WWP Pushes to Protect Sage Grouse <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /> </head> <style type="text/css">  </style> <body leftmargin="0" marginwidth="0" topmargin="0" marginheight="0" offset="0" > <style> .headerTop { background-color:#FFFFFF; border-top:0px solid #000000; border-bottom:1px solid #FFFFFF; text-align:center; } .adminText { font-size:16px; color:#996600; line-height:200%; font-family:verdana; text-decoration:none; } .headerBar { background-color:#FFFFFF; border-top:0px solid #333333; border-bottom:10px solid #FFFFFF; } .title { font-size:20px; font-weight:bold; color:#CC6600; font-family:arial; line-height:110%; } .subTitle { font-size:11px; font-weight:normal; color:#666666; font-style:italic; font-family:arial; } td { font-size:12px; color:#000000; line-height:150%; font-family:verdana; } .sideColumn { background-color:#FFFFFF; border-left:1px dashed #CCCCCC; text-align:left; } .sideColumnText { font-size:11px; font-weight:normal; color:#999999; 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color: #006633; line-height: 150%; font-family: verdana" bgcolor="#ffffff"> <div align="center"> <font size="4"><strong><em>Online Messenger #171</em></strong></font> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="20" width="700" bgcolor="#ffffff"> <tbody> <tr> <td width="500"> <p> <span style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; color: #006633; font-family: Verdana,Arial; line-height: 100%">Sage Grouse & WWP May Be Headed Back to Court !?</span><font face="verdana" size="2"><br /> </font><span style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; color: #666666; font-style: italic; font-family: arial">~ Jon Marvel</span><br /> <img src="http://pr.ak.vresp.com/3d02fcaf9/www.westernwatersheds.org/images/staff/marvel.jpg" alt="Jon Marvel" hspace="10" vspace="10" align="left" /> <font face="verdana" size="2"> </font> </p> <p> <span style="font-family: verdana"><font face="verdana" size="3"><font face="verdana" size="3">Friends, </font></font></span> </p> <p> <font face="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><span style="font-size: 11pt">Today, in response to successful litigation brought by Western Watersheds Project and our attorneys at Advocates For The West, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced Greater Sage Grouse <strong>would not be protected by listing the species under the protections of the Endangered Species Act</strong>. </span></font> </p> <p> <font face="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><span style="font-size: 11pt">The Secretary did acknowledge that listing was warranted but was precluded by other species with a higher priority for protection. <br /> <br /> The decision not to list Greater Sage Grouse is in response to a great deal of political pressure from western states and extractive industries including oil. gas and renewable energy development interests as well as traditional uses like livestock grazing and energy transmission facilities.<br /> <br /> Western Watersheds Project will review the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service support documents for this decision and determine if the agency has complied with the law.<br /> <br /> If it is clear that the law has been violated, WWP will then decide if additional litigation would be helpful to protect this disappearing species in the American west. </span></font> </p> <p> <img src="http://pr.ak.vresp.com/589c8b51a/wolves.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/current-grouse-distribution.jpg" border="0" alt="Sage Grouse distribution" width="400" /> </p> <p> Sage grouse Distribution </p> <p> <font face="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><span style="font-size: 11pt">Ultimately the protection of Greater Sage Grouse will benefit a diversity of wildlife and habitat on public lands that span the Sagebrush Sea, the most imperiled landscape in North America.</span></font> <font face="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><span style="font-size: 11pt"> </span></font> </p> <p align="center"> <a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?WesternWatershedsPro/5167ef643e/2094f66e48/0c2d0ed468/utm_campaign=WWP%20Pushes%20to%20Protect%20Sage%20Grouse&utm_content=&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_term=Read%20the%20WWP%20News%20Release"> Read the WWP News Release</a> </p> <center><a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?WesternWatershedsPro/5167ef643e/2094f66e48/19b37d66d4/reset=1&id=1&utm_campaign=WWP%20Pushes%20to%20Protect%20Sage%20Grouse&utm_content=&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_term=HTML%20Version%20-%20Image%20Link%203"><img src="http://pr.ak.vresp.com/ef7276845/www.westernwatersheds.org/mailer/imgs/support_button_g.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></center> <p> </p> <p> </p> <h2>WWP & Partners Lose and Win Frank Church/Helicopter Landing Litigation</h2> <font face="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt"> On February 19, 2010, Chief District Judge Lynn B. Winmill denied Western Watersheds Project and our conservation partners’ request for a preliminary injunction to stop the Idaho Department of Fish & Game from landing helicopters in the Frank Church Wilderness to radio collar wolves. The judge's determination was based on the Challis National Forest's disingenuous claim that the landing of helicopters and collaring of wolves in the wilderness area was necessary for wolf research</span><font size="1"><span style="font-size: 9pt"></span></font><span style="font-size: 11.5pt">.<br /> <br /> Judge Winmill did throw WWP a partial victory when he concluded that any future applications for the use of helicopters in the Frank Church Wilderness would be met with a much higher bar before such use could be authorized. <a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?WesternWatershedsPro/5167ef643e/2094f66e48/507b3dfe46/utm_campaign=WWP%20Pushes%20to%20Protect%20Sage%20Grouse&utm_content=&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_term=Read%20Judge%20Winmill%26rsquo%3Bs%20decision">Read Judge Winmill’s decision</a></span></font><a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?WesternWatershedsPro/5167ef643e/2094f66e48/ef8113d4e1/utm_campaign=WWP%20Pushes%20to%20Protect%20Sage%20Grouse&utm_content=&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_term=HTML%20Version%20-%20Image%20Link%205"><img src="http://pr.ak.vresp.com/ad6a294af/www.westernwatersheds.org/images/pdf.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><font face="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt">.<br /> <br /> WWP’s Board President Kelley Weston, and WWP's NEPA Coordinator Ken Cole, have both just returned from trips into the wilderness to observe wolves and the helicopter activity. <br /> <br /> Kelley was visited by a wolf pack who chased elk through his camp on Warm Springs Creek while in the wilderness. Ken Cole's wilderness experience was harmed when bighorn sheep he was watching were disrupted and fled from an Idaho Department of Fish & Game helicopter</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt">.<br /> <br /> Even though the effort to block the use of helicopters in designated Wilderness has not been successful to date, Western Watersheds Project’s able representation by Advocates for the West attorney Laurie Rule continues with a hearing now scheduled for Summary Judgement in front of Judge Winmill to resolve this case on the merits.<br /> <br /> WWP also has two additional claims in this litigation that seek to stop Wildlife Service's slaughter of wolves in Idaho and prevent grazing on the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. Those claims will be considered by the judge in the course of the next several months. </span></font> <p> <font face="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><span style="font-size: 11pt"></span></font> </p> <div style="margin: 1ex"> <div> <p> <font face="Verdana" size="3"><br /> </font> </p> <p> <img src="http://pr.ak.vresp.com/4b0d0bdf1/www.westernwatersheds.org/mailer/imgs/jonsign.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> </p> <p> <font face="Verdana" size="3">Jon Marvel<br /> Executive Director<span style="text-decoration: underline"></span></font><font face="Verdana" size="3"> </font> </p> </div> </div> <p class="rtecenter"> <font face="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial" style="font-style: italic"> </font> </p> <font face="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial" style="font-style: italic"> </font> <p class="rtecenter"> <font face="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial" style="font-style: italic"> </font> </p> <font face="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial" style="font-style: italic"> </font> <font face="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial" style="font-style: italic"> </font> <font face="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial" style="font-style: italic"> </font> <font face="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial" style="font-style: italic"> </font> <font face="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial" style="font-style: italic"> </font> <font face="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial" style="font-style: italic"> <font face="verdana" size="3"> </font> </font> <font face="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial" style="font-style: italic"> </font> <font face="Verdana, Helvetica, Arial" style="font-style: italic"> </font> </td> <td width="180" valign="top" style="border-left: 1px dashed #cccccc; background-color: #ffffff; text-align: left"> <p style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; color: #999999; font-family: arial; line-height: 150%"> <a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?WesternWatershedsPro/5167ef643e/2094f66e48/a29effff4d/utm_campaign=WWP%20Pushes%20to%20Protect%20Sage%20Grouse&utm_content=&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_term=HTML%20Version%20-%20Image%20Link%206"><img src="http://pr.ak.vresp.com/0b1d2e831/www.westernwatersheds.org/mailer/imgs/sagegrouseflight.jpg" border="0" alt="Sage Grouse" /></a> </p> <p style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; color: #999999; font-family: arial; line-height: 150%; text-align: center"> Sage grouse take flight, <br /> Bruneau uplands, Idaho </p> <p style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; color: #999999; font-family: arial; line-height: 150%; text-align: center"> photo copyright Ken Cole, WWP </p> <p style="text-align: center"> <a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?WesternWatershedsPro/5167ef643e/2094f66e48/ecec5d6bfe/v=TX6mcLM3lPw"><img src="http://pr.ak.vresp.com/f0ce47b83/www.westernwatersheds.org/mailer/imgs/sg-utube.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> </p> <div style="text-align: center"> <a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?WesternWatershedsPro/5167ef643e/2094f66e48/9aaaf011b9"><img src="http://pr.ak.vresp.com/ce69c428a/www.westernwatersheds.org/mailer/imgs/wwp-facebook.jpg" border="0" alt="" hspace="8" vspace="8" align="left" /></a> </div> <p style="text-align: center"> </p> <p style="text-align: center"> </p> <p style="text-align: center"> </p> <p style="text-align: center"> <span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; color: #333333; font-family: arial; line-height: 150%">You Can Help </span> </p> <center><a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?WesternWatershedsPro/5167ef643e/2094f66e48/7e3441328b/reset=1&id=1&utm_campaign=WWP%20Pushes%20to%20Protect%20Sage%20Grouse&utm_content=&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_term=HTML%20Version%20-%20Image%20Link%209"><img src="http://pr.ak.vresp.com/ef7276845/www.westernwatersheds.org/mailer/imgs/support_button_g.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></center> <p style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; color: #999999; font-family: arial; line-height: 150%"> <span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; color: #333333; font-family: arial; line-height: 150%">Receive this email as a forward from a friend ?</span> </p> <center><a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?WesternWatershedsPro/5167ef643e/2094f66e48/380e0bad97"><img src="http://pr.ak.vresp.com/83305d830/www.westernwatersheds.org/mailer/imgs/om_button.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></center><center> </center><center> </center><center><a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?WesternWatershedsPro/5167ef643e/2094f66e48/fd3e4fabbe"><img src="http://pr.ak.vresp.com/abcdbef7b/www.westernwatersheds.org/mailer/imgs/rmwn.jpg" border="0" alt="Ralph Maughan's Wildlife News" /></a></center><center> </center><center> </center><center> </center><center> </center><center><a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?WesternWatershedsPro/5167ef643e/2094f66e48/ef28b58607/authkey=Gv1sRgCN3n7vW3iZPgqQE&feat=directlink#"><img src="http://pr.ak.vresp.com/d35e8df6a/www.westernwatersheds.org/mailer/imgs/bighorn/heli-bigh.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></center><center> </center><center>Bighorn sheep in the Frank Church Wilderness disrupted by Idaho Department of Fish & Game helicopters</center><center>copyright Ken Cole, WWP </center><center>(click for photos) <br /> </center><center> <a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?WesternWatershedsPro/5167ef643e/2094f66e48/72d0cb282f/authkey=Gv1sRgCN3n7vW3iZPgqQE&feat=directlink#"><img src="http://pr.ak.vresp.com/aa3b90ce8/www.westernwatersheds.org/mailer/imgs/bighorn/heli.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></center><center> </center><center> </center><center><a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?WesternWatershedsPro/5167ef643e/2094f66e48/28dd69ae97/authkey=Gv1sRgCN3n7vW3iZPgqQE&feat=directlink#"><img src="http://pr.ak.vresp.com/ee38de368/www.westernwatersheds.org/mailer/imgs/bighorn/heli-bigh2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a> </center><center> <br /> </center> <center><center><span style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; color: #999999; font-family: arial; line-height: 150%"></span> </center></center></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" valign="top" style="border-top: 10px solid #ffffff; background-color: #ffffff"> <p> <span style="font-size: 10px; color: #505050; line-height: 100%; font-family: verdana">Western Watersheds Project Is A West Regional Conservation Organization Working To Protect And Restore Western Watersheds And Wildlife <br /> <br /> Consider joining Western Watersheds Project yourself or enrolling a friend with a gift membership. Joining is easy at WWP's <a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?WesternWatershedsPro/5167ef643e/2094f66e48/4cc66ec489/reset=1&id=1&utm_campaign=WWP%20Pushes%20to%20Protect%20Sage%20Grouse&utm_content=&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_term=secure%20online%20membership%20page">secure online membership page</a> <br /> <br /> Be sure to visit the WWP web site at <a href="http://cts.vresp.com/c/?WesternWatershedsPro/5167ef643e/2094f66e48/1ce755f33d/utm_campaign=WWP%20Pushes%20to%20Protect%20Sage%20Grouse&utm_content=&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_term=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ewesternwatersheds%2Eorg">http://www.westernwatersheds.org</a>. <br /> <br /> © Western Watersheds Project 2009<br /> * All rights reserved. </span> </p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </body> </html><br/><br style="clear: both;"/><hr color="#e0e0e0"/><table border="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" cellpadding="5"><tr><td><font face="arial,verdana" size="1">If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please reply to this message with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line or simply click on the following link: <a href="http://cts.vresp.com/u?5167ef643e/2094f66e48/"> Unsubscribe</a></font></td></tr></table><hr color="#e0e0e0"/><br/><table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr><td><font face="Verdana,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="1"><span style="border: 1px solid #999; padding: 5px; font-weight: bold"><a href="http://oi.vresp.com/f2af/v4/send_to_friend.html?ch=5167ef643e&lid=1454001502&ldh=2094f66e48"> Click here</a> to forward this email to a friend</span></font></td></tr></table><br/><table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr><td><font face="arial,verdana" size="1">Western Watersheds Project, Inc<br/>PO 1770<br/>Hailey, Idaho 83333<br/>US<p><a href="http://www.verticalresponse.com/content/pm_policy.html"> Read</a> the VerticalResponse marketing policy.</p></font></td><td align="right"><a href="http://www.verticalresponse.com/landing/non-profits/?np/5167ef643e"><img border="0" src="http://img-ak.verticalresponse.com/np_pwrby_vr_logo_126.gif" alt="Non-Profits Email Free with VerticalResponse!"/></a></td></tr></table><img alt="" src="http://cts.vresp.com/o.gif?5167ef643e/2094f66e48/"/> <script>  </script>