Las Vegas Bearpoppy

The Las Vegas bearpoppy (Arctomecon californica) was first described by John C. Fremont in 1887 and has been watched ever since with concern as its habitat has steadily declined. It is listed in Nevada as critically endangered.

The bearpoppy grows exclusively on gypsiferous soils and produces long hairy leaves that are toothed at the tip and form basal rosettes from which flower stems arise. It flowers from March to June with multiple yellow flowers borne by each stem.

The Las Vegas bearpoppy grows on the Las Vegas Valley Water District's North Well Field off U.S. 95 and Valley View Boulevard as well as in other areas throughout our community.

Local development has encroached upon several large populations of poppies within the Las Vegas Valley. Although the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Habitat Management Plan (1995) and Environmental Assessment (1995), critical habitat has not been designated for the poppy, thus no formal federal mechanism currently exists to protect the poppy or to provide for mitigation. On a state level, law dictates that land owners/developers obtain a permit from the Nevada Division of Forestry prior to disturbance of any poppies.

Three important research projects have been conducted to augment known information concerning the status of the species. The projects were facilitated by The Nature Conservancy. These investigations included genetic analysis of the entire population, a pollination ecology study and seed germination testing.

The Water Authority is a member of the Las Vegas Bearpoppy Workgroup—a committee of approximately 15 local, state and federal agencies working to conserve the species and its habitat.