Copyright 2001 Albuquerque Journal
May 8, 2001
By Tania Soussan
Journal Staff Writer

The Gila National Forest has allowed livestock grazing to continue in the Copper Creek area even though its own biologists say the grazing is degrading the environment, a Forest Guardians' lawsuit contends.

Grazing on the 25,000-acre Copper Creek allotment near Glenwood is harming streams, watersheds and wildlife in the area, according to the lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Santa Fe.

A 1998 Forest Service study concluded that grazing on the allotment should be stopped immediately because the area was severely degraded and needed to recover, the suit alleges.

"Forest Guardians would simply like to see the Forest Service doing its job to protect native wildlife on our national forests," said Kirsten Stade, wildlife biologist for Forest Guardians of Santa Fe.

"Since they won't listen to their own biologists, we need to take action to ensure that they do," Stade said.

Gila National Forest officials said Monday that they could not comment because they had not yet seen the lawsuit.

The Copper Creek area is home to several endangered species, including the Southwest willow flycatcher, Chiricahua leopard frog and loach minnow.

The lawsuit is the 10th brought by Forest Guardians alleging livestock grazing on national forests is damaging the environment. Error: Unable to read footer file.