The Payette National Forest has issued its final EIS and Record of Decision that closes 70% of the domestic sheep allotments on the forest to protect bighorn sheep populations in Hells Canyon and the Salmon River Canyon. This decision is the culmination of efforts by Advocates for the West and our clients to achieve protection for bighorn sheep in these areas by permanent closure of domestic sheep allotments within bighorn sheep habitat. Numerous groups have appealed this decision, and Advocates for the West will likely be back in Court to continue the fight to protect bighorn sheep.
Bighorn Sheep -- Hells Canyon and Salmon River
We brought this case in March 2007 to prevent the Forest Service from authorizing domestic sheep grazing in allotments on Payette and Nez Perce National Forests that pose a "high risk" of spreading diseases that kill Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, which are native to the Hells Canyon and Salmon River region of central Idaho. Our litigation relies on science from the Forest Service and other agencies documenting that domestic sheep spread fatal diseases to bighorn sheep; yet political pressure prevented the agency from closing the allotments to protect the bighorn sheep populations.
In response to several injunction motions we filed, the Forest Service has temporarily closed the allotments to sheep grazing; and is undertaking a new EIS process to close them permanently. Litigation will continue until the closures are permanent, and expected sheep industry challenges are rejected.
Current Status:
Case Won
Case Title and Number:
WWP v. US Forest Service, 07-cv-151-BLW (D. Idaho).
Date Filed:
03/30/2007
Staff Attorney(s):
Clients:
Species:
Files:
Updates
07/20/2010
10/14/2009
Advocates wins a ruling in U.S. District Court protecting bighorn sheep. Judge Lynn Winmill ordered a western Idaho rancher to not graze domestic sheep on his BLM allotment. The decision will protect wild bighorn sheep from catching deadly diseases which pose dire risks to entire bighorn populations.
09/28/2009
Staff attorney Laurie Rule has just filed an emergency motion for an injunction to stop BLM from allowing domestic sheep turnout on the Partridge Creek allotment, because of dangers posed to the last remaining native Bighorn Sheep population in the Salmon River area of central Idaho.
Our litigation previously forced the Forest Service to close several domestic sheep allotments in the surrounding Payette and Nez Perce National Forests, based on agency and independent science showing that bighorn sheep can catch fatal diseases from domestic sheep. Yet the BLM refuses to follow the Forest Service's lead, and is allowing sheep grazing to continue on the Partridge Creek allotment.
An injunction hearing is set for 9:30 AM on October 6, 2009, in federal court in Pocatello.
