Biodiversity Activist #317
September 10, 2002


  • ALGODONES DUNES TRAVELING PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION – SHOWS IN CALIFORNIA, NEVADA AND ARIZONA

  • ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS & CABAZON INDIANS JOIN TOGETHER TO SAVE SALTON SEA

  • CRITICAL HABITAT PROPOSED FOR TEXAS CAVE DWELLING INVERTEBRATES


ALGODONES DUNES TRAVELING PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION – SHOWS IN CALIFORNIA, NEVADA AND ARIZONA

The Center for Biological Diversity, Natural Trails and Waters Coalition, Desert Protective Council and National Wildlife Federation, along with West Coast Imaging and others have teamed up with L.A.-based photographer Andrew Harvey to create a visually stunning and fascinating photographic exhibition exploring Southern California's Algodones Dunes. This traveling photographic exhibit is a dynamic combination of art and education.

The exhibit engages the public in a memorable visual experience while inviting them to learn more about the natural history of the Algodones Dunes, the importance of preserving the diverse array of animals and plants that depend on this fragile ecosystem, and the looming threat to our environment posed by the increased use of off-road vehicles on public lands. This is a rare opportunity to view a photographic exhibit with breathtaking visual imagery that also raises public awareness of immediate environmental threats to this extraordinarily beautiful and biologically important piece of the American landscape.

Donations to support this educational and photographic project are being graciously accepted.
Mail to: Julie Miller, Center for Biological Diversity, P.O. Box 710, Tucson, AZ. 85702. Please indicate "Dunes exhibit" on your check.

EXHIBIT DATES:

San Diego, CA: through Sept 13th at the National Wildlife Federation's Western Field Office at 3500, 5th Ave., Suite 101, in Hillcrest, (619) 296-8353.

Las Vegas, NV: Sept 21st to 28th at the Gianaclis Gallery, 5690 Boulder Hwy, (702) 451-8608.

El Centro, CA: Oct 6th to 27th at the Imperial County Arts Council, 230 S. 5th St., (760) 337-1777.

Tucson, AZ: Nov 2nd to 23rd (with special events on Nov 3rd and 10th) at Bookman's on Speedway, 6230 E. Speedway, (520) 748-9555.

View a slide show with Andrew Harvey's photographs of the Algodones Sand Dunes: http://www.biologicaldiversity.org (click under "What's New on Our Site")

Learn more about the Algodones Dunes, or contact Daniel Patterson at (909) 659-2484 or dpatterson@biologicaldiversity.org.


ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS & CABAZON INDIANS JOIN TOGETHER TO SAVE SALTON SEA

The Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club and the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians filed a lawsuit on 9-04-02 against Secretary of Interior Gale Norton and the federal Bureau of Reclamation for their failure to protect the Salton Sea from over-salinization. The Salton Sea, located in the southeastern corner of California, is the state's largest lake and essential habitat for hundreds of species of migratory waterfowl and other birds on the Pacific Flyway. The Sea now faces rising salinity and salt concentration is reaching a level where it is likely to interfere with fish reproduction and survival.

As California's wetlands have disappeared, the Salton Sea has played an increasingly critical role as habitat for hundreds of species of migratory birds. In total, more than 400 species of birds have been recorded at the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge, the largest number of species found on any national wildlife refuge in the West. Populations of up to 1.5 million eared grebes have been documented at the sea during recent years, along with up to one-half of California's wintering white-faced ibis, tens of thousands of white pelicans, double-crested cormorants, Caspian terns, and the largest breeding population of gull-billed terns in western North America. Several endangered species, including the desert pupfish, brown pelican, and the Yuma clapper rail inhabit the Sea or adjacent habitats.

The groups are represented by Brian Litmans of the Cascade Resources Advocacy Group, Geoff Hickcox of Kenna and Hickcox, and Brendan Cummings of the Center for Biological Diversity.


CRITICAL HABITAT PROPOSED FOR TEXAS CAVE DWELLING INVERTEBRATES

In keeping with a legal settlement with the Center for Biological Diversity from November of 2000, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed to designate critical habitat for nine endangered karst (cave) dwelling invertebrate species which occur in the vicinity of San Antonio in Bexar County, Texas. The proposed critical habitat consists of 25 units and totals approximately 9,516 acres.

All nine inhabit karst features (limestone formations containing caves, sinks, and fissures) near San Antonio, Texas. Threats to the species include destruction and/or deterioration of habitat by construction, filling of caves, loss of permeable cover, and contamination from septic effluent, sewer leaks, runoff, and pesticides.

"Karst'' is a type of terrain that is formed by the slow dissolution of calcium carbonate from limestone bedrock by mildly acidic groundwater. This process creates numerous cave openings, cracks, fissures, fractures, and sinkholes, and the bedrock resembles a honeycomb. The following invertebrate species were listed as endangered on December 26, 2000 including:

Rhadine exilis (no common name)
Rhadine infernalis (no common name),
Batrisodes venyivi (Helotes mold beetle),
Texella cokendolpheri (Robber Baron Cave harvestman)
Cicurina baronia (Robber Baron cave spider),
Cicurina madla (Madla's cave spider),
Cicurina venii (no common name),
Cicurina vespera (vesper cave spider),
Neoleptoneta microps (Government Canyon cave spider)

The Center was represented in the legal action by Geoff Hickcox of Kenna & Hickcox (Durango).


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