Cases

San Pedro/ Fort Huachuca Biological Opinion

In Brief:

Southwestern willow flycatcher

Photo: J. Rorabaugh/FWS

Two endangered species -- the Huachuca water umbel and the Southwestern willow flycatcher -- will lose vital habitat if groundwater pumping near the upper San Pedro River continues unabated. Although the U.S. Army's Fort Huachuca is responsible for much of the groundwater depletion, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service produced a biological opinion which states that the Fort's continued water depletion will not jeopardize the San Pedro River or the species that depend on it. Instead of abiding by the Endangered Species Act, the opinion makes vague promises about water conservation without providing legally required guarantees. This lawsuit challenges the lawfulness of the biological opinion.

Updated: October 10, 2007

Case #1668