I. SUMMARY 



Survey of the Limestone Hills for Tovnsendia spathulata was conducted 

 for use in management planning by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) . 

 This species grows on the crests of the Limestone Hills ridge system 

 in typically low densities along ca . ten miles of ridges. A small 

 portion of its population is in habitat considered for State Land 

 Department quarrying leases, as determined in a concurrent study. 

 In cooperation with the Headwaters District of the Bureau of Land 

 Management, three ridge segments were targeted for survey (Figure 1; 

 below) . 



Documentation of this large, presently secure population augments 

 previous recommendations that this species be dropped from 

 consideration on the proposed Bureau of Land Management sensitive 

 species list under current conditions. 



The presence of Townsendia spathulata in the Limestone Hills is one of 

 several interesting biodiversity features in the Hills with Great 

 Basin affinity. The Limestone Hills are one of three areas in the 

 state where this species is known, all three being on lands 

 administered by the Bureau of Land Management. 



Two other sensitive species in the vicinity were sought without 

 success in the survey: Astragalus convallarius and Oxytropis laqopus 

 var. coniuqens (Note: 0. 1. var. laqopus has been collected from the 

 project area; not 0. 1 var. coniuqens ) . Other state sensitive species 

 which occupy limestone habitat were sought but not found. In 

 addition, a mountain plover ( Charadrius montanus) was observed, and 

 general information was collected on vegetation (reported separately 

 to BLM) . 



This report represents a statewide status summary of Townsendia 

 spathulata , with information from the Limestone Hills survey 

 incorporated throughout. 



