Mid-Snake License Appeals:  In 2005, we appealed new federal operating licenses for five Idaho Power Company owned dams on the Snake River in southern Idaho.  The new licenses did little to ensure that Idaho Power mitigates for the impacts of its dams on White sturgeon and five endangered snail species.  Our appeal also challenged the Fish and Wildlife Service's Biological Opinion on the impacts of the dams on endangered snails. Read the brief 10/14/05 (large file - pdf 3.7MB) Clients: Idaho Rivers United, American Rivers.

Hells Canyon Relicensing: We are representing Idaho Rivers United in ongoing administrative proceeding to issue a new federal operating license for Idaho Power's huge Hells Canyon Complex of hydropower dams.  The three dam complex eliminated salmon and steelhead from the Snake River upstream of Hells Canyon and is one of the major factors in the decline of salmon and steelhead.  We are working to ensure that the new license requires updated mitigation requirements to protect sturgeon, bull trout, redband trout, water quality and recreation, as well as salmon and steelhead.

Grayling: In August 2005, we settled our litigation seeking to compel the Fish and Wildlife Service to provide Endangered Species Act Protection to the Montana fluvial Arctic grayling, which is imperiled by water withdrawals from Montana's Big Hole River for irrigated pasture and hay fields.  FWS is now required to make a final listing decision by April 16, 2007. Read the Settlement Agreement (pdf - 8/04/05)
Clients: Center for Biological Diversity, Western Watersheds Project

Upper Snake Bureau Projects: Along with Earthjustice, we have filed litigation to reform management of Snake River flow through the dozen Bureau of Reclamation projects on the Upper Snake River above Hells Canyon, to protect Salmon and other species.
Clients: Save Our Salmon coalition members

Potlatch Pulp and Paper Mill:  Our litigation is pushing for reduced pollution discharges from the Potlatch pulp mill into the Snake and Clearwater rivers near Lewiston, under the ESA and Clean Water Act.  In May 2003, NOAA Fisheries confirmed our claims that the Potlatch pollution harms salmon and steelhead.  A final biological opinion is due March 1, 2004. [Read the draft biological opinion in our library.  (PDF file)]  Clients:  Idaho Conservation League, Idaho Rivers United, The Lands Council