Graham's beardtongue (Penstemon grahamii) and White River beardtongue (Penstemon albifluvis) are oil shale endemics that are only found in the Uinta Basin of Utah and the Piceance Basin of Colorado (USFWS 2013a, 2013b). Both species are restricted to slopes, ridges, and knolls on calcareous, shallow soils derived from shales in the Mahogany Ledge member of the Green River Formation in the Uinta Basin, Utah and adjacent Colorado (USFWS 2013b). A multi-agency Penstemon Conservation Team is charged with implementing conservation measures required by the July 2014 Penstemon Conservation Agreement. The team includes representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Utah Public Lands Policy Coordination Office (PLPCO), U.S. Bureau of Land Management, School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA), Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Uintah County, Utah, and Rio Blanco County, Colorado. The Agreement was determined by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to preclude the need to list Graham's and White River beardtongue penstemon as 'threatened' under the federal Endangered Species Act. This project will provide technical support and actions required under the Penstemon Conservation Agreement and for its ongoing implementation. Goose Creek Milkvetch (Astragalus anserinus) is endemic to tuffaceous soils in the Goose Creek drainage in Cassia County, Idaho, Elko County, Nevada, and Box Elder County, Utah (Goose Creek Milkvetch Conservation Team [GCMCT] 2015 and references therein). The species is a short-lived perennial, but little is known about its life history and risks to populations from invasive annual weeds, wildfire, and livestock grazing. A multi-agency conservation agreement and strategy was implemented in 2015 between BLM and USFWS field offices in Utah, Idaho, and Nevada (GCMCT 2015). Range-wide monitoring to assess the species' life history, ecology, and population trends was implemented in 2017 and is expected to continue for the life of the agreement (2015-2045). The proposed project will provide technical support for statistical sampling and data analysis of the 2017 to 2021 monitoring data to evaluate threats and population trend.

The purpose of the proposed project is to provide technical support to the Penstemon Conservation Team for ongoing implementation of the 2014 Penstemon Conservation Agreement (PCT 2014), and data analysis and reporting support to the 2015 Goose Creek Milkvetch Conservation Agreement (GCMCT 2015). FY2022 tasks comprise 1) Penstemon Conservation Team support; 2) preparation of the 2021 Penstemon Conservation Team Annual Report; 3) assistance with range-wide Penstemon population monitoring and reporting; 4) Penstemon transplant monitoring in May and June 2022; and 5) Goose Creek milkvetch 2017-2021 data analysis and reporting. All tasks would be completed no later than June 30, 2022.

The 2014 Agreement requires that the Penstemon Conservation Team oversees the implementation of the conservation actions listed in the document, meets at least annually to review conservation actions, and produces an annual report (PCT 2014 Section 6.1). The activities proposed here would support these requirements by providing technical assistance, compilation of the 2021 annual report, range-wide monitoring of Penstemon populations, and monitoring of Penstemon transplants to support development of restoration methods and future restoration initiatives. The 2015 Goose Creek Milkvetch Conservation Agreement (GCMCT 2015) requires annual monitoring of populations and threats. The monitoring data analyses proposed here will support objective 5 of the Agreement and ongoing adaptive management.

The activities proposed here address monitoring and reporting requirements stated in the 2014 Penstemon Conservation Agreement and Strategy by providing technical assistance (Task 1), compilation of the 2021 annual report (Task 2), range-wide monitoring of Penstemon population trend (Task 3), and monitoring to inform restoration methods and future restoration initiatives (Task 4). The 2015 Goose Creek Milkvetch Conservation Agreement (GCMCT 2015) requires annual monitoring of populations and threats. The data analyses and reporting activities proposed here (Task 5) address objective 5 of the Agreement and ongoing adaptive management.

The FY2022 Utah Rare Plant Conservation Agreement Support project tasks comprise 1) Penstemon Conservation Team meetings; 2) preparation of a 2021 Penstemon Conservation Team Annual Report; 3) assistance with range-wide Penstemon population monitoring and reporting; 4) Penstemon transplant monitoring in May and June 2022; and 5) Goose Creek milkvetch 2017-2021 data analyses and reporting. Task 1: Penstemon Conservation Team Support. Attend two meetings in Vernal, Utah and participate in approximately 2-4 conference calls during the project year. The purpose of Manzanita Botanical's participation in Penstemon Conservation Team meetings is to provide technical expertise regarding the development and implementation of the conservation agreement to date, and on Penstemon locations, threats, monitoring, and restoration planning. The proposed budget for this task comprises 24 hours for attending meetings, compiling agendas and meeting minutes, and technical support (24 x $60.00 = $1,440.00) Task 2: Penstemon Conservation Team 2021 Annual Report. J. Hope Hornbeck (Manzanita Botanical) has assisted the Penstemon Conservation Team with compilation, formatting, and finalization of the Team's annual reports from 2015 to present. These reports are published on the State Institutional Trust Lands Administration's website at: https://trustlands.utah.gov/in-your-community/conservation/penstemon-conservation-project. Manzanita Botanical will assist the Penstemon Conservation Team with the preparation of a 2021 Annual Report to be finalized approximately March 31, 2022. The proposed budget for this task comprises 40 hours for compiling, formatting, and finalizing the annual report (40 x $60.00 = $2,400.00) and 10 hours of in-kind labor contributed by Manzanita Botanical ($600.00). Task 3: Range Wide Penstemon Population Monitoring. Range-wide population monitoring that quantifies population structure and trend as well as interactions with current or potential future threats from invasive weeds, herbivory, livestock grazing, and development is required under the 2014 Penstemon Conservation Agreement. Monitoring coordination and assistance are essential to ongoing monitoring and reporting to the PCT, and will help to ensure that monitoring activities address the objectives stated in the Agreement and associated Management and Monitoring Plans and revisions (https://trustlands.utah.gov/in-your-community/conservation/penstemon-conservation-project). The range-wide population monitoring program was reimplemented in 2020, with 15 macroplots established in May and June 2020, and at least five additional macroplots to be established in late May 2021 for a total of 2 macroplots per species per conservation unit (20 macroplots total). Manzanita Botanical will coordinate with Utah DNR and the BLM Colorado Threatened and Endangered Species Program on the timing and logistics of monitoring for each Penstemon species. Monitoring activities will take place during flowering for each species: from mid-May to early June for Graham's beardtongue, and from late May to mid-June for White River beardtongue. Manzanita Botanical will provide updated plot-specific monitoring datasheets, guidance on any changes to sample sizes or methodology, and field assistance for approximately four days per species. We anticipate in-kind monitoring assistance from Utah DNR, BLM Vernal Field Office (VFO), and Colorado BLM. Data sheets will be housed with BLM Colorado and Manzanita Botanical Consulting. Manzanita Botanical will compile monitoring data into an Excel database for analysis. Data will be summarized to assess population structure and frequency of associated plant species, invasive weeds, and disturbance by livestock, native ungulates, or human activities. Statistical analyses will comprise data summaries and sample size analyses to ensure that the sample is of sufficient size to meet the detectable change objectives stated in the Management Plans. The 2020-2021 monitoring methods and results will be compiled into a summary report for inclusion in the Penstemon Conservation Team 2021 Annual Report. The 2022 monitoring results will be reported in the 2022 Annual Report. The proposed budget for this task comprises 70 hours for monitoring and 30 hours for data analyses and reporting (100 hours x $60.00/hour = $6,000.00), reimbursement for vehicle mileage (1500 miles at $00.56/mile = $840.00) and lodging (6 nights x $60.00 per night = $360.00), and 20 hours of in-kind labor contributed by Manzanita Botanical ($1,200.00). Task 4: Penstemon Transplant Monitoring. Three seedling transplant experiments were performed as part of the implementation of the Penstemon Conservation Agreement: 1) installation of 70 White River beardtongue seedlings in shale habitat on an Enefit private conservation area in October 2014; 2) installation of 140 White River beardtongue seedlings in shale habitat on two Enefit private conservation areas in October 2015; and 3) installation of 100 Graham's beardtongue seedlings in a prepared soils treatment experimental site at the Red Leaf Seep Ridge EPS location in October 2015. The White River beardtongue transplants were monitored to record plant survival, growth, and reproductive status in June 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020. The Graham's beardtongue restoration experiment at the Red Leaf Seep Ridge EPS site was monitored during flowering in 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020. At the White River Enefit transplant locations (PESCAL-1), 24 (37.5%) of the original 64 seedlings transplanted in October 2014 survived to June 2020. Of the surviving plants, 10 (41.7%) flowered and averaged 1.8 flowering stems and 5.1 flowers per plant, which is less than 10% of the reproductive effort observed in 2019. Most of the flowers were aborted with few developing fruits. We documented two White River beardtongue seedlings in excellent condition near large reproductive transplants. At the Graham's beardtongue EPS experiment site, plant survival appears to have stabilized, with 21 (21.0%) of the original 100 seedlings transplanted in October 2015 surviving to June 2020. Of the surviving plants, 66.7% flowered and averaged 5.0 flowering stems and 21.2 flowers per plant. Like 2019, there were large numbers of aborted flowers apparently due to the cool, wet spring and early summer conditions. No recruitment of seedlings has been observed to date, but the continued successful flowering and seed set in the Shale + Utelite treatment suggests that recruitment is possible. Surviving plants continue to be stressed by competition from dense invasive annual weeds, We will monitor the Graham's beardtongue experimental site and the White River beardtongue transplant site in May and June, 2021, respectively. The 2021 transplant monitoring data will be compiled into an Excel database and analyzed to quantify survivorship and trend. The results will be summarized for inclusion in the PCT 2021 Annual Report. The proposed budget for this task comprises 24 hours for monitoring (24 hours x $60.00/hour = $1,440.00), reimbursement for vehicle mileage (500 miles x $00.56/mile = $280.00) and lodging (2 nights x $60.00/night = $120.00), and 10 hours of in-kind labor contributed by Manzanita Botanical ($600.00). Task 5: Goose Creek Milkvetch Statistical Analyses. Manzanita Botanical will provide technical support to DNR for analyses and reporting of Astragalus anserinus monitoring results. We will perform population viability and multivariate analyses to assess interactions between Goose Creek milkvetch populations and invasive weeds, fire, and livestock grazing. We will also evaluate sample size sufficiency as needed. Analysis methods and results will be summarized in a technical memo for use by DNR and the Goose Creek Milkvetch Conservation Team. The proposed budget for this task includes 20 hours for data analysis and reporting (20 hours x $60.00/hour = $1,200.00) Literature Cited Goose Creek Milk Vetch Conservation Team

Range wide monitoring of Penstemon populations is required under the 2014 Agreement and is expected to continue through 2034. Monitoring of surviving Penstemon transplants should also be performed. Funding for these activities will be coordinated through signatory agencies and DNR. Ongoing monitoring of Goose Creek Milkvetch is outside of the current scope of this project, and future monitoring frequency and intensity will be determined by the GCMCT.

Potential project partners comprise SITLA, PLPCO, and Uintah County. These partners are represented by Chris Shiraldi (SITLA), Braden Sheppard (PLPCO), and Jon Stearmer (UC), all of whom are members of the Penstemon Conservation Team. Uinta County provided $4,320 and SITLA provided $5,755 in FY2021 to support reimplementation of the range-wide Penstemon Population Monitoring Program. SITLA also provided $4,796 toward completion of Tasks 3 and 4 of the FY2020 Utah Rare Plant Conservation Agreement Support project. The BLM Colorado Threatened and Endangered Species Program also provided significant in-kind guidance and resources to support reimplementation of population monitoring in FY2020 and FY2021.

The proposed activities will be performed annually as part of Penstemon Conservation Agreement implementation with funding by inter-agency signatories and in-kind support. The Agreement is expected to continue, all or in part, through 2034. A five-year (2017-2021) Goose Creek milkvetch population viability analysis and trend assessment is expected to be completed in FY2022 with support from this project and other sources. Future monitoring activities are undetermined at this time, but some level of monitoring to support the 2015 Goose Creek Milkvetch Conservation Agreement is to be expected for the duration of its 30-year term (to 2045).

07/01/2021

06/30/2022

2022

The FY2022 Utah Rare Plant Conservation Agreement Support project tasks comprised: 1) Penstemon Conservation Team support; 2) preparation of the Penstemon Conservation Team 2021 Annual Report; 3) assistance with range-wide Penstemon population monitoring and reporting; 4) Penstemon transplant monitoring; and 5) Goose Creek milkvetch 2017-2021 data analyses and reporting. All tasks were completed with a few small changes to proposed methods that are detailed in by task below: Task 1: Penstemon Conservation Team Support. No in-person meetings occurred in FY2022, instead, meetings were limited to two full PCT conference calls and approximately six subcommittee conference calls during the project year. Meeting minutes will be finalized and uploaded to the State Institutional Trust Lands Administration's website (https://trustlands.utah.gov/in-your-community/conservation/penstemon-conservation-project) as part of year-end reporting. Task 2: Penstemon Conservation Team 2021 Annual Report. The final 2021 Annual Report was finalized on March 31, 2022, and is available on the State Institutional Trust Lands Administration's website: https://trustlands.utah.gov/in-your-community/conservation/penstemon-conservation-project. Task 3: Range Wide Penstemon Population Monitoring. Range wide population monitoring was completed from May 23 through May 27, 2022. The monitoring field work was performed by the Colorado BLM team (BLM CO office and University of Northern Colorado researchers), BLM VFO biologists, Manzanita Botanical, Utah Fish and Wildlife Service, and volunteers from SITLA, PLPCO, and Uintah County. We revisited 15 of the 16 existing macroplots in May 2022 and added one new White River beardtongue macroplot in Unit 2 for a total of 8 Graham's beardtongue and 9 White River beardtongue population monitoring plots established to date. We were unable to monitor the existing White River beardtongue plot in Unit 6 or add an additional plot due to late-season timing (the site must be monitored in early June to provide comparable data between years and monitoring sites) and staff availability. We expect to add a White River beardtongue macroplot in Unit 6 in 2023, but do not expect to find a second suitable Graham's beardtongue population monitoring plot location in either Unit 1 or Unit 5 due to the sparse distribution of the species at the edges of its range. The Penstemon Monitoring Subcommittee will evaluate alternative monitoring approaches to address the lack of suitable plot locations in Units 1 and 5 in 2023. Task 4: Penstemon Transplant Monitoring. The White River Enefit transplant location (PESCAL-1) was revisited on May 26, 2022 by Manzanita Botanical Consulting and BLM VFO botany and interns. The Graham's beardtongue site at the Red Leaf (now Green Leaf) Seep Ridge site was not revisited in 2022. Task 5: Goose Creek Milkvetch Statistical Analyses. A five-year (2017-2021) monitoring report was finalized on February 28, 2022. The 46-page report details the methods, results, and implications of the five-year monitoring study with recommendations for ongoing monitoring and research activities. Population viability analyses (PVA) to assess trend and management needs were also included in the report, these activities were supported under ESMF project 190 (WRI project 6406).

The purpose of the FY2022 project was to provide technical support and actions required under the Penstemon Conservation Agreement and Goose Creek Milkvetch Conservation Agreement and for the ongoing implementation of these agreements. Task 1: Penstemon Conservation Team Support. The purpose of this task is to provide coordination and reporting support to the Penstemon Conservation Team for ongoing implementation of the Penstemon Conservation Agreement. The Team's responsibilities in FY2022 were minimal, with meetings focused on Team leadership assignments, tracking land management within the conservation areas, and monitoring progress and needs. The Penstemon Conservation Team met all coordination and reporting requirements in FY2022 and is currently in the 9th year of Agreement implementation. Task 2: Penstemon Conservation Team 2021 Annual Report. The Penstemon Conservation Team is required to produce and publish an annual report as part of Agreement implementation. The 2021 annual report summarized the activities and contributions of the Agreement signatories, ongoing research, and future implementation needs, and was the 7th such report produced by the Team. All annual reports (2015-2021) are currently published on the SITLA Penstemon Conservation Agreement page at: https://trustlands.utah.gov/in-your-community/conservation/penstemon-conservation-project. Task 3: Range Wide Penstemon Population Monitoring. The range-wide population monitoring program was reimplemented in 2020, with 15 macroplots established in May and June 2020, two macroplots added in May 2021, and one macroplot added in May 2022. As of May 2022, we have established eight Graham's beardtongue macroplots and nine White River beardtongue macroplots. The goal stated in the monitoring plan is 2 macroplots per species per conservation unit, or 10 macroplots for each species and 20 macroplots total; however, we are unlikely to achieve this goal for Graham's beardtongue due to the species' very sparse distributions at the east (unit 1) and west (unit 5) extremes of range. We expect to add a second macroplot in unit 6 for White River beardtongue in early June 2023. We created site-specific monitoring datasheets for all existing monitoring locations prior to 2022 field work. In-kind monitoring assistance was provided by the BLM Colorado State Office, BLM Vernal Field Office, Uintah County, SITLA, and PLPCO. Manzanita Botanical will compile the 2022 monitoring data into an Excel database for analysis and year-end reporting. Data will be summarized to assess population structure and frequency of associated plant species, invasive weeds, and disturbance by livestock, native ungulates, or human activities. Statistical analyses will comprise data summaries and sample size analyses to ensure that the sample is of sufficient size to meet the detectable change objectives stated in the Management Plans. The 2020-2022 monitoring methods and results will be compiled into a summary report for inclusion in the Penstemon Conservation Team 2022 Annual Report. Task 4: Penstemon Transplant Monitoring. Three seedling transplant experiments were performed as part of the implementation of the Penstemon Conservation Agreement: 1) installation of 70 White River beardtongue seedlings in shale habitat on an Enefit private conservation area in October 2014; 2) installation of 140 White River beardtongue seedlings in shale habitat on two Enefit private conservation areas in October 2015; and 3) installation of 100 Graham's beardtongue seedlings in a prepared soils treatment experimental site at the Red Leaf Seep Ridge EPS location in October 2015. The White River beardtongue transplants were monitored to record plant survival, growth, and reproductive status in 2015-2017 and from 2019-2022. The Graham's beardtongue restoration experiment at the Red Leaf Seep Ridge EPS site was monitored during flowering in 2016, 2017, and from 2019-2021. The Graham's beardtongue Seep Ridge site was not revisited in 2022 due to access and staffing limitations. The White River beardtongue Enefit transplant location (PESCAL-1) was monitored on May 26, 2022. Of the 64 seedlings transplanted in October 2014, 19 (29.7%) survived to May 2022. Of the surviving plants, 13 (68.4%) flowered and averaged 4.3 flowering stems and 31.3 flowers per plant, which is a three-fold greater effort than observed in 2021. Most of the flowers were in bud or open, and it was too early for developing fruits. In 2020, 2We documented two White River beardtongue seedlings in excellent condition near large reproductive transplants, both of these seedlings survived to 2022 and were flowering. The 2022 White River beardtongue transplant monitoring data will be compiled into an Excel database and analyzed to quantify survivorship and trend. The results will be summarized for inclusion in the 2022 Penstemon Conservation Agreement Annual Report. Task 5: Goose Creek Milkvetch Statistical Analyses. The final A. anserinus life-history model comprised three aboveground size classes, ten seed bank stages, and a germinant stage, and was based largely on recent work by Van Buren et al. (2022). Population viability analyses were performed to assess and quantify population structure, quantify population growth rates and the population processes that contribute to population growth. The demographic PVA results comprised interannual and average vital rate and population growth rate estimates, elasticity analyses, and stochastic population projections under several climate scenarios. Estimated population growth rates ranged from 0.897 (2020-2021) to 1.215 (2019-2020). Differences in survival and growth of aboveground plants and population growth rates between average or wet years (2017-2020) and an observed extreme drought year (2021) indicated that precipitation exerts a strong influence on population behavior. However, effects from fire, invasive weeds, and livestock grazing remain largely unknown. The five-year study demonstrated that above-ground individuals are short-lived and that a large, persistent seed bank represents up to 95% of the total population at any given time. High interannual variations in aboveground plant survival and seed outputs suggest that other factors, such as insect outbreaks, could also be important drivers of population growth. The final report and associated maps and appendices were submitted to UDNR and the Goose Creek Milkvetch Conservation Team.

All of the tasks performed in FY2022 will be continued, all or in part, for the life of the conservation agreements. Task 1: Penstemon Conservation Team Support. The Penstemon Conservation Team met all coordination and reporting requirements in FY2022 and is currently in the 8th year of Agreement implementation. We anticipate a similar level of coordination efforts in future years. Task 2: Penstemon Conservation Agreement Annual Reporting. An annual report is required under the 2014 Penstemon Conservation Agreement. We have developed a template and simplified reporting system that minimizes the resources required for this task in future years. Task 3: Range Wide Penstemon Population Monitoring. The range wide penstemon population monitoring program is in an early phase, with additional sites needed to provide a rigorous picture of both local- and species-level population trend. Identifying and accessing suitable monitoring sites continues to be challenging due to the very remote and rugged nature of the species' habitats. Recurring drought conditions during the last decade has limited our ability to accurately assess population sizes and distributions. The covid epidemic and limited resources for surveys have also limited our progress since the program was implemented in 2020. The continuation and expansion of range wide monitoring is essential to our understanding of the status and trend of both species, and should be continued for the life of the agreement. Task 4: Penstemon Transplant Monitoring. Both the Graham's beardtongue and White River beardtongue transplant experiments have achieved some levels of success. We have demonstrated that transplantation of seedlings is possible in suitable soil conditions, and that recruitment can occur. Nevertheless, both sites continue to demonstrate a trend of gradual attrition, with little or no evidence of the establishment of self-sustaining populations. Recurring drought conditions over the last decade have likely been a limiting factor in transplant establishment, and naturally occurring populations have also shown little to no growth during the study period. We recommend continued monitoring of the PEGR-1 and PESCAL-1 experimental transplant sites to assess transplant survival, growth, and recruitment for the life of the remaining transplanted individuals and any recruits. Task 5: Goose Creek Milkvetch Monitoring Reporting. The initial five-year (2017-2021) Astragalus anserinus monitoring study was completed in 2022 with the finalization of the monitoring report. Future activities are expected to comprise compilation and summarization of annual monitoring data, with updated population viability analyses performed following the tenth year of monitoring (2026). It is likely that monitoring will continue on an annual or semi-annual basis for the life of the Goose Creek Milkvetch Conservation Agreement.