Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Determination of Endangered Status for Sidalcea oregana var. calva (Wenatchee Mountains Checker-Mallow)

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), determine endangered species status under the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended, for Sidalcea oregana var. calva (Wenatchee Mountains checker-mallow). This plant species is endemic to meadows that have surface water or saturated soil in the spring and early summer at middle elevations in the Wenatchee Mountains of Chelan County, Washington. Although five populations of this plant are known, three of these have very few individuals. The estimated total number of plants is about 3,300. The primary threats to S. oregana var. calva include habitat fragmentation and destruction due to alterations of hydrology, rural residential development and associated activities, competition from native and alien plants, recreation, fire suppression, and activities associated with fire suppression. To a lesser extent, the species is threatened by livestock grazing, road construction, and timber harvesting and associated impacts including changes in surface runoff in the small watersheds in which the plant occurs. This rule implements the Federal protections provided by the Act for this plant.