Western Watersheds Project files federal lawsuit to protect bighorn sheep in Hells Canyon.
A couple weeks ago I posted a news release from the Nez Perce Tribe how the Forest Service was not living up to their committment (mandated by an earlier court ruling) to keep domestic and bighorn sheep apart in Hells Canyon.
Now the Western Watersheds Project has gone to court. Here is their news release.
Western Watersheds Project Files Litigation To Protect Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep
On March 30, 2007 Western Watersheds Project filed a Complaint in federal District Court in Idaho against the Payette and Nez Perce National Forests for violations of their Forest Plans, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area Act and the Administrative Procedures Act charging that the two Forests have failed to protect Bighorn Sheep from disease transmission from domestic sheep permitted to graze on the two Forests in locations that risk die-offs of hundreds of Bighorn Sheep because of direct contact between domestic sheep and bighorns. The case was assigned to Chief Judge B. Lynn Winmill.
On April 16, 2007 WWP was joined in the litigation by the Hells Canyon Preservation Council and The Wilderness Society through an amended complaint. Also filed on April 16 was a Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order and/or preliminary injunction to prevent the turn-out of domestic sheep on five grazing allotments (Smith Mountain, Curren Hill, Marshall Mountain, Bear Pete and French Creek) on the Payette National Forest and one grazing allotment (Allison-Berg) on the Nez Perce National Forest.
Since turn-out on the critical bighorn habitat on the Smiths Mountain allotment is scheduled for May 15, 2007, the court has set a court hearing on the Motion for injunctive relief for May 3, 2007. WWP and the other plaintiffs are very ably represented by lead attorney, Laurie Rule of Advocates For The West’s Boise Office. Also representing WWP and the other groups and supporting Laurie with their excellent work are attorneys Jennifer Schemm of La Grande, Oregon and Brett Brownscombe of Portland, Oregon.
For more information including all the filings in this important case please visit the WWP web site legal pages.
post 1030

Ralph Maughan
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University. He has been a Western Watersheds Project Board Member off and on for many years, and also its President. For many years he produced Ralph Maughan's Wolf Report. He was a founder of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. He and Jackie Johnson Maughan wrote three editions of "Hiking Idaho." He also wrote "Beyond the Tetons" and "Backpacking Wyoming's Teton and Washakie Wilderness." He created and is the administrator of The Wildlife News.
One Response to Western Watersheds Project files federal lawsuit to protect bighorn sheep in Hells Canyon.
Subscribe to Blog via Email
Recent Posts
- “Stick to the Facts”–How Green Groups Fail to Protect the Gallatin Range May 23, 2022
- Bi State Sage Grouse Reinstated As Proposed Threatened By Court May 19, 2022
- BLM Fails To Protect Public Patrimony Through Renewal of Grazing Privileges Without Environmental Review May 17, 2022
- Conservation Groups Threaten To Sue On East Paradise Grazing Decision May 12, 2022
- Gratitude for National Parks May 11, 2022
Recent Comments
- Maggie Frazier on “Stick to the Facts”–How Green Groups Fail to Protect the Gallatin Range
- Maggie Frazier on “Stick to the Facts”–How Green Groups Fail to Protect the Gallatin Range
- Ida Lupine on “Stick to the Facts”–How Green Groups Fail to Protect the Gallatin Range
- Ida Lupine on “Stick to the Facts”–How Green Groups Fail to Protect the Gallatin Range
- Nancy Ostlie on “Stick to the Facts”–How Green Groups Fail to Protect the Gallatin Range
- Jannett Heckert on Conservation Groups Threaten To Sue On East Paradise Grazing Decision
- Rich on Bi State Sage Grouse Reinstated As Proposed Threatened By Court
- Jannett Heckert on BLM Fails To Protect Public Patrimony Through Renewal of Grazing Privileges Without Environmental Review
- rastadoggie on Gratitude for National Parks
- rastadoggie on Bi State Sage Grouse Reinstated As Proposed Threatened By Court
- Megan on Bi State Sage Grouse Reinstated As Proposed Threatened By Court
- Ida Lupine on BLM Fails To Protect Public Patrimony Through Renewal of Grazing Privileges Without Environmental Review
- Ida Lupine on Bi State Sage Grouse Reinstated As Proposed Threatened By Court
- Robert Raven on BLM Fails To Protect Public Patrimony Through Renewal of Grazing Privileges Without Environmental Review
- Martha S. Bibb on BLM Fails To Protect Public Patrimony Through Renewal of Grazing Privileges Without Environmental Review
I seem to recall hearing someone state “we would never let our diseased livestock intermingle with your wildlife” while testifying before congress about the buffalo issue. This is exactly what came to mind when they said it.