potentially vulnerable might consider wearing masks to protect themselves from inhaling the fungus spores, particularly in dusty or windy conditions or while participating in outdoor recreation."</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-family: arial;">A more recent NBC health news article published in January of 2023 projects that the disease may present throughout the entire western US over the next 70 years. Maps contained in the article show its current presence in Utah:</span></p><p><span style="color: #414042; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/valley-fever-historically-found-only-southwest-spreading-can-devastati-rcna64313" target="_blank">https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/valley-fever-historically-found-only-southwest-spreading-can-devastati-rcna64313</a></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #414042; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white;">This article further reinforces that Valley fever cases are on the rise and will likely continue to worsen as a result of "climate change."</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #414042; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #414042; font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span face=""Sofia Pro", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p>Tony Frateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06203800945783503602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865992897309653208.post-63814151801870440612023-12-30T02:56:00.000-08:002024-02-22T00:35:55.482-08:00UDWR acknowledges the importance of the ESA but also wants police to kill urban deer<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Importance of the Endangered Species Act acknowledged by UDWR:</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) has been devoting itself to delisting plant (and animal) species formally listed under the very important Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) and has not ever to my knowledge ever supported new listings. Quite the reverse.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Yet in a <a href="https://kslnewsradio.com/2067806/how-the-endangered-species-act-has-affected-utahs-wildlife/" target="_blank">news report piece published on December 27, 2023</a> with respect to the 50th anniversary of the ESA, a UDWR representative acknowledges that the Act has "</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, helvetica;">has prevented the extinction of hundreds of [imperiled] species" and that it has also helped "</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, helvetica;">promote the recovery of many species that were near extinction."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">This is a great but is also a rather shocking acknowledgment by an agency that has done nothing but pushback against and complain about the ESA, and that has embarked on an ambitious statewide program of introducing non-native mountain goats that are negatively impacting high-elevation ecosystems, and an agency that has traditionally opposed the protection of wolves despite the science that indicates the very important role they play.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The piece goes on to mention the 17 wildlife species currently listed under the ESA that occur in Utah. Yet there is no mention of the currently <a href="https://www.utahrareplants.org/rpg_species.html" target="_blank">25 listed plant species </a>that also occur in Utah. The importance of plant species in general is never given the attention that they deserve. We would not exist without them, nor would any wildlife. Healthy and diverse ecosystems rely on healthy native plant populations.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Related stories re: the 50th anniversary of the ESA:</span></p><p><a href="https://www.upr.org/2023-12-24/the-endangered-species-act-turns-50" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank">https://www.upr.org/2023-12-24/the-endangered-species-act-turns-50</a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.upr.org/2023-12-24/the-santa-cruz-island-dudleya-is-an-endangered-species-act-success-story" target="_blank">https://www.upr.org/2023-12-24/the-santa-cruz-island-dudleya-is-an-endangered-species-act-success-story</a><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/publications/earthonline/endangered-earth-online-no1225.html" target="_blank">https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/publications/earthonline/endangered-earth-online-no1225.html</a></span></p><p><a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/01/02/2023-28935/50th-anniversary-of-the-endangered-species-act-2023" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: arial;">https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/01/02/2023-28935/50th-anniversary-of-the-endangered-species-act-2023</span></a></p><p><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/money-endangered-species-goes-small-number-creatures-leaving-others-li-rcna131680" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank">https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/money-endangered-species-goes-small-number-creatures-leaving-others-li-rcna131680</a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">(this last reference discusses the plight of plants that are typically short-changed)</span></p><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><br /></b></p><p><b style="font-family: arial;">UDWR and urban deer:</b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">As a curiosity completely unrelated to the above, the same UDWR representative on the same date and in another news report indicates that the UDWR has "authorized" city police to "cull" </span><a href="https://kslnewsradio.com/2067720/dwr-calls-on-city-police-to-help-with-urban-deer/" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank">urban deer</a>. <span style="font-family: arial;">So much for the sanctity of wildlife. We are living in their habitat, not the other way around. If they are bothering someone's flower garden (but in winter, they are just looking for something to browse, mainly grass) that really doesn't justify killing them. That they can cause accidents is true but normally that is because drivers tend to drive too fast and don't pay attention. Somehow we do have to find a way to live with the natural world and not do what we do best (i.e. kill anything that moves, and destroy natural open spaces). That we have failed to give them corridors to areas where they should be able to freely roam in an attempt to survive is our fault, not theirs. There is also considerable concern about the risk of someone being shot with a bullet or an arrow while attempts are made to cull herds. Police officers are not trained wildlife hunters or trappers. City police should not take on this responsibility that UDWR has "authorized" (which likely also exceeds UDWR's authority).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuN62nkO_-m8u-DFiao6cvrwlmPLs_7znZOMTIqrnoio-zNfvVMkzAZwBRFQAuVoxQogtAizHZAVLvMy14ZaEAXRNvPpBfpA7sddecCVhcwh2w8ocIBYbHGTE80C8y5rJN1hJYmsrQ9dpndbrlJCah6m27gO42jlhPT3DyTrR6ioX1YFRcUi2uSoGxi1Q/s1496/ThreeofSix_1496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1496" data-original-width="1496" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuN62nkO_-m8u-DFiao6cvrwlmPLs_7znZOMTIqrnoio-zNfvVMkzAZwBRFQAuVoxQogtAizHZAVLvMy14ZaEAXRNvPpBfpA7sddecCVhcwh2w8ocIBYbHGTE80C8y5rJN1hJYmsrQ9dpndbrlJCah6m27gO42jlhPT3DyTrR6ioX1YFRcUi2uSoGxi1Q/s320/ThreeofSix_1496.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2aHYcPhhIOxJ-ayHcGBGMMNl0mZFD1euHWZ0b_whpDL9ayi_HQulgWLAI6NY2JHsdUNZrRhvtbw4CQHpMU6bWJLqmHPEh8hcPuqXScQBx6AdQGWgIP5ovMmYuRd0eZ26zT12aJixTzygImmlPZgxE57W1y3I0CiCYTN3y9DXvCBVx32liQg5sxyLmbykY/s1496/Fourofsix_1496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1496" data-original-width="1496" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2aHYcPhhIOxJ-ayHcGBGMMNl0mZFD1euHWZ0b_whpDL9ayi_HQulgWLAI6NY2JHsdUNZrRhvtbw4CQHpMU6bWJLqmHPEh8hcPuqXScQBx6AdQGWgIP5ovMmYuRd0eZ26zT12aJixTzygImmlPZgxE57W1y3I0CiCYTN3y9DXvCBVx32liQg5sxyLmbykY/s320/Fourofsix_1496.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Tony Frateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06203800945783503602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865992897309653208.post-68373866098445711822023-12-22T14:03:00.000-08:002023-12-22T14:03:01.705-08:00Idaho dam proposal threatens the Great Salt Lake<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Pacificorp's newly proposed dam in the Oneida Narrows will likely negatively impact the already beleaguered Great Salt Lake:</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The Bear River is the major source of water for the Great Salt Lake (and its ecosystems) which of course is already in serious trouble. This proposed dam would be the second dam on this section of the river.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">While the project location is in Idaho, Utahns need to weigh in on yet another ill-advised dam that will likely have serious downstream consequences. Dams are short-lived and create ecological collapse. It is exactly these types of projects that have contributed to the shrinking of the Great Salt Lake, the ultimate loss of which would have devastating human health as well as disastrous environmental consequences for wildlife and related native plant ecosystems.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Comments are due by December 26.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Project background information:</span></p><p><a href="https://www.idahostatejournal.com/community/public-comment-sought-on-proposal-for-new-oneida-narrows-dam-input-due-dec-26/article_dc86c271-fba8-59a3-b6e2-f390519fba9c.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: arial;">https://www.idahostatejournal.com/community/public-comment-sought-on-proposal-for-new-oneida-narrows-dam-input-due-dec-26/article_dc86c271-fba8-59a3-b6e2-f390519fba9c.html</span></a></p><p><a href="https://www.pacificorp.com/energy/storage/oneida.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: arial;">https://www.pacificorp.com/energy/storage/oneida.html</span></a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Friends of Great Salt Lake newsletter (see page 16):</span></p><p><a href="https://www.fogsl.org/newsroom/newsletters/74-2023-winter/file" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: arial;">https://www.fogsl.org/newsroom/newsletters/74-2023-winter/file</span></a></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Advocacy group opposing this project:</span></p><p><a href="https://www.oneidanarrows.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: arial;">https://www.oneidanarrows.org/</span></a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Their petition:</span></p><p><a href="https://chng.it/BM465s8Qvz" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: arial;">https://chng.it/BM465s8Qvz</span></a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Ferc comment link:</span></p><p><a href="https://www.ferc.gov/how-file-comment" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: arial;">https://www.ferc.gov/how-file-comment</span></a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Tony Frateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06203800945783503602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865992897309653208.post-39394109829041049452023-04-22T20:09:00.019-07:002023-04-25T11:49:43.386-07:00Stone's draba finally officially recognized as new to science<p><span style="font-family: arial;">A plant species previously named in 1941 in honor of the late <a href="https://sciweb.nybg.org/science2/libr/finding_guide/bassettm.asp.html" target="_blank">Dr. Bassett Maguire</a> (botany professor at herbarium curator at Utah State University in Logan, Utah from 1931 until 1942 and then a curator and scientist at the New York Botanic Garden until his death in 1991) now once again is being recognized as having two infraspecific taxa based on recently published genetic studies (<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36779544/" target="_blank">March 2023</a>).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Plant species aren't necessarily named for the first person to make a plant collection of that ultimately named species. But in this case, Dr. Maguire along with <span face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Dean Hobson and Ralph Gierisch on June 2, 1936 made a high elevation collection in Cache County in the Bear River Range that they knew was a species of <i>Draba</i> in the mustard family, but without identification of the species within that genus:</span></span></p><p><span face="Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13.2px;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFnBG4tLuhBskEPVYJQRhEEIbCZGfGTMzUPjjdOqp5Lp26wj-Y5lzpRhaNGSGkaoxl4saNJdwSfi5sdXx2AAXppxdPl-b1x9rQ2Wv4SC55YqvEC0drr8N0icxy9j4Cp0JKNZ3ZcoJlerJxmCFZSlNOCRNBcevlKdhWg_j0wtfPQzc1PZIStx-mkeORA/s1491/draba_resize.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1491" data-original-width="1024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFnBG4tLuhBskEPVYJQRhEEIbCZGfGTMzUPjjdOqp5Lp26wj-Y5lzpRhaNGSGkaoxl4saNJdwSfi5sdXx2AAXppxdPl-b1x9rQ2Wv4SC55YqvEC0drr8N0icxy9j4Cp0JKNZ3ZcoJlerJxmCFZSlNOCRNBcevlKdhWg_j0wtfPQzc1PZIStx-mkeORA/w444-h640/draba_resize.jpg" width="444" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maguire 13687 deposited at the Gray Herbarium (Harvard University) subsp. <i>maguirei</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">The genus <i>Draba</i> is sometimes referred to as "Whitlow grass" and other related variations but it is not a grass species.<br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">In 1941, C.L. Hitchcock named this plant as a new species, <i>Draba maguirei</i>, with two intraspecific varieties: var. <i>maguirei</i> and var. <i>burkei</i>.<br /><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: arial;">On July 7, 1995, Doug Stone with Frank "Buddy" Smith made a collection of a plant in the Monte Cristo Range similar to <i>D. maguirei</i> at an elevation that was 1800 feet lower then the 1936 collection and brought it to the attention of mustard expert Dr. Michael Windham:</span></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-l1atWRFHygcoBAfrOKnxbdiDjZeOgrtqmeC9stcWS9FHxnVK5VFjEoeS-de3UMGJxRxnqpimsJm3O1oIWZXocRhs9gqzKYGP70MZwP_y0A2nSq5OlIaks8PAjNuJALGKQBFPTPMvUmYnAzenHrS9NFN8LgItZgSdBSxmqrzq40OM_Cm8_LfXANNC4w/s782/stone_resize.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="541" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-l1atWRFHygcoBAfrOKnxbdiDjZeOgrtqmeC9stcWS9FHxnVK5VFjEoeS-de3UMGJxRxnqpimsJm3O1oIWZXocRhs9gqzKYGP70MZwP_y0A2nSq5OlIaks8PAjNuJALGKQBFPTPMvUmYnAzenHrS9NFN8LgItZgSdBSxmqrzq40OM_Cm8_LfXANNC4w/w442-h640/stone_resize.jpg" width="442" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stone 1804 of subsp. <i>stonei </i>(note the premature var. designation and author names)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Windham collected it in 1997:</span></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_iVrry4Aubt7NduIIaHir5k5pl0co9T1LDJIFm0koLrmVW6T7JqrUNbrCPjDO_J5RG2neu7ah4L5gtIZLRlXqlLjDgEClXqTs-f-X_xt12bX2hEwTQUB6IM7-RzKfUgydHymQu1F9k-pxg_qUWgVW1Ab44mR5f5Hnc4LERyiGWvQrriavFVXRrCyvlw/s778/windham_resize.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="539" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_iVrry4Aubt7NduIIaHir5k5pl0co9T1LDJIFm0koLrmVW6T7JqrUNbrCPjDO_J5RG2neu7ah4L5gtIZLRlXqlLjDgEClXqTs-f-X_xt12bX2hEwTQUB6IM7-RzKfUgydHymQu1F9k-pxg_qUWgVW1Ab44mR5f5Hnc4LERyiGWvQrriavFVXRrCyvlw/w445-h640/windham_resize.jpg" width="445" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Windham 97-118 subsp. <i>stonei </i>(note the premature var. designation and author names)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: arial;">This same plant, as it turns outs, was collected by the USU's Dr. Richard Shaw in June of 1983.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsT3t-z2gBH-jhBUH809547_XwdXGE_eDItFfE-R4Z2mUizr7KAs2JeJ6b7rBl8mJ8e29f4g-IlUfNhX3plfSGTZI2fXehpyqKKvlY4h16TKrvskDYFyNpqxmUe6RbBZ9VeydLbghpXgG8ZgO8N3DcPZjSc0_7tTZQALAEHHabSm-GAjjSJgeLGndh6Q/s779/shaw_resize.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="779" data-original-width="533" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsT3t-z2gBH-jhBUH809547_XwdXGE_eDItFfE-R4Z2mUizr7KAs2JeJ6b7rBl8mJ8e29f4g-IlUfNhX3plfSGTZI2fXehpyqKKvlY4h16TKrvskDYFyNpqxmUe6RbBZ9VeydLbghpXgG8ZgO8N3DcPZjSc0_7tTZQALAEHHabSm-GAjjSJgeLGndh6Q/w438-h640/shaw_resize.jpg" width="438" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shaw 3132 subsp. <i>stonei </i>(with a handwritten premature var. designation and author names)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Since var. <i>stonei</i> was never published (until published as subsp. <i>stonei</i> in March of 2023), the annotations of the name to the specimens above was premature; it was based on the same understanding of research that had already been largely conducted in the late 1990's, and sometimes specimen sheets make reference to unpublished or expected names. But, often there never is a publication of that name. The naming of a species however requires a publication that meets the minimum threshold requirements of the ICBN (International Code of Botanical Nomenclature). Just writing a proposed name on a herbarium specimen sheet (or "voucher") does not constitute a publication.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">In May of 1999, USU's Dr. Mary Barkworth collected this later named taxon in Logan Canyon:</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIWfFB7f3JKTxK3t6BGLUyW5w8pPegny8KwLlSTwcTK75H-LlN_6H0NE8pMfXNox_3r6lrtBWHyBXFfZKDKdb5P4IBbH42BW0BpLKc-GevqbP5sTTcbdEsGCQ6fQIKMd2B-Q3bkO-ZAbm2uvkEBjhyAFpuWfmviVVpEqiKNjLyR-OG4dSUuFBiasm7w/s1183/barkworth_resize.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1183" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIWfFB7f3JKTxK3t6BGLUyW5w8pPegny8KwLlSTwcTK75H-LlN_6H0NE8pMfXNox_3r6lrtBWHyBXFfZKDKdb5P4IBbH42BW0BpLKc-GevqbP5sTTcbdEsGCQ6fQIKMd2B-Q3bkO-ZAbm2uvkEBjhyAFpuWfmviVVpEqiKNjLyR-OG4dSUuFBiasm7w/w346-h400/barkworth_resize.jpg" width="346" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barkworth 99.010 subsp. <i>stonei </i>at NYBG</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Botanists Duane Atwood and Joel Tuhy separately also collected this same lower elevation plant in the 1980's before being described now as </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Draba maguirei</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> C.L. Hitchc. subsp. </span><i style="font-family: arial;">stonei </i><span style="font-family: arial;">Windham via the recent publication. Until now, those plants (as well as those referenced above) have simply been classified as <i>Draba maguirei</i> var. <i>maguirei</i>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Based on chromosome counts and analysis provided in a<a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/41426316" target="_blank"> 2004 paper</a> , Windham and Beilstein moved <i>Draba burkei</i>, previously named as a variety of <i>D. maguirei</i>, to the species level. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqLAv6jCrXsNc3vi6nUXMDWtYPHEKT9jhlr1T19W_eePc2cO5MqrurbHo602vDHbLUyhv2CQ8mSUtLVwA296UF4xcMaUZXDspWji0o8REwvWZNiUmqx6a30DDMXNG6C0bJEMqPrPRy7OieAwLBslQIrZ4p7R2zXWYhAjK7vbjhsCtWPb9Uqru9ge1OA/s823/burkei_resize.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="823" data-original-width="570" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqLAv6jCrXsNc3vi6nUXMDWtYPHEKT9jhlr1T19W_eePc2cO5MqrurbHo602vDHbLUyhv2CQ8mSUtLVwA296UF4xcMaUZXDspWji0o8REwvWZNiUmqx6a30DDMXNG6C0bJEMqPrPRy7OieAwLBslQIrZ4p7R2zXWYhAjK7vbjhsCtWPb9Uqru9ge1OA/w445-h640/burkei_resize.jpg" width="445" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oldest <i>Draba burkei</i> collection (May 1932, Box Elder Co.) by Melvin Burke (holotype)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="font-family: arial;">It was thought that an analysis of plants still considered to be </span><i style="font-family: arial;">D. maguirei</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> other than "burkei" was going to be made by 2005 based on initial conferences that I participated in relating to the Utah Rare Plant Guide (URPG) project. Preparations were being made going back as far 2003 to add "var." </span><i style="font-family: arial;">stonei</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> to the URPG (with the same author assumptions, i.e. by Windham and Beilstein) but those efforts then were paused awaiting a future publication, which in 2023 has now finally happened. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Link to the publication: </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36779544/" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank">https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36779544/</a><span style="font-family: arial;">. </span><a href="https://sites.duke.edu/pryerlab/files/2023/03/American-J-of-Botany-2023-Windham-An-in%E2%80%90depth-investigation-of-cryptic-taxonomic-diversity-in-the-rare-endemic.pdf" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank">Full PDF</a><span style="font-family: arial;">. Citation:</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Windham MD, Picard KT, Pryer KM. 2023. An in-depth investigation of cryptic taxonomic diversity in the rare endemic mustard </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Draba maguirei</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">. American Journal of Botany e16138.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Related prior article:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/41425341" target="_blank">https://www.jstor.org/stable/41425341</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The taxa in this complex have different ploidy levels:</span></p><p><i style="font-family: arial;">Draba maguirei </i><span style="font-family: arial;">subsp. <i>maguirei</i> n=16</span></p><p><i style="font-family: arial;">Draba maguirei</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">subsp. <i>stonei</i> n=8</span></p><p><i style="font-family: arial;">Draba </i><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>burkei</i> (syn. <i>D. maguirei</i> var. <i>burkei</i>) n=10</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">All three taxa are northern Utah endemics. Their ranges however do not overlap. D. burkei occus in Box Elder, Cache, Morgan (barely) and Weber Cos. The </span><i style="font-family: arial;">D. maguirei</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> subspecies only occur in Cache County with subsp. </span><i style="font-family: arial;">stonei</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> occurring somewhat to the south at lower elevations than subsp.</span><i style="font-family: arial;"> maguirei</i><span style="font-family: arial;">. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">All three have yellow flowers with oblong leaves in basal rosettes. The flowering stems are scapose (i.e. lacking leaves). <i>D. maguirei</i> plants have longer leaves than <i>D. burkei</i>.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> There are differences in leaf and fruit trichomes (hairs). </span><i style="font-family: arial;">D. burkei</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> only has trichomes along its leaf margins. This tends to be true also with subsp. </span><i style="font-family: arial;">maguirei</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> whereas subsp. </span><i style="font-family: arial;">stonei</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> has trichomes on blade surfaces. Unlike the short-stalked and usually four-rayed trichomes of subsp. </span><i style="font-family: arial;">maguirei</i><span style="font-family: arial;">, subsp.</span><i style="font-family: arial;">stonei</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> mostly has 2-rayed (bifurcate) trichomes;</span><i style="font-family: arial;"> D. burkei</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> has unbranched trichomes. </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgI1PN73pRM0DDO9xy6d-Ed6V8ecBRhbkVD2ckOOs2rABN-7hID_5HP6hH9YS0rvDA7p3gvAb48Qut7SLviUKSdyx9uBZFrA6r3C2rR__QNR3g2iemNLfGvsQnpn0vU6H6SW_0OySXtIIr2g7vWfFsFslKSoiMaH5dMdseaRylOO_8en8iv1WEgbgE7w/s1576/Stonei_prendusi.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1576" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgI1PN73pRM0DDO9xy6d-Ed6V8ecBRhbkVD2ckOOs2rABN-7hID_5HP6hH9YS0rvDA7p3gvAb48Qut7SLviUKSdyx9uBZFrA6r3C2rR__QNR3g2iemNLfGvsQnpn0vU6H6SW_0OySXtIIr2g7vWfFsFslKSoiMaH5dMdseaRylOO_8en8iv1WEgbgE7w/w400-h365/Stonei_prendusi.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Draba maguirei</i> subsp. <i>stonei</i> (Teresa Prendusi, May 23, 2004, Logan Canyon, Utah)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKh1rbrBVWv7ZFHEqPjykI0SjsNDwzh2145NSdH-H5E2jvj5ORC-l9scRbZGQlEoh3ujTzBeK71kXwUJnBYgobIlikEgFLSD8_6ELmXYfp55hjmqsjpNpwnJnC4fPJ852tjhdOfjK843gs_dY7a9BINjUA9MyLYULLntPCXmlC0rBx0_IdF4nXqFT40A/s589/Stonei_leaves_prendusi.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="399" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKh1rbrBVWv7ZFHEqPjykI0SjsNDwzh2145NSdH-H5E2jvj5ORC-l9scRbZGQlEoh3ujTzBeK71kXwUJnBYgobIlikEgFLSD8_6ELmXYfp55hjmqsjpNpwnJnC4fPJ852tjhdOfjK843gs_dY7a9BINjUA9MyLYULLntPCXmlC0rBx0_IdF4nXqFT40A/w434-h640/Stonei_leaves_prendusi.jpg" width="434" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Draba maguirei</i> subsp. <i>stonei</i> leaves (Teresa Prendusi, May 2004, Logan Canyon, Utah)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><i style="font-family: arial;">D. maguirei</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> and </span><i style="font-family: arial;">D. burkei</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> are both on the Forest Service's (Intermountain Region, R4) sensitive species list that has not been updated since 2010. Both currently have G2 (Imperiled) NatureServe rankings. They have been included in Utah Native Plant Society rare plant lists since at least 2003 on-line and have been ranked with a conservation priority of "Watch" (third highest). These now newly recognized subspecies have not yet been ranked and their conservation priority could end up being now higher when ultimately re-reviewed. </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><i style="font-family: arial;">D. maguirei </i><span style="font-family: arial;">was also included in the 1991 </span><i style="font-family: arial;">Utah Endangered, Threatened and Sensitive Plant Field Guide</i><span style="font-family: arial;">, so has been on the radar for a long time.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The URPG has accordingly been updated. </span><a href="https://www.utahrareplants.org/rpg_species.html" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank">Utah rare plant guide</a><span style="font-family: arial;"> links to each of these three taxa follow:</span></p><p><a href="https://www.utahrareplants.org/pdf/Draba_burkei.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: arial;">https://www.utahrareplants.org/pdf/Draba_burkei.pdf</span></a></p><p><a href="https://www.utahrareplants.org/pdf/Draba_maguirei_subsp_maguirei.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: arial;">https://www.utahrareplants.org/pdf/Draba_maguirei_subsp_maguirei.pdf</span></a></p><p><a href="https://www.utahrareplants.org/pdf/Draba_maguirei_subsp_stonei.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: arial;">https://www.utahrareplants.org/pdf/Draba_maguirei_subsp_stonei.pdf</span></a></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Supplemental page to the above:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.utahrareplants.org/pdf/Draba_maguirei_subsp_stonei_supp.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.utahrareplants.org/pdf/Draba_maguirei_subsp_stonei_supp.pdf</a></span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Note: it is coincidental that the plants in this complex have all been named for individuals* that have a last letter of "e" in their names, i.e.: Maguire, Burke, and Stone. These individuals were all males so hence the "i" ending in the corresponding scientific names. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>*Purely opinion:</i></span><span style="font-family: arial;"> I am not a big fan of naming plants or animals after people. A better approach is to, whenever possible, try to use either a characteristic of the plant or something that relates to where it occurs (i.e. geographic location or habitat type for example) or something else related to its biology in forming the specific or varietal epithet. Admittedly this can also be problematic since that distinguishing character or location may end up being different than originally thought, leading to misleading names. And that is made harder with cryptic taxa like those discussed here. Nonetheless, these are biological organisms that came into existence over a likely vast evolutionary time period, and were also known by others long before they were ever named. They deserve appropriate respect. It is nice to honor someone who may have made a huge botanical contribution or even with simply an incidental discovery of some kind, but that person's name could just as easily be used as part of the common name (for which there are no rules when it comes to plants) if applicable, or indicated in the published write-up for the taxon. To have a word that translates to something with respect to the plant itself is I think far more meaningful. Naming plants after your spouse, your children, your grandchildren, your friends or colleagues, etc. (or even the person who either first recognized something as undescribed, or who collected it first even though those circumstances make more sense), to me borders on being something that is more typically inappropriate for a scientific endeavor (and despite the precedent that has been set in doing so, the one frowned upon approach is not to name something for yourself - the line is at least drawn there!). Yet, and with all due respect, the scientific names of our native plant species are quite literally littered with the often rather meaningless names of people.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Tony Frateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06203800945783503602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865992897309653208.post-61311064299835986532023-02-18T00:39:00.005-08:002023-02-18T00:59:04.444-08:00Plants in the news: winter 2023<p><u style="font-family: verdana;"><b>Invasive Tamarisk removal efforts:</b></u></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">From southern Utah, we have this recent story:</span></p><p><a href="https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2023/02/10/agl-local-nonprofit-woodturners-join-forces-to-rid-southern-utah-of-invasive-very-flammable-tamarisk-tree/" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2023/02/10/agl-local-nonprofit-woodturners-join-forces-to-rid-southern-utah-of-invasive-very-flammable-tamarisk-tree/</a></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tamarisk (also known as "Saltcedar" and by the scientific name <i>Tamarix ramosissima</i>) is found throughout the state of Utah and not just in southern Utah. It is a Class III ("contain") designated noxious weed in Utah, and is found in pretty much every county in the state. In the United States, where it is not native, it is now principally found in the western-central portion of the country and then down into Mexico. It chokes out other vegetation (and makes it very difficult to find a camping spot along rivers!). I don't recall reading an article before that focuses on its flammability like this article does.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><u><b>The power of plants:</b></u></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This recent piece:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.abc4.com/community/hidden-history/black-history-month/crazy-plant-bae-brings-plant-therapy-to-black-community/" target="_blank">https://www.abc4.com/community/hidden-history/black-history-month/crazy-plant-bae-brings-plant-therapy-to-black-community/</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">quotes a study indicating that " . . taking care of plants can aid in stress reduction, alleviate symptoms of depression, aid with memory retention, promote better self-esteem, and make us generally more productive and creative."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">This article doesn't focus on locally native plants per se. But, the same idea can be applied to gardening with native plants and helping to protect ecosystems harboring our diminishing natural areas. So often those of us working in plant conservation are grilled with the question, "Why care?" [in reference to say a rare plant or to plants in general]. While there are so many excellent responses available to this usually mind-numbing question, this response is as good as any. They benefit us in <b>so</b> many ways (including the fact that we wouldn't exist without them!).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><u><b>Some good news hopefully for Monarchs:</b></u></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The winter Monarch count is up:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.upr.org/utah-news/2023-02-06/monarch-butterfly-winter-count-shows-significant-improvement" target="_blank">https://www.upr.org/utah-news/2023-02-06/monarch-butterfly-winter-count-shows-significant-improvement</a></span></p><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">By no means does this mean that Monarchs are out of the woods and all ongoing efforts must continue at warp speed. Monarch caterpillars only feed on milkweed species and so there is an incredibly important connection between Monarch species survival and native plants (and the adults who require nectar from flowering plants, preferably locally adapted native plants). Attempting to do as many things as possible to conserve Monarch butterflies is not a recent phenomenon. Scientists have been concerned about them for decades. They have been the poster child for the Union of Concern Scientists for a very long time. But, as with climate change, people were just largely not paying attention to their plight until relatively recently. Crisis management is how we respond to environmental issues.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><u><b>Utah Legislature Tackles Wasteful Grass:</b></u></span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://dailyutahchronicle.com/2023/02/07/langley-grass-utah-drought-water-usage/" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">https://dailyutahchronicle.com/2023/02/07/langley-grass-utah-drought-water-usage/</a></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Utah is extremely wasteful of its water resources and there needs to be a much bigger push with significant private landowner incentives to replace lawn grass. And, in fact, until relatively recently, in many homeowner associations and related neighborhood settings, owners were persecuted when trying to implement water-saving landscapes. An about-face is slowly starting to happen. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Using the desperate condition of the Great Salt Lake to address our poor water use practices is I suppose fine, but I agree with a quote in this article that it will not be enough by itself to save the lake. Golf courses should not be exempted from the legislation that is being currently discussed (but through lobbying efforts, which essentially corrupt good governance throughout our democracy, no doubt will lead to their exclusion). </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Meanwhile, an encouraging development from last year that contradicts the long-held notion that front yards with native plants are just a bunch of weeds and must be immediately removed, is this change in <b>Utah's Condominum Act</b> which took effect on May 4, 2022. Some background:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://utahhoalawblog.com/2022/06/01/new-2022-hoa-laws-and-what-they-mean-for-your-hoa/" target="_blank">https://utahhoalawblog.com/2022/06/01/new-2022-hoa-laws-and-what-they-mean-for-your-hoa/</a></span></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here's a link to the new Utah law:</span></p><p><a href="https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title57/Chapter8A/57-8a-S231.html?v=C57-8a-S231_2022050420220504" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title57/Chapter8A/57-8a-S231.html?v=C57-8a-S231_2022050420220504</a></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Note from the above that now (</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Section 57-8a-231):</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"(2) An association may not enact or enforce a governing document that prohibits, or has the effect of prohibiting, a lot owner of a detached dwelling from incorporating water-wise landscaping on the property owner's property."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Nice!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span>There is in addition to the above section, another reference to landscaping </span>(under Section 57-8-8.1, also effective May 4, 2022 of the Condominium Ownership Act):</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">"(9) An association of unit owners:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">(a) shall adopt rules supporting water-efficient landscaping, including allowance for low water use </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">on lawns during drought conditions; and</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">(b) may not prohibit or restrict the conversion of a grass park strip to water-efficient landscaping."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">See:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title57/Chapter8/57-8-S8.1.html?v=C57-8-S8.1_2022050420220504" target="_blank">https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title57/Chapter8/57-8-S8.1.html?v=C57-8-S8.1_2022050420220504</a><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">In a country and particularly in a state that seems to be largely headed backwards towards a less enlightened time, this is a refreshing change in attitude (even if it is happening over the fear of the looming ecological catastrophe, severe human health impacts, and the impact to Utah's ski and therefore tourism industry, that would be the end result of a non-existent Great Salt Lake).</span></p><p><b style="font-family: verdana;"><u>Elks eat Yews and die:</u></b></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We plant a lot of biological garbage in our yards and then we essentially block wildlife from lower elevation areas where for thousands of years they migrated during the winter. And now they end up being forced to eat whatever they can find in the foothills (instead of the valleys).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://kjzz.com/news/local/19-elk-found-dead-in-utah-county-likely-from-plant-poisoning-wildlife-utah-yew-landscaping-animals-dwr" target="_blank">https://kjzz.com/news/local/19-elk-found-dead-in-utah-county-likely-from-plant-poisoning-wildlife-utah-yew-landscaping-animals-dwr</a><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yews (<i>Taxus</i>, a genus of coniferous shrubs and trees) have no place in Utah landscapes. Both <i><a href="https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:306036-2" target="_blank">Taxus baccata</a></i> and the even more poisonous <i><a href="https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:324379-2" target="_blank">T</a></i></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><a href="https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:324379-2" target="_blank">axus cuspida</a></i> have nonetheless been sold in the nursery trade in Utah (and culvitated on both the University of Utah and BYU campuses since at least the 1950's) and are sometimes used as a hedge or border wall. One of these species is believed to be responsible for the death of these elk.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yew poisoning is well known. For some references see:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://extension.psu.edu/toxicity-of-yew-wood-and-roots" target="_blank">https://extension.psu.edu/toxicity-of-yew-wood-and-roots</a><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">My recommendation: <b>don't plant Yews</b>! And "<b>yank the yews</b>" if you have them already in your yard.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><br />Tony Frateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06203800945783503602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865992897309653208.post-91835945559396617482016-05-20T10:08:00.001-07:002016-05-23T08:12:07.446-07:00Endangered Species Day 2016<div class="control" id="messageBody">
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It's here: Endangered Species Day 2016.<br />
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Occurring within Utah are 25 plant species that currently are listed under the Endangered Species Act (12 of those are designated as "endangered" meaning in danger of extinction, and 13 as "threatened" i.e. on verge of becoming endangered as defined in the ESA). The first species from Utah was federally listed in 1978 (<i>Phacelia argillacea</i>); the last in 2013 (prior to that, no species had been listed since 2001, a drought of some 12 years). No plant species from Utah have been designated absent legal action since prior to the year 2000.<br />
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In addition we have three candidate species, species found to be eligible for listing and formally designated as candidate species, but awaiting action. Candidate designation is very worthwhile but offers no protection.<br />
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There are many species worthy of designation that are imperiled; there should be many more designated than there are (we have well over 400 endemic vascular plant species that only occur in Utah, and over 10% of our 3,200 taxa of vascular plants alone are considered rare and many of those have a wide variety of imminent threats) but at the same time, we are grateful for the existence of the Endangered Species Act and look forward to the day when it is again revered, and its rules and regulatory intent are again implemented in the spirit that was intended by Congress.<br />
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We are also grateful for the work of the The Nature Conservancy in Utah who has to date worked to establish preserves in Utah that are currently helping to protect at least five federally listed plant species plus one (and possibly soon, two) species that should be listed.<br />
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TNC Utah Link:<br />
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We are also grateful for our many conservation and other partners, some of whom are mentioned here (see the "Private organization" section):<br />
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We are also grateful for our rare plant committee and their exhaustive efforts to rate/rank/seek evaluations for Utah rare plants and publish their findings, and who have spent incredible amounts of time in so doing, mostly notably, Drs. Jason Alexander and Walter Fertig. We are incredibly fortunate to have them on our board and having taken numerous active roles within UNPS, just we are indebted to the prior similar work of most notably Dr. Duane Atwood, and also many others. It is through their efforts and all of the taxonomists/botanists that are their contemporaries as well as the vast number that are no longer with us that have painstakingly identified species and unique varieties that occur in the state/region that provides us with focus and direction for future conservation actions. To all of them, every resident of the state is permanently indebted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.utahrareplants.org/rpg_species.html" target="_blank">More information about Utah rare plants</a><br />
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Tony Frateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06203800945783503602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865992897309653208.post-52432441914039268122016-04-11T19:49:00.000-07:002016-04-11T19:49:54.514-07:00The Utah Listing Preclusion Model<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">An American Bar Association environment and energy resources section article (author unknown) is referring to Endangered Species Act (ESA) listing avoidance tactics in Utah as the <b>Utah Listing Preclusion Model.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />See:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/environment_energy_resources/committees_dch/2015_es_wc_conservation_agreements_and_esa_listing.authcheckdam.pdf" target="_blank">Conservation Agreements and ESA Listing: the Utah Listing Preclusion Model</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The approach is touted as one other states should use in certain circumstances to avoid listing under the ESA.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />From the 2015 article:<br /><br /><br />"In the past five years, Utah species accounted for twenty-five percent of those where listing was precluded by an agreement. During this time period, no state has precluded listing for more species than Utah. Recent listing preclusions in Utah provide a valuable model for other states to consider when faced with a potential ESA listing."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Utah tactics in avoiding ESA listing using last minute and ill-conceived conservation agreements is a poor practice which, as feared, has set a very dangerous precedent.</span><br />
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<br />Tony Frateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06203800945783503602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865992897309653208.post-7914082407411098682016-03-25T08:50:00.002-07:002016-03-25T14:51:51.499-07:00Deseret milkvetch delisting deja vu<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Utah's ESA listed </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Astragalus desereticus</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> (Deseret milkvetch) is again in the news. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKxVBxk79wcG3IPefEZC49WZ-knqILVfOwZoYZvNCL7RjuBwuEXq-r2D9B0CxAg31N9LCjnhghf_Ep8WOoK09EK6riyUQv88PdhXT_y063TDLgpsvU_5KFZkf8JNBCbX542-14uMtEaoN/s1600/astragalus_desereticus_frankiln.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKxVBxk79wcG3IPefEZC49WZ-knqILVfOwZoYZvNCL7RjuBwuEXq-r2D9B0CxAg31N9LCjnhghf_Ep8WOoK09EK6riyUQv88PdhXT_y063TDLgpsvU_5KFZkf8JNBCbX542-14uMtEaoN/s320/astragalus_desereticus_frankiln.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Astragalus desereticus</i><br />(Ben Franklin, Utah Natural Heritage Program)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The <a href="https://www.wapa.gov/" target="_blank">Western Area Power Administration</a> (WAPA) petitioned to delist it in on October 6, 2015 claiming to provide </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"new" information. (It unlikely that the information presented is particularly "new"). It is known that WAPA wants to put some kind of power line or </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">transmission corridor through or near the mostly private/state owned property where this species grows. Based on that petition, the FWS has decided to review it further. See:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-03-16/pdf/2016-05699.pdf" target="_blank">Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 90-Day Findings on 29 petitions</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(81 FR 14058 14072 published March 16, 2016)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The species has been listed as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act since October 20, 1999. Through early March of 2016, the rare plant committee of the Utah Native Plant Society continued to rank it as "High" conservation priority (there is only one higher priority ranking).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) had alrea</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">dy formally decided to recommend the species for delisting in 2011. So why has it remained listed? (A question for taxpayers to ask, now that FWS will be spending more time on an expensive re-review in light of the positive finding.) In any event, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the FWS has made a positive 90-day finding meaning that they will now review this again and come out with another finding one year from now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In doing so, the FWS must assess current known residential construction as a result of suburban sprawl and road widening threats. It is inevitable that these impacts will occur, and this severely edaphically restricted species has nowhere else to go. Further there is essentially no federal lands ownership involving its habitat (perhaps a tiny amount on Forest Service lands reportedly recently found, but almost all private and state).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And extensive surveys should be conducted this year, since to my knowledge the species has not been surveyed in recent years. What has the effect been in recent years involving record high average temperatures? Are there other new threats or impacts?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The very delisting petition itself represents an imminent threat to the species. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Given that the petitioner </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">presents a threat to the species, the delisting petition has to be in large part viewed in that light. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Also given that no plant species are being listed in Utah in favor instead of "conservation agreements" even when the FWS itself proposes to list them, then no species should be </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">delisted absent some sort of very significant, long-term conservation agreement as well. (And long term does not mean 10 or 15 years.) In this case, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is a significant owner of its habitat. There have been past agreements, but as protector of our wildlife (which should, but rarely does, include plant species), they should be jumping at this opportunity to enter into an appropriate 25-year minimum conservation agreement, or better yet, providing a conservation easement that will permanently protect at least 80% of the existing known habitat without surface disturbances including power transmission corridors that end up being corridors which encourage invasive species and increase recreational impacts. And cattle grazing is a continued threat as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's the text from the PDF relating to this latest FR notice published on 3/16/2016 (see link above):</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">"We received a petition dated October 6, 2015, from Western Area Power </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Administration requesting that Deseret milkvetch (currently listed as </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">threatened), be delisted under the Act due to new information. The petition </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">clearly identified itself as such and included the requisite identification </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">information for the petitioner, required at 50 CFR 424.14(a). This finding </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">addresses the petition. Finding Based on our review of the petition </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">and sources cited in the petition, we find that the petition resents </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">petitioned action (delisting) may be warranted for the Deseret milkvetch</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">(Astragalus desereticus), based on a lack of threats under any of the five listing </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">factors. However, during our status review, we will thoroughly evaluate all </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">potential threats to the species, including the extent to which any </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">protections or other conservation efforts have reduced those threats. Thus, for </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">this species, the Service requests information relevant to whether the </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">species falls within the definition of either an endangered species under </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">section 3(6) of the Act or a threatened species under section 3(20), including</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">information on the five listing factors under section 4(a)(1) and any other </span><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">factors identified in this finding . . . "</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Even if the FWS decides ultimately to delist the species, they would still be required to monitor the species for an additional five years following the delisting date. To what extent FWS would have the funding or personnel to conduct that required monitoring is unknown.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More information:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://ecos.fws.gov/tess_public/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=Q05R" target="_blank">USFWS ECOS species profile for Deseret milkvetch</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Astragalus desereticus</i> on the Utah Rare Plant guide:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.utahrareplants.org/pdf/Astragalus_desereticus.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.utahrareplants.org/pdf/Astragalus_desereticus.pdf</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">or access via:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.utahrareplants.org/rpg_species.html" target="_blank">http://www.utahrareplants.org/rpg_species.html</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://dwrcdc.nr.utah.gov/rsgis2/Search/Display.asp?FlNm=astrdese" target="_blank">Utah DNR UCDC Deseret Milkvetch page</a></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.fws.gov/ecological-services/es-library/pdfs/delisting.pdf" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Delisting a Species: Section 4 of the Endangered Species Act</a><br />
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Tony Frateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06203800945783503602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865992897309653208.post-17481435571966199182016-02-24T07:55:00.002-08:002016-02-26T07:23:45.858-08:00Cactus poachers: we are watching you<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">An excellent article on a longstanding topic appeared in <i>The Atlantic</i> on February 22, 2016:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/02/cactus-thieves/470070/" target="_blank">Busting Cactus Smugglers in the American West: How undercover agents infiltrated the global black market for cacti</a> (by J. Weston Phippen).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The first letter in the genus name, i.e. in the scientific name otherwise properly referred to in italics although with some misspellings, should have all been capitalized in the article. Overall however it is a well-written piece, although with a less than satisfactory ending in terms of what happened to the smugglers that were caught red-handed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This activity has been going on of course for decades. A limited number of obsessed folks in Japan/Asia are another big source of the problem, but Europe typically has produced some of the worst offenders (Germany, Austria, Russia, etc.). They come over and take whatever they want and don't care whether they are in a national park or not. Note from the article that they even lifted a plant right out of Utah's Arches National Park, probably a <i>Sclerocactus parviflorus</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It isn't just foreigners that do this; there are avid domestic cactophiles acting alone or sometimes in groups that make periodic raids on Utah cacti from time to time as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Usually the foreigners are smarter than this, and will simply put seeds (it is <b>not</b> okay to take them from without permit much less from rare/sensitive plant species or federally listed species; different rules may apply depending on the species) and parts of dug up plants into envelopes or small boxes and simply mail them out to themselves. Private couriers like FedEx/DHL/Airborne used to be pretty popular historically and was the more common method which then typically avoided customs completely. Stuffing plant parts into cereal boxes with respect to some of the activity noted in the recent article and caught on a video camera: not so smart. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These people are terrorists, just of a different sort. To be only levied a small fine after being caught red-handed however is hardly going to discourage this activity; if anything it will encourage this behavior. People like this should frankly at a minimum have their passports revoked indefinitely, or for at least some <b>very long</b> period of time and made to pay multi-thousand dollar fines.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We should all be outraged at this flagrant and ignorant behavior. It must stop.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To cactus smugglers: you are being watched. There are video and surveillance cameras in places that you might not expect. We will work to ensure you are caught and that fines are increased. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To anyone who thinks they can collect just seeds and that it is just fine: wrong. Stop. Check the laws of the state and country you visit. You cannot move plant parts on Utah highways without a permit. You cannot take seeds much less parts of plants from our national and state parks and from other protected areas. You cannot take seeds or plant parts from federal lands without a permit from an appropriate federal agency. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>What can you do?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Become aware of laws relating to the collection of plant materials. For starters, see:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.unps.org/PAGES/laws.html" target="_blank">Laws and Utah native plants</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you see suspicious activity in national parks/monuments or in state parks, report it immediately to local officials. If a federally listed species, report that activity to the US Fish & Wildlife Service (if in Utah, to the Salt Lake City office). Take pictures if possible including areas that seem to show obvious signs of digging, tire tracks, etc. and provide those to the appropriate land managing agency. If you can't determine easily who that is, e-mail the information to the Utah Native Plant Society:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="mailto:unps@unps.org" target="_blank">unps@unps.org</a></span><br />
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Tony Frateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06203800945783503602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865992897309653208.post-57311898757126724352016-02-15T09:21:00.000-08:002016-02-15T09:36:00.046-08:00Lions and penstemons deserve equivalent consideration<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;">Few understand that the the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) is global in its intended scope; it is about the entire planet, and a new way of thinking about it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;">And that's one of the things that makes it one of the most intelligent and forward-thinking laws that this country has ever passed. The listing of the African Lion in December of 2015 illustrates how it often is a law that recognizes what is important, even if our direct enforcement options are relatively limited. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;">Will we continue to lead the way in this regard? And will we protect our own "African lions" as well?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;">Listing a species under the ESA brings it the attention and potential action that may help lead to significant voluntary and other conservation actions. Unfortunately when it comes to listing plant species in the United States, the question as to whether or not a species occurs on federal lands is given considerable weight by the USFWS and becomes a factor in their decision as to whether to list. As the listing of the African Lion demonstrates, this thinking is wrong.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;">It matters not where a species occurs in determining whether it is ultimately deserving of protection. It matters, yes, in terms of assessing threats. But it is not relevant with respect to whether direct enforcement or other regulatory restrictions would apply. Rather, the indirect benefits to listing are huge. The FWS also appropriately recognized this with respect to the endangered lions of Africa and India.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;">But this is also true with species such as Utah's <i>Penstemon flowersii </i>which in part was denied the listing it deserved because of inadequate regulatory mechanisms, because it mostly does not occur on federal lands. That is precisely one of the reasons why it should have been listed. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;">Through the initial efforts of the Utah Native Plant Society (and others) in identifying it as one of our most "extremely high" species of conservation concern in the state of Utah, and subsequent very significant the efforts of The Nature Conservancy, there is hope for the also magnificent </span></span><i style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;">P. flowersii, </i><span style="color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;"> and which again illustrates the many benefits of recognizing a species that needs our attention.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;">More information:</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;"><a href="http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/african-lions-protection/" target="_blank">African Lions Finally Gain Endangered Species Act Protection</a> (<i>Scientific American</i> article by </span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;">John R. Platt published December 21, 2015</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;"><a href="http://www.fws.gov/news/ShowNews.cfm?ref=endangered-species-act-listing-protects-lions-in-africa-and-india-&_ID=35403" target="_blank">December 21, 2015 FWS press release</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.fws.gov/endangered/what-we-do/lion.html" target="_blank">Lions Are Now Protected Under the Endangered Species Act</a> (also FWS)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;"><br /></span></span>Tony Frateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06203800945783503602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865992897309653208.post-83716282592123039902015-09-23T18:13:00.000-07:002015-09-25T10:38:12.684-07:00Hatch, UTC, not clean nor greenThe <a href="http://www.utahtech.org/about" target="_blank">Utah Technology Council</a> (UTC) bills itself as " the state’s premier professional association for over 5,000 high tech, clean tech and life science companies, representing nearly 10 percent of the state’s total payroll." It repeats this claim in a 2015 op-ed piece by its CEO Richard Nelson, <a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865628914/I-Squared-Act-good-for-tech-companies-Utah-economy.html" target="_blank"> I-Squared Act good for tech companies, Utah economy</a> (Deseret News, May 18, 2015) which included a picture of Utah Senator Orrin Hatch.<br />
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UTC has for many years had a close association with Hatch, and he has often appeared as a speaker at UTC events. On November 2, 2015, Sen. Hatch is now even being inducted into UTC's Hall of Fame. And the UTC has gone so far as to include the text of an <a href="http://www.utahtech.org/news/newsarticledisplay.aspx?ArticleID=1811" target="_blank">op-ed piece</a> considerably glorifying Hatch's accomplishments that first appeared in the August 6, 2015 Tribune and which was written by an employee of doTerra (see <a href="http://www.utahstories.com/2015/02/corporate-puppet-masters-and-orrin-hatch/" target="_blank">Corporate Puppet Masters and Orrin Hatch</a> in <i>Utah Stories</i>, Feb. 12, 2015).<br />
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Hatch though has repeatedly rejected any association with greenness (<a href="http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Orrin_Hatch_Environment.htm" target="_blank">Orrin Hatch and environmental issues</a>) except for when it comes to "green cards" and legislation that UTC has strongly supported but which may backfire <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/article/2868428/new-h-1b-bill-will-help-destroy-us-tech-workforce.html">(New H-1B bill will 'help destroy' U.S. tech workforce: Measure could accelerate offshoring of U.S. jobs, critics argue, Computerworld, Jan 14, 2015)</a>.<br />
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Associating with "clean" industries however infers being green at some level, like it or not. Polluted air is not clean nor are polluted rivers. Protecting the natural world involves being clean.<br />
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In fact, Hatch is being inducted under the allusion of somehow being associated with "clean industries" and as someone whose overall policies would somehow attract "clean tech workers" to Utah and living in a healthy environment. In 2014 he even introduced a UTC Hall of Fame inductee Marc Benioff who has time and again talked about his corporate philosophy of serving a variety of stakeholders, one of which includes the <b>environment</b>. <br />
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Yet clearly Hatch does not share many of those same philosophies. Hatch instead has a relatively narrow view of philanthropy and of what it means to "do the right thing."<br />
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At this very moment while being inducted into the UTC's Hall of Fame, two pending bills introduced by Hatch and co-sponsors include:<br />
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(1) <a href="https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/s1142">Senate bill 1142 introduced April 30, 2015</a>: <i>Native Species Protection Act</i> - following a common trend to mislead the public by actions with agendas that are actually anti-environmental, this bill of which Hatch is one of four sponsors (including the primary sponsor, Utah Senator Mike Lee) would strip Endangered Species Act protection from any plant or animal species that solely occurs within the boundaries of a given state specifically exempting them from the Endangered Species Act and the commerce clause (article I, section 8, clause 3) of the constitution. This shameful proposal however is contrary to the intent of the Endangered Species Act and ignores article IV, section 3, clause 4 of the constitution which gives Congress the power to make rules and regulations respecting to territory belonging to the United States.<br />
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In Hatch's op-ed dated April 20, 2012 entitled <a href="http://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2012/4/endangered-species-act-prime-example-of-federal-overreach" target="_blank">Endangered Species Act Prime Example of Federal Overreach</a>, he outlines some of the same tired arguments (all that relate to animals and not plants yet Senate Bill 1142 makes no distinction between the two) that do not apply to plant issues but which also create the same kind of federal fear mongering that other state and federal officials have also participated in. Senate Bill 1142 is clearly an attack primarily on the federally listed Utah Prairie Dog (<i>Cynomys parvidens</i>), the only mammal species that is indigenous to Utah. <br />
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The real intent here is to try to open as many areas for energy and other development as quickly as possible without Endangered Species Act considerations. But meanwhile Utah has no laws whatsoever to protect many types of species including plants. And the combination of these activities will denigrate our quality of life with increased air pollution, decreased water quality, and negative impacts from non-stop road building and so forth.<br />
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Many other species, especially plants, can have distributions that may be restricted to a single state that should still be afforded the proper protections under the goal of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to prevent the extinction of species. Whether a species just happens to fall within the arbitrary geopolitical boundaries of a single state or not is irrelevant to basic biology and the application of this important law that has wide support by the general public and scientists (and not just "greens"). Further, just because a species might occur in more than one state does not mean that it then is an "article of commerce" and so the logic of the bill fails. If however one were to apply an interstate commerce idea and link that to endangered or threatened species protection under the ESA, the argument that a federal interstate commerce connection exists is implicit in the fact that rare plant seeds or collections of all or parts of plants (whether by private collectors or by scientists) of species solely occurring in one state inevitably have interstate commerce connections both in being transported across state lines (on federal highways or by airlines) and in being sold commercially domestically and overseas. The same can be said of animal species. Clearly Congress can and should regulate that commerce.<br />
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(2)<a href="https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/s1783" target="_blank">Senate bill 1783 introduced July 15, 2015</a>: "<i>A bill to amend the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 to clarify a provision relating to the designation of a northern transportation route in Washington County, Utah" - </i>this bill would exempt Endangered Species Act provisions with respect to proposals to build a Northern Corridor north of the St. George area through an area already protected by a habitat conservation plan. The amended language would stipulate that the construction of the route not be subjected to "additional restrictions or requirements from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service." Without referring to the real issue, Hatch as the sole sponsor of the bill is attempting to subvert any requirements of the Endangered Species Act as they apply to the federally listed Desert Tortoise, <i>Gopherus agassizii</i>, with respect to a Northern Corridor. Simpy put, Hatch does not want to follow the ESA, <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2012/12/this-day-in-politics-085535" target="_blank">signed into law by a Republican president</a> just three years before Hatch's first term in office. Instead Hatch and other Utah officials want to create their own exceptions as they see fit.<br />
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Both of these bills are being given very poor chances of success; it would appear they will not add to Hatch's legacy of "immeasurable success."<br />
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UTC (formerly UITA) has for some time now been a de facto arm of the GOP in Utah. Its CEO sent out the following e-mail to UTC members in 2006:<br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">From: <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Richard Nelson" <rnelson_slc@hotmail.com> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Date sent: <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Mon, 22 May 2006 15:59:22 -0600</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Subject: <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Hatch Fundraising Reception</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">In recent years I've worked closely w/ Senator Orrin Hatch and found him to be a true champion of technology issues in our country. Since he's had such an important impact on our technology community, I hope you'll join me on May 30th to thank him directly. Many thanks! Rich</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Steve Appleton, Chairman, CEO and President of Micron Technology and the Host Committee:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Rod Lewis, Richard Nelson, Jack Sunderlage, Will West, Dave Westergard, Donald R. Savage, Jerry Oldroyd, Mike Bates, Joe Cannon, Jason Kreizenbeck, Stan Lockhart, Larry Harlow, Bill Timmons Sr., John Kelliher, Makan Delrahim, Gilbert Kaplan</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">cordially invite you to a fundraising reception for</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">The Honorable Orrin G. Hatch</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">United States Senator</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Tuesday, May 30th, 2006</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"> 4:00 PM 5:30 PM</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">At the IM Flash Technologies headquarters</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Lehi, Utah</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">(directions below)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">The suggested minimum contribution for this event is $500.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">The maximum that an individual can contribute is $2,100 per person for the general election.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Please make check payable to: Hatch Election Committee</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Please RSVP to Stan Lockhart at 801-368-2166 or lockhart@connect2.com</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Contributions are not deductible for federal income tax purposes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Contributions by corporations and foreign nationals are prohibited. Federal law requires us to report the name, address, occupation and employer of each contributor who gives more than $200 in an election cycle to Hatch Election Committee.</span><br />
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Clearly this was an attempt to solicit campaign donations for Hatch's re-election. And UTC e-mail records and other information were used to solicit those contributions. Sending this from a private e-mail was an inexcusable stunt by Nelson to raise funds for Hatch.<br />
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Hatch raised $6.5 million dollars that year. In the 2012 campaign he reportedly spent almost $20 per vote (see <a href="http://ballotpedia.org/Orrin_Hatch">http://ballotpedia.org/Orrin_Hatch</a>).<br />
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For now some 38 years Hatch has made a career out of politics and naturally has fought against term limits. In running against <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/31/us/frank-moss-91-democratic-utah-senator.html" target="_blank">Frank Moss</a> who had held his prior senate seat for a mere 18 years, Hatch has more than doubled that time using the tried and true "But I can get things for Utah done because I have seniority" argument again and again, the same argument Moss could have just as easily used against him. (Reportedly Hatch was quoted as saying <a href="http://www.richardcyoung.com/politics/election-2012-politics/tired-timid-troubling-dump-orrin-hatch/" target="_blank">“What do you call a Senator who’s served in office for 18 years? You call him home.”</a> In asking that question now of Hatch, i.e. "What do you call a Senator who's served for 38 years?" the answer might be, "Bought and paid for." (See for example <a href="http://www.publicintegrity.org/2012/11/29/11862/drug-lobby-gave-750000-pro-hatch-nonprofit-utahs-us-senate-race" target="_blank">Drug lobby gave $750,000 to pro-Hatch nonprofit in Utah's U.S. Senate race: Voters unaware of donation</a>.) At a bare minimum, Hatch's political career is based on hypocrisy.<br />
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In so closely affiliating themselves with Hatch, UTC has committed a grave disservice to Utah and to its members. Awarding Hatch while he is still in office is a further indication of a high level of partisanship and questionable ethics. While 501(c)(6) non-profit organizations can participate in some amount of lobbying and partisanship as long as they do not constitute a <a href="http://www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/Other-Non-Profits/Political-Campaign-Activities---Business-Leagues" target="_blank">primary business activity</a>, a "professional organization" trying to serve its members should normally greatly distance itself from most politicians and from partisanship in general.<br />
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Tech companies that join UTC should understand that they are affiliating themselves with philosophical ideologies that are very much in support of non-clean industries and then decide for themselves whether that is really in the best interest of their companies, and the health of their employees. While Utah business promoters are touting Utah's environment as an exceptional place to live and work, our politicians are instead doing everything they can to open up as many of our lands for development as possible.<br />
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<b>Tech workers should not be lured to Utah under false pretenses.</b><br />
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Individuals or companies considering relocating to Utah can still thrive without any assistance from UTC nor helping to promote some of their misdirected and ineffective agendas. In fact, please come to Utah and help to provide a counterweight to the prevailing attitudes of certain politicians and other so-called community leaders.<br />
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<br />Tony Frateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06203800945783503602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865992897309653208.post-75578869561503777142015-08-24T20:28:00.001-07:002015-08-24T20:48:20.026-07:00Washington County Resource Management Plans: say no to Northern Corridor<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/st__george/planning2/nca_resource_management.html" target="_blank">BLM draft resource management plans </a>(RMP's) have been released for review relating to Beaver Dam Wash and the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area located in Utah's Washington County. The comment deadline is October 15, 2015.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Pending further review, it is likely that the Utah Native Plant Society will support Alternative C and oppose both the Northern</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Corridor" in the Red Cliffs NCA, as well as oppose continued livestock grazing in the Beaver Dam Wash.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white;">We had recommended three ACEC's to the BLM St. George Field Offices when that input was sought in July 2010 relating to sites involving the federally listed plant species <i>Astragalus </i></span><span style="background-color: white;"><i>holmgreniorum</i>, <i>Arctomecon humilis </i>and <i>Sphaeralcea gierischii</i> but we have not yet </span><span style="background-color: white;">determined whether provisions for any of those recommendations have been incorporated </span><span style="background-color: white;">into these RMP's.</span><br style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Meanwhile the normal development forces are at work. See for example:</span><br style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><a href="http://www.thespectrum.com/story/news/2015/07/28/hatch-throws-clout-behind-northern-corridor/30799395/" target="_blank">Hatch throws clout behind ‘Northern Corridor’ </a>(by David DeMille, July 28, 2015, <i>The Spectrum).</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That Hatch would try to bypass federal legislation to thwart the Endangered Species Act is exactly the antics one would expect from someone who blames judges for making laws. His acts are shameful for Utah and for the nation. Is this part of the disingenuous "We know best how to care for our state because we live here" flag that many western states and politicians often affiliated with a certain political party seem to waiving these days? For Hatch to be honored by organizations like the Utah Technology Council for creating "green jobs" is laughable. The man is anything but green.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An opposing viewpoint from local resident Lisa Rutherford appeared in the August 17, 2015 edition of </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Spectrum</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thespectrum.com/story/opinion/2015/08/15/orrin-hatch-northern-corridor-utah/31782031/" target="_blank">Sen. Hatch's plan won't work</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In that column she notes:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">UDOT’s 2007 report noted, “The Northern Corridor Alternative would not meet the objective of minimizing impacts to the reserve.” Due to this and other factors noted, “The City of </span><culink class="culinks" culang="en" href="http://curiyo.com/en/topic/Saint George" style="background-attachment: inherit !important; background-clip: inherit !important; background-color: white; background-image: inherit !important; background-origin: inherit !important; background-position: inherit !important; background-repeat: inherit !important; background-size: inherit !important; border-bottom-color: rgb(60, 192, 173) !important; border-bottom-style: dashed !important; border-bottom-width: 1px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51) !important; cursor: help; display: inline !important; float: none !important; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" title="">St. George</culink><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;">, UDOT, and FHWA determined that the anticipated implementation challenges and potential environmental effects, as previously described, would be substantial and thereby eliminated the Northern Corridor Alternative from further consideration.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Utah Department of Transportation's speculation that a road just might be good for the desert tortoise is equally shameful and embarrassing, and goes down a road (so to speak) that has been so often traveled by those favoring continued degradation of the natural world, and which scientific studies have again and again proven to be false.</span><br />
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More background about the Norther Corridor, see:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thespectrum.com/story/opinion/2015/08/15/orrin-hatch-northern-corridor-utah/31782031/" target="_blank">The Ghost Highway: The battle for the Northern Corridor, a conclusion</a> by <span style="color: #444444;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 11px;">Don Gilman which appeared on August 23, 2015 in <i>The Independent: a voice for Utah</i></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(and prior articles in that series)</span><br />
<br />Tony Frateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06203800945783503602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865992897309653208.post-51439427575545839392015-08-12T14:46:00.004-07:002015-08-12T15:43:35.849-07:00Animas spill: where the blame really liesDespite the headline which the author probably did not write or even suggest in this article:<br />
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<a href="http://www.vox.com/2015/8/10/9126853/epa-mine-spill-animas" target="_blank">How the EPA managed to spill 3 million gallons of mining waste into a Colorado river</a> (by Brad Plumer, August 10, 2015, Vox Media)<br />
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it is clear that this was simply a ticking time bomb. A mild earthquake or a weather-related landslide could no doubt have triggered this spill. To what degree EPA was culpable in not notifying others of the spill sooner is unclear (for example, apparently the engineers working in the area had no cell phone coverage, see <a href="http://www.durangoherald.com/article/20150810/NEWS01/150819966/EPA-faces-criticism-praise-at-Silverton-meeting-" target="_blank">EPA faces criticism, praise at Silverton meeting published August 11, 2015 in the Durango Herald</a>).<br />
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As the Plumer article indicates, the EPA has been trying to clean up the area since the 1980's and yet the town of Silverton has resisted time and time again.<br />
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A worse spill took place in 1975. The Animas River has been contaminated for a very long time.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnK9Omjsz3Iks9l6kjSn01fKIsfmfwdyhyphenhyphenaFhRKIOVG2ROAIthoKVng1_dFe7rucyWmWT-Dwy1Hq4V9GV9_Zo6JPjEtX-6RsJtBikduODGMTgBINQh1fWsB20oxZwm8ufdGGTu4c8J5GlC/s1600/Animas_river_090311_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnK9Omjsz3Iks9l6kjSn01fKIsfmfwdyhyphenhyphenaFhRKIOVG2ROAIthoKVng1_dFe7rucyWmWT-Dwy1Hq4V9GV9_Zo6JPjEtX-6RsJtBikduODGMTgBINQh1fWsB20oxZwm8ufdGGTu4c8J5GlC/s320/Animas_river_090311_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Animas River, September 2011</td></tr>
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While the conspiracy theorists and anti-fed folks will instead cry foul and point their fingers towards Washington DC, what this shows are the very real and long term impacts of irresponsible mining activities and practices of the past, some of which continue; that's what the headline should say and what the text of the article supports.<br />
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When energy/mining companies are asked for reclamation or other post disturbance plans consisting of as little as say five years, look at what can happen 100+ years later. The short term gains are followed by exceptionally long term impacts that can and do jeopardize the future for all of us. The Navajo Nation and downstream farmers should be seeking redress against the miners and energy companies that created this problem, and a local government that failed to act timely, and that stubbornly fought the cleanup at every turn, not the EPA.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin0OWg5mCOgUvNlPT6sMsMFKY5ecqdeOYXOPfjlcmQ7sCrf_45Zljdex9_gDbMSpZMywcyV8aZnfZpyQSbmPGgiu9EHlKO0KLRrp-Q8Zvxi5mDHIOmO08-fDS6IHwcXFZ3VMbK38B88H1p/s1600/Animas_river_090311_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin0OWg5mCOgUvNlPT6sMsMFKY5ecqdeOYXOPfjlcmQ7sCrf_45Zljdex9_gDbMSpZMywcyV8aZnfZpyQSbmPGgiu9EHlKO0KLRrp-Q8Zvxi5mDHIOmO08-fDS6IHwcXFZ3VMbK38B88H1p/s400/Animas_river_090311_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Animas River, September 2011</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Tony Frateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06203800945783503602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865992897309653208.post-73703717135018877592015-03-30T11:45:00.003-07:002015-04-24T10:28:38.582-07:00Utah lawmakers, officials and agencies hate sage grouses, wolves, and beardtongues<b>Sage grouse:</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/57971676-90/utah-grouse-sage-wolf.html.csp" target="_blank">Utah awards $2 million contract to fight grouse listing</a><br />
(Salt Lake Tribune Brian Maffly May 21, 2014)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/home/2279953-155/utah-lawmakers-set-to-give-sage" target="_blank">Utah lawmakers set to give sage grouse consultant another $2 million</a><br />
(Salt Lake Tribune, Brian Maffly March 11, 2015)<br />
<br />
$4 million to avoid listings? <br />
<br />
And after the Governor was trying to say all the right things about good environmental stewardship and signing an <a href="http://publiclands.utah.gov/governor-signs-executive-order-protecting-sage-grouse/" target="_blank">executive order</a> on February 10, 2015 to approve a conservation plan? Clearly the state did not do this out of the kindness of their heart, and because they truly cherish this bird.<br />
<br />
<b>Wolves </b>(related also to the above):<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/home/2298978-155/utah-sends-500k-more-to-unexplained" target="_blank">Utah sends $500K more to unexplained wolf delisting efforts</a><br />
(Salt Lake Tribune, Brian Maffly March 18, 2015)<br />
<br />
Utah's DWR is exceptionally anti-wolf. They believe that wolves are a threat to wildlife, ignoring the best available science and ecology.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://wildlife.utah.gov/wildlife-news/1192-dwr-biologists-hope-for-wolf-delisting.html" target="_blank">DWR biologists hope for wolf delisting</a><br />
<br />
The wolf management plan is largely a product, and summary, of public opinion and perceived attitudes rather than science. They also believe in introducing non-native ungulates into places like the La Sal and Tushar mountain ranges.<br />
<br />
<b>Beardtongues (<i>Penstemon</i> species):</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE4PiSPlELqtz_oP4q5ngcfFx_ohgA6huaNXG3fkj2gvOmCUeFxLus3abt0_WmmW2efnlB1l6f8VUg4cx-slZIkqdpNj-XFt61Dj8TnpayKA-zTfdPruWnatg9EC9Gnt-gz3OYxAXSkilc/s1600/Penstemon+_grahamii_fitts_05292009_closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE4PiSPlELqtz_oP4q5ngcfFx_ohgA6huaNXG3fkj2gvOmCUeFxLus3abt0_WmmW2efnlB1l6f8VUg4cx-slZIkqdpNj-XFt61Dj8TnpayKA-zTfdPruWnatg9EC9Gnt-gz3OYxAXSkilc/s1600/Penstemon+_grahamii_fitts_05292009_closeup.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rare "beardtongue" species, Graham's penstemon.<br />
Photo by Robert Fitts, Utah Natural Heritage Program (UNHP)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The State of Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration's (<a href="http://trustlands.utah.gov/" target="_blank">SITLA</a>) #2 senior staff member John Andrews at a <a href="http://www.utah.gov/pmn/sitemap/notice/208379.html" target="_blank">SITLA board of trustees retreat on April 16, 2014</a> with respect to a conservation agreement he was negotiating with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) to thwart the listing under the Endangered Species Act of two rare <i>Penstemon</i> species explained it as follows:<br />
<br />
"You are getting the ability to mine where you're going to want to be mining anyway and you are protecting something that wouldn't be disturbed. So that's the basic concept is you’ve got a 15-year agreement that’s going to buy for all of our miners the ability to strip mine and destroy any penstemon that are located on those sites in exchange for some conservation on federal, SITLA and private lands."<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUWnzo9MiRZFuiCzegmaVZs0WVTDJl_mRlEO1nLVxmybPwA5Qi7GDlc-b9RBgG9D6teug1NxH7MTkl6Cqmsla3Z8xelRNDPzaWtkI8Vw_H9-Fkc3XcosA3ouxMnHtRQ3ZRTt94HbuK6N7/s1600/Grahams_05272006_shale_frates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUWnzo9MiRZFuiCzegmaVZs0WVTDJl_mRlEO1nLVxmybPwA5Qi7GDlc-b9RBgG9D6teug1NxH7MTkl6Cqmsla3Z8xelRNDPzaWtkI8Vw_H9-Fkc3XcosA3ouxMnHtRQ3ZRTt94HbuK6N7/s1600/Grahams_05272006_shale_frates.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graham's penstemon adult growing in the flat, white shales of the Green River formation<br />
Andrews somewhat derisively indicated in the April 16 meeting that this species "eats oil shale."<br />
We do have oil shale because of plants; in fact, we exist because of plants.<br />
But plants do not eat oil shale.<br />
The shales do act as "nurse rocks" for those few plants that survive after germinating.<br />
The seed literally falls between the cracks.<br />
Photo by Tony Frates, UNPS</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Interestingly he refers also refers to SITLA funds as "using company funding" to study (in a very misguided way) transplanting plants. SITLA is at least a quasi-state agency, but does act like an independent development company. State agencies however were unwilling to actually fund the conservation agreement otherwise, and the FWS agreed to the untenable terms dictated by SITLA. As also stated by Andrews on that same date:<br />
<br />
"The agreement, and this was the most difficult to get the Service to agree to, the agreement has a provision that if the plants are listed, notwithstanding the conservation agreement, i.e. if an environmental group sues and wins and the Service has to list, the conservation agreement blows up, we are released from all obligations. So what that is intended to be frankly is a club to go and say to the environmental groups: if you guys go ahead and challenge this, if you win, you lose. And we're hoping that will bring some of the more constructive environmentalists away from the court system and into accepting this."<br />
<div>
<br />
It is entirely unclear who Andrews was referring to with respect to "constructive environmentalists." Even more conservation organizations have become involved now more than ever before in challenging the agreement, and no group previously involved has dropped out. It would be difficult to find any organization concerned about the natural world (much less any non-agency botanists other than those hired by SITLA or Uintah County) that would support the conservation agreement that was ultimately accepted by FWS.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyPsE1lhqwbOk5b-_dh7qrmhv-jotUTTKc_-wQuvq6G_s8tZrMOkyKrjY_3gcOKCmvbdU09oJn6n6Z7cjzlIH5lkoBJ0R9B260TWa9JKoXfhSYXaSrVcKo3HzVdwSLNe6JhtYS0_Am6cX9/s1600/Penstemon_grahamii_habitat_fitts_05192009_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyPsE1lhqwbOk5b-_dh7qrmhv-jotUTTKc_-wQuvq6G_s8tZrMOkyKrjY_3gcOKCmvbdU09oJn6n6Z7cjzlIH5lkoBJ0R9B260TWa9JKoXfhSYXaSrVcKo3HzVdwSLNe6JhtYS0_Am6cX9/s1600/Penstemon_grahamii_habitat_fitts_05192009_1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graham's penstemon is found in places with amazing scenery.<br />
It grows in a narrow band from about 4600 to 6700 ft. elevation in Utah's southern<br />
Uintah County and just barely over the UT-CO border into Colorado.<br />
Photo by Robert Fits, UNHP</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
But unless SITLA or its lessees (primarily Enefit and Tomco/Red Leaf) plan to now intentionally destroy beardtongues they weren't previously planning on destroying in the next 15 years, then nothing whatsoever would be lost through nullification of the agreement by a successful listing action: the logic is a non sequitur. SITLA by its own narrow-minded policy only pays attention to plant species that are federally listed. While the Endangered Species Act (ESA) it is true does not directly protect plants that occur on private property (which in FWS terminology includes state-owned lands, those of which are managed by SITLA are not considered as "public" but some of which are de facto public lands), listed plant species that occur on private/state lands receive huge benefits as a byproduct of that listing. Funding for surveys, research, and private lands acquisition, protective measures, and potentially USDA consultation all come into play when a species is listed including consideration of impacts involving a federal nexus. These benefits have been clearly documented since the first species from Utah was listed under the ESA.<br />
<br />
Also what Andrews/SITLA does not seem to understand is that they have already lost either way. They had absolutely no intention of becoming involved in a conservation agreement until the FWS proposed to list for the second time, and because of the second lawsuit (and in the case of White River penstemon, because of a lawsuit involving another organization and FWS settlement). This is all nothing other than a lose-lose situation from their perspective. They were planning to do nothing to protect these species. Along with other state and local government agencies, their goal was to stop the federal listing, and nothing more. While the FWS incorrectly agreed to accept the agreement due to pressures within their own organization and in trying to work with the state and did withdraw the listing, it came at a cost to SITLA and Uintah County as they were forced to do things that had no intention of ever doing. And if yet a subsequent suit is successful, they will then lose everything that they were trying to accomplish by the overall inadequate conservation agreement. So there is no win-lose situation for conservation groups, only lose-lose for those organizations who thwarted it. The plant species will receive some consideration either way that they would not have (although, it is true they are going to suffer no matter what as their habitat is disrupted). Any bad publicity SITLA receives is their fault for their blatant behavior that they themselves made little attempt to hide.<br />
<br />
And those benefits are significant and normally very positive for all concerned: listing actions should be embraced, not feared. One of our first species to be listed in fact, <i>Phacelia argillaceae</i> (Clay phacelia) in 1978 has no federal ownership that has yet to be identified, yet it is because of the ESA that it still clings to existence. The same is true with <i>Ranunculus aestivalis</i> (Autumn buttercup) previously considered perhaps our "most endangered" plant species, but recently additional plants have been found; it still is exclusively found on lands solely under private ownership, but absent its ESA status it is likely its habitat would have been ultimately inadvertently impacted and this additional occurrence never found. Oftentimes in fact private landowners are often voluntarily cooperative as was the case here. <i>Ascelpias welshii</i> (Welsh's milkweed) largely occurs on non-federal lands and has been greatly aided by listing. To a lesser degree, so has <i>Astragalus desereticus</i>, another listed species occurring solely in Utah and with no federal lands ownership. And while it has remained largely off the radar, another federally plant listed species known only from Utah that involves only private and tribal ownership, <i>Lepidium barnebyanum</i> (Barneby's peppergrass), has had some doors open because of its ESA status leading to increasing amounts of cooperation that will benefit that species.<br />
<br />
Organizations like The Nature Conservancy (TNC) have focused on their Utah rare plant habitat preserves in places containing plants with an ESA status (one exception being <i>Penstemon flowersii</i>, another beardtongue that was considered for listing but was rejected partly due to its land ownership - incorrectly - and only has a small amount of federal ownership) which have included the Clay phacelia, Autumn buttercup, Dwarf bearclaw poppy and Holmgren milkvetch, and no doubt those preserves would not have happened absent an ESA status, nor years of research and monitoring efforts that have been funded by TNC, the BLM and others (and yes, including even SITLA).<br />
<br />
The position that ESA protection does not play an important role for plants that occur on private lands is becoming an exceptionally tired, ill-conceived argument, and very much distorts the truth and some 40 years of ESA history. <br />
<br />
SITLA, according to its director Kevin Carter, controls some 360,000 acres of land in the Uinta Basin (and they own/manage some 3.3+ million acres total in Utah). In his presentation at <a href="http://vernalutah.org/uintah-county/uintah-basin-energy-summit-2014/item/66-kevin-carter-utah-school-and-institutional-trust-lands-administration" target="_blank">Uinta Basin Energy Summit 2014</a>, Carter stated that he thinks that ". . . the carbon balance is much better in developing resources here in the Uinta Basin than in other locations, and we will defend and support that position <b>to the bitter end</b>, because I believe that is the right place to develop these resources."<br />
<br />
Yet those developing natural resources in the other places such as those Carter refers to (for example, in Alaska and Canada) will likely take the exact same intractable position, meaning that they will all continue, and they will therefore all contribute to climate change which is inextricably linked to the use of fossil fuels, and the accumulation of CO2 in our atmosphere will continue to exponentially rise to the breaking point. It is a very short-sighted view of the future.<br />
<br />
Plus these activities will greatly exacerbate the already unacceptable air pollution levels that are already occurring in this area (despite low population, pollution levels in the Uinta Basin are often the worst in the nation), and will negatively impact the health of residents living not only in the Basin, but also for those living on the Colorado Plateau generally, in Colorado, and in population centers along the Wasatch Front. This in turn will not attract businesses that want to locate to Utah. It will also not create a place/state that people will want to visit.<br />
<br />
Utah Title 53C with respect to the School and Institutional Trust Lands Management Act states:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://law.justia.com/codes/utah/2014/title-53c/chapter-5/section-101/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">53C-5-101. Management of range resources.</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">(1) The director is responsible for the efficient management of all range resources on lands under the director's administration, consistent with his fiduciary duties of financial support to the beneficiaries.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">(2) This management shall be based on sound resource management principles.</span><br />
<br />
Sound resource management principles would certainly imply some reasonable level of "best management practices." This level of management however is largely lacking. Natural resource issues are largely ignored in the pursuit of school revenue profits. What happens on those 3.3 million acres impacts potentially all or much of the 30 plus million acres of public lands, and this is what SITLA often seemingly does not understand. They really cannot and should not be managed in complete isolation and without significant public input, even if they are not technically public lands: because what happens on those lands impacts the general public. And, the trust beneficiaries end up having no voice in the process whatsoever.<br />
<br />
Sound resource management principles might indicate that any rare natural resource, whether botanical, entomological, paleobotanical, archaeological, geological, etc. all be given a least some consideration prior to an area being leased for development. But when it comes to say rare vascular plant species, SITLA completely ignores them, unless they have an ESA status. This is not a reasonable, nor a sound, management practice.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpSRVLvIWCxJpjViVAK1gkfJyfo7lU3me2YS5-OZuyqko5YkQKhE6SToy4SeqfJFVJZ78vdKLdam3yAotgqhlHBugk2nQAS0onE27W4huGs_1C2uWV-0pZvHK1PF0GmGFuTwbdpjmnNnx/s1600/Penstemon_grahamii_habitat_fitts_05192009_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpSRVLvIWCxJpjViVAK1gkfJyfo7lU3me2YS5-OZuyqko5YkQKhE6SToy4SeqfJFVJZ78vdKLdam3yAotgqhlHBugk2nQAS0onE27W4huGs_1C2uWV-0pZvHK1PF0GmGFuTwbdpjmnNnx/s1600/Penstemon_grahamii_habitat_fitts_05192009_3.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graham's penstemon in flower on white shales.<br />
Photo by Robert Fitts, UNHP</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The pendulum has swung too far from the school trust fund revenue approach that existed in the state of Utah prior to SITLA to one that is now overly aggressive, elitist and run with a development mentality. A better balance needs to be achieved. SITLA wants to work unencumbered by obstacles imposed by others (as does the state in its land transfer quest). So do dictators.<br />
<br />
By its very actions, SITLA and the state of Utah generally, encourage more ESA listings; clearly, they are mostly not truly sincere about protecting Utah's natural resource heritage that includes our unique flora and fauna. And they are not terribly concerned about the future health of Utah's children who supposedly are the ultimate beneficiaries of the lands that SITLA manages; only that there is a lot of money in a trust fund.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUL2RTm2z8uuSvo_juawPjwv5lneG2cwM9zWT_v_D0fgYNVa8BmKsxjZHEDc5SnM4chm0QhLQ6P3-SWJpy8lf_2f2icS1Z02QjfPDB8s9Uy8vVhz1eh2_mMYLoWq8gow4gfuPArec0F5yB/s1600/Grahams_052706_looseshales_frates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUL2RTm2z8uuSvo_juawPjwv5lneG2cwM9zWT_v_D0fgYNVa8BmKsxjZHEDc5SnM4chm0QhLQ6P3-SWJpy8lf_2f2icS1Z02QjfPDB8s9Uy8vVhz1eh2_mMYLoWq8gow4gfuPArec0F5yB/s1600/Grahams_052706_looseshales_frates.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graham's penstemon juvenile growing in loose, dense white shales<br />
Photo by Tony Frates, UNPS</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<i>More information:</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://earthjustice.org/news/press/2015/lawsuit-filed-to-protect-rare-colorado-utah-wildflowers-threatened-by-oil-shale-mining" target="_blank">EarthJustice March 26, 2015 press release</a><br />
<br />
<div>
<a href="http://www.utahrareplants.org/pdf/Penstemon_grahamii.pdf" target="_blank">Utah Rare Plant Guide: Graham's penstemon </a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.unps.org/rareplants/penstemongrahamii.html" target="_blank">Profiles in advocacy: Graham's penstemon</a><br />
<br /></div>
<a href="http://www.utahrareplants.org/pdf/Penstemon_scariosus_var_albifluvis.pdf" target="_blank">Utah Rare Plant Guide: White River penstemon</a><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Listen to the portion of the April 16, 2014 meeting concerning these <i>Penstemon</i> species including the Andrews comments quoted above:<br />
<br />
HTML 5 media player:<br />
<br /></div>
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<br />
<br />
If your browser does not support the above, try the Listen link below which uses the Yahoo media player:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.unps.org/rareplants/SITLAApril162014retreat.mp3">Listen</a>
<script src="http://mediaplayer.yahoo.com/js" type="text/javascript">
</script>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/56851762-78/sitla-trust-book-cliffs.html.csp" target="_blank">Should agency managing Utah school trust lands answer to public?</a><br />
(Brian Maffly, Salt Lake Tribune, Sept. 16, 2013)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHe4868KWIw" target="_blank">Utah Children say, "Oil Shale Puts our Future on the Line" (video on YouTube)</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/lots-for-tots/Content?oid=2306476">Lots for Tots: How one agency is selling off Utah in the name of the children</a><br />
(by Colby Frazier, Salt Lake City Weekly, January 29, 2014 cover story)<br />
<br />
This is an excellent in-depth article (the article does misspell Uinta Basin; it is not spelled the same way as Uintah County).<br />
<br />
Some notable quotes:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">. . . the “ravaging of our land, air and water is truly a diminishment to our children’s future,” the Mormon Environmental Stewardship Alliance’s Markham says. “If you don’t have a healthy child, what good is education?</span></span><br />
<br />
and<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">What the schoolchildren don’t know is that [SITLA and oil companies] are turning the Tavaputs Plateau into a wasteland,” he says. “It’s destroying our children’s future, it’s destroying our air, our water. It’s not mutually beneficial. It’s not a win-win situation.” (John Weisheit, conservation director at Living Rivers)</span><br />
<br />
SITLA responds to these sorts of statements with its usual dogma:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">If we cater to all the criticism that’s out there, I think the ultimate outcome of our ability to deliver any dollars to the education fund would be damaged drastically. Collapsing to [criticism] would ultimately paralyze our ability to do anything. (Kim Christy, SITLA’s deputy director)</span><br />
<br />
SITLA and some others seem to think that we would suddenly plunge back into the dark pre-1994 savage days of "corruption" (as they refer to it) in the management of state school lands if SITLA were to be more open, more transparent, more responsible to the impacts of their projects. Does that make any logical sense? Which option sounds less corrupt? There are not just two options. SITLA could <i>easily</i> be more responsible, and more open. It just doesn't want the "interference." Yet the supposed beneficiaries of the trust is a constituency of the public. SITLA operates in an mindset that is rife with conflicts of interest that, based on how it is currently structured, are impossible to resolve.<br />
<br />
And as an aside, if Utah's state lands were so terribly managed financially and/or otherwise prior to 1994, and the state admitted this in creating SITLA, then how seriously can we take all of these overtures about how well Utah has managed its lands historically (and so how much better we would do without federal involvement), and how the pioneers were such great stewards. Herbert and any number of state legislators have perhaps never heard of Walter Cottam's 1947 paper, <i>Is Utah Sahara Bound?</i> Ranchers/farmers have in fact more often than not degraded and mismanaged Utah's natural resources. Like global warming, the Governor likely would say that he doesn't know whether humans caused the cheatgrass and exotic invasive species problems that we currently have or not.<br />
<br />
Related references:<br />
<div style="text-indent: 24px;">
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<a href="https://journals.uair.arizona.edu/index.php/rangelands/article/viewFile/11608/10881" target="_blank">Range Plant Development In Utah: A Historical View. A history of heavy grazing and semi-arid climate have given Utah a unique challenge in developing range plants suited to the West. </a><br />
(by R. Deane Harrison, N. Jerry Chatterton, E. Durant McArthur, Dan Ogle,<br />
Kay H. Asay, and Blair L. Waldron, August 2003)<br />
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<a href="http://www.canyoncountryzephyr.com/newzephyr/december-january2009/pagespdf/dec-jan09-34-35.pdf" target="_blank">Is Utah Sahara Bound?</a><br />
(by Ken Sleight Dec-Jan 2010 The Zephyr)<br />
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<a href="http://www.unps.org/rareplants/UBPUNPS0082_CH_July2014.pdf" target="_blank">July 2014 UNPS comments: Listing/critical habitat/draft economic analysis</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.unps.org/rareplants/UBPUNPS0081_CA_July2014.pdf" target="_blank">July 2014 UNPS comments: Draft conservation agreement</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.unps.org/rareplants/CoalitionJuly2014UBPenstemonComments.pdf" target="_blank">July 2014 Coalition comments to proposed listing/draft conservation agreement</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tonyfrates/sets/72157651217579677/" target="_blank">Graham's penstemon album on Flickr</a><br />
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<u>SITLA bonus scandal of 2009:</u><br />
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<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705338344/Lawmakers-riled-over-pricey-bonuses.html" target="_blank">Lawmakers riled over bonuses for trust land officials (Deseret News)</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_13610180" target="_blank">Legislative leaders outraged by land agency bonuses (Tribune)</a><br />
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<a href="http://voice-of-deseret.blogspot.com/2009/10/utah-state-lawmakers-outraged-over.html" target="_blank">Utah State Lawmakers Outraged Over Windfall Double Bonuses Paid To Senior SITLA Administrators; SITLA Defends Them As A Necessary Incentive (blog)</a><br />
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<i>Postscript</i>:<br />
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On April 3, 2015 the following Salt Lake Tribune article was published by Brian Maffly:<br />
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<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/2347164-155/suit-says-fish-and-wildlife-sacrificing" target="_blank">Suit says Fish and Wildlife sacrificing flower for oil shale</a><br />
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(some mostly confusing pictures that were used with a prior article also appeared with this article)<br />
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Andrews is quoted as saying that the suit misrepresents his agency's position and involved "cherry-picking" for PR purposes. I have seen the trail of documents, the SITLA minutes, the e-mails back and forth between Andrews and many others, and participated in a conference involving Andrews, and nothing was misrepresented nor was there any cherry-picking; what was referenced in the <a href="http://earthjustice.org/sites/default/files/files/1%20-%202015.03.26%20-%20Complaint.pdf" target="_blank">complaint filed on March 26, 2015</a> is merely the tip of the iceberg involving not just Andrews and his agency but all of the participants. At the heart of the complaint is the misapplication of Section 4 of the ESA by the FWS. The FWS is required to make its determination based on the best available information. Its job and the intent of the FWS not to then try to scuttle its very own listing recommendation with a last minute conservation agreement (which most certainly is exactly what this was, and for which SITLA and Uintah County paid a hefty price) and which is contrary to its own internal guidelines. It is also not the job of the BLM to "beat listings" which it also did in this case (once again). These are practices that must stop nationwide by both the BLM and the FWS.<br />
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<br />Tony Frateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06203800945783503602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865992897309653208.post-67095085777667977442015-02-13T14:42:00.005-08:002015-02-19T10:00:39.066-08:00More reasons to love coffeeMany studies have been recently released indicating the personal health benefits of coffee consumption at moderate levels. But it turns out that coffee grounds may also be beneficial for your plants as well (including native plant gardens).<br />
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While coffee is acidic, those acids are largely removed in the brewing process (and are part of the beneficial health aspect of a cup of coffee). This results in the spent grounds having a neutral pH balance, which means they can be a helpful soil amendment for plants since the grounds are not acidic. These spent coffee grounds also contain nitrogen (although they do not initially function as a plant fertilizer).<br />
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They can also be used to help control weeds as a key mulch component. And there are even reports that they help to deter slugs and snails.<br />
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It appears that if used appropriately, recycled coffee grounds (which can incorporate the paper filters as well) potentially have a health benefit for native plant gardens that may approach the health benefit we derive from drinking the liquid brewed from those grounds. And those recycled grounds don't add to the size of your local landfill.<br />
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<b>More resources:</b><br />
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<i>Scientific articles/studies:</i><br />
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Cochran, DR, PR Knight and M Gu. 2014. Effect of spent coffee grounds on germination of palmer amaranth, perennial rye, and white clover. SNA Research Conference Vol. 56 2011. Available on-line at: <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/v2zq/weed-control-effect-of-spent-coffee" target="_blank">http://www.slideshare.net/v2zq/weed-control-effect-of-spent-coffee</a><br />
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This study found that mulching with spent coffee grounds (SCG) resulted in fewer white clover seedlings and that is also provided an organic alternative to the use of herbicides in the container nursery industry.<br />
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Malhi, HS. 2001. Weed suppression through three mulches (subterranean clover, coffee grounds, newspaper/straw mix) on a swiss beet chard crop. ES Senior Thesis Project. University of California, Berkeley. Available on-line at: <a href="http://nature.berkeley.edu/classes/es196/projects/2001final/Malhi.pdf" target="_blank">http://nature.berkeley.edu/classes/es196/projects/2001final/Malhi.pdf</a></div>
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This conclusion of this thesis was while it was not as effective as newspaper and straw mixed (and was also more labor intensive than the foregoing), that coffee grounds can be effectively used to suppress weeds, and can often be obtained in quantity for free.</div>
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<i>General:</i><br />
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<a href="http://blog.epa.gov/blog/2009/02/climate-for-action/" target="_blank">http://blog.epa.gov/blog/2009/02/climate-for-action/</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_6526727_weed-control-coffee-grounds.html" target="_blank">http://www.ehow.com/how_6526727_weed-control-coffee-grounds.html</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.gardenmyths.com/coffee-grounds-in-garden/" target="_blank">http://www.gardenmyths.com/coffee-grounds-in-garden/</a><br />
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<a href="http://faq.gardenweb.com/discussions/2766671/coffee-grounds-and-composting" target="_blank">http://faq.gardenweb.com/discussions/2766671/coffee-grounds-and-composting</a><br />
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<i>Drying/storing:</i><br />
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<a href="http://groundtoground.org/2011/04/17/how-to-dry-and-store-used-coffee-grounds/" target="_blank">http://groundtoground.org/2011/04/17/how-to-dry-and-store-used-coffee-grounds/</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2013/07/how-to-recycle-used-coffee-grounds.html" target="_blank">http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2013/07/how-to-recycle-used-coffee-grounds.html</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.green-talk.com/coffee-grounds-garden/" target="_blank">http://www.green-talk.com/coffee-grounds-garden/</a><br />
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NOTE: none of the foregoing applies to single-serve cups of coffee, i.e. so-called coffee pods or K-cups (in particular the plastic kind). These are harmful to the environment and should be avoided.<br />
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Suggestion: initially try adding spent coffee grounds to just a few, small areas in your garden to assess their effectiveness before widespread use.<br />
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<b>Warning/other considerations:</b> the possible impact to a dog, cat or wildlife consuming a large amount of spent coffee grounds should be considered since some level of toxicity is possible depending on how much is consumed. For this reason, it is probably not a good idea to simply spread the coffee grounds on top of the soil without working them into the soil to some degree, or without first mixing them with soil or some other additive, and not maintaining soils depths containing coffee grounds of more than say a few inches. Compost piles or containers in which the coffee grounds are kept should be tightly secured or sealed off to the extent possible.<br />
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<i>Postscript:</i> It turns out that my grandmother Sylvia highly recommended the use of spent coffee grounds which she apparently used extensively in her long, narrow backyard where she loved to garden (located near Salt Lake City's Windsor Street, meticulously arranged and care for, and of which I have fond memories). She was doing that probably since at least the 1940's, if not earlier. Hats off to our ancestors who learned these lessons long before us.<br />
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<br />Tony Frateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06203800945783503602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865992897309653208.post-34840361927346314332015-02-04T11:40:00.001-08:002015-02-10T12:10:48.829-08:00College campuses: no safe haven for native plantsThe construction and ultimate expansion of college campuses (and for that matter, all schools) inevitably involve some sort of impacts on formerly natural landscapes and habitat loss, often equally as severe as in any commercial project. As institutions of higher learning and typically with large amounts of acreage, college and universities particularly have a duty to build and expand on their campuses in a responsible manner, and to try to preserve some tiny remnants of our past heritage by incorporating natural open spaces as part of their overall design, and to incorporate the use of native plant materials to the fullest extent possible in landscaped areas.<br />
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Too often however that has not been the case. And in a number of circumstances, university campus expansion and developments have directly contributed to the increasing rarity of native plant species. </div>
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And far too often, college campus landscaping is reduced to a monoculture of lawn grass accompanied by a plethora of introduced trees and other plant species that are largely quite contrary to their founding purpose, and therefore not only highly inappropriate but also even environmentally disastrous; not to mention costly.</div>
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A basic understanding of <b>ecology</b> somehow needs to be introduced into the building and expansion plans of all educational-oriented campuses and their administrators and planners, and also needs to be fully integrated into training programs for landscape architects, arborists, urban foresters, and really for anyone working with landscape design or maintenance.</div>
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Here are just a few examples of direct impacts to native plant communities that originally existed on some Nevada and Utah college campuses. I have included some of the specific related references directly within each university topic rather than list them all at the end, with a few general references at the end.</div>
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<b>University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV)</b>: </div>
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The globally rare Las Vegas buckwheat (<i>Eriogonum</i> <i>corymbosum</i> var. <i>nilesii</i>) once grew on the UNLV campus. No more. Some 1.8 acres of its habitat there was eliminated.</div>
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Some 62% of the original range of this species has been lost. Of 12 recognized populations (all in Nevada; this entity does not occur in Utah), three populations have been lost.</div>
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<i>More information:</i></div>
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US. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2014. Species report for <i>Eriogonum corymbosum</i> var. <i>nilesii</i> (Las Vegas buckwheat). Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office. 55 pp. Available on-line at: <a href="http://www.fws.gov/nevada/nv_species/documents/lv_buckwheat/20140909_ercon_species_report_final.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.fws.gov/nevada/nv_species/documents/lv_buckwheat/20140909_ercon_species_report_final.pdf</a> </div>
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(see Table 2, page 15 concerning the 1.83 acres that was extirpated at UNLV)</div>
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<b>Utah State University (USU)</b>:<br />
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We often think that rare plants only grow in some far off, desolate location. Not true. The Logan buckwheat (<i>Eriogonum brevicaule</i> var. <i>loganum</i>, syn. <i>E. loganum</i>) is mainly a low elevation plant which grew primarily on the benches of Cache Valley (but with also some disjunct occurrences), and near the USU campus. </div>
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As told by the late* Dr. James L. Reveal:</div>
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"This plant is well known to hundreds, if not thousands, of Utah State students for at one time the plant was common on "smoker's hill" at the south edge of campus. Recent construction of parking lots in this area has essentially destroyed the type population and now only a few scattered plants remain." (Holmgren 2012, p. 280)</div>
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See also Dr. Reveal's discussion also here where he reiterates that the parking lot construction almost extirpated this scientifically important occurrence of a globally rare taxon:</div>
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<a href="http://www.plantsystematics.org/reveal/pbio/eriog/erioeucy/loganum.html" target="_blank">http://www.plantsystematics.org/reveal/pbio/eriog/erioeucy/loganum.html</a>**</div>
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<i>More information/comments:</i><br />
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<a href="http://www.utahrareplants.org/pdf/Eriogonum_brevicaule_var_loganum.pdf" target="_blank">Utah rare plant guide PDF</a> (for <i>Eriogonum brevicaule</i> var. <i>loganum</i>)<br />
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*Sadly Dr. Reveal died quite recently, on January 9, 2015<br />
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**Based on newer DNA evidence, Reveal did place this taxon back within the <i>Eriogonum brevicaule</i> complex for the 2012 treatment of the Polygonaceae in the final volume of the <i>Intermountain Flora</i> series (Holmgren 2012). Also, the posting date of the link to plantsystematics.org was made in 2003, so the reference to "recent" parking lot construction is at least now somewhat dated.<br />
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<b>Weber State (WSU):</b><br />
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A pipeline was built through a portion of the campus in 2012 for which WSU trustees approved an easement in 2011. Administrators there saw the water pipeline there as a way to potentially fuel future campus growth. After residents started to complain about the scar on the foothills that are inevitable with pipeline projects (and which always cause irreversible damage), a city engineer was quoted as saying that "Much of the vegetation will grow back naturally. . . but the city will also use a U.S. Forest Service-approved seed mix to stimulate regrowth." </div>
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City engineers are typically ill-qualified to make revegetation assessments. Historically there have been few things more scary than a Forest Service, BLM or USDA "approved seed mix." But that aside, in fact, this project has left in its wake a scourge of mainly non-native grasses including the dreaded <i>Secale cereale</i> which has formed vast, devastating swaths of monocultures in counties along the Wasatch Front (including Salt Lake, Davis and Weber Cos). Lost were a variety of indigenous forbs and grasses including plants of the somewhat state rare <i>Scutellaria antirrhinoides</i>, known in Utah known along the Wasatch Front only in Weber and Morgan counties (and, also known in Utah from Duchesne Co., although the Duchesne plants may warrant separate taxonomic recognition (Welsh 2008)).</div>
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<i>More information:</i></div>
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<a href="http://e.standard.net/stories/2012/09/25/scar-water-pipeline-mountain-above-ogden-temporary-officials-say" target="_blank">Sept. 25, 2012 Standard-Examiner story, "Scar from water pipeline on mountain above Ogden temporary, officials say"</a></div>
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<a href="http://wcforum.blogspot.com/2012/09/water-pipeline-installation-underway.html" target="_blank">Sept 4, 2012 Weber County post "Water Pipeline Installation Underway"</a></div>
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<b>University of Utah (U of U):</b></div>
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The lower campus at the University of Utah contained one or more populations of the now highly state rare <i>Viola beckwithii</i>. This we know for certain based on a photograph taken by the legendary University of Utah botanist/ecologist Dr. Walter P. Cottam. Natural space however was not protected or preserved in any fashion as the university expanded, and this habitat was soon lost and in fact not until May of 2008 was a tiny population discovered in Red Butte Garden's natural space (technically within the University of Utah campus, but at much higher elevation). <i>V. beckwithii </i>had not been observed or collected by scientists since 1950 in Salt Lake or Davis counties until the 2008 discovery, the future survival of which remains very much in doubt.</div>
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Doc Cottam himself fought to save at least some natural features on campus (and hence "Cottam's Gulch" on the lower campus behind the old museum location, but which today still only faintly bares resemblance of what it once must have looked like). Inclusion of natural open space in a campus located adjacent to natural space has not been on the university's radar for the most part. The campus is mostly covered in lawn grass and non-indigenous species in its general landscaping.</div>
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Perhaps the worst example of poor vision in this regard relates to Research Park founded in 1968, which is owned and administered by the University of Utah. Located immediately adjacent to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail and foothill benches, it has been quickly filled with buildings surrounded by lawn grass. Colony after colony of native Gambel's oak have been removed; and that continues to be the case.</div>
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<i>More information:</i><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tonyfrates/6043609231" target="_blank">Cottam's gulch looking west on the U of U campus</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tonyfrates/6044160064" target="_blank">Cottam's gulch looking east on the U of U campus</a><br />
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<b>Utah Valley University (UVU):</b></div>
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One estimate places the loss of wetlands in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah to be from 30% to 36% during the period of 1780 to 1980 (AmphibiaWeb 2015). Losses along the Wasatch Front have been much worse, and continue.</div>
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The UVU (formerly UVSC) campus contained a small wetlands area adjoining the western edge of the campus. Here various botanists including the late, great Dr. Kimball T. Harper recorded marsh plants that are fast disappearing from the Wasatch Front including <i>Asclepias incarnata</i>, <i>Verbena hastata,</i> <i>Sagittaria cuneata, Bidens cernua, Cyperus esculentus </i>var.<i> leptostachyus</i>,<i> </i>and many others. UVU has a "botany club" and many excellent botany instructors, and this area helped to serve an important and convenient educational need.</div>
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Yet despite objections made by some faculty members, this area was eradicated in favor of athletic fields.</div>
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<i>More information/references:</i></div>
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AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. 2015. Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. Available: http://amphibiaweb.org/. (Accessed: Feb 3, 2015). See specifically: <a href="http://amphibiaweb.org/declines/HabFrag.html" target="_blank">http://amphibiaweb.org/declines/HabFrag.html</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/sports/56361677-77/uvu-utah-football-valley.html.csp" target="_blank">June 3, 2013 SL Trib. article: UVU enters WAC era with pride and a few predicaments</a></div>
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<b>Dixie State University (Dixie):</b></div>
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The St. George LDS temple was the first such temple built in Utah. Construction began in 1871 and was completed in 1875 (and dedicated in 1877). And remarkably, with improvements over the years, it is still there. Dixie State University is located a half-mile due east of the temple. </div>
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When pioneering medical doctor/botanist Dr. Charles C. Parry visited (and stayed with) St. George resident Joseph E. Johnson from about from early April to late June of 1874, he collected many new things previously unknown to modern plant taxonomy. One of these species (besides the rare and endangered species later recognized as <i>Arctomecon humilis</i>) was a shrub that was ultimately named after him, <i>Petalonyx parryi</i>.</div>
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Parry's own account of finding this plant in the St. George area:</div>
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"A diligent search over the dry gravelly and alkaline soil, where it was found associated with the common 'grease woods' of this region, failed to bring to light any other plants, so that this single locality, precariously situated within a stone's throw of the great Mormon temple, does not encourage the hope of a prolonged existence for the benefit of future botanists." (Parry 1875, p. 144)</div>
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In 1988, Dr. Stanley Welsh indicated that while the type above had since been eradicated, it was "locally common" (a term used by botanist/taxonomists that is often not understood by others and does not mean a species is common and/or not rare and/or not in need of consideration) east of Washington, Utah. </div>
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That area has since rapidly changed, and <i>Petalonyx parryi</i> occurences in the vicinity have greatly suffered. Yet, unfortunately in the Southern Corridor highway project, the FHWA failed to consider impacts to <i>Petalonyx parryi</i> (despite protestations from the Utah Native Plant Society) because of the reference by Welsh to it being "locally common" even though by 2008 Welsh indicated:</div>
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"Certainly much of the prime habitat near St. George has been obliterated and is beneath developments. One can no longer find it within a "stone's throw" of the great Mormon temple, or even within gunshot of that edifice." (Welsh 2008, p. 499)</div>
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<i>P. parryi</i> grows on soils with high gypsum content and does not grow in conjunction with "greasewoods." The plant that Parry found was likely a waif (Parry only found one shrub) that had managed to survive on the outer limits of nearby habitat to the east (and closer to where Dixie State University was constructed in the 1960's). Today <i>P. parryi</i> is on the BLM state sensitive species list, and has been ranked as "High" in priority by the Utah Native Plant Society's rare plant committee.</div>
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By the time Dixie started to be built, perhaps any remaining straggling plants relating to <i>P. parryi</i> were gone; but it is likely that if they were still there, that they too were built over. </div>
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<i>More information/comments/references:</i></div>
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Parry, CC. 1875. Botanical observations in Southern Utah, II. Amer. Naturalist 9:139-146.<br />
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Welsh, S. 1988. Charles Christopher Parry. Great Basin Naturalist 48(1):9-18.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tonyfrates/5355209331" target="_blank">Parry's petalonyx picture and habitat loss east of St. George</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.utahrareplants.org/pdf/Petalonyx_parryi.pdf" target="_blank">Utah rare plant guide PDF</a> (for <i>Petalonyx parryi</i>)<br />
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In referring to "grease woods" it is possible the Parry was including a dominant shrub in the area within that term, i.e. Cresote bush, <i>Larrea tridentata</i>, even though it is not a "greasewood." So far in his published lists, I have not yet been able to find a collection that he made of either Creosote bush or of a true greasewood (<i>Sarcobatus</i>) during his time in the St. George, Utah area during the spring of 1874 which is surprising (perhaps too common?). Rare plants in the area are typically not associated with <i>Larrea</i> and only occasionally with <i>Sarcobatus</i>.<br />
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<i>General references:</i></div>
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Holmgren, NH, PK Holmgren, JL Reveal and others. 2012. Intermountain flora: Vascular plants of the Intermountain West, U.S.A. Vol. 2A, Subclass Magnoliidae-Caryophyllidae. Bronx, New York: The New York Botanical Garden. 731 pp.</div>
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Welsh, SL, ND Atwood, S Goodrich, and LC Higgins [eds]. 2008. A Utah flora, fourth edition, revised. 2004-2008 summary monograph. Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University. 1019 pp.</div>
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Tony Frateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06203800945783503602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865992897309653208.post-79666557171050907742014-12-30T09:56:00.003-08:002014-12-30T12:40:24.587-08:00FWS to conduct status review of Monarch butterfly as a result of positive 90-day finding<br />
On December 29, 2014 the US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) announced that it would be publishing a positive finding on December 31, 2014 in the <i>Federal Register</i> with respect to a petition filed by several groups to list the North American Monarch butterfly, <i>Danaus plexippus plexippus</i>, under the Endangered Species Act.<br />
<br />
See:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.fws.gov/news/ShowNews.cfm?ID=96FACC7A-C908-A871-5F2F79416FDCF70D" target="_blank">FWS Dec. 29, 2014 bulletin</a><br />
<br />
The petition process is outlined here:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.fws.gov/endangered/what-we-do/listing-petition-process.html" target="_blank">http://www.fws.gov/endangered/what-we-do/listing-petition-process.html</a><br />
<br />
As a result, the FWS will proceed to conduct a status review that will be completed within one year.<br />
<br />
The Utah Native Plant Society has not taken an official position on the listing of the Monarch butterfly but certainly strongly supports its conservation. We in fact just recently highlighted it in our November 2014 newsletter:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.unps.org/segolily/Sego2014NovJan.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.unps.org/segolily/Sego2014NovJan.pdf</a><br />
<br />
Local citizens can do many things to promote Monarch butterfly conservation. This includes not only the planting of native milkweed species (see <i>Sego Lily</i> article above) along with other native forb species but also in advocating for the protection of our relatively few remaining wetland, wet meadows and freshwater marsh habitats remaining particularly along the Wasatch Front (as well as throughout the state).<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwxMNc-pOHGo2jio7ltDUTzd0LRNVGQU8w8SVy4Fh8a9poDEbbkvl1W070svjvYWR7IHvUOs_8XcApWkPQSMyo2CDvEYrAoqjuPkHh_r_F6DUGV6bjJsxs_soU7D_1kRdeXygilJYHI6Q/s1600/MonarchonAster2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwxMNc-pOHGo2jio7ltDUTzd0LRNVGQU8w8SVy4Fh8a9poDEbbkvl1W070svjvYWR7IHvUOs_8XcApWkPQSMyo2CDvEYrAoqjuPkHh_r_F6DUGV6bjJsxs_soU7D_1kRdeXygilJYHI6Q/s1600/MonarchonAster2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A Monarch butterfly on Marsh Aster </span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(<i>Symphyotrichum lanceolatum</i> var. <i>hesperium</i>, syn. <i>Aster hesperius</i>)</span></div>
<br />
<br />
A priority also needs to be placed on the removal of the invasive Russian Olive (<i>Elaeagnus angustifolia)</i> and to not continue to plant it. Birds and occasionally butterflies use Russian Olive trees only because that's all that we've given them to use, not because they need them. There is a terrible misunderstanding by many members of the public about Russian Olive; it is an ecological nightmare and contributes to the decline of numerous species. And birds spread their seeds far and wide causing Russian Olive to be found everywhere throughout the state, exacerbating the problem. Property owners can make a positive contribution by <b>removing</b> any/all Russian Olive on their property and by never planting it in the first place. As a prolific seed producer, continued due diligence in removing seedlings and juvenile plants must then occur into the indefinite future following removal if we ever have any hope of getting it under control.<br />
<br />
In place of Russian Olive and where appropriate (and particularly in areas near or within open spaces), individuals and government agencies in valley to foothill habitats that are sufficiently moist should consider planting in its place (along with tall forb and other species besides these native trees and shrubs) local genotypes of:<br />
<br />
Peachleaf willow (<i>Salix amygdaloides</i>) (and other locally native willow species)<br />
River hawthorn (<i>Crataegus rivularis</i>)<br />
Golden currant (<i>Ribes aureum</i>)<br />
Wood's rose (<i>Rosa woodsii</i>)<br />
<br />
<br />
Some related links:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://monarchwatch.org/blog/2014/09/commentary-recent-petition-to-protect-the-monarch-butterfly/" target="_blank">http://monarchwatch.org/blog/2014/09/commentary-recent-petition-to-protect-the-monarch-butterfly/</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/invertebrates/monarch_butterfly/pdfs/Monarch_ESA_Petition_QA.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/invertebrates/monarch_butterfly/pdfs/Monarch_ESA_Petition_QA.pdf</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2014/monarch-butterfly-12-29-2014.html" target="_blank">http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2014/monarch-butterfly-12-29-2014.html</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/12/monarch_butterfly_to_be_review.html" target="_blank">http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/12/monarch_butterfly_to_be_review.html</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.monarchmonitoringproject.com/esa_petition/dpxerces.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.monarchmonitoringproject.com/esa_petition/dpxerces.pdf</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.fws.gov/international/animals/monarch-butterfly.html" target="_blank">http://www.fws.gov/international/animals/monarch-butterfly.html</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedRKC_GADV_RHFXL8wzprynf0VvNJ2trIlkim2Npps8pQLQkBMzaESGR8gd96EOp6yq47NnCPfU7dhKRU602Pz1IlzLrlEwojLfqpQYQBcib0IhiuWsR1zhihgAOOBdm2HQU-7TTePl02/s1600/bce_monarch_071114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhedRKC_GADV_RHFXL8wzprynf0VvNJ2trIlkim2Npps8pQLQkBMzaESGR8gd96EOp6yq47NnCPfU7dhKRU602Pz1IlzLrlEwojLfqpQYQBcib0IhiuWsR1zhihgAOOBdm2HQU-7TTePl02/s1600/bce_monarch_071114.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Asclepias speciosa</i> receiving a visit from an adult Monarch<br />(non-native Teasel, <i>Dipsacus fullonum</i>, at far left, another significant invasive species problem)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">More views of a Monarch butterfly on Marsh Aster</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6oVJ0Ag_Fz4IPRuo0J5BBxORkDsG0Fnv0PZFyDs_pWSvSxNTDXfkhl1DAN6v4zKt2yM8g1QYkLb7W3IPD9Ka3yYHJI7mxF9OBgUspBea71YkWxqYk0KQS8ouKcLmnnpVslsHhHOvGtNTR/s1600/MonarchonAster3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6oVJ0Ag_Fz4IPRuo0J5BBxORkDsG0Fnv0PZFyDs_pWSvSxNTDXfkhl1DAN6v4zKt2yM8g1QYkLb7W3IPD9Ka3yYHJI7mxF9OBgUspBea71YkWxqYk0KQS8ouKcLmnnpVslsHhHOvGtNTR/s1600/MonarchonAster3.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp7LnoSAVqtIs5A6wIUxcqo9KqQbfXsVIWn2ESm9jU0dMkQXPs53Np7Nxxwu0UheKKm6L_jWVgutEqvbFt9Pv_iwF016IEc0l6_voQrtmOLOevoed7Xkbfrr_A_CSyACTAGIgtqkuJ2OXY/s1600/MonarchonAster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp7LnoSAVqtIs5A6wIUxcqo9KqQbfXsVIWn2ESm9jU0dMkQXPs53Np7Nxxwu0UheKKm6L_jWVgutEqvbFt9Pv_iwF016IEc0l6_voQrtmOLOevoed7Xkbfrr_A_CSyACTAGIgtqkuJ2OXY/s1600/MonarchonAster.jpg" height="198" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Tony Frateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06203800945783503602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865992897309653208.post-90962350397165818802014-12-24T15:27:00.002-08:002014-12-24T15:29:31.571-08:00Uinta Basin smog: un-fracking believableAs a prelude to future posts about the impacts of air pollution on not only us but also on native plant and other life, here is a recent blog posted dated November 13, 2014 by Earthjustice staff attorney Robin Cooley:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://earthjustice.org/blog/2014-november/un-fracking-believable-smog-in-the-rural-west#.VJtLEJsNAtE.blogger">Un-Fracking Believable: Smog in the Rural West | Earthjustice</a><br />
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<br />Tony Frateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06203800945783503602noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865992897309653208.post-18346170254069758202014-12-06T14:25:00.001-08:002014-12-06T17:05:08.256-08:00In memoriam: the “Utah” Blue Spruce (1933-2014)<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Utah's state tree was the Blue Spruce,
<i>Picea pungens, </i>from 1933 to 2014. By statute it was
referred to as the Blue Spruce and that is one of its common names.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Because of the reference to our state
tree as the “Colorado” Blue Spruce in 4<sup>th</sup> grade
elementary school text books, some often misguided efforts have been
made to change our state tree (which instead should have involved
some changes to the text books). The latest of these efforts
succeeded in early 2014 when Utah Governor Gary Herbert signed a bill
to change the state's tree to the also beautiful Quaking Aspen
(<i>Populus tremuloides</i>).</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This was done however to a large degree
out of ignorance.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
A similar effort was made in 2008 when
a 4<sup>th</sup> grade class pushed to instead make the “Utah”
Juniper the state tree.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Colorado also designated the Blue
Spruce as its state tree but not until 1939, more than five years
after Utah's designation.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Essentially our text books were wrong
in referring to the tree as only the “Colorado” Blue Spruce and
should have instead educated school children (and future legislators)
that plants have all sorts of common names, and that the Blue Spruce
is a Utah native tree. The “Utah” Juniper is also not limited
in distribution to Utah.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
While it is true that the Blue Spruce
occurs to a greater degree in Colorado than Utah and that its type
locality was named from a plant collected in Colorado, this does mean
it is more of a Colorado than a Utah tree. In fact the Quaking Aspen
has a type locality that is uncertain and is believed to be in
Canada. And, ironically, the aspen tree is certainly equally, if not
more, iconic of Colorado than Utah. And the Quaking Aspen has a much
more extensive distribution throughout much of North America compared
to the more narrowly distributed Blue Spruce limited to the western
United States.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Central Utah's extensive aspen stand
dubbed Pando is thought to be the largest living organism on the
planet. Each connected plant is genetically identical (clones).
Somehow the idea of this interconnectedness was thought to represent
a symbol of Utah's reproductive prolificness, its connectedness in
general, and the ability of everyone to work together collectively.
Unless we consider ourselves to be genetically identical clones and
have the common goal of overpopulation, this symbology is
questionable. And in another ironic twist, Pando is thought to be
dying from the effects of climate change; yet our state (and federal)
legislators largely “do not believe” that global warming is
occurring.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Did Utah want to turn over a new leaf
(the analogy used in Herbert's 2014 State of the State address) by
designating a state tree the most famous member of which is dying
from climate change? Is this not instead symbolic of a state that
frequently fails to use science and facts in its decision-making
process?
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
An unfortunate additional aspect of
designating higher elevation trees is that it then also tends to lead
to the less than responsible placement of these trees in our lower
elevation landscapes. Most Utahns do not live at elevations
appropriate to where these trees grow. Appropriate habitat and
aspect including things such as sun exposure, water, soil, and
elevation are all critical consideration in determining what to plan
and where. All too often Quaking Aspen (and Blue Spruce) are
planted in completely inappropriate and nonsensical places where they
often look sickly (for example, along the Wasatch Front at elevations
less than 5,000 feet).<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_7qIOcKtYfP1oykl6TGa7jvd_cIvXZwo1XbxcVgbr1HJFikBqd5c-gAeYAvuZlTMNw9j_DFIrcah_34FJOQwhtzjGyreyw3Pb0w1W4ipx-GDCuBn8YmDOot3q9wSnHtTMdGt9g97zkuw/s1600/Blog_spruceneedles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_7qIOcKtYfP1oykl6TGa7jvd_cIvXZwo1XbxcVgbr1HJFikBqd5c-gAeYAvuZlTMNw9j_DFIrcah_34FJOQwhtzjGyreyw3Pb0w1W4ipx-GDCuBn8YmDOot3q9wSnHtTMdGt9g97zkuw/s1600/Blog_spruceneedles.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Blue Spruce needles</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKxW4BgKGde1S5P-W35O04s4CTmiA9laQYgDzRg2glSIPfecSZ8x8NwB6iSbr2d1fTuqd-VNdW-MEY4XhTbYsVdasBBIhbu5j_pu5OS2f_dFBJyFsb9cufhVtdC_e1K_H8chAEpBlIS0BB/s1600/blog_spruce_uofu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKxW4BgKGde1S5P-W35O04s4CTmiA9laQYgDzRg2glSIPfecSZ8x8NwB6iSbr2d1fTuqd-VNdW-MEY4XhTbYsVdasBBIhbu5j_pu5OS2f_dFBJyFsb9cufhVtdC_e1K_H8chAEpBlIS0BB/s1600/blog_spruce_uofu.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Blue Spruce planted at the University of Utah</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>More information:</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Some additional background with respect to
Utah Native Plant Society and some individual actions that took place in the second half of 2013 when we first learned about the proposed bill as well as in early 2014:</i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
A tremendous amount of misinformation occurred with respect to this issue as result of this bill's proposal. If Utah wanted to change its state tree, that was fine, but it should have been done for the right reasons and not based on a long list of misunderstandings. Contacts were accordingly attempted with the bill's
sponsors to which there was no response whatsoever in the fall of 2013 (as well as with the
governor's environmental advisor at around the same time in the fall of 2013 who seemed to appreciate the information but we suspect never took the issue up with the governor and/or otherwise ignored it). Salt Lake area House Rep. Carol
Spackman Moss did listen, but the bill came up for a vote before she
could do much other than voice some of the concerns. The bill did
not pass unanimously in the House (there were 19 votes against) as it had in the Senate.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Trib article by <span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, HelveticaNeue-Light, Helvetica Neue Light, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Kristen
Rogers-Iversen published October 2, 2010:</span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I only recently became aware of the
article “How a Colorado spruce became Utah 's state tree” which
discusses some of the history (some I knew but some I didn't) and how in
1919 there was the first attempt to designate the Blue Spruce. See:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/50398356-76/tree-state-utah-spruce.html.csp" target="_blank">http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/50398356-76/tree-state-utah-spruce.html.csp</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
(Note the reference to "unclean"
and "undesirable" tree with respect to potential Box Elder tree designation discussions. That is such a typical and incorrect reaction to the use of many native trees. Native trees are no more trashy than other trees.)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I knew about the attempt to designate the “Utah” juniper as Utah's state tree that had been made in 2008, but did not know that it was the Utah Cattlemen Association that rose up against its designation. That is not surprising, but that was a
rather ridiculously ignorant action on their part since designation
of a state tree gives it no protection whatsoever (just like the designation of the Sego Lily, <i>Calochortus nuttallii</i>, has afforded it no protection and its lower elevation habitat along the Wasatch Front has been largely eliminated; neither state trees nor state flowers nor even state cooking pots are protected from anything). And the juniper would have
been a much more logical and iconic choice.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Strange and weird factoid:</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Did you know that a syrup is made from
Blue Spruce?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/lifestyle/55407380-80/syrup-tree-pine-state.html.csp">http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/lifestyle/55407380-80/syrup-tree-pine-state.html.csp</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
(Quaking Aspen does not stand a change of
competing in the syrup marketplace!)</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Misleading and at least partially
incorrect or incomplete articles:</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This recent Pioneer.utah.gov page about Utah's state tree does indeed contain some
information of value, but also gives a very skewed account of the
aspen designation and is not an unbiased nor completely accurate account:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://pioneer.utah.gov/research/utah_symbols/tree.html">http://pioneer.utah.gov/research/utah_symbols/tree.html</a><br />
<br />
And, this Colorado State University
extension article:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/columngw/gr140426.html">http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/columngw/gr140426.html</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
indicates in one place that <i>Picea
engelmanni</i> was our state tree. That is wrong. I have written to
them to ask them to fix that article as there is enough confusion about this already. Also the
reference there to <i>Picea pungens</i> “<i>glauca</i>” is not really correct and should been written
differently. It is not taxonomically recognized in that fashion.
The author is referring to the cultivar "glauca" and should have used
“forma” or some other designation and further should not have indicated that "glauca" is the "true" Blue Spruce. The
Colorado state tree is designated simply as <i>Picea pungens</i>
which can be green and not just blue. Plants, like people, can have variable characteristics.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Helpful USU extension articles about the
Quaking Aspen and the Blue Spruce:</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Quaking Aspen:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://forestry.usu.edu/htm/treeid/poplars-and-aspens&quaking-or-trembling-aspen" target="_blank">http://forestry.usu.edu/htm/treeid/poplars-and-aspens&quaking-or-trembling-aspen</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Note the comment: "<b>Over-planted
in Utah.</b>" Indeed.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
And “ . . . aspen does not like the
heat and dry conditions in our lower valleys. Stressed aspens suffer
from leaf scorch, leaf spot, borers, cankers, galls, occasionally
iron chlorosis, and many other problems. Best grown in cooler
high-mountain climates that it is used to. “ </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Blue Spruce:</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<a href="http://forestry.usu.edu/htm/treeid/spruces/blue-or-colorado-blue-spruce" target="_blank">http://forestry.usu.edu/htm/treeid/spruces/blue-or-colorado-blue-spruce</a></div>
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Note the comment: “This is a very
good tree, but it is over-used in many areas." Also very true.<br />
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<i>Aspen and climate change:</i><br />
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There are many references to this topic and SAD (Sudden Aspen Decline).</div>
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A good overall story that provides some helpful information is the Smithsonian article "What's Killing the Aspen? The signature tree of the Rockies is in trouble" by Michelle Nijhuis published in December 2008.<br />
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See:</div>
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<a href="http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/whats-killing-the-aspen-93130832/" target="_blank">http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/whats-killing-the-aspen-93130832/</a></div>
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Example of a journal article on the subject:</div>
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Rehfeldt GE, Ferguson DE, Crookston NL. 2009. Aspen, climate, and sudden decline in western USA. For. Ecol. Manage. 258(11): 2353-2364 CrossRef.<br />
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<a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112709003946" target="_blank">http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112709003946</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAQPP66hHDtwDbGbEH8pCBOsg0FQ0x_927XISU5ajPLC6Waqv3TmXJgXP4Mrpx5UkVl8hm1NOnV6udl8xOXzX43K1IDrixOT-P5pNR4Ki9snU9Q8SD3Pd9kTVo8yz7OludRDEFRDm0doA/s1600/blog_aspen_group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAQPP66hHDtwDbGbEH8pCBOsg0FQ0x_927XISU5ajPLC6Waqv3TmXJgXP4Mrpx5UkVl8hm1NOnV6udl8xOXzX43K1IDrixOT-P5pNR4Ki9snU9Q8SD3Pd9kTVo8yz7OludRDEFRDm0doA/s1600/blog_aspen_group.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Quaking Aspen - Utah's state tree as of March 26, 2014</div>
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Tony Frateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06203800945783503602noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4865992897309653208.post-43804616188193761142014-12-03T10:27:00.003-08:002015-02-26T15:08:12.349-08:00Utah Land Transfer StudyUtah's $450,000 taxpayer funded land transfer study has been released, and has been endorsed by PLPCO (Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office for the state of Utah) which spearheaded the study following a legislative mandate.<br />
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The 732+ page report can be downloaded from this link (scroll down to H.B. 142 and the section "Economic Feasilibility of Transferring Public Lands" i.e. it is the third link):<br />
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<a href="http://publiclands.utah.gov/current-projects/transfer-of-public-lands-act/" target="_blank">http://publiclands.utah.gov/current-projects/transfer-of-public-lands-act/</a><br />
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The last link on that page is PLPCO's November 28, 2014 summary.<br />
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The report was prepared by economists at the University of Utah, Utah State University and Weber State University. The document however was clearly heavily influenced by PLPCO and others in state government. It can hardly be viewed as an independent study. And it misses the mark in terms of failing to include a fully multidisciplinary approach, critical for an accurate assessment of the economic impacts of such an incredibly complex land transfer.<br />
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Its conclusion:<br />
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"In conclusion, from a strictly financial perspective, it is likely the state of Utah could take ownership of the lands and cover the costs to manage them. Our research also suggests that it could put a strain on the state’s funding priorities in the early years as the state adjusts to the loss of federal dollars, evaluates land resources and conditions and develops programs to replace those now managed by federal agencies."<br />
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The report is full of tables outlining expenditures and projections but despite its length seems to treat topics cursorily at best and despite being called a "pathway" to further action by PLPCO, there appears to be little wisdom in spending more time and effort on this transfer lawsuit notion from purely an economic and administrative point of view (much less the exceptionally shaky legal grounds of any potential transfer litigation action by the state, which really seems to be trying to posture itself into a bargaining position rather than trying to really pursue a full takeover of any kind).<br />
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It is particularly clear that the purpose of the document is to justify the pathway for development of the state's energy resources more than anything else, and free itself from what it views as excessive bureaucratic oversight and federal laws that it otherwise must comply with. Yet, at some point the state needs to realize that the federal laws and regulations that they want to simply eliminate have evolved the way they have for a reason. And that Utah is in fact a part of a country and is no longer either the State of Deseret nor the Utah Territory.<br />
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And the report in no way provides a blueprint for how the state would suddenly and realistically manage the resources that it would suddenly come to possess regardless of the state's intentions.<br />
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While the report attempts to outline the annual cost of the BLM and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Species endangered species programs (wildlife and plants), it is very unclear as to why that cost is included in the analysis (which recognizes that it isn't really possible to exactly identify those costs that are specific to Utah alone). Does the state intend to setup new equivalent agencies to manage, for example, currently federally listed plant species and spend at least the same amount of money to fund those new agencies? Will they be changing and dismantling the School and Institutional Trust Land Administration's (SITLA) mandate to force that agency to be more accountable, transparent and responsible to the public, and manage its lands according to multiple use land management practices (that in today's world is referred to more properly as "ecosystem management") and cease its role primarily as a developer of state lands?<br />
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Rep. Ken Ivory, the sponsor of HB 148 which ultimately led to this study, makes comparisons between SITLA land management and BLM land management that are completely skewed, and he like many of his colleagues enable their elections through "federal fear" campaigns. While his bill supposedly contains a reference to "multiple use" management, that is not the kind of management that SITLA since its formation in 1994 has ever implemented. His references to the lack of local management and knowledge by federal natural resource agencies is blatantly wrong. The individuals working for these agencies are just as local and typically equally if not more knowledgeable than individuals working for state agencies and they have vastly more resources to support them and they are actually working under laws and regulatory guidelines that the state completely lacks. They live and work in the same communities and often are lifetime Utahns. How did this not make them "local"? If SITLA or some other state agency hires someone from out-of-state, does that mean that lands are then no longer being managed by someone local if that person is involved (since at least initially they would have no local knowledge)? The arguments being made in this regard are ridiculous and without foundation. Further Utah land management and related agencies due to the lack of Utah laws relating to environmental protection have often had abysmal records and there are numerous examples from reforms needed within the Division of Oil, Gas & Mining, the emphasis on hunting and lack of an ecosystem approach by the Division of Wildlife Resources, the fairly recent elimination of one of the few state botanist positions within the Department of Natural Resources (that continued only with the support of the BLM but moved to operate under Utah State University), the gutting of scientists working on amphibian protection under Leavitt, and on and on. Despite being local, these agencies have clearly often NOT acted in the best interests of Utah, and more often than not they have instead displayed a defiant, anti-science attitude.<br />
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When someone like Ivory or Tony Rampton or others talk about BLM grazing restrictions that "aren't working" they seemingly do that in an oblivious context of not understanding the devastation that grazing has caused in the arid West (and which have led to our fire-prone landspaces and significantly impacted biodiversity; the overall costs are incalculable and are likely not fixable) They have failed to read and learn the lessons taught early on by Utahn Walter Cottam. (And curiously, it has been brought to my attention that ranchers pay much less to the federal goverment for their grazing leases per AUM (Animal Unit Month) than they do with the state. So why are ranchers so anxious for the state to take over their management?).<br />
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And when Ivory and others talk about how the federal government is "tied up in knots" to the point where they can't act, and that organizations like SUWA sue the federal government claiming mismanagement, etc., what they are really saying is that with the state in charge, there won't be an opportunity for public input nor for citizen lawsuits. With more Gestapo-style control and management as is already exhibited in a number of state resource management agencies, the public won't have the opportunity that it does now to be involved and won't be able to force state agencies to do the right thing when needed, and live up to mandates and standards that they currently lack. They will simply be able to do whatever they want.<br />
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And the mantra that we hear from various local agencies, governments and legislators that "We live here, so of course we will do that right thing" is often not supported by the actions that they take, which are almost never appropriately balanced approaches.<br />
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Many state legislators adamantly deny the existence of climate change. Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz even recently went so far as to call it a "farce." With these enlightened minds, our lands will be better managed with more local control?<br />
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The economists would have to know how the state's philosophy is going to change in terms of how it is going to manage its lands differently than it does now in order to properly assess the costs of a transfer, and they would then need appropriate input from the scientific community and others in order to make that financial analysis.<br />
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For example, while there are some references in the study with respect to invasive, noxious, and fire-prone plant species, plants are otherwise not referred to in any way. We still have no state laws that protect endangered, threatened, sensitive or rare plant species. How is this going to change legislatively, if at all, should a land transfer occur and at what cost? Will the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands (formerly the Division of State Lands & Forestry) still be merely responsible for managing the bottoms of rivers and lakes rather than actual lands and forestry (as it was before 1994)? With essentially no current state botanists on staff, if the state is going to somehow manage T&E plant species in some fashion, then how? Or, is the whole point to completely do away with any protections for native plant species? <br />
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Related <i>Salt Lake Tribune</i> editorial dated December 2, 2014 (entitled "Land transfer would tie Utah’s future to oil"):<br />
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<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/1898639-155/editorial-land-transfer-would-tie-utahs" target="_blank">http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/1898639-155/editorial-land-transfer-would-tie-utahs</a><br />
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<i>Postscript:</i><br />
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Some encouraging developments showing increasing opposition to the idea of federal land transfers in the west have begun to emerge since the posting of this piece.<br />
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A large rally occurred in Helena, Montana on February 16, 2015 as further outlined here:<br />
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<a href="http://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/politics/2015/02/16/rally-lands-transfer/23521749/" target="_blank">http://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/politics/2015/02/16/rally-lands-transfer/23521749/</a><br />
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Demonstrators held signs that included:<br />
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<b>Keep your hands off our public lands</b></div>
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<b>Keep public land in public hands</b></div>
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<b>No Utah wingnut ideas here in Montana</b></div>
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On February 25, 2015, a coalition of sportsmen groups met at the Denver state capitol in Colorado:<br />
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<a href="http://www.denverpost.com/outdoors/ci_27592815/conservation-groups-unite-oppose-takeover-land" target="_blank">http://www.denverpost.com/outdoors/ci_27592815/conservation-groups-unite-oppose-takeover-land</a><br />
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Quote from the article:<br />
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"If Utah succeeds in taking over federal public lands, the public would have less, not more, input into land management, and all who utilize what are now public lands — industry and recreation interests alike — would see the cost of access increase substantially," University of Utah law professors Bob Keiter and John Ruple wrote in an analysis of the Transfer of Public Lands Act."<br />
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Citation to the U of U law professors' article:<br />
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<span style="background-color: #f2f2f2; color: #003366; font-family: 'Myriad Roman', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Keiter, Robert B. and Ruple, John, The Transfer of Public Lands Movement: Taking the 'Public' Out of Public Lands (January 28, 2015). Stegner Center White Paper No. 2015-01 Research paper No.99. Available at SSRN:</span><a class="textlink" href="http://ssrn.com/abstract=2555922" style="color: #666666; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'Myriad Roman', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;" target="_blank">http://ssrn.com/abstract=2555922</a>.<br />
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More hopefully will follow.<br />
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<br />Tony Frateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06203800945783503602noreply@blogger.com0