U.S. FWS
Environmental Conservation Online System
Conserving the Nature of America

Recovery Plan Action Status

Plan Name: South Florida Multi-Species Recovery Plan (68 spp.)
Plan Status: Final
Plan Date: 18-May-99
Lead Agency: USFWS
Lead Office: South Florida Ecological Services Field Office ( (772) 562-3909 )
Species Action Priority # Action # Action Description Action Status Est. Initiation Date Est. Completion Date Responsible Parties Work Type Labor Type Action Comments Implementation Activities
Okeechobee gourd (Cucurbita okeechobeensis ssp. okeechobeensis) 1 cuok-h1.1 Determine water regulation practices that promote recovery of cuok, assess the implications on an ecosystem-wide scale, and make recommendations to water managers. Not Started Water Management Districts, Non-governmental organizations, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Other: Regulations Labor type not yet selected Action lead(s): FWS
Okeechobee gourd (Cucurbita okeechobeensis ssp. okeechobeensis) 2 cuok-h1.2 Control or remove exotic vegetation in wetlands in a manner that will avoid impacts to cuok. Ongoing Current Prior to FY 1995 Water Management Districts, Non-governmental organizations, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Department of Environmental Protection Management: Predator and Competitor Control Labor type not yet selected Cost is per acre (ex. 1.0/acre); Total cost dependent upon number of acres infested with exotics. Action lead(s): WMD, FWC
Okeechobee gourd (Cucurbita okeechobeensis ssp. okeechobeensis) 3 cuok-h1.3 Plant native trees or shrubs to replace exotics. Ongoing Current Prior to FY 1995 Water Management Districts, Non-governmental organizations, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Management: Habitat Maintenance and Manipulation Labor type not yet selected Cost is per acre (ex. 10.0/acre); Total cost dependent upon number of acres restored. Action lead(s): WMD, FWC
Okeechobee gourd (Cucurbita okeechobeensis ssp. okeechobeensis) 2 cuok-h1.4 Use controlled burns to open up areas of overly dense vegetation in lake littoral zones and marshes. Ongoing Current Prior to FY 1995 Private industry, landowners, etc., Water Management Districts, Non-governmental organizations, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Department of Environmental Protection Management: Habitat Maintenance and Manipulation Labor type not yet selected Cost is per acre (ex. 0.03/acre); Total cost dependent upon number of acres burned. Action lead(s): WMD, FWC
Okeechobee gourd (Cucurbita okeechobeensis ssp. okeechobeensis) 2 cuok-h1.5 Prevent cultural eutrophication of lakes and marshes. Ongoing Current Prior to FY 1995 Water Management Districts, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Management: Habitat Maintenance and Manipulation Labor type not yet selected Action lead(s): WMD, FWC
Okeechobee gourd (Cucurbita okeechobeensis ssp. okeechobeensis) 2 cuok-h2.1 Ensure that habitat needs of cuok are incorporated into restoration of Kreamer, Torrey, and Ritta Islands. Ongoing Current Prior to FY 1995 Water Management Districts, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Management: Habitat Maintenance and Manipulation Labor type not yet selected Task currently implemented and cost is included in managing agency's budget. Action lead(s): FWS
Okeechobee gourd (Cucurbita okeechobeensis ssp. okeechobeensis) 3 cuok-h2.2 Coordinate translocation plans for cuok with the Kissimmee River restoration activities. Ongoing Current Prior to FY 1995 Water Management Districts, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Management: Reintroduction Labor type not yet selected Task currently implemented and cost is included in managing agency's budget. Action lead(s): FWS
Okeechobee gourd (Cucurbita okeechobeensis ssp. okeechobeensis) 2 cuok-h3.0 Research the acute and long-term tolerance of cuok to herbicides used to control nuisance aquatic vegetation. Not Started Public and private universities, Private industry, landowners, etc., Water Management Districts, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Research: Management Techniques Labor type not yet selected Action lead(s): FWS
Okeechobee gourd (Cucurbita okeechobeensis ssp. okeechobeensis) 2 cuok-h4.0 Monitor habitat and ecological processes to determine effects on cuok. Not Started Public and private universities, Water Management Districts, Non-governmental organizations, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Research: Ecosystem Studies Labor type not yet selected Action lead(s): FWS
Okeechobee gourd (Cucurbita okeechobeensis ssp. okeechobeensis) 3 cuok-h5.0 Increase public awareness of ecological relationships, environmental stressors, and restoration activities in South Florida. Ongoing Current Prior to FY 1995 Water Management Districts, Non-governmental organizations, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Other: Information and Education Labor type not yet selected Action lead(s): FWS
Okeechobee gourd (Cucurbita okeechobeensis ssp. okeechobeensis) 1 cuok-s1.1 Conduct regularly scheduled surveys for cuok. Ongoing Current Prior to FY 1995 Public and private universities, Water Management Districts, Non-governmental organizations, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Research: Population Surveys Labor type not yet selected Action lead(s): FWS, WMD
Okeechobee gourd (Cucurbita okeechobeensis ssp. okeechobeensis) 3 cuok-s1.2 Encourage individuals to provide information on sightings of cuok. Ongoing Current Prior to FY 1995 Water Management Districts, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Other: Information and Education Labor type not yet selected Action lead(s): FWS
Okeechobee gourd (Cucurbita okeechobeensis ssp. okeechobeensis) 2 cuok-s2.1 Ensure that spraying to control aquatic vegetation does not impact cuok. Ongoing Current Prior to FY 1995 Water Management Districts, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Management: Predator and Competitor Control Labor type not yet selected Majority of cost included in WMD and spraying agency's budget. Action lead(s): FWS
Okeechobee gourd (Cucurbita okeechobeensis ssp. okeechobeensis) 2 cuok-s2.2 Assess the effect of Melaleuca and Brazilian pepper control efforts and use techniques to avoid direct impact to cuok. Not Started Public and private universities, Water Management Districts, Non-governmental organizations, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division Research: Ecosystem Studies Labor type not yet selected Action lead(s): WMD, FWC
Okeechobee gourd (Cucurbita okeechobeensis ssp. okeechobeensis) 2 cuok-s2.3 Use provisions of section 7 of the ESA to protect cuok. Ongoing Current Prior to FY 1995 US Forest Service, U.S. Air Force, United States Coast Guard , Natural Resources Conservation Service , U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Bureau of Land Management Other: Regulations Internal Administrative Cost included in standard operating procedures of Federal agency's budget. Action lead(s): All Federal agencies
Okeechobee gourd (Cucurbita okeechobeensis ssp. okeechobeensis) 2 cuok-s2.4.1 Establish a protocol for translocation. Not Started Water Management Districts, Non-governmental organizations, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Research: Reintroduction Labor type not yet selected Action lead(s): FWS
Okeechobee gourd (Cucurbita okeechobeensis ssp. okeechobeensis) 2 cuok-s2.4.2 Locate potential translocation sites. Not Started Water Management Districts, Non-governmental organizations, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Research: Reintroduction Labor type not yet selected Action lead(s): FWS
Okeechobee gourd (Cucurbita okeechobeensis ssp. okeechobeensis) 2 cuok-s2.4.3 Translocate plants to selected sites. Not Started Water Management Districts, Non-governmental organizations, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Management: Reintroduction Labor type not yet selected Action lead(s): FWS
Okeechobee gourd (Cucurbita okeechobeensis ssp. okeechobeensis) 2 cuok-s3.1 Test the viability of cuok seeds submerged for long periods. Not Started Public and private universities, Water Management Districts, Non-governmental organizations Research: Demographic Studies Labor type not yet selected Action lead(s): NGO
Okeechobee gourd (Cucurbita okeechobeensis ssp. okeechobeensis) 3 cuok-s3.2 Characterize range of soil conditions where cuok grows and provide detail mapping of soil types in southeastern Lake Okeechobee. Not Started Public and private universities, Water Management Districts, Non-governmental organizations Research: Ecosystem Studies Labor type not yet selected Action lead(s): universities
Okeechobee gourd (Cucurbita okeechobeensis ssp. okeechobeensis) 1 cuok-s3.3 Through field surveys, determine dates of germination under natural conditions. Not Started Public and private universities, Water Management Districts, Non-governmental organizations Research: Propagation Labor type not yet selected Action lead(s): NGO
Okeechobee gourd (Cucurbita okeechobeensis ssp. okeechobeensis) 1 cuok-s3.4 Test the effect of seasonally rising water level on the survival of young cuok. Not Started Public and private universities, Water Management Districts, Non-governmental organizations Research: Demographic Studies Labor type not yet selected Action lead(s): universities
Okeechobee gourd (Cucurbita okeechobeensis ssp. okeechobeensis) 1 cuok-s3.5 Conduct population viability and risk assessment studies for cuok. Not Started Public and private universities, Water Management Districts, Non-governmental organizations Research: Population Assessment Labor type not yet selected Action lead(s): FWS
Okeechobee gourd (Cucurbita okeechobeensis ssp. okeechobeensis) 3 cuok-s3.6 Investigate the role of animals in dispersing cuok seeds. Not Started Public and private universities, Water Management Districts, Non-governmental organizations Research: Ecosystem Studies Labor type not yet selected Action lead(s): universities
Okeechobee gourd (Cucurbita okeechobeensis ssp. okeechobeensis) 2 cuok-s3.7 Document the potential relationship between the American alligator and the cuok. Not Started Public and private universities, Water Management Districts, Non-governmental organizations Research: Ecosystem Studies Labor type not yet selected Action lead(s): universities
Okeechobee gourd (Cucurbita okeechobeensis ssp. okeechobeensis) 3 cuok-s3.8 Investigate the genetic distance between the two populations of cuok. Complete FY 2000 - FY 2004 FY 2000 - FY 2004 Water Management Districts, Non-governmental organizations Research: Genetics Species Expert, Contract Action lead(s): NGO
Okeechobee gourd (Cucurbita okeechobeensis ssp. okeechobeensis) 1 cuok-s4.1 Determine the most effective approach to monitor the condition of cuok and its habitat on an annual basis. Not Started Public and private universities, Water Management Districts, Non-governmental organizations Research: Population Surveys, Research: Habitat Status Labor type not yet selected Action lead(s): FWS
Okeechobee gourd (Cucurbita okeechobeensis ssp. okeechobeensis) 1 cuok-s4.2 Conduct monitoring on an annual basis. Ongoing Current Prior to FY 1995 Public and private universities, Water Management Districts, Non-governmental organizations, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Research: Population Surveys Labor type not yet selected Action lead(s): FWS
Okeechobee gourd (Cucurbita okeechobeensis ssp. okeechobeensis) 3 cuok-s5.0 Increase public awareness of cuok. Ongoing Current Prior to FY 1995 Water Management Districts, Florida Division of Forestry, Non-governmental organizations, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Other: Information and Education Labor type not yet selected Action lead(s): FWS
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