U.S. Forest Service under fire for cutting old trees
The decision to cut more than 1,300 old-growth trees last summer in an Arizona forest has been criticized for breaking trust with the thinning project’s backers.
Federal judge rejects plan to manage Mexican gray wolf population
A federal judge has swatted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for not doing enough to ensure there is a viable population of the Mexican gray wolf in Arizona and New Mexico.
With as few as 100 left, Arizona turtle wins endangered species status
It may not be surprising that an “aquatic desert” turtle faces long odds in life, but environmentalists and biologists still welcomed this week’s endangered species designation for the Sonoyta mud turtle.
Court rejects bid to declare Sonoran Desert bald eagle endangered
A federal court has rejected a bid to declare the Sonoran Desert bald eagle an endangered species, saying the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acted properly when it determined the birds were no different than other bald eagles.
Conservation groups sue feds over cactus ferruginous pygmy owl
Two environmental groups filed a lawsuit Tuesday aimed at forcing the federal government to protect Arizona’s diminishing cactus ferruginous pygmy owl population under the Endangered Species Act.
Federal study finds mercury in trout caught in three Grand Canyon creeks
With their natural beauty and protected environments, the Grand Canyon and other national parks in the West would seem removed from having mercury in their streams and rivers.
Environmental group renews call for ban on lead ammunition in condor’s range
Despite a significant reduction in Arizona hunters using lead ammunition, an environmental group says endangered California condors in Kaibab National Forest are still dying from lead poisoning.
Appeals court upholds reopening of uranium mine near Grand Canyon
A federal appeals court Monday upheld the government’s decision to let a uranium mine near Grand Canyon National Park continue to operate under environmental standards now decades old.
Endangered species status, habitat proposed for fish in Arizona
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Jan. 25 proposed listing a small freshwater fish as an endangered species and setting aside almost 300 miles of Arizona and New Mexico streams as critical habitat for the fish.
Mexican spotted owl recovery could cost $42M by 2022 feds say
The federal government estimates it will cost more than $42 million over the next decade to help get the Mexican spotted owl off the national list of threatened species.
Conservation group sues – again – to protect Mexican gray wolf in Arizona
For the second time in less than two weeks, a Tucson-based conversation group has sued the federal government over its handling of the Mexican gray wolf.
Knock on Wood
Environmentalists, the U.S. Forest Service and politicians thought they finally had a plan for thinning the state’s forests after years of disagreement.