by Cheyenne Moore
Northeastern bulrush in an open, tall herb-dominated wetland, which is typical for the species. They are often found near water. Photo by Mary Ann Furedi, Western PA Conservancy, PA Natural Heritage Program, taken in Buchanan State Forest.
Northeastern bulrush (Scirpus ancistrochaetus) is a rare sedge found from Virginia through parts of New England. It was thought to be so rare in fact, that in 1991 the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) listed it as federally endangered. At that time the species was only known from 13 locations in seven states. Since that time, through conservation efforts as well as successful searches for the species, the number of known populations has increased to 148 across 8 states (as of 2018). Due to this and several other factors, northeastern bulrush was delisted by the USFWS on July 10, 2026.
Northeastern bulrush at the edge of a vernal pool. Photo by Mary Ann Furedi, Western PA Conservancy, PA Natural Heritage Program.
Pennsylvania played a big part in the delisting of northeastern bulrush as we’re the core of the species’ distribution. PA is home to at least 89 documented populations of the northeastern bulrush; that’s about 60 percent of known occurrences! We’re fortunate that many of these populations are secure and protected on state land, with many on DCNR Bureau of Foresty lands in the central part of the state. Even with a strong foothold in the state, ecologists with the PA Natural Heritage Program monitor northeastern bulrush annually to make sure populations persist. This monitoring will continue as the post delisting monitoring is prescribed to states in the species’ range for no fewer than five years. For more information on the delist, see the USFWS announcement here: Federal Register :: Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Removal of Northeastern Bulrush From the List of Endangered and Threatened Plants.
What does that mean in terms of plant rules and regulations here is PA? Northeastern bulrush is still listed as PA Endangered meaning DCNR environmental review staff still review for the species when a project is submitted via PNDI (PA Natural Diversity Index)/PA Conservation Explorer. If a project has a potential northeastern bulrush impact, the primary point of contact for review will be a DCNR environmental reviewer rather than one at USFWS. Going forward there will no longer be a need to coordinate with USFWS for this species. If a project has potential impact to northeastern bulrush, it will show up on the PNDI/PA Conservation Explorer receipt.