Subject: SW BIODIVERSITY ALERT #25
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Southwest Biodiversity Alert #25
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southwest center for biological
diversity
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ksuckling@sw-center.org
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http://www.envirolink.org/orgs/sw-center
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1.
JUDGE RULES ARMY IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH ESA-
WARNS THAT SAN
PEDRO RIVER IS BEING KILLED BY DEVELOPMENT
2. SOUTHWEST CENTER
CHAIR, ROBIN SILVER, RUNS FOR CONGRESS-
AS
REPUBLICAN
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1. JUDGE RULES ARMY IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH
ESA-
WARNS THAT SAN PEDRO RIVER IS BEING KILLED BY
DEVELOPMENT
A Federal Judge has ruled against the Southwest Center in its
bid to
force Fort Huachuca in southern Arizona to consult with the
Fish
and Wildlife Service over the effects of base expansion on the
San
Pedro River. Warning that the river is being sucked dry, the
judge
nevertheless ruled that the until "informal" consultation is
complete,
the base can not be forced to enter formal consultation.
The
Southwest Center is preparing an appeal.
The San Pedro is the Southwest's
last undammed river. In 1987,
the upper 45 miles were designated the
country's first National
Riparian Conservation Area. All cattle were removed,
off road
vehicles and mines were banned. Unfortunately, water rights
were
not obtained. The San Pedro is a small river and
development,
especially the expansion of Fort Huachuca will completely dry
the
river up. In his ruling, the judge quoted from Defense
Department
report:
"Thus, the level of groundwater pumping at the Post
currently
influences the rate of growth of the cone of depression, rather
than
directly affecting the flows in the San Pedro River. As the cone
of
depression continues to grow, it will eventually capture the base
flow
of the San Pedro River and perennial flows will be lost. Recent
groundwater
modelling demonstrates that the cone of depression is
so large that it will
capture the River even if all groundwater pumping
ceases. Thus, groundwater
pumping at the Post and surrounding communities
affects the timing of the
desiccation of the River."
This ruling is an excellent example of the
weakness of the ESA and
the need to reform "informal" consultations which
subvert formal,
legally binding consultation. The Endangered Natural
Heritage Act, an
ESA reauthorization bill developed by the
Endangered
Species Coalition would stop "informal" consultation abuse.
Check
it out: <http:\www.envirolink.org\orgs\sw-center>
2.
SOUTHWEST CENTER CHAIR, ROBIN SILVER, RUNS FOR CONGRESS-
AS REPUBLICAN
Southwest Center Conservation Chairman, Dr. Robin Silver,
has
announced he will challenge Representative John Shadegg in
the
Republican primary. According the New Times: "the race can
be
expected to make for an interesting pair off of extreme views:
the
environmentalists vs. the anti-environmentalist, green vs.
brown,
Preservationists vs. wise user."
Shadegg heads up GOPAC, the
Republican Party fundraising machine.
According to Silver, GOPAC is
"the who's who of people
either benefitting from tax loopholes or federal
subsidies, its the
who's who of those benefiting from weakening of public
health and
safety standards, of weakening protection for public
lands."
According to Shadegg, Silver is "a bright and articulate guy. I
will
take it very seriously, and we'll work hard. When you look at
the
successes he's had when he's taken on the University of Arizona
and
that whole telescope project, when you look at the success he
had
taking on the timber industry and the Forest Service - this is a
very
bright and articulate spokesman for his
cause."