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Agency proposes putting rare plants on endangered list Both species found on shrinking space in Southern Oregon By PAUL FATTIG WHITE CITY -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed two rare plants on the Agate Desert be listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act. Federal listing of the Cook's desert parsley (lomatium) and the large-flowered wooly meadowfoam, both already listed as endangered by the state of Oregon, would provide additional protection for the plants. "These two rare species are dependent upon a very fragile habitat for their existence," said Anne Badgley, regional director for Fish and Wildlife. "As this habitat has been destroyed and degraded, the species has declined to the point where they now face extinction." Since the fairy shrimp found in the Agate Desert's vernal pools is already federally listed as threatened, listing the two plants will not have an additional impact in that area, said Judy Jacobs, Fish and Wildlife biologist. "The protection is already in place for that," she explained. "From the landowners' point of view, the additional listing won't change anything." The public has until July 14 to send comments on the proposal to Fish and Wildlife. A member of the carrot family, the parsley is a small perennial with pale yellow flowers. The meadowfoam is a small annual with white petals and fuzzy leaves. The Agate Desert is the only place on the planet where the meadowfoam is found, Jacobs said. The parsley is found only on the Agate Desert and in the Rough and Ready Creek area in the Illinois Valley, she said. Listing the parsley would impact any mining activity on federal land in the Rough and Ready Creek area, officials said. That area has been the site of a proposed large mining operation. But Jackson County Commissioner Ric Holt is concerned that the proposal could endanger industrial development in the Agate Desert area. "When are they going to stop worrying about plants and start worrying about humans making a livelihood?" he asked, then added, ``This is another case of bull crud." When he ran for office, many people asked him to help bring jobs to the area so that young people wouldn't be forced to leave to find work, he said. "That's what this board has been trying to do," Holt said. "But every time we turn around to invite a company in here, some agency comes up with some grandiose idea to blow us out of the water." Holt says he isn't opposed to protecting the environment, but says he wants that protection to be driven by common sense. Fish and Wildlife officials say they are working with local residents and landowners to help protect the rare species as well as future development. "We're trying to develop a wetlands conservation plan for the Agate Desert," Jacobs said. "We're working with different factions, including stakeholders, to put those components together that will ensure economic prosperity and ensure the rare species are here in the future." "I'm optimistic we can find a win-win situation for biodiversity and community interests such as economic and social development," said Darren Borgias, southwestern Oregon stewardship ecologist for The Nature Conservancy, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving biological diversity. The rare plants as well as the vernal pool fairy shrimp are found at The Nature Conservancy's Agate Desert Preserve and Whetstone Savanna Preserve as well as private and Bureau of Land Management lands. The Endangered Species Act does not prevent the taking of listed plants on private lands, but landowners must comply with state laws protecting the listed plants, according to Fish and Wildlife. The agency also must be consulted if any federal funds or permits are required for activities on those private lands that affect the listed plants. Comments on the proposal should be sent to: State Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon State Office, 2600 S.E. 98th, Suite 100, Portland, OR 97266. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA