{"id":1548,"date":"2016-09-29T21:05:17","date_gmt":"2016-09-29T21:05:17","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2017-08-07T20:51:49","modified_gmt":"2017-08-07T20:51:49","slug":"protecting-lynx-habitat-rio-grande-national-forest-co","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/westernlaw.org\/es\/protecting-wildlife\/canada-lynx\/protecting-lynx-habitat-rio-grande-national-forest-co\/","title":{"rendered":"Protecci\u00f3n del h\u00e1bitat del lince en el Bosque Nacional R\u00edo Grande"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section bb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;Section&#8221; fullwidth=&#8221;on&#8221; specialty=&#8221;off&#8221;][et_pb_fullwidth_header admin_label=&#8221;Fullwidth Header&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;dark&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;left&#8221; header_fullscreen=&#8221;off&#8221; header_scroll_down=&#8221;off&#8221; background_url=&#8221;https:\/\/westernlaw.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Conejos-Peak-by-JustTooLazy-1280.jpg&#8221; parallax=&#8221;off&#8221; parallax_method=&#8221;off&#8221; content_orientation=&#8221;center&#8221; image_orientation=&#8221;center&#8221; custom_button_one=&#8221;off&#8221; button_one_letter_spacing=&#8221;0&#8243; button_one_use_icon=&#8221;default&#8221; button_one_icon_placement=&#8221;right&#8221; button_one_on_hover=&#8221;on&#8221; button_one_letter_spacing_hover=&#8221;0&#8243; custom_button_two=&#8221;off&#8221; button_two_letter_spacing=&#8221;0&#8243; button_two_use_icon=&#8221;default&#8221; button_two_icon_placement=&#8221;right&#8221; button_two_on_hover=&#8221;on&#8221; button_two_letter_spacing_hover=&#8221;0&#8243; scroll_down_icon=&#8221;%%8%%&#8221; background_overlay_color=&#8221;rgba(0,0,0,0)&#8221; title_font_size=&#8221;50px&#8221; content_font_size=&#8221;18px&#8221; scroll_down_icon_size=&#8221;30px&#8221; custom_css_main_element=&#8221;padding: 100px 0 300px 0;&#8221; \/][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;Section&#8221; fullwidth=&#8221;off&#8221; specialty=&#8221;off&#8221; transparent_background=&#8221;off&#8221; allow_player_pause=&#8221;off&#8221; inner_shadow=&#8221;off&#8221; parallax=&#8221;off&#8221; parallax_method=&#8221;off&#8221; custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; make_fullwidth=&#8221;off&#8221; use_custom_width=&#8221;off&#8221; width_unit=&#8221;on&#8221; make_equal=&#8221;off&#8221; use_custom_gutter=&#8221;off&#8221; custom_padding_phone=&#8221;30px||40px|&#8221;][et_pb_row admin_label=&#8221;Row&#8221; make_fullwidth=&#8221;off&#8221; use_custom_width=&#8221;off&#8221; width_unit=&#8221;on&#8221; use_custom_gutter=&#8221;off&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||0px|&#8221; custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; allow_player_pause=&#8221;off&#8221; parallax=&#8221;off&#8221; parallax_method=&#8221;off&#8221; make_equal=&#8221;off&#8221; parallax_1=&#8221;off&#8221; parallax_method_1=&#8221;off&#8221; parallax_2=&#8221;off&#8221; parallax_method_2=&#8221;off&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Protecting Lynx Habitat in the Rio Grande National Forest (CO)&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;light&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;left&#8221; use_border_color=&#8221;off&#8221; border_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h1>Protecting Lynx Habitat in Colorado&#8217;s\u00a0Rio Grande National Forest<\/h1>\n<p>The U.S. Forest Service has proposed a timber sale on the Conejos Peak Ranger District of the Rio Grande National Forest. Quizzically, the Forest Service will not publicly identify specific areas for logging, locations for road construction, or techniques that will be used before the project is approved.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p4\">To complicate matters, the area is home to some of Colorado\u2019s best lynx habitat and wildlife corridors that allow provide connectivity between habitat for a variety of species. WELC has engaged and will continue to engage in the administrative process related to this timber sale to ensure that these important wildlife areas are preserved and protected, and to ensure that the Forest Service fully discloses exactly what it plans to do where before it makes a final decision on the project.<\/p>\n<p>Interestingly, there is an open scientific question as to whether or not, and how, lynx use forests that have experienced massive forest die off, whether at the hands of spruce beetles, mountain pine beetles, or as a result of wildfire. In the Rio Grande National Forest, wildlife biologist Dr. John Squires is conducting a study to determine how these areas are being used, and the response of these disrupting activities on Canada lynx. The preliminary findings show lynx are using the portions of the project area that have suffered spruce beetle die off for a variety of purposes, and importantly have documented successful lynx breeding in these areas. These findings, while still preliminary, seem to contradict the Forest Service\u2019s stated need to salvage log these areas to allow new lynx habitat to develop.<\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;re engaged administratively to ensure these rare cats don&#8217;t have potentially suitable habitat destroyed by logging under the guise of creating more habitat, and will hold the Forest Service accountable in federal court if it authorizes an irresponsible project.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;Section&#8221; fullwidth=&#8221;off&#8221; specialty=&#8221;off&#8221; transparent_background=&#8221;off&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#f1f3f2&#8243; allow_player_pause=&#8221;off&#8221; inner_shadow=&#8221;off&#8221; parallax=&#8221;off&#8221; parallax_method=&#8221;off&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;30px||30px|&#8221; custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; make_fullwidth=&#8221;off&#8221; use_custom_width=&#8221;off&#8221; width_unit=&#8221;on&#8221; make_equal=&#8221;off&#8221; use_custom_gutter=&#8221;off&#8221; custom_padding_tablet=&#8221;30px||40px|&#8221;][et_pb_row admin_label=&#8221;Row&#8221; make_fullwidth=&#8221;off&#8221; use_custom_width=&#8221;off&#8221; width_unit=&#8221;on&#8221; use_custom_gutter=&#8221;off&#8221; allow_player_pause=&#8221;off&#8221; parallax=&#8221;off&#8221; parallax_method=&#8221;off&#8221; make_equal=&#8221;off&#8221; parallax_1=&#8221;off&#8221; parallax_method_1=&#8221;off&#8221; column_padding_mobile=&#8221;on&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||0px|&#8221; custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; parallax_2=&#8221;off&#8221; parallax_method_2=&#8221;off&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Partners&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;light&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;left&#8221; use_border_color=&#8221;off&#8221; border_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3>Partners<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.defenders.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"logolink\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-13799 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/westernlaw.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Defenders-of-Wildlife-Logo.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"120\" height=\"101\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.wilderness.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"logolink\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-13800 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/westernlaw.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Wilderness-Society-Logo.png\" alt=\"wilderness society logo\" width=\"120\" height=\"92\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.wildearthguardians.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"logolink\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-13683 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/westernlaw.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Wildearth-Guardians-Logo.png\" alt=\"Wildearth Guardians Logo\" width=\"120\" height=\"55\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Related Documents&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;light&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;left&#8221; use_border_color=&#8221;off&#8221; border_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>Related Documents<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"2016.03.31-Conejos Peak Scoping Comments.pdf\" href=\"https:\/\/westernlaw.org\/sites\/default\/files\/2016.03.31-Conejos%20Peak%20Scoping%20Comments.pdf\" type=\"application\/pdf; length=331712\">Conejos Peak Scoping Comments (3.31.16)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_3&#8243;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Staff&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;light&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;left&#8221; use_border_color=&#8221;off&#8221; border_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3>Staff<\/h3>\n<p>John Mellgren: <a href=\"\/about-us\/staff\/#johnmellgren\">Bio<\/a> | <a href=\"\/tag\/john-mellgren\">Docket<\/a><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;Section&#8221; fullwidth=&#8221;off&#8221; specialty=&#8221;off&#8221; transparent_background=&#8221;off&#8221; allow_player_pause=&#8221;off&#8221; inner_shadow=&#8221;off&#8221; parallax=&#8221;off&#8221; parallax_method=&#8221;off&#8221; custom_padding_tablet=&#8221;30px||40px|&#8221; custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; make_fullwidth=&#8221;off&#8221; use_custom_width=&#8221;off&#8221; width_unit=&#8221;on&#8221; make_equal=&#8221;off&#8221; use_custom_gutter=&#8221;off&#8221; disabled_on=&#8221;on|on|on&#8221; disabled=&#8221;on&#8221; collapsed=&#8221;on&#8221;][et_pb_row admin_label=&#8221;Row&#8221; make_fullwidth=&#8221;off&#8221; use_custom_width=&#8221;off&#8221; width_unit=&#8221;on&#8221; use_custom_gutter=&#8221;off&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||0px|&#8221; custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; allow_player_pause=&#8221;off&#8221; parallax=&#8221;off&#8221; parallax_method=&#8221;off&#8221; make_equal=&#8221;off&#8221; parallax_1=&#8221;off&#8221; parallax_method_1=&#8221;off&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Project Updates&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;light&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;left&#8221; use_border_color=&#8221;off&#8221; border_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2>Project Updates<\/h2>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_blog admin_label=&#8221;Latest 5 Posts&#8221; fullwidth=&#8221;on&#8221; posts_number=&#8221;5&#8243; show_thumbnail=&#8221;off&#8221; show_content=&#8221;off&#8221; show_more=&#8221;off&#8221; show_author=&#8221;off&#8221; show_date=&#8221;off&#8221; show_categories=&#8221;off&#8221; show_comments=&#8221;off&#8221; show_pagination=&#8221;on&#8221; offset_number=&#8221;0&#8243; use_overlay=&#8221;off&#8221; background_layout=&#8221;light&#8221; use_dropshadow=&#8221;off&#8221; use_border_color=&#8221;off&#8221; border_color=&#8221;#ffffff&#8221; border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221; include_categories=&#8221;139&#8243; \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;section&#8221; disabled_on=&#8221;on|on|on&#8221; disabled=&#8221;on&#8221; collapsed=&#8221;on&#8221;][et_pb_row admin_label=&#8221;row&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Text&#8221;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"field_documents\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/westernlaw.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017.02.24-KSNM Intervene OR Mtn and Memo_0.pdf\">2017.02.24-KSNM Intervene OR Mtn and Memo.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/westernlaw.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017.02.24-KSNM Intervene Memo.pdf\">2017.02.24-KSNM Intervene Memo.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size: 11.5pt;\">President Clinton designated the Klamath-Siskiyou National Monument in 2000. It is the first and only national monument specifically established to<br \/>\nprotect biological diversity. But ecologists agreed after the designation that many of the most important parts of the region were excluded from the monument&#8217;s boundaries. In 2015, 85 scientists concerned about increasing<br \/>\nthreats to the area signed a letter urging monument expansion in to better<br \/>\nprotect and connect important habitats for the monument\u2019s spectacular variety<br \/>\nof plants and animals \u201cwhose survival in the region,\u201d according the monument\u2019s<br \/>\noriginal proclamation, \u201cdepends upon its continued ecological integrity.\u201d In January 2017, President Obama expanded the monument to include these ecologically important areas.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Soon after, a timber company and the Association of O&amp;C Counties, keen on logging, filed separate lawsuits suggesting an obscure law requires the area be logged and supersedes the Antiquities Act, used to designate and expand the monument. They&#8217;re wrong, and we&#8217;re representing the Soda Mountain Wilderness Council, Klamath-Siskiyou Wild, Oregon Wild, and the Wilderness Society, defending the monument from this industry attack.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><em>(WELC project #484)<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"field_project_thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/westernlaw.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/KSNM-thumb.jpg\" \/><\/div>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;section&#8221; disabled_on=&#8221;on|on|on&#8221; disabled=&#8221;on&#8221; collapsed=&#8221;on&#8221;][et_pb_row admin_label=&#8221;row&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Text&#8221;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"field_documents\">\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/westernlaw.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013.07.23 Coal Train ED_WA Complaint Final.pdf\">2013.07.23 Coal Train ED_WA Complaint Final.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/westernlaw.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/ED.Order on MTD_0.pdf\">ED.Order on MTD.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/westernlaw.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/60 Day Notice Letter.pdf\">60 Day Notice Letter.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/westernlaw.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013.6.4 Complaint_final.pdf\">2013.6.4 Complaint_final.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/westernlaw.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/100_158_CoalDust_FactSht_04_X1A__2_.pdf\">100_158_CoalDust_FactSht_04_X1A__2_.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>WELC and its partners have filed two lawsuits against Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company (BNSF) and several coal companies for violations of the federal Clean Water Act pertaining to the companies\u2019 emission of coal into waterways in several locations across Washington.<\/p>\n<p>These companies use open-top rail cars, which lose huge volumes of coal dust during transportation \u2013 an average of 500 pounds of coal per rail car per train trip. Each train is composed of 120 cars or more, which adds up to 30 tons of lost coal per train. Investigations undertaken by our clients have turned up coal chunks and particles from rail cars in Washington\u2019s waters.<\/p>\n<p>Approximately 90% of BNSF&#8217;s annual coal shipments are from coal mines in the Powder River Basin (PRB) located in Wyoming and Montana. PRB coal breaks apart easily and contains mercury, arsenic, uranium, and hundreds of other toxins harmful to fish and human health. Additionally, PRB coal dust falls onto train tracks, contributing to track destabilization and dangerous train derailments.<\/p>\n<p>On June 5, 2013,\u00a0WELC attorney Andrea Rodgers and partners filed the suit in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington in Seattle, where coal dust has been identified in and along multiple waterways including the Pugent Sound. On July 24, 2013, we filed another lawsuit in\u00a0U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington in Spokane, where coal dust has been identified in and along multiple waterways including the Spokane and Columbia Rivers.<\/p>\n<p>Under the Clean Water Act, anyone discharging pollutants into U.S. waters must first obtain what is known as a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. BNSF does not have such a permit.<\/p>\n<p>Our partners in these lawsuits are the Sierra Club, Puget Soundkeeper, Columbia Riverkeeper, RE Sources for Sustainable Communities, and Friends of the Columbia Gorge. NRDC and Spokane Riverkeeper joined the lawsuit filed in Eastern Washington.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to WELC, the plaintiffs are represented by the Law Offices of Charles M. Tebbutt, P.C. of Eugene, OR; Jessica Yarnall Loarie of the Sierra Club Law Program; and David Pettit and Morgan Wyenn of the Natural Resources Defense Council.<\/p>\n<p>Updates:<\/p>\n<p>1.02.14: A federal judge in Spokane, Washington denies BNSF&#8217;s motion to dismiss our lawsuit aimed at holding them accountable for toxic coal dust that is released from uncovered coal cars polluting Washington&#8217;s waterways in violation of the Clean Water Act.<\/p>\n<p>3.12.14: Victory! A second federal judge &#8211; this one in Seattle, Washington &#8211; denied BNSF&#8217;s motion to dismiss our lawsuit aimed at holding them accountable for toxic coal dust that is released from uncovered coal cars polluting Washington&#8217;s waterways in violation of the Clean Water Act. In January, another federal judge denied BNSF&#8217;s attempt to thrown out a similar lawsuit that we filed in Spokane, Washington.<\/p>\n<p><em>(WELC project #705)<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"field_project_thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/westernlaw.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/coal train_mikemac29_thumb.jpg\" \/><\/div>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;section&#8221; disabled_on=&#8221;on|on|on&#8221; disabled=&#8221;on&#8221; collapsed=&#8221;on&#8221;][et_pb_row admin_label=&#8221;row&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Text&#8221;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"field_documents\"><a href=\"https:\/\/westernlaw.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016.03.31-Conejos Peak Scoping Comments.pdf\">2016.03.31-Conejos Peak Scoping Comments.pdf<\/a><\/div>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">The U.S. Forest Service has proposed a timber sale on the Conejos Peak Ranger District of the Rio Grande National Forest. Quizzically, the Forest Service will not publicly identify specific areas for logging, locations for road construction, or techniques that will be used before the project is approved.<\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p4\">To complicate matters, the area is home to some of Colorado\u2019s best lynx habitat and wildlife corridors that allow provide connectivity between habitat for a variety of species. WELC has engaged and will continue to engage in the administrative process related to this timber sale to ensure that these important wildlife areas are preserved and protected, and to ensure that the Forest Service fully discloses exactly what it plans to do where before it makes a final decision on the project.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\">Interestingly, there is an open scientific question as to whether or not, and how, lynx use forests that have experienced massive forest die off, whether at the hands of spruce beetles, mountain pine beetles, or as a result of wildfire. In the Rio Grande National Forest, wildlife biologist Dr. John Squires is conducting a study to determine how these areas are being used, and the response of these disrupting activities on Canada lynx. The preliminary findings show lynx are using the portions of the project area that have suffered spruce beetle die off for a variety of purposes, and importantly have documented successful lynx breeding in these areas. These findings, while still preliminary, seem to contradict the Forest Service\u2019s stated need to salvage log these areas to allow new lynx habitat to develop.<\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;re engaged administratively to ensure these rare cats don&#8217;t have potentially suitable habitat destroyed by logging under the guise of creating more habitat, and will hold the Forest Service accountable in federal court if it authorizes an irresponsible project.<\/p>\n<div class=\"field_project_thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/westernlaw.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Conejos Peak by JustTooLazy_thumb.jpg\" \/><\/div>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Protecting Lynx Habitat in Colorado&#8217;s\u00a0Rio Grande National Forest The U.S. Forest Service has proposed a timber sale on the Conejos Peak Ranger District of the Rio Grande National Forest. Quizzically, the Forest Service will not publicly identify specific areas for logging, locations for road construction, or techniques that will be used before the project is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":9814,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"<div class=\"field_documents\"><a href=\"https:\/\/westernlaw.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016.03.31-Conejos Peak Scoping Comments.pdf\">2016.03.31-Conejos Peak Scoping Comments.pdf<\/a><\/div><p class=\"p1\"><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">The U.S. Forest Service has proposed a timber sale on the Conejos Peak Ranger District of the Rio Grande National Forest. Quizzically, the Forest Service will not publicly identify specific areas for logging, locations for road construction, or techniques that will be used before the project is approved.<\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman';\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p class=\"p4\">To complicate matters, the area is home to some of Colorado\u2019s best lynx habitat and wildlife corridors that allow provide connectivity between habitat for a variety of species. WELC has engaged and will continue to engage in the administrative process related to this timber sale to ensure that these important wildlife areas are preserved and protected, and to ensure that the Forest Service fully discloses exactly what it plans to do where before it makes a final decision on the project.<\/p><p class=\"p3\">Interestingly, there is an open scientific question as to whether or not, and how, lynx use forests that have experienced massive forest die off, whether at the hands of spruce beetles, mountain pine beetles, or as a result of wildfire. In the Rio Grande National Forest, wildlife biologist Dr. John Squires is conducting a study to determine how these areas are being used, and the response of these disrupting activities on Canada lynx. The preliminary findings show lynx are using the portions of the project area that have suffered spruce beetle die off for a variety of purposes, and importantly have documented successful lynx breeding in these areas. These findings, while still preliminary, seem to contradict the Forest Service\u2019s stated need to salvage log these areas to allow new lynx habitat to develop.<\/p><p>We're engaged administratively to ensure these rare cats don't have potentially suitable habitat destroyed by logging under the guise of creating more habitat, and will hold the Forest Service accountable in federal court if it authorizes an irresponsible project.<\/p><div class=\"field_project_thumbnail\"><img src=\"https:\/\/westernlaw.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Conejos Peak by JustTooLazy_thumb.jpg\" \/><\/div>","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[254],"tags":[294,276,265],"class_list":["post-1548","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","category-wildlife","tag-canada-lynx","tag-john-mellgren","tag-new-mexico"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Protecting Lynx Habitat in the Rio Grande National Forest - Western Environmental Law Center<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/westernlaw.org\/es\/protecting-wildlife\/canada-lynx\/protecting-lynx-habitat-rio-grande-national-forest-co\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"es_MX\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Protecting Lynx Habitat in the Rio Grande National Forest - Western Environmental Law Center\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Protecting Lynx Habitat in Colorado&#039;s\u00a0Rio Grande National Forest The U.S. Forest Service has proposed a timber sale on the Conejos Peak Ranger District of the Rio Grande National Forest. 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