Action timeline

October 4, 1993 – The Center filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to designate critical habitat for the loach minnow and spikedace.

March 8, 1994 – The lawsuit resulted in the designation of 200 river miles of critical habitat.

October 13, 1994 –The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service suspended its designation of critical habitat on a legal technicality.

1996 – The Center filed suit against the Bureau of Land Management, which resulted in a determination that 19 grazing allotments along the Gila River adversely affected endangered species, including the loach minnow and spikedace.

1997 – The Center filed another lawsuit against the Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to designate critical habitat.

1998 – The Center settled a lawsuit with the U.S. Forest Service that banned cattle from streamside habitats on 57 grazing allotments.

1999 – The Center participated in a negotiation with Arizona Public Service, which resulted in the decommissioning of both hydro-power plants on central Arizona’s Fossil Creek and the return of full water flows to the river.

April 25, 2000 – The Fish and Wildlife Service designated 900 river miles as critical habitat for the loach minnow and 800 miles for the spikedace.

October 2000 – The Center filed suit challenging 89 livestock grazing allotments on five national forests in the Gila River basin.

2001 – In response to a notice of intent to sue filed by the Center, the Bureau agreed to review the impacts of livestock grazing on 341,000 acres of public land in Arizona.

2006 – The Center launched a long-term campaign to protect the Verde River from water diversions and groundwater pumping.

March 2007 – Following a livestock industry-backed lawsuit, the Fish and Wildlife Service withdrew its previous critical habitat designation. Disgraced former Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior Julie MacDonald made a policy decision to define occupied habitat as occupied within the previous ten years, which effectively reduced the area to be considered for critical habitat. After soliciting a new round of public comments, the Service designated 522.2 river miles as critical habitat for the fishes.

November 2007 – Pressure from the Center led to reintroduction of loach minnows and spikedace into Fossil Creek. In the same month, the Center filed suit against the Service for slashing critical habitat for the spikedace and loach minnow.

May 22, 2008 – The Center filed a notice of intent to sue the U.S. Forest Service for failing to consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service while management of Fossil Creek continued to adversely affect the loach minnow and spikedace, along with other imperiled native fish and their habitat.