Catron County Urged to Denounce San Francisco River Destruction

The Center for Biological Diversity and Western Environmental Law Center today demanded that Catron County commissioners officially denounce the county’s illegal bulldozing of the San Francisco River, formally abandon plans to do so in the future, and discourage any further motorized use of the area to avoid harm to imperiled wildlife and the river. The commission holds its regular monthly meeting today. “Catron County’s bulldozing of the San Francisco River was a deliberate attack on endangered species, public lands and federal environmental laws,” said Cyndi Tuell with the Center for Biological Diversity. “The county has an opportunity today to denounce those destructive actions and vow that it will never happen again.” In August, the county bulldozed 13.5 miles of the river, including 47 crossings, downstream of Reserve, N.M., without Clean Water Act and other permits. The river reach is located in a roadless area on the Gila National Forest and is critical habitat for the federally threatened loach minnow. On Oct. 3, 2011 the Center sent Catron County a notice of intent to sue for full restoration of the disturbed areas, for which a court could impose on the county a maximum federal fine of $37,500 per day per violation to be paid to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The groups have not yet filed suit...press release