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Agency Foot-dragging Threatens American Dipper
For Immediate Release
Laramie, WY—A coalition of conservation groups today filed a lawsuit to protect the Black Hills population of American dipper, a declining aquatic songbird, as an endangered species.
The dipper population in the Black Hills has declined significantly over the years. It once inhabited several permanent streams in the Black Hills. Today, only Spearfish Creek in the northern Black Hills supports a healthy population of dippers. Even French Creek and Rapid Creek, which once supported thriving populations of dippers, have not supported breeding populations for years. In 1996, the dipper was listed as Threatened by the State of South Dakota. In response, a coalition of groups last year petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the dippers in the Black Hills under the Endangered Species Act. By law, the Fish and Wildlife Service is required to answer such petitions within 90-days by making a finding whether Endangered Species Act protection may be warranted. Over a year has passed and the groups still have not received an answer. Conservationists are now suing the Service to protect the bird. “Conservation delayed is conservation denied,” said Jeremy Nichols with Biodiversity Conservation Alliance. “The safety net of the Endangered Species Act is clearly needed, yet the Fish and Wildlife Service’s foot-dragging has only pushed the dipper closer to the brink of extinction.” Water pollution and stream habitat degradation are the major causes of the dipper's decline in the Black Hills. The dipper is extremely sensitive to stream pollution and is an important indicator of water quality. Known causes of pollution include mining, livestock grazing, logging, roads, and septic systems—all of which ultimately harm the dipper. Dams and water diversions have also degraded dipper habitat by reducing stream flows and destroying nest sites. “Healthy populations of the American dipper mean healthy streams,” explained Erin Robertson, staff biologist with the Center for Native Ecosystems. “The decline of the dipper speaks directly to how mining, overgrazing, logging, and suburban development have taken a devastating toll on water quality in the Black Hills.” The lack of adequate protection measures has also been cited as a reason for the bird’s decline in the Black Hills. Agencies like the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Reclamation at Pactola Dam have shirked their responsibility to protect the American dipper and water quality in the Black Hills. Described by the naturalist John Muir in 1894 as “the mountain stream’s own darling” and “the hummingbird of blooming waters,” the American dipper is widely known for its amazing ability to live, feed, and play in the rapids and cascades of cool streams in the mountains of western North America. The Black Hills of South Dakota is the easternmost mountain range where this bird lives. The dipper population in the Black Hills is unique in that it is isolated from populations in other mountain ranges by 200 miles of grasslands. Endangered Species Act protection for the dipper would mean that its habitat would be protected and restored, which would improve water quality and watershed health in the Black Hills. Although the Fish and Wildlife Service often claims they don't have enough money to protect species under the Endangered Species Act, this is the result of a manufactured budget crisis. A review of their annual budget requests reveals that year after year the agency requests only a fraction of the money that is needed to properly implement the Endangered Species Act. For instance, this year it has requested only $17 million of the total $153 million needed to address the backlog of endangered species listings. Conservationists have filed suit in federal court in Washington, D.C., where the Secretary of the Interior is located and by law is responsible for carrying out the provisions of the Endangered Species Act. More information on the American dipper in the Black Hills can be found at Biodiversity Conservation Alliance’s website.
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