WildEarth Guardians

Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Group Presses for Protection of Rare Rio Grande Stonefly

Species One of Nearly 700 for Which Federal Safeguards are Sought
Contact: WildEarth Guardians

DENVER - WildEarth Guardians filed suit today against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) over the agency’s denial of Endangered Species Act (ESA) protection for the Grande stripetail, a stonefly that used to occur along the Rio Grande. It has been documented in Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas and was last observed in 1980 in Dona Ana County, New Mexico in the vicinity of Leasburg State Park. Scientists fear it may be extinct.

Stoneflies are aquatic insects that require high water quality. Other endangered animals in the Rio Grande ecosystem include the Rio Grande silvery minnow and the southwestern willow flycatcher. “This stonefly’s extreme rarity signals the decline of the Rio Grande ecosystem. Whether fish or fly, all of the Rio Grande’s aquatic animals deserve a living river,” stated Dr. Nicole Rosmarino of WildEarth Guardians.

The Grande stripetail (Isoperla jewetti) was one of nearly 700 species for which WildEarth Guardians requested ESA protection in the summer of 2007 based on their ranking as “critically imperiled” by NatureServe. The Service considers NatureServe, a scientific consortium, an authoritative source for conservation rankings of U.S. species. Yet, the Service denied protection for the stripetail as part of its rejection of protection for 435 species in January and February. Under court order, findings are due on the remaining species in August and December.

WildEarth Guardians further requested emergency ESA listing for the Grande stripetail in June 2008, as part of an effort to obtain prompt protection for 32 species found in one or no locations worldwide. The Service denied the request, claiming that even if a species is so rare as to occur in no known locations, that does not prove an emergency exists.

WildEarth Guardians determined that approximately 80% of the species ranked as critically imperiled by NatureServe across a 12-state area in the western United States lack any status under the ESA. Moreover, in a report released in April, the group highlighted the Service’s failure to list even the species the agency regards as the most endangered candidates for ESA protection.

“Under the Obama administration, we’re seeing the continued, troubling trend of the Service failing to provide safeguards to the wildlife and plants that need it most. We will therefore push forward on behalf of the species that are slipping through the cracks and are most in danger of extinction,” stated Rosmarino.

WildEarth Guardians, which has offices in Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico, protects and restores wildlife, wild places, and wild rivers in the American West.

To obtain the complaint and other background documents, please contact Nicole Rosmarino at nrosmarino@wildearthguardians.org or 505-699-7404.