The decline of the Ash Meadows milkvetch is due largely to road construction, alterations in spring hole and outflow morphometry at six sites, utilization of land for agricultural purposes, grazing by cattle and feral horses. Dust from disturbed soil may smother the plants. The milkvetch is threatened also by the possibility of altering surface drainage patterns and mining the aquifer which would reduce or eliminate surface water, lower the water table, and interfere with ground water recharge. The resulting destruction of down gradient wetlands would be extremely detrimental to this and other species of Ash Meadows. The only known distribution of the Ash Meadows milkvetch is in Nye County, Nevada.
Astragalus phoenix has a very limited distribution, any loss of habitat is critical.
These plants only grow in areas of mineral encrusted soil, never in disturbed areas. Threatened and endangered plants of Nevada. An illustrated manual. Endangered Species Technical Bulletin. 8 more Ash Meadows species proposed as endangered.