Final delisting rules

Endangered Species Bulletin, Jan-Feb, 2004

Hoover's Woolly-star (Eriastrum hooveri) This plant, an herb in the phlox family (Polemoniaceae), was delisted on October 7. The discovery of additional populations, and the implementation of conservation actions recommended in the species' recovery plan, led to a determination that the Hoover's woolley-star no longer needs ESA protection. Additionally, researchers found that the plant is more resilient and less vulnerable to disturbance than previously known. The Bureau of Land Management, which administers habitat for a substantial number of the newly discovered populations, will continue to monitor the woolly-star's status.

Truckee Barberry (Berberis (=Mahonia) sonnei) Recent work by taxonomists indicates that this plant, an evergreen shrub in the family Berberidaceae once believed endemic to a flood-plain along the Truckee River in California, is not a discrete entity and, therefore, does not meet the definition of a species as described in the ESA. It is now considered synonymous with Berberis repens, a common and widespread plant. For this reason, we removed B. sonnei from the list of threatened and endangered species on October 1.

Sacramento Splittail (Pogonichthys macrolepidotus) This fish, a species native to California's Central Valley, was listed in 1999 as threatened due to changes in water flows and water quality, drought, loss of habitat, and the effects of agricultural and industrial pollutants. The listing was challenged, and the U.S. district court sent the issue back to the Service for further consideration. After additional review and public comment periods, the Service found that the threats are being addressed through habitat restoration and water management actions underway to benefit Central Valley fish, including several federally protected species. Accordingly, a "notice of removal" from the ESA list was published September 22 for the Sacramento splittail.

Columbian White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus leucurus) On July 24, we published a final rule recognizing two distinct population segments (DPS) of the Columbian white-tailed deer, the Douglas County DPS and the Columbia River DPS, and removed the Douglas County DPS from the list of threatened and endangered wildlife. (See "Partners Restore the Columbian White-tailed Deer" in this edition of the Bulletin.) The delisting of the Douglas County DPS will not change the endangered status of the Columbia River DPS, which remains listed by the ESA.