Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Determination of Threatened Status for Castilleja levisecta (Golden Paintbrush)

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) determines threatened status pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), for the plant Castilleja levisecta (golden paintbrush). This species once occurred from Oregon to Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. Ten populations of this plant now exist in open grasslands ranging from south of Olympia in Thurston County, Washington, north through the Puget Trough to southwest British Columbia, Canada. Threats to the species include competition with encroaching native and non-native plant species; habitat modification through succession in the absence of fire; and grazing by herbivores. Direct human-caused threats include conversion of habitat for residential and commercial development, conversion to agriculture, and possible damage associated with road maintenance. This rule implements the Federal protections afforded by the Act for this plant.