Suit Filed to Protect Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout.

On 2-25-2003, the Center for Biological Diversity, Biodiversity Conservation Alliance, Carson Forest Watch, Center for Native Ecosystems, and the Pacific Rivers Council filed suit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to overturn their decision not to list the Rio Grande cutthroat trout as an endangered species. Despite the fact that the Rio Grande cutthroat has been eliminated from as much as 99% of its historic range, Fish and Wildlife still denied the trout protection as an endangered species on 6-11-02.

The Bush Administration claims that the existence of just 13 populations means the species is secure. Most of these populations, however, are found in tiny, isolated headwater streams that provide marginal habitat and are subject to invasion by exotic trout, which often occur in the same streams below a barrier.

The Center for Biological Diversity and other groups petitioned to list the Rio Grande cutthroat trout, which is the state fish of New Mexico, in February 1998. Fish and Wildlife initially denied the petition, but after the Center and other groups sued, it issued a new decision. The second suit is being argued by Neil Levine and Robin Cooley of Earthjustice.