A wildflower that grows in both Nevada and California is growing closer to gaining protections under the Endangered Species Act. The Center for Biological Diversity and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have reached a new legal agreement over the Tecopa bird’s peak. The Center says the flower grows in the desert wetlands in Nevada and California and is threatened by groundwater pumping related to mining, agriculture and energy development. … One population of the flower grows in Esmeralda County, where, according to the Center for Biological Diversity, is where irrigation for alfalfa has caused a widespread drawdown of groundwater levels. The agreement sets a date of Sept. 13 2028 for the Fish and Wildlife Service to issue a final decision on whether to list the flower as threatened or endangered.

Related:

• Center for Biological Diversity: News release: Agreement moves rare desert wetland wildflower toward endangered species protections