WWP Online Messenger # 142

Western Watersheds Project Has a Busy End of Summer and Early Fall

WWP Opens A New Office in Montana

Continuing the process of bringing needed change to public lands management across the American west, on September 23, 2008 Western Watersheds Project officially opened our latest office in Missoula, Montana at 317 East Spruce Street near downtown. The open house to celebrate the opening was very well attended.

Interested readers can read about the opening here at Dr. Ralph Maughan’s Wildlife News blog site:
http://wolves.wordpress.com/2008/09/24/western-watersheds-opens-major-montana-office

Here is a photo taken the morning after the opening party (left to right) WWP’s new Montana Director, Tom Woodbury; WWP Board member Dr. Ralph Maughan; WWP Montana legal counsel Summer Nelson and WWP Executive Director Jon Marvel.

Photo Copyright: WWP

Western Watersheds Project Files a Petition To List the Sonoran Desert Population of Desert Tortoise:

Photo Courtesy: US Fish & Wildlife Service

On October 9, 2008 Western Watersheds Project along with our sister organization WildEarth Guardians of Santa Fe , New Mexico filed a listing petition to protect the Sonoran Desert population of desert tortoise under the Endangered Species Act. Many thanks are due to WWP’s Arizona Director Greta Anderson, WWP’s California Director Dr. Michael Connor and Dr. Nicole Rosmarino of WildEarth guardians for this Petition.

The petition catalogues many threats that contribute to tortoise declines including disease, livestock grazing, mining, urban sprawl, use of off-road vehicles, border patrol activities, and a lack of adequate legal protections. Extended drought caused by climate change is an additional threat. Biologists fear that human activities combined with environmental stress may be increasing susceptibility to two diseases that are now becoming increasingly common among Sonoran desert tortoise populations.

For a complete summary of the filing please see the Western Watershed Project and WildEarth Guardians news release here: http://www.westernwatersheds.org/news_media/newsmedia_2008/nr-sonoran-desert-tortoise-petition.pdf

Western Watersheds Project’s Fall Newsletter is Now In The Mail And Can Be Accessed At The WWP Web Site

Here is a photo from the Fall 2008 Watersheds Messenger of WWP’s fashionable Western Idaho Director Debra Ellers in her good-looking new bull trout millinery !

Photo Courtesy: US Fish & Wildlife Service

Be sure and review the entire Fall Watersheds Messenger

Wolves In The Northern Rockies Again Protected By The Endangered Species Act

Photo Copyright: Rick Hobson

On October 14, 2008 Montana District Judge Donald Molloy issued an Order remanding the decision of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service delisting Wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains.

WWP was one of the 12 conservation groups contesting the delisting of wolves in the northern Rockies, and with this final Order the case is closed and wolves are once again protected under the Endangered Species Act. Many thanks are due to Earth Justice attorneys Jenny Harbine and Doug Honnold for this improtant win.

Interested readers can read Judge Molloy’s Order