Grouse, Meadow, Rock, Trail Creek grazing allotments

Current Status:

Pending

Case Title and Number:

Western Watersheds Project v. Rosenkrance, No. 09-cv-298 (D. Idaho)

Date Filed:

09/28/2009

This case challenges BLM decisions allowing grazing and construction of numerous livestock watering troughs and fences in the Grouse Creek, Meadow Creek, Trail Creek, and Rock Creek allotments, located in the Pahsimeroi watershed of central Idaho.

This area is prime sage grouse habitat, and also important for pygmy rabbit -- another imperiled sagebrush-obligate species. Much of this habitat has been degraded badly wherever livestock are present. Yet BLM is now expanding the livestock watering and fencing system further into sage grouse areas -- without assessing environmental impacts as required by NEPA.

Files:

Complaint - June, 2009

Challis Area Map, courtesy of IDFG.

Brief in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment

Staff Attorney(s):

Laurie Rule

Kristin Ruether

Clients:

Western Watersheds Project

Species:

Bull Trout

Greater Sage Grouse

Pygmy Rabbit

Updates

08/01/2009

Upper Salmon Litigation

THREE NEW CASES FILED TO PROTECT PAHSIMEROI AND LEMHI WATERSHEDS.

Advocates for the West filed three new cases in June and July 2009 for client Western Watersheds Project, suing the US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management over their legal violations in managing public lands in the Pahsimeroi and Lemhi watersheds of central Idaho.

The Pahsimeroi and Lemhi watersheds offer vital habitat for endangered fish -- including salmon, steelhead and bull trout -- as well as sage grouse, pygmy rabbits, and other sagebrush species. Yet the federal agencies continue to authorize livestock grazing and grazing-related water developments and diversions without accounting for the harms they cause to these imperiled species and their habitats. These three cases are the first of a suite of lawsuits aimed at improving habitat conditions in the Upper Salmon basin.