The Recovery Plan for the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (the guiding document setting forth the measures necessary to downgrade the species’ listing status to “threatened” and ultimately recover the species to the point where Endangered Species Act protection is no longer necessary) identified those river reaches deemed to have substantial recovery value for the flycatcher.  However, when FWS later determined what reaches would be included in the flycatcher’s critical habitat designation, to ensure the conservation and recovery of the species, it neglected to include the majority of the previously identified recovery habitat.  This lawsuit seeks to have those essential river reaches, along with other improperly excluded habitat, included in the flycatcher’s critical habitat designation.

Read press about WELC and the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher:

Endangered birds at risk in Southwest, biologists say, The Zonie Report, Oct. 5, 2008

Environmentalists Challenge More Bush Administration Political Interference in Endangered Species Decisions, Center for Biological Diversity, Oct. 2, 2008

Attorney:  Geoff Hickcox