Subject: FW: SW BIODIVERSITY ALERT #185

<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><>><<>
 SOUTHWEST CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
                            http//www.sw-center.org
       #185                                                            5-20-99
<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><>><<>

§ PETITION FILED TO REVAMP ARIZONA DAM
§ SUIT TO PROTECT STREAM FOR RARE CALIFORNIA FISH
§ CALLS NEEDED: SOUTHWEST WILDLIFE REFUGES
   UNDER ATTACK
§ BIOTECH CORN POISONING MONARCH BUTTERFLIES

PETITION FILED TO REVAMP ARIZONA DAM
On 5-20-99, the Southwest Center filed a formal petition with Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC) in Washington, D.C. to compel the agency to
protect the endangered Little Colorado River spinedace. FERC has jurisdiction
over the Blue Ridge Dam on East Clear Creek, 50 miles southeast of Flagstaff,
AZ. The petition requests that FERC submit the dam's impacts to the U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Service for review, and release more water to ensure the survival of
the spinedace. Currently, the dam releases only 2.5 cfs during low flows. Low
water levels and elimination of natural flood cycles are two of the major
threats to the species.

The dam was constructed on the Coconino in 1963 by miniming conglomerate Phelps
Dodge to facilitate a complex interbasin water transfer. It allows water to be
pumped from East Clear Creek (Little Colorado River Basin) into the East Verde
River, a tributary of the Gila River. Having put more water in the Gila River
Basin, Phelps Dodge is then permitted to pump water out of the Black River to
its massive Morenci Mine in southeast Arizona.

The Little Colorado River spinedace occurs in only six streams in the upper
Little Colorado River Basin, including East Clear Creek, Red Creek, Nutrioso
Creek, the mainstem of the Little Colorado River, Silver Creek and Chevlon
Canyon. The Center is respresented by Gloria D. Smith, a San Francisco
Attorney.
     __________________

SUIT TO PROTECT HABITAT FOR RARE CALIFORNIA FISH
On 5-10-99, the Southwest Center formally notified the U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service that it will file suit to obtain protected "critical habitat" from the
unarmored threespine stickleback, an extremeley rare fish which occurs in only
a few streams inside and adjacent to the San Bernadino and Angeles National
Forests in southern California. The stickleback was listed as endangered in
1970. The agency proposed to designate critical habitat for it ten years later,
but dropped the proposal due to political pressure.

The stickleback's habitat is being destroyed by stream channelization,
urbanization, groundwater pumping, and agricultural run-off. It is also
threatened by introduction of non-native fish. It has disappeared from most of
its range including lower portions of the Los Angeles, San Gabriel, and Santa
Ana Rivers.
     _________________________

BIOTECH CORN ENDANGERS MONARCH BUTTERFLY
A genetically altered commercial corn designed to exude a poison deadly to
corn-boring caterillers, is killing monarch butterflies according to a 5-20-99
story in the Huston Chronicle. Introduced in 1996, the killer corn now accounts
for more than one quarter of the nation's crop. Much of the crop lies along the
monarch's annual migration route.

The corn's poison laden pollen is carried by the wind to nearby milweed plants,
the exclusive food source of monarch larvae. The larvae are killed by the
poison. Scientists from Cornell University predicted the monarch could become
an endangered species because of the EPA approved biotechnology crop.
     ___________________

CALLS NEEDED: SOUTHWEST WILDLIFE REFUGES UNDER ATTACK
Arizona Senator John McCain has announced plans to attach a rider to the
Defense Appropriations Bill that could *permanently* cede use of over 3
million acres of federal land, including the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife
Refuge (AZ) and the McGregor Range (NM) to the military. The land is currently
used by the military, but its tenure must be reviewed and reauthorized every 15
years. McCain's rider would give the military permant control of the land.

On the Goldwater Range in Arizona, the rider would put a halt to the military's
willingness to give up more than 80,000 acres of unique wildlife habitat and
potential wilderness. It would indefinately prolong the military's control of
virtually all of Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness.  The
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has requested that the military return the Cabeza
Prieta, the largest Refuge Wilderness in the lower 48, because it is the
largest intact desert ecosystem in North America.

Also affected would be the McGregor Range in southeastern New exico, where a
permanent withdrawal would expedite the
construction of a bombing range in the heart of the presently undisturbed
grassland at Otero Mesa, largely to serve training
desires of the German Air Force. The Range supports pronghorn antelope and deer
herds, a Wilderness Study Area, and habitat for the endangered aplomado falcon
and mountain plover.

Call and email McCain's office - Tell him wildlife refuges are wildlife, not
jets.
   Phone: 202-224-2235  fax 202-228-2862
   Email: senator_mccain@mccain.senate.gov
     _____________________


_____________________________________________________________________________

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