A group of environmental organizations has filed suit against the federal government, alleging illegal grazing has threatened protected species along the Big Sandy River in western Arizona.
The Center for Biological Diversity and Maricopa Audubon Society filed suit against the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), alleging grazing authorization in allotments along the river fails to protect wildlife species. These species are protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), including the southwestern willow flycatcher, the western yellow-billed cuckoo and the northern Mexican garter snake.
The groups argue BLM and USFWS failed to reinitiate and complete the necessary consultations under Section 7 of the ESA about the ongoing impacts of livestock grazing on the flycatcher and its critical habitat within the Greenwood Community Allotment. They also claim BLM did not take necessary actions to prevent harm to the flycatcher, cuckoo and garter snake and their habitats in the Artillery Range and Greenwood Peak Community grazing allotments.
According to court documents, in May 2023, the BLM released a report assessing whether the 1995 Kingman Resource Management Plan and the Lower Gila North Management Framework Plan needed updates. The evaluation found that the management plans for the three allotments did not meet the ESA’s requirements for conserving listed species and their critical habitats.
The documents also showed that when BLM renewed the grazing permits, it failed to consult with USFWS concerning the impacts of grazing on the listed species and habitat prior to issuing the renewal.
In February 2023, contractors from the Center for Biological Diversity conducted surveys to assess cattle impacts on designated critical habitats along the Big Sandy River within three allotments managed by BLM’s Colorado River District. The field biologists documented livestock grazing effects on standing waters, streambanks, riparian and upland vegetation, soils and pasture fencing conditions. Using a standardized protocol, they gathered data, analyzed and ranked stream reaches to show no damage, light, moderate or significant grazing damage. Out of approximately 6.94 stream-miles of riparian habitat surveyed, they found that 5.82 miles (84%) were significantly damaged by grazing, and the remaining 1.12 miles were moderately damaged, the group said.
The environmental groups are asking the judge to declare that BLM and USFWS are violating the ESA by not completing consultation on decisions authorizing livestock grazing, order the agencies to complete the ESA consultation by a specific date, and take necessary actions to prevent any further adverse impacts on these species and their habitats until full compliance with the ESA is demonstrated.
“Throughout the Southwest, the Bureau of Land Management’s chronic failure to control illegal livestock grazing turns streams and streamside habitats into trampled cesspools, pushing endangered species closer to extinction,” said Chris Bugbee, Southwest conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity. “The Big Sandy River is just the latest example in a pattern of neglect. This lawsuit aims to force federal agencies to do their jobs, fix the problem and save this ecosystem.” — Charles Wallace, WLJ contributing editor
