Groups Sue U.S. to Protect Mexican Wetlands and U.S. Endangered Species
The suit specifically aims to have the federal agencies consider the effects of water manipulation – via dams and other methods – on endangered species in the area. Despite identifying threats to U.S.- listed species, the agencies have refused to analyze the impacts of their actions on the area or to develop and implement conservation measures to protect imperiled species in Mexico. Species such as the southwestern willow flycatcher, vaquita (the world’s rarest porpoise) and totoaba are in danger of becoming extinct because the natural flow of the Colorado River has been disrupted.
“Today’s action is a landmark step in rectifying the biological, ethical and legal disaster wrought upon this part of Mexico by the United States," said Rodger Schlickeisen, president of Defenders of Wildlife. “We must make sure that the agencies that have control over the water in the Colorado River take into account all of the ramifications of their decisions. They cannot continue to be turn a blind eye while their actions push species to extinction."
In 1995 and 1996, Defenders of Wildlife and the Southwest Center for Biological Diversity threatened to sue the Bureau of Reclamation for its failure to consider impacts from dams and water diversions on wildlife in the United States and the delta. The Bureau had been attempting to bypass ESA compliance by supporting the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program, a program controlled by state water and power agencies.
In 1997, the Bureau consulted with FWS on the effects of the dams and water diversions in the United States. FWS found that the Bureau’s activities jeopardize several endangered species, including the bonytail chub, razorback sucker and southwestern willow flycatcher. While FWS then assigned conservation measures for species on the U.S. side of the border, there are no protections for U.S.-listed species in Mexico, such as the totoaba.
“The Bureau of Reclamation says the multi-species program will minimize and mitigate ongoing destruction of the river," said David Hogan, river programs coordinator for the Center for Biological Diversity. “When the time comes to decide between existing management diverting every last drop of river water or leaving some for wildlife, it’s a safe bet the water agencies running the species program will favor the status quo. For example, in 1998, state interests rejected all proposals to include the delta region in the ecosystem plan."
“Our lawsuit aims to have these U.S. agencies change their ways and reconsider what they’re doing to endangered species in the Colorado River delta and the Gulf of California," said Bill Snape, vice president for law and litigation for Defenders of Wildlife. “There is both legal authority and international responsibility to consider the Colorado River ecosystem as one system across political boundaries."
Plaintiffs in the suit include Asociación Ecológica de Usuarios del Río Hardy-Colorado, Center for Biological Diversity, Centro Regional de Estudios Ambientales y Socioeconomicos, Defenders of Wildlife, El Centro de Derecho Ambiental y Integración Económica del Sur, A.C., Consejo Coordinador Empresarial De Mexicali, A.C., The Humane Society of the United States and the Sierra Club.
The plaintiffs are being represented in the lawsuit by Katherine Meyers of Meyers and Glitzenstein in Washington, D.C., and Bill Snape of Defenders of Wildlife.
A four-page background document, complete with feature story ideas, is available by contacting:
Ken Goldman
Defenders of Wildlife
202-682-9400 x. 237
kgoldman@defenders.org
Defenders of Wildlife is a leading nonprofit conservation organization recognized as one of the nation’s most progressive advocates for wildlife and its habitat. With more than 400,000 members and supporters, Defenders of Wildlife is an effective leader on endangered species issues.
Contact(s):
Cat Lazaroff, (202) 772-3270
