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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Advertisement Email Story to a Friend October 1, 2004 Endangered plant draws big grant Some $358,000 in federal money is waiting for the approval from the Oregon Legislature to protect the Gentner’s fritillary By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune JACKSONVILLE — A little flower can carry a lot of weight. The Gentner’s fritillary has fetched $358,000 in federal dollars to purchase and monitor 5.7 acres of its habitat in Jacksonville. "It’s actually not just ‘another plant,’ " said Mark Mousseaux, Bureau of Land Management Medford district botanist. "It’s a plant that’s listed as endangered." All the grant needs is approval from state legislators. A resident who is involved with the local group that applied for the grant is optimistic about its chances in the Legislature. "We do have representatives that will help us put this through," said Larry Smith of the Jacksonville Woodlands Association. He said he’s communicating with state Sen. Jason Atkinson and state Rep. Alan Bates and is hopeful. Federal grants like this one must be approved by the state Legislature before the money is distributed, said Smith. Advertisement The Jacksonville Woodlands Association and the Trust for Public Land in Portland have been working with the owner of the 5.7 acres, James Woods of California, to purchase the parcel on Third Street between Daisey and Maple streets. Smith said more than 50 of the special plants are growing on the wooded property. The group was notified Sept. 23 about the grant, which would cover administrative and management costs, and most of the land purchase. But Smith said an additional $20,000 would need to be raised to buy the land. If the Department of Agriculture receives formal approval to award the grant (part of an overall $13.5 million federal land acquisition grant) from the Legislature, the money will come from the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to the Trust for Public Land and then to the Jacksonville Woodlands Association. The only other grant of this type in Oregon is for a snowy plover project in Curry County. Mousseaux was glad to hear about the possible protection of the unique lily. "It’s a rare, red-flowered plant, and it’s only known in Jackson and Josephine counties," he said. The plant was listed as endangered in 1999. It has declined in part because its habitat is being developed or otherwise disturbed. Also, Mousseaux said, the plant is pollinated by hummingbirds but it does not reproduce easily. There are about 1,700 individual plants on fewer than 200 sites, so the fact that there are 50-some plants on private land that may get protection is a big deal. Mousseaux said there are a lot of rare plants in the Siskiyou ecoregion, and three others are listed as endangered: the large-flowered woolly meadowfoam, the Agate Desert lomatium and MacDonald’s rock-cress. Kristin Newman, project manager with the Trust for Public Land in Portland, said the grant is not a done deal. "It’s absolutely critical that the Legislature approve the funds for the Department of Agriculture, otherwise the project’s not getting done," she said. Smith said the parcel is in a prime location given other area woodlands. "It connects to the Beekman Woods, and it connects to future trails we’re trying to put in," he said. And, using the current owner’s name, the property has a special ring to it, he said: "We have the ‘Woods Woods.’ " Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers Southern Oregon Loans California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Pharmacy Advertisement s