Endangered wetland plant shows signs of recovery and possible removal from endangered species list

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed the removal of the northeastern bulrush, a wetland plant once endangered, from the list of endangered species due to its successful recovery. The plant, a leafy perennial herb, is known for its cluster of flowers and is found in the Northeast region from Vermont to Virginia. Following the proposal by the federal service, a 60-day comment period has been opened.

Initially listed as endangered in 1991 with only 13 populations remaining in seven states, the northeastern bulrush now boasts 148 populations in eight states, particularly thriving in vernal pools, swamps, and small wetlands. Wendi Weber, the northeast regional director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, credited partnerships with state agencies, conservation groups, and academic researchers for contributing to the plant’s recovery through initiatives such as long-term population monitoring, habitat conservation, and increased surveys in prime habitat areas.

The success of the recovery effort for the northeastern bulrush has been aided by detailed surveys of the plant’s unique behavior, where it can lay dormant for years and resurface under favorable conditions. Furthermore, various states have taken steps to combat invasive species encroaching on wetlands and protect the land where the bulrush grows, with Vermont notably acquiring two parcels specifically for the plant’s conservation.

In a collaborative effort in 2014, a coalition comprising soil and water conservation groups and a wetlands organization initiated a pilot program that successfully established a new population of northeastern bulrush in New York.