Presentation Title
Protecting Grand Canyon's Endangered Sentry Milk-Vetch Plant
223,217,31Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center450
State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023Phone:
928-638-2468explorethecanyon.com
GRAND CANYON, Ariz. - Sentry milk-vetch is a small blooming
plant only found on the North and South Rims of the Grand Canyon.
Have you heard of Sentry Milk-Vetch
223,217,31Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center450
State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023Phone:
928-638-2468explorethecanyon.com
The plant's species name is cremnophylax, meaning gorge
watchman, and that has been its job over the years - watching over
some of Grand Canyon's most remote areas.
223,217,31Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center450
State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023Phone:
928-638-2468explorethecanyon.com
As the years have progressed, the little watchman has needed
others watchful eyes to provide protection and to preserve it from
extinction.
223,217,31Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center450
State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023Phone:
928-638-2468explorethecanyon.com
In 1903 Marcus E. Jones, an explorer and scientist at the
Canyon, discovered and named Sentry milk-vetch.Because of its small
population size, Sentry milk-vetch was extremely vulnerable and
susceptible to impacts caused by visitors.
223,217,31Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center450
State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023Phone:
928-638-2468explorethecanyon.com
Nearly 70 years later, Sentry milk-vetch has almost disappeared
and is the only federally listed endangered plant in the Grand
Canyon.
223,217,31Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center450
State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023Phone:
928-638-2468explorethecanyon.com
USFWS plans to down list Sentry milk-vetch from endangered to
threatened and outlines science-based criteria for the number and
size of populations needed to down list it.
223,217,31Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center450
State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023Phone:
928-638-2468explorethecanyon.com
According to the park, Sentry milk-vetch is threatened by
habitat loss, climate change and drought.
223,217,31Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center450
State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023Phone:
928-638-2468explorethecanyon.com
"The plant suffers from a lot of trampling from these scenic
overlooks," said Shahed Dowlatshahi, a biological science
technician working in the park's endangered plant reintroduction
program.
223,217,31Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center450
State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023Phone:
928-638-2468explorethecanyon.com
The plant only exists at Grand Canyon and only grows in shallow
soil pockets in cracks and crevices of the Kaibab Limestone and
only within 25 feet of the rim of the Canyon.
223,217,31Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center450
State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023Phone:
928-638-2468explorethecanyon.com
Caring for the health and future of Sentry milk-vetch is now the
responsibility of the park's endangered plant reintroduction
specialists.
223,217,31Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center450
State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023Phone:
928-638-2468explorethecanyon.com
More information about sentry milk-vetch and recovery efforts
can be found at
http://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/nature/astragalus.htm.
223,217,31Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center450
State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023Phone:
928-638-2468explorethecanyon.com
Come to the Grand Canyon today to see all of the beautiful parts
of the park! www.explorethecanyon.comGrand Canyon National Park
223,217,31Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center450
State Route 64 Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023Phone:
928-638-2468explorethecanyon.com
