The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed removing the northeastern bulrush from the federal endangered species list, citing a dramatic population rebound from 13 known sites in 1991 to 148 populations today across six states. The decision follows more than 30 years of conservation efforts for the perennial sedge.
The recovery represents a rare success story under the Endangered Species Act, with the plant's numbers increasing elevenfold since it was first listed. Federal officials point to habitat protection and land management as key drivers of the rebound.