Recent Cases

Protecting Idaho’s Wild Rapid River From Off-Road Vehicle Abuse

Read about WELC's work to protect Idaho’s wild Rapid River from off-road vehicle abuse

Protecting California Red-Legged Frog From Motor Vehicle Impacts

In 2008, the Eldorado National Forest in Northern California issued a plan designating motor vehicle use on the Forest. This plan relies upon inadequate NEPA analysis and violates the Endangered Species Act by allowing motorized route crossings in protected meadows and riparian areas, home to the California Red-legged frog (Rana aurora draytoii), protected under the ESA.

Protecting Valuable Post-Fire Ecosystems in California

Researchers agree that post-fire salvage logging is a “tax” on the environment, and that unlogged recently burned forests are the rarest ecosystem in the West.

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Protecting communities and habitats from the devastating effects of LNG terminals and pipelines

In the rush to exploit interest in new "alternative" energy development, Oregon has been targeted for the development of three liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals along the coast and nearly a thousand miles of gas pipelines that would crisscross the state.

Protecting the Wolverine: The Essence of Wilderness

WELC is working to protect the wolverine – the symbol of remote wilderness and one of the rarest, least understood, and most vulnerable mammals in North America. This is a challenge to the US Forest Service’s decision (without any public review, comment, or oversight) to authorize a private snowmobile club to groom approximately 158 miles of roads and trails in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in core wolverine habitat within the West Pioneers Wilderness Study Area.

Protecting the Path of the Pronghorn

This is a challenge to the US Forest Service’s decision to authorize a cattle corral and associated structures in the Path of the Pronghorn – a unique and fragile migration corridor in Wyoming’s Bridger-Teton National Forest – without any public review and comment, impacts analysis, or Forest Plan consistency review.

Safeguarding Wyoming Skies from Irresponsible Liquid Coal Production

Coal to liquid plants promise the public unending power but, in fact, will deliver unending pollution in the form of hazardous air emissions, acid rain, smog, and potent climate forcing pollution.

Intervening in Peabody Coal's attempt to weaken New Mexico's Water Quality Standards

Peabody Coal, a company with soaring profits despite the economic downturn, is now seeking to excuse itself from water quality standards set forth in the Clean Water Act, and New Mexico water quality standards.

Conservationists Win Decision Protecting Local Water Supplies, Fisheries &Wildlife; Bush Rule Exempting Pesticide Application From Clean Water Act Protections Vacated.

In yet another of a long list stinging defeats for the Bush’s Environmental Protection Agency, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a clear rebuke against the administration’s attempt to exempt certain commercial pesticide applications from oversight of the Clean Water Act.

Invasive Species in Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Habitat

A species of asian beetle, introduced to manage asian tamarisk, threatens habitat of the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher.

Supporting Good Travel Decisions in Montana

On behalf of Montana Wilderness Association, this litigation seeks to support the US Forest Service in its travel plan decision in the Big Snowies Wilderness Study Area in Montana.

Our Work to Protect Wildlife Corridors

WELC is focusing on the conflicts and opportunities presented with the increase in demand for renewable energy and the concurrent need to protect sensitive wildlife habitats and important natural landscapes.

Conservation groups, the state of Montana, Kootenai Tribe of Idaho and federal agencies reach historic agreement to help save the Kootenai River white sturgeon

“After nearly six years of litigation, the parties have agreed to a plan that will help save the sturgeon,” said Geoff Hickox, an attorney from the Western Environmental Law Center.

VICTORY! WELC Protects Wildlife, Birds and Habitat on Farms

We are thrilled to report that, in one of the quickest legal resolutions we've seen, WELC won a significant victory protecting habitat for wildlife on farmlands.

Ensuring Survival of the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has failed to designate enough critical habitat to ensure the recovery and survival of the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher.

Protecting the Conservation Reserve Program

Without public participation and without reviewing the impacts of its decision the USDA is altering the wonderfully successful Conservation Reserve Program.

Protecting the Sawtooth National Forest from excessive motorized recreation

The Sawtooth National Forest in Idaho designated a system of motorized recreation routes without including the public in the decisionmaking process, and didn’t properly account for conservation values.

Assisting Rio Arriba County, New Mexico in Implementing Oil & Gas Moratorium

Given the dramatic increase in oil and gas development in Rio Arriba County, the County Commission recently passed this moratorium to ensure that it protects its “prime feature — its land.”

Challenging the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's Failure to Prepare a Recovery Plan for the threatened Canada Lynx

The Fish and Wildlife Service listed the Canada lynx (Lynx Canadensis) as a Threatened species in the lower 48 United States in 2000 and has yet to prepare a Recovery Plan to direct management efforts and ensure the species survival.