WASHINGTON— The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to remove the northeastern bulrush, a flowering plant native to the northeastern United States, from the endangered species list because of its recovery.

Dependent entirely on healthy wetlands — including ephemeral wetlands and beaver flowages — the northeastern bulrush is a tall, leafy perennial herb known for its drooping, clustered fruiting heads and chocolate-brown florets. It was protected under the Endangered Species Act in 1991, when only 13 populations were known to existed across just six states.

Thanks to habitat restoration efforts, invasive species control, and replanting programs and additional survey, there are now 148 known populations across eight states, including New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.

“The northeastern bulrush may not fit the mold of classic beauty, but it’s exciting to see this leafy flower make such a remarkable comeback,” said Stephanie Kurose, deputy director of government affairs at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Without the Endangered Species Act, the bulrush would have been pushed to extinction years ago by unchecked agricultural and residential development. Now it’s yet another success for America’s most effective conservation law.”

Once the proposal is finalized, the plant will be the 79th species delisted for recovery in the United States — one of 25 in the past 5 years.

The Endangered Species Act has saved the lives of 99% of the plants and animals under its care. It is also incredibly popular with the American public, who overwhelmingly support the Act and the protections it provides to the nation’s natural heritage.

Despite its success and popularity, anti-wildlife members of Congress have continued to attack the law. Just last week the U.S. House of Representatives passed a funding bill that contained an unprecedented number of poison pill riders that would undermine the Endangered Species Act and strip protections from dozens of species, including wolves, grizzly bears and whales.

“As the extinction crisis continues to claim a terrifying number of plants and animals, Congress is hellbent on condemning even more species to extinction,” said Kurose. “We need the Endangered Species Act now more than ever.”