CNDDB News Blog

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has initiated two five-year species reviews for the state threatened Calistoga popcornflower (Plagiobothrys strictus) and the state endangered Napa bluegrass (Poa napensis) to evaluate if the conditions that led to the original listing have changed and to provide recommendations regarding the species’ status and management to the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission).

These five-year species reviews will inform the Commission's decision on whether to retain or change the status of the species under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). As part of this process, the CNDDB would like to encourage anyone who has observed Calistoga popcornflower and/or Napa bluegrass to submit their findings to us. People who have questions or comments about the review process should email our Native Plant Program. The deadline to submit data and comments is Friday May 16, 2025, to allow us sufficient time for evaluation.

Calistoga popcornflower and Napa bluegrass are annual plants that overlap in vernal pool habitat and occur exclusively in Calistoga in Napa County. There are only 3 known populations of Calistoga popcornflower and 2 known populations of Napa bluegrass left in the world. Calistoga popcornflower was listed as threatened under CESA in 1990 and Napa bluegrass was originally listed as endangered and afforded protection under the Native Plant Protection Act in 1979 and then under CESA in 1984 when plants became a part of CESA (Fish & G. Code, §2050 et seq.). The purpose of a five-year species review is to use the best scientific information available to determine if the conditions that led to the original species listing are still present or have changed since listing, and recommend to retain or change the status of the species (Fish & G. Code, §§ 2072.3 & 2077). Process information, along with recently completed reviews, are available on our web page for Five-year Reviews of Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species. Take of these species is prohibited without an appropriate permit for scientific, educational or management purposes. For more information on permitting, visit our CESA permits web page.

We need your help in better understanding the threatened status of Calistoga popcornflower and the endangered status of Napa bluegrass. If you have ever found them in the wild, submit your findings to us through our Online Field Survey Form.

The following CNDDB documents have been updated:

• Special Vascular Plants, Bryophytes, and Lichens List (PDF)
• Endangered, Threatened, and Rare Plants List (PDF)
• Changes to the CNDDB Special Vascular Plants, Bryophytes, and Lichens List (PDF)
• Special Animals List (PDF)
• Endangered and Threatened Animals List (PDF)

Links to the T&E and Special Plants/Animals lists can be found on the CNDDB Plants and Animals web page. More information about state listing can be found on the California Fish and Game Commission CESA web page and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife CESA web page. If you have any questions about these lists, please email us at CNDDB@wildlife.ca.gov.

Bear Lake buckwheat (Eriogonum microtheca var. lacus-ursi)
CDFW photo by Kristi Lazar

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will be conducting a status review for Bear Lake buckwheat to inform the California Fish and Game Commission's decision on whether to list the species under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). More details about the listing proposal and CDFW's request for public comments may be found in our CDFW newsletter. As part of this process, CDFW is soliciting information regarding the species’ ecology, genetics, life history, distribution, abundance, habitat, the degree and immediacy of threats to its reproduction or survival, the adequacy of existing management and recommendations for management of the species. The CNDDB would like to encourage anyone who has observed Bear Lake buckwheat to submit their findings to us. People who have questions or comments about the review process should email our Native Plant Program. The deadline for both data submission and comments is February 10, 2025 to allow us sufficient time for evaluation.

Bear Lake buckwheat (Eriogonum microtheca var. lacus-ursi) is a subshrub in the buckwheat family with only a single known occurrence on the south shore of Big Bear Lake in San Bernardino County, California. Bear Lake buckwheat grows on a unique substrate of gray, silty, clay soil in a Jeffrey pine and juniper woodland. Bear Lake buckwheat occupies an area of less than 0.18 acre on a parcel of private property that is being leased to the City of Big Bear Lake. The main threats to Bear Lake buckwheat are habitat modification or destruction from development of the property where the species occurs, human disturbances (off-road vehicle use, littering/trash dumping, and footpaths/trampling), effects of small population size, and fire and fuel reduction activities.

On July 16, 2024, CDFW’s Native Plant Program submitted a petition to the California Fish and Game Commission to list Bear Lake buckwheat as an endangered species under CESA. The Commission published findings of its decision to make the species a candidate for listing as an endangered species on October 25, 2024, and as such, Bear Lake buckwheat now receives the same legal protection afforded to an endangered or threatened species (Fish and Game Code sections 2074.2 and 2085). Take of this species is prohibited without an appropriate permit for scientific, educational or management purposes. For more information on permitting, visit our CESA permits page.

We need your help in better understanding the status of Bear Lake buckwheat. If you have ever found the species in the wild, submit your findings to us through our Online Field Survey Form. Together, we can help the Fish and Game Commission make an informed decision on the listing proposal for the Bear Lake buckwheat.