Subject: FW: SW BIODIVERSITY ALERT #184

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 SOUTHWEST CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
                            http//www.sw-center.org
       #184                                                            5-9-99
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        >>> SAN PEDRO RIVER UPDATE <<<

§ SAN PEDRO RIVER DECLARED "ENDANGERED"
§ SUIT: ARMY MUST DISCLOSE IMPACT TO RIVER
§ CATTLE REMOVED TO PROTECT WILDLIFE AND
   NATIVE AMERICAN SITES
§ FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE SAN PEDRO:
   http://www.sw-center.org/swcbd/activist/sanpedro.html
   http://www.sw-center.org/swcbd/news/bioalerts.html

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SAN PEDRO RIVER DECLARED "ENDANGERED"
On 4-12-99, American Rivers named the San Pedro River the 4th most endangered
river in the United States. The San Pedro is the Southwest's last undammed
river, but is being sucked dry by the U.S. Army's Fort Huachuca and
uncontrolled urban sprawl. An international team of scientists convened by
NAFTA's environmental commission in response to a petition filed by the
Southwest Center, concluded last year that river will run dry if current
pumping levels continue.

Following its designation as the nation's first Riparian National Conservation
Area and the removal of all cattle from 45 miles of river, the San Pedro has
developed the Southwest's largest riparian forest. It supports two-thirds of
all North American bird species (400), the world's second highest diversity of
mammals (82 species) and 43 species of reptiles.
     _________________________

SUIT FILED TO STOP ARMY FROM DESTROYING
SAN PEDRO RIVER
On 4-21-99, the Southwest Center filed its third lawsuit against Fort Huachuca
to keep the military base from killing the San Pedro River. The suit charges
that the base has not completed an environmental impact statement as it
promised a Federal judge in 1996. On the basis of that promise, the judge
dismissed an earlier lawsuit by the Southwest Center calling for an
environmental review. The base has repeatedly violated its legal binding
promise because it knows the study will show that the base is the primary
factor killing Arizona's most important wildlife area. This would fuel
opposition to the base and could lead a soon-to-be-convened presidential base
closure commission to recommend that Fort Huachuca be eliminated or downsized.

The suit is being argued by Mark Hughes of Earthlaw (Denver).
     ___________________________

COMPLAINT SPURS CATTLE REMOVAL TO PROTECT
WILDLIFE AND NATIVE AMERICAN SITES
Almost exactly one year ago, the Southwest Center formally requested the U.S.
Attorney to investigate the Bureau of Land Management for violating the
Archeological Resources Protection Act, the Antiquities Act, and the American
Indian Religious Freedom Act for allowing cattle to trespass in the San Pedro
Riparian National Conservation Area and destroy ancient archeological sites.

The San Pedro River has been continuously inhabited for 12,000 years. It
contains hundreds, possibly over a thousand, archeological sites. Cattle were
banned from 45 miles of the river in 1989, but have continually been permitted
to trespass. After the Center documented a new round of cattle in April, the
BLM finally issued a formal public notice that it will impound all cattle
within the conservation area on 5-17-99.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Kierán 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