CNDDB News Blog

Boggs Lake hedge-hyssop (Gratiola heterosepala)
Photo credit: © Carol Witham, all rights reserved

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has initiated a five-year species review (Species Review) for the state endangered Boggs Lake hedge-hyssop (Gratiola heterosepala) to inform the California Fish and Game 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 Boggs Lake hedge-hyssop 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 June 30, 2024, to allow us sufficient time for evaluation.

Boggs Lake hedge-hyssop is an annual plant with 99 known populations located across California’s Central Valley, inner north coast range, Sierra Nevada foothills, Lassen National Forest, and the Modoc Plateau. This plant was originally listed as endangered and afforded protection under the Native Plant Protection Act in 1978 and then under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) in 1989 when plants became a part of CESA (Fish & G. Code, §2050 et seq.). The purpose of a 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 this 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 endangered status of Boggs Lake hedge-hyssop. 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.

Greater sage-grouse near Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge, Tom Koerner/USFWS, Public Domain

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is conducting a status review for the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) 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, the CNDDB would like to encourage anyone who has observed greater sage-grouse to submit their findings to us. People who have questions or comments about the review process should email our Wildlife Diversity Program. The deadline for both data submission and comments is April 12, 2024 to allow us sufficient time for evaluation.

The greater sage-grouse is found in sagebrush habitat throughout two distinct areas of California. The bi-state sage grouse population consists of birds from Alpine, Mono and Inyo counties, while the northeastern California population occurs in Modoc, Lassen, Plumas and Sierra counties. Greater sage-grouse are lekking birds, which means males perform elaborate displays to attract mates at communal breeding sites.

The birds’ primary food source is sagebrush, but they also eat a variety of other plants, including chicory, dandelion, clover, buckwheat, yarrow and milk-vetch. Insects like grasshoppers, beetles and ants are an important food source for chicks and hens. Threats include the loss, modification and fragmentation of habitat, as well as predation, climate change, loss of genetic diversity and disease.

As of June 30, 2023, the greater sage-grouse is considered a candidate species under CESA and will therefore receive the same legal protection afforded to an endangered or threatened species. 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 web page.

We need your help in better understanding the status of the greater sage-grouse. If you have ever found them 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 greater sage-grouse.