October 20, 1999 – The Devils River minnow was listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. No critical habitat protections were implemented.

October 5, 2005 – The Center, Forest Guardians, and Save Our Springs Alliance filed a federal lawsuit to challenge the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s failure to designate critical habitat for the minnow, as well as to challenge its listing as threatened rather than endangered.

July 2006 – The Service entered into a settlement agreement to reevaluate the need for critical habitat protections by July 31, 2007.

july 31, 2007 – The Service published a proposed critical habitat area that included parts of the Devils River and San Felipe Creek, as well as one portion of Pinto Creek.