Subject: FW: SW BIODIVERSITY ALERT #110


Subject: SW BIODIVERSITY ALERT #110

      ******* SOUTHWEST BIODIVERSITY ALERT #110 ***********
       *                    1/13/98                      *
        *                                               *
         *  SOUTHWEST CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY  *
          *                                           *
           *******************************************

1. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE CONCLUDES SAN PEDRO RIVER IS DRYING
     UP- WARNS FORT HUACHUCA TO COMPLY WITH E.S.A
2. INJUNCTION SOUTH TO STOP FLOODING OF KERN RIVER WILDLIFE AREA
3. ARIZONA FOREST AMONG BIGGEST TIMBER MONEY LOSERS
4. AMIGOS BRAVOS JOINS CENTER IN WILD AND SCENIC RIVER SUIT

     *****     *****     *****     *****

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE CONCLUDES SAN PEDRO RIVER IS DRYING
UP- WARNS FORT HUACHUCA TO COMPLY WITH E.S.A
On 1/8/98, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service asked Fort Huachuca
to formally consult on the impacts of its growth and operations on
the endangered Southwestern willow flycatcher, Huachuca water umbel,
Sonoran tiger salamander, Mexican spotted owl, Lesser long-nosed
bat, and American peregrine falcon. The Southwest Center lost a
lawsuit seeking to make the Fort consult, because the Fort claimed
it was in "informal" consultation. The Fish and Wildlife Service
has now determined that formal consultation is necessary, based on
a 10/28/97 hydrology workshop which demonstrated that the San Pedro
River is drying up.
_____________________

INJUNCTION SOUTH TO STOP FLOODING OF KERN RIVER WILDLIFE AREA

On 1/9/98, the Southwest Center requested a preliminary injunction
against the Army Corps of Engineers, prohibiting them from flooding
the Southfork Wildlife Area on the Kern River. The wildlife area is
home to one the few remaining populations of the critically
endangered Southwestern willow flycatcher. The Center is suing the
Army Corps for illegally taking flycatchers and the Fish and
Wildlife Service for allowing Congressman Calvin Dooley to strong-
arm the agency out of its initial decision that flooding the
wildlife area would jeoparidize the species. The case is being argued
by Niel Levine of EarthLaw (Denver) and Larry Sanders of Berliner Law
Offices (Nevada City, CA).
_____________________

ARIZONA FOREST AMONG BIGGEST TIMBER MONEY LOSERS
According to a Wilderness Society Report, three AZ forests: the
Kaibab, Coconino, and Tonto were among the nation's 10 worst forest in
terms of losing money on timber sales. The Tonto timber program spent one
dollar for every 3 cents it made selling timber. Overall, the Forest
Service lost $240 million on timber sales in 1996.
_____________________

AMIGOS BRAVOS JOINS CENTER IN WILD AND SCENIC RIVER SUIT
Amigos Bravos of Taos, NM has filed suit against the Carson National
Forest for failing to review rivers and streams on the forest for
protection under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The suit was filed
as an amendment to an ongoing Southwest Center suit against the
Gila, Lincoln, and Cibola National Forests. The three southern NM
forests have about 300 miles of river which may eventually qualify
for protection under the Act.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Kieran Suckling                               ksuckling@sw-center.org
Executive Director                            520.623.5252 phone
Southwest Center for Biological Diversity     520.623.9797 fax
http://www.sw-center.org                      pob 710, tucson, az 85702-710