Lawsuit: flood control levees on Rio Grande threaten species

The environment group WildEarth Guardians filed a lawsuit Tuesday in federal court challenging a federal engineering project that its says threatens the health of the Rio Grande ecosystem from just north of Socorro to Elephant Butte. The project — already underway — also will alter hundreds of acres of key habitat of the Rio Grande silvery minnow, Southwestern willow flycatcher and yellow-billed cuckoo in violation of the Endangered Species Act, the group said in its court action. The lawsuit targets the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ project to build 43 miles of engineered levees along the river — from the San Acacia Diversion Dam south to Elephant Butte Reservoir. The Corps secured funding and started construction on the first two phases of the project earlier this year, which will provide levees along about six miles of the river to protect the town of Socorro...more