U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Grant: Establishing Endangered Jesup’s Milk-Vetch Populations

THERE IS NO FULL ANNOUNCEMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS NOTICE. This is a Notice of Intent to Award a Grant Agreement between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the New England Wild Flower Society for the purpose of implementing the research titled: “Establishing introduced populations of the federally endangered Jesup’s milk-vetch (Astragalus robbinsii v. jesupii) in New Hampshire”. The Agreement is in financial support for the maintenance of a fourth population that may become established by seeds sown in 2010, and to establish a fifth population, on the Connecticut River upriver of the southernmost extant population if augmentation at the introduced site is determined not to be necessary in 2011. The introduction site treated in 2010 is a wildlife management area owned by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (NHWMA). Preliminary analysis suggests that 1) seeds sown in early 2010 have germinated and a small number of plants are growing (only in seedling stage as of June 16, 2010), and 2) there is additional potential habitat for a fifth population that needs further investigation as to suitability and ability to manage seedlings and transplants. The second option would be selected should plants become established and thrive at the newly introduced site negating the need for further augmentation in 2011.

This Single Source Award is being made in accordance with Department of the Interior Policy 505 DM 2, 2.14 B(4), which allows for award to an applicant who is uniquely qualified to perform the activity based on technical expertise.

No substantial involvement on the part of the Service is anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives to be funded. It is anticipated that the Service’s involvement will consist of standard Federal stewardship responsibilities, such as monitoring project performance, technical assistance at the request of the recipient, etc.