ARC 0267D - Iowa Administrative Rules

Adopted and Filed

Endangered and threatened plant and animal species, ch 77

ARC 0267D

NATURAL RESOURCE COMMISSION[571]

Adopted and Filed

Rulemaking related to endangered and threatened species

The Natural Resource Commission (Commission) hereby rescinds Chapter 77, “Endangered and Threatened Plant and Animal Species,” Iowa Administrative Code, and adopts a new Chapter 77 with the same title.

Legal Authority for Rulemaking

This rulemaking is adopted under the authority provided in Iowa Code section 481B.3.

State or Federal Law Implemented

This rulemaking implements, in whole or in part, Iowa Code chapter 481B and Executive Order 10.

Purpose and Summary

Chapter 77 implements Iowa Code chapter 481B. The chapter identifies plant and animal species that are protected due to being endangered or threatened in Iowa and provides for limited, regulated exceptions to those provisions.

Public Comment and Changes to Rulemaking

Notice of Intended Action for this rulemaking was published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin on January 7, 2026, as ARC 9910C. A public hearing was held on the following date(s):

? January 28, 2026

? February 4, 2026

Three individuals attended the January 28 hearing, and two individuals attended the February 4 hearing. All individuals who attended these hearings provided oral comments.

Additionally, 46 written comments were received. All public comments focused on the same topic. The commenters unanimously object to the removal of the “special concern animal species” and “special concern plant species” categories and lists from Chapter 77.

The Commission has considered these comments and decided to proceed with removing these categories from Chapter 77. The reasons for this decision are as follows:

1. “Special concern” is not a category created or authorized by Iowa Code chapter 481B, unlike the categories of “endangered” and “threatened.” Removing this language from the rules is consistent with the directives of Executive Order 10.

2. The “special concern” provisions have no legal effect. Listing a species as “special concern” provides no legal or regulatory protection for that species.

3. A “special concern” list will continue to be maintained on the Department of Natural Resources’ (Department’s) website and in the Iowa Wildlife Action Plan for purposes of public awareness and Department monitoring and research purposes.

Several minor changes from the Notice have been made. A typographical error in subrule 77.4(3) is corrected, changing “Iowa Code section 481A.6” to “Iowa Code section 481A.65.” Additionally, nonsubstantive changes to the lists of common and scientific animal names are made to reflect recent changes in taxonomy, taxonomic order, and naming conventions and to correct one typographical error.

Adoption of Rulemaking

This rulemaking was adopted by the Commission on April 9, 2026.

Fiscal Impact

This rulemaking has no fiscal impact to the State of Iowa.

Jobs Impact

After analysis and review of this rulemaking, no impact on jobs has been found.

Waivers

This rulemaking is subject to the waiver provisions of 571—Chapter 11. Any person who believes that the application of the discretionary provisions of this rulemaking would result in hardship or injustice to that person may petition the Commission for a waiver of the discretionary provisions, if any.

Review by Administrative Rules Review Committee

The Administrative Rules Review Committee, a bipartisan legislative committee which oversees rulemaking by executive branch agencies, may, on its own motion or on written request by any individual or group, review this rulemaking at its regular monthly meeting or at a special meeting. The Committee’s meetings are open to the public, and interested persons may be heard as provided in Iowa Code section 17A.8(6).

Effective Date

This rulemaking will become effective on June 17, 2026.

The following rulemaking action is adopted:

ITEM 1. Rescind 571—Chapter 77 and adopt the following new chapter in lieu thereof:

CHAPTER 77

ENDANGERED AND THREATENED PLANT AND ANIMAL SPECIES

571—77.1(481B) Definitions. As used in this rule:

“Endangered species” means any species of fish, plant life, or wildlife that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant part of its range.

“Threatened species” means any species that is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.

571—77.2(481B) Endangered and threatened animals. The natural resource commission, in consultation with scientists with specialized knowledge and experience, has determined the following animal species to be endangered or threatened in Iowa:

77.2(1) Endangered animal species:

	Common Name	Scientific Name
Mammals
	Southern Bog Lemming	Synaptomys cooperi
	Northern Myotis	Myotis septentrionalis
	Indiana Myotis	Myotis sodalis
	Plains Spotted Skunk	Spilogale interrupta

Birds
	Piping Plover	Charadrius melodus

Fish
	Lake Sturgeon	Acipenser fulvescens
	Pallid Sturgeon	Scaphirhynchus albus
	Western Silvery Minnow	Hybognathus argyritis
	Sturgeon Chub	Macrhybopsis gelida
	Sicklefin Chub	Macrhybopsis meeki
	Northern Pearl Dace	Margariscus nachtriebi
	Pugnose Shiner	Miniellus anogenus
	Blacknose Shiner	Notropis heterolepis
	Ghost Shiner	Paranotropis buchanani
	Starhead Topminnow	Fundulus dispar
	Plains Topminnow	Fundulus sciadicus
	Crystal Darter	Crystallaria asprella
	Bluntnose Darter	Etheostoma chlorosoma
	Least Darter	Etheostoma microperca

Reptiles
	Great Plains Skink	Plestiodon obsoletus
	Western Hog-nosed Snake	Heterodon nasicus
	Eastern Copperhead	Agkistrodon contortrix
	Prairie Rattlesnake	Crotalus viridis
	Eastern Massasauga	Sistrurus catenatus
	Western Massasauga	Sistrurus tergeminus
	Wood Turtle	Glyptemis insculpta
	Yellow Mud Turtle	Kinosternon flavescens

Amphibians
	Blue-spotted Salamander	Ambystoma laterale

Bumble Bees
	Rusty Patched Bumble Bee	Bombus affinis

Butterflies
	Mottled Duskywing	Gesta martialis
	Arogos Skipper	Atrytone arogos
	Dusted Skipper	Atrytonopsis hianna
	Dakota Skipper	Hesperia dacotae
	Ottoe Skipper	Hesperia ottoe
	Poweshiek Skipperling	Oarisma poweshiek
	Mulberry Wing	Poanes massasoit

Damselflies and Dragonflies
	Prairie Bluet	Coenagrion angulatum

Land Snails
	Bluff Vertigo	Vertigo meramecensis
	Iowa Pleistocene Snail	Discus macclintocki

Fresh Water Mussels
	Slippershell	Alasmidonta viridis
	Spectaclecase	Cumberlandia monodonta
	Purple Wartyback	Cyclonaias tuberculata
	Spike	Eurynia dilatata
	Sheepnose	Plethobasus cyphyus
	Round Pigtoe	Pleurobema sintoxia
	Salamander Mussel	Simpsonaias ambigua

77.2(2) Threatened animal species:

	Common Name	Scientific Name
Mammals
	White-tailed Jackrabbit	Lepus townsendii
	Plains Pocket Gopher	Geomys bursarius
	Plains Pocket Mouse	Perognathus flavescens
	North American Least Shrew	Cryptotis parvus
	Little Brown Myotis	Myotis lucifugus
	Tricolored Bat	Perimyotis subflavus

Birds
	Chuck-will’s-widow	Antrostomus carolinensis
	King Rail	Rallus elegans
	Least Tern	Sternula antillarum
	Black Tern	Chlidonias niger
	Forster’s Tern	Sterna forsteri
	Long-eared Owl	Asio otus
	Short-eared Owl	Asio flammeus

Fish
	Chestnut Lamprey	Ichthyomyzon castaneus
	American Eel	Anguilla rostrata
	Skipjack Herring	Alosa chrysochloris
	Weed Shiner	Alburnops texanus
	Redfin Shiner	Lythrurus umbratilis
	Topeka Shiner	Miniellus topeka
	Freckled Madtom	Noturus nocturnus
	Pugnose Minnow	Opsopoeodus emiliae
	Pirate Perch	Aphredoderus sayanus
	Redfin Pickerel	Esox americanus
	Trout-perch	Percopsis omiscomaycus
	Banded Killifish	Fundulus diaphanus
	Mottled Sculpin	Cottus bairdii
	Western Sand Darter	Ammocrypta clara
	Burbot	Lota lota

Reptiles
	Slender Glass Lizard	Ophisaurus attenuatus
	Western Wormsnake	Carphophis vermis
	Speckled Kingsnake	Lampropeltis holbrooki
	Plain-bellied Watersnake	Nerodia erythrogaster
	Diamond-backed Watersnake	Nerodia rhombifer
	Gophersnake	Pituophis catenifer
	Graham’s Crayfish Snake	Regina grahamii
	Blanding’s Turtle	Emydoidea blandingii
	Ornate Box Turtle	Terrapene ornata
	Eastern Musk Turtle	Sternotherus odoratus

Amphibians
	Mudpuppy	Necturus maculosus
	Eastern Newt	Notophthalmus viridescens

Butterflies
	Two-spotted Skipper	Euphyes bimacula
	Crossline Skipper	Limochores origenes
	Leonard’s Skipper	Hesperia leonardus
	Olympia Marble	Euchloe olympia
	Regal Fritillary	Argynnis idalia
	Baltimore Checkerspot	Euphydryas phaeton

Damselflies and Dragonflies
	Taiga Bluet	Coenagrion resolutum
	Sioux Snaketail	Ophiogomphus smithi
	Westfall’s Snaketail	Ophiogomphus westfalli
	Plains Emerald	Somatochlora ensigera

Land Snails
	Midwest Pleistocene Vertigo	Vertigo arthuri

Fresh Water Mussels
	Mucket	Ortmanniana ligamentina
	Higgins’ Eye Pearlymussel	Lampsilis higginsi
	Yellow Sandshell	Lampsilis teres
	Monkeyface	Theliderma metanevra
	Pistolgrip	Tritogonia verrucosa
	Ellipse	Venustaconcha ellipsiformis

571—77.3(481B) Endangered and threatened plants. The natural resource commission, in consultation with scientists with special knowledge and experience, determined the following plant species to be endangered or threatened in Iowa.

77.3(1) Endangered plant species:

	Common Name	Scientific Name
	Pale false foxglove	Agalinis skinneriana
	Roundleaf serviceberry	Amelanchier sanguinea
	Raccoon grape	Ampelopsis cordata
	Pearly everlasting	Anaphalis margaritacea
	Sand bluestem	Andropogon hallii
	Round-lobed hepatica	Anemone americana
	Carolina anemone	Anemone caroliniana
	Bearberry	Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
	Virginia snakeroot	Aristolochia serpentaria
	Black chokeberry	Aronia melanocarpa
	Fringed sagewort	Artemisia frigida
	Mead’s milkweed	Asclepias meadii
	Showy milkweed	Asclepias speciosa
	Green antelopehorn	Asclepias viridis
	Wall-rue	Asplenium ruta-muraria
	Field milkvetch	Astragalus agrestis
	Prairie milkvetch	Astragalus laxmannii
	Fern-leaved false foxglove	Aureolaria pedicularia
	Water marigold	Bidens beckii
	Matricary grape fern	Botrychium matricariifolium
	Little grapefern	Botrychium simplex
	Swamp moonwort	Botrychium tenebrosum
	White-tinged sedge	Carex albicans
	Back’s sedge	Carex backii
	Cordroot sedge	Carex chordorrhiza
	Fringed sedge	Carex crinita
	Raven’s-foot sedge	Carex crus-corvi
	Star sedge	Carex echinata
	Shoreline sedge	Carex hyalenolepis
	Hoplike sedge	Carex lupuliformis
	Intermediate sedge	Carex media
	Plantain-leaved sedge	Carex plantaginea
	Drooping sedge	Carex prasina
	Cyperus-like sedge	Carex pseudocyperus
	Reflexed sedge	Carex retroflexa
	Rocky Mountain sedge	Carex saximontana
	Fireweed	Chamaenerion angustifolium
	Pipsissewa	Chimaphila umbellata
	Drooping woodreed	Cinna latifolia
	Purple clematis	Clematis occidentalis
	Blue-eyed mary	Collinsia verna
	Spotted coralroot	Corallorhiza maculata
	Golden corydalis	Corydalis aurea
	Large-bracted corydalis	Corydalis curvisiliqua
	Pale corydalis	Corydalis flavula
	Pink corydalis	Corydalis sempervirens
	Silky prairie-clover	Dalea villosa
	Tree clubmoss	Dendrolycopodium dendroideum
	Sessile-leaved tick trefoil	Desmodium sessilifolium
	Roundleaved sundew	Drosera rotundifolia
	Marginal shield fern	Dryopteris marginalis
	Purple coneflower	Echinacea purpurea
	Elliptic spikerush	Eleocharis elliptica
	Few-flowered spikerush	Eleocharis quinqueflora
	Wolf’s spikerush	Eleocharis wolfii
	Wiegand’s wildrye	Elymus wiegandii
	Downy willowherb	Epilobium strictum
	Slender cottongrass	Eriophorum gracile
	Tawny cottongrass	Eriophorum virginicum
	Wood spurge	Euphorbia commutata
	Forked aster	Eurybia furcata
	Large-leaved aster	Eurybia macrophylla
	Schreber’s aster	Eurybia schreberi
	Queen of the prairie	Filipendula rubra
	False mermaid	Floerkea proserpinacoides
	Rough bedstraw	Galium asprellum
	Black Huckleberry	Gaylussacia baccata
	Hairy goldenaster	Heterotheca villosa
	Povertygrass	Hudsonia tomentosa
	Rock clubmoss	Huperzia porophila
	Canadian St. Johnswort	Hypericum canadense
	Pineweed	Hypericum gentianoides
	Flax-leaved aster	Ionactis linariifolia
	White morning-glory	Ipomoea lacunosa
	Black-based quillwort	Isoetes melanopoda
	Alpine rush	Juncus alpinoarticulatus
	Edged rush	Juncus marginatus
	Vasey’s rush	Juncus vaseyi
	Creeping juniper	Juniperus horizontalis
	Intermediate pinweed	Lechea intermedia
	Hairy pinweed	Lechea mucronata
	Wild lupine	Lupinus perennis
	Bog clubmoss	Lycopodiella inundata
	Hairy waterclover	Marsilea vestita
	Millet grass	Milium effusum
	Sensitive briar	Mimosa nuttallii
	Partridge berry	Mitchella repens
	Naked miterwort	Mitella nuda
	Mat muhly	Muhlenbergia richardsonis
	Small sundrops	Oenothera perennis
	Fragile prickly-pear	Opuntia fragilis
	Frenchgrass	Orbexilum onobrychis
	Clustered broomrape	Orobanche fasciculata
	One-sided shinleaf	Orthilia secunda
	Rough-leaved ricegrass	Oryzopsis asperifolia
	Cinnamon fern	Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
	Philadelphia panic grass	Panicum philadelphicum
	Arrow arum	Peltandra virginica
	Cobaea beardtongue	Penstemon cobaea
	Slender beardtongue	Penstemon gracilis
	Tube beardtongue	Penstemon tubaeflorus
	Wild dill	Perideridia americana
	Long beechfern	Phegopteris connectilis
	Fameflower	Phemeranthus parviflorus
	Rough-seeded fameflower	Phemeranthus rugospermus
	Mountain ricegrass	Piptatherum pungens
	Wood orchid	Platanthera clavellata
	Hooker’s orchid	Platanthera hookeri
	Green fringed orchid	Platanthera lacera
	Eastern prairie fringed orchid	Platanthera leucophaea
	Woodland Bluegrass	Poa saltuensis
	Clammyweed	Polansia jamesii
	Crossleaf milkwort	Polygala cruciata
	Pink milkwort	Polygala incarnata
	Purple milkwort	Polygala polygama
	Hairy Solomon’s-seal	Polygonatum pubescens
	Jointweed	Polygonella articulata
	White-stemmed pondweed	Potamogeton praelongus
	Silverweed	Potentilla anserina
	Pennsylvania cinquefoil	Potentilla pensylvanica
	Stem flower dewberry	Rubus caulifloris
	Washington dewberry	Rubus celer
	Swamp dewberry	Rubus hispidus
	Recurved blackberry	Rubus recurvans
	New England blackberry	Rubus semisetosus
	Bottomland dewberry	Rubus serratus
	Uniform bristleberry	Rubus uniformis
	Shining willow	Salix lucida
	Smith’s bulrush	Schoenoplectiella smithii
	Downy skullcap	Scutellaria incana
	Veined skullcap	Scutellaria nervosa
	Wild stonecrop	Sedum ternatum
	Meadow spikemoss	Selaginella eclipes
	Knotweed bristlegrass	Setaria parviflora
	Annual skeletonweed	Shinneroseris rostata
	Three-toothed cinquefoil	Sibbaldiopsis tridentata
	Needle-pointed blue-eyed grass	Sisyrinchium mucronatum
	Rough-leaved goldenrod	Solidago patula
	Bog goldenrod	Solidago uliginosa
	Yellow-lipped ladies-tresses	Spiranthes lucida
	Hooded ladies-tresses	Spiranthes romanzoffiana
	Little ladies-tresses	Spiranthes tuberosa
	Spring ladies-tresses	Spiranthes vernalis
	Rough-leaved hedge-nettle	Stachys aspera
	Pickering morning-glory	Stylisma pickeringii
	Snowberry	Symphoricarpos albus
	Waxy meadowrue	Thalictrum amphibolum
	Western spiderwort	Tradescantia occidentalis
	Small bladderwort	Utricularia minor
	Sessile-leaf bellwort	Uvularia sessilifolia
	Low sweet blueberry	Vaccinium angustifolium
	Velvetleaf blueberry	Vaccinium myrtilloides
	American brookline	Veronica americana
	Maple-leaved arrowwood	Viburnum acerifolium
	Spurred violet	Viola adunca
	Large-leaved violet	Viola blanda
	Frost grape	Vitis vulpina
	Rusty woodsia	Woodsia ilvensis
	Oregon woodsia	Woodsia oregana

77.3(2) Threatened plant species:

	Common Name	Scientific Name
	Slender three-seeded mercury	Acalypha gracilens
	Northern wild monkshood	Aconitum noveboracense
	Round-stemmed false foxglove	Agalinis gattingeri
	Inland serviceberry	Amelanchier interior
	Fragrant false indigo	Amorpha nana
	Woolly milkweed	Asclepias lanuginosa
	Oval-leaved milkweed	Asclepias ovalifolia
	Narrow-leaved milkweed	Asclepias stenophylla
	Pawpaw	Asimina triloba
	Water parsnip	Berula erecta
	Watershield	Brasenia schreberi
	Poppy mallow	Callirhoe triangulata
	Water-starwort	Callitriche heterophylla
	Low bindweed	Calystegia spithamaea
	Assiniboine sedge	Carex assininboinensis
	Carey’s sedge	Carex careyana
	Fibrous-root sedge	Carex communis
	Spreading sedge	Carex laxiculmis
	Delicate sedge	Carex leptalea
	Yellow sedge	Carex lurida
	Sterile sedge	Carex sterilis
	Quill sedge	Carex tenera
	Shaved sedge	Carex tonsa
	Wood’s sedge	Carex woodii
	Pink turtlehead	Chelone obliqua
	Marsh cinquefoil	Comarum palustre
	Dayflower	Commelina erecta
	Bunchberry	Cornus canadensis
	Fireberry hawthorn	Crataegus chrysocarpa
	Waxy-fruited hawthorn	Crataegus pruinosa
	Showy lady’s slipper	Cypripedium reginae
	Shrubby cinquefoil	Dasiphora fruticosa
	Silvery spleenwort	Deparia acrostichoides
	Northern panic-grass	Dichanthelium boreale
	Slim-leaved panic-grass	Dichanthelium linearifolium
	Narrow-leaved spleenwort	Diplazium pynocarpon
	Glandular wood fern	Dryopteris intermedia
	Oval spikerush	Eleocharis ovata
	Woodland horsetail	Equisetum sylvaticum
	Yellow trout lily	Erythronium americanum
	Upland boneset	Eupatorium sessilifolium
	Slender fimbry	Fimbristylis autumnalis
	Blue ash	Fraxinus quadrangulata
	Bog bedstraw	Galium labradoricum
	Oak fern	Gymnocarpium dryopteris
	Needle-and-thread grass	Hesperostipa comata
	Green violet	Hybanthus concolor
	Winterberry	Ilex verticillata
	Twinleaf	Jeffersonia diphylla
	Green rush	Juncus greenii
	Dwarf dandelion	Krigia virginica
	Prairie bush clover	Lespedeza leptostachya
	Cleft conobea	Leucospora multifida
	Twinflower	Linnaea borealis
	Whiskbroom parsley	Lomatium foeniculaceum
	Western parsley	Lomatium orientale
	Running clubmoss	Lycopodium clavatum
	Bunchflower	Melanthium virginicum
	Ten-petaled blazingstar	Mentzelia decapetala
	Bog buckbean	Menyanthes trifoliata
	Northern lungwort	Mertensia paniculata
	Rock sandwort	Minuartia michauxii
	Pinesap	Monotropa hypopithys
	Southern adder’s-tongue	Ophioglossum vulgatum
	Royal fern	Osmunda regalis
	Purple cliffbrake	Pellaea atropurpurea
	White beardtongue	Penstemon albidus
	Broad beech fern	Phegopteris hexagonoptera
	Northern bog orchid	Platanthera aquilonis
	Western prairie fringed orchid	Platanthera praeclara
	Purple fringed orchid	Platanthera psycodes
	Bog bluegrass	Poa paludigena
	Nodding rattlesnake-root	Prenanthes crepidinea
	Canada plum	Prunus nigra
	Sand cherry	Prunus pumila
	Pink shinleaf	Pyrola asarifolia
	Meadow beauty	Rhexia virginica
	Northern currant	Ribes hudsonianum
	Wood’s rose	Rosa woodsii
	Garden dewberry	Rubus aboriginum
	Short-stalked dewberry	Rubus curtipes
	Southern dewberry	Rubus enslenii
	Iron River dewberry	Rubus ferrofluvius
	Common dewberry	Rubus flagellaris
	Fuller’s bristly dewberry	Rubus fulleri
	Downy dewberry	Rubus satis
	Widgeon grass	Ruppia cirrhosa
	Bog willow	Salix pedicellaris
	Leathery grapefern	Sceptridium multifidum
	Low nutrush	Scleria verticillata
	Buffaloberry	Sheperdia argentea
	Scarlet globemallow	Sphaeralcea coccinea
	Rush aster	Symphyotrichum boreale
	Large arrowgrass	Triglochin maritima
	Small arrowgrass	Triglochin palustris
	Black arrowwood	Viburnum molle
	Lance-leaved violet	Viola lanceolata
	Macloskey’s violet	Viola macloskeyi
	Kidney-leaved violet	Viola renifolia
	Summer grape	Vitis aestivalis
	Yellow-eyed grass	Xyris torta

571—77.4(481B) Exemptions. Notwithstanding the foregoing list and the prohibitions in Iowa Code chapter 481B, a person may import, export, possess, transport, purchase, barter, buy, sell, offer to sell, hold for processing or process a species of animal or plant that is listed as endangered or threatened on the state list or as listed in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 50, Part 17 as amended to December 30, 1991, according to the following rules:

77.4(1) Trophies lawfully taken by persons licensed to hunt or fish (not including trapping or commercial harvest licenses) in another state, country or territory may be brought into this state and possessed, held for processing and processed but may not be sold or offered for sale.

77.4(2) Furs or skins of wildlife species appearing on the state list of endangered and threatened species that were lawfully taken or purchased in another state, country or territory may be imported, exported, purchased, possessed, bartered, offered for sale, sold, held for processing, or processed in this state if they are tagged or permanently marked by the state, country, or territory of origin.

77.4(3) Species of live animals appearing on the state list of endangered and threatened species may be imported, exported, possessed, purchased, bartered, offered for sale, or sold under the terms of a scientific collecting permit or educational project permit issued pursuant to Iowa Code section 481A.65 and administrative rules adopted by the department.

77.4(4) Plants, seeds, roots, and other parts of plants that appear on the state list of endangered and threatened plants that were lawfully taken or purchased in another state, country or territory may be imported, exported, purchased, possessed, offered for sale or sold in this state.

77.4(5) A part or product of a species of fish or wildlife appearing on the state list of endangered or threatened species that enters the state from another state or from a point outside the territorial limits of the United States may enter, be transported, exported, possessed, sold, offered for sale, held for processing or processed in accordance with the terms of a permit issued by the agency of jurisdiction in the state of origin or, if entering from outside the United States, a federal permit issued by the United States government. If proper documentation is available, a person may buy or offer to buy a part or product of a species of fish or wildlife appearing on the state or federal lists as long as it is imported from a legal source outside this state and proper documentation is provided.

77.4(6) If a person possesses a species of fish or wildlife or a part, product or offspring of such a species, proper documentation such as receipt of purchase and the permit from the state of origin or the U.S. government must be presented upon request of any conservation officer. Failure to produce such documentation is a violation of this chapter and will constitute grounds for forfeiture to the Iowa DNR.

77.4(7) A species of plant, fish or wildlife appearing on the state list of endangered and threatened species may be collected, held, salvaged and possessed under the terms of a scientific collecting permit issued pursuant to Iowa Code section 481A.6 and administrative rules adopted by the department.

77.4(8) Drainage district repairs and improvements to existing open ditch facilities are excluded from the department’s protection efforts for the Topeka shiner. This includes facilities of levee and drainage districts established and maintained under Iowa Code chapter 468. This exclusion does not apply to new channelization, deepening, or leveeing of existing streams and rivers with permanent flow or existing streams with off-channel water areas capable of supporting fish.

77.4(9) The department may enter into an agreement with a private landowner for habitat improvements that benefit endangered and threatened species while limiting the potential impacts to the landowner arising when a covered species becomes more numerous due to the voluntary improvements to the habitat. If any covered species becomes more numerous as a result of the landowner’s voluntary actions, a private landowner who commits to implement voluntary conservation measures for a listed species will not be required to implement additional measures, and additional land, water, or resource use restrictions will not be imposed.

a. The department will provide participating landowners with technical assistance to develop landowner habitat improvement agreements. Each agreement shall include the following:

(1) Landowner’s name.

(2) Legal description of the property covered by the agreement.

(3) Length of agreement period.

(4) Species covered by the agreement.

(5) Baseline conditions: the estimated number of listed species and the size and condition of habitat for each species covered.

(6) Conservation measures to be implemented and implementation schedule.

(7) Financial commitment of the department and the landowner.

(8) Measures to determine if the agreement has been fulfilled.

(9) Any property use restrictions.

(10) Terms for the termination of the agreement prior to its scheduled expiration.

b. The landowner, through normal lawful activities, may return the property to the baseline or a mutually agreed-upon condition above the baseline at any time after expiration of the landowner habitat improvement agreement.

These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code chapter 481B.

[Filed 4/17/26, effective 6/17/26]

[Published 5/13/26]

EDITOR’S NOTE: For replacement pages for IAC, see IAC Supplement 5/13/26.