article on Bonnevile cutt lawsuit

[doggonefishin]

[url "http://www.sltrib.com/utahpolitics/ci_2576519"]http://www.sltrib.com/utahpolitics/ci_2576519[/url]


This article discusses a lawsuit filed to have the Bonneville cutthroat listed as endangered on the endangered species act. The article states that the Bonnevilles are only found in a couple of " headwater streams and a pair of lakes". This is ridiculous, the bonnies are in a large number of streams and lakes including Strawberry and Bear lake, plus 35% of the historic range. (from 2-2005 range wide status of BCT study)

I am generally pro environmental in policy, but this is why environmentalists and some of their causes struggle with credibility in the West with so many of us. Due to the proactive efforts of the DWR, in re-establishing many Bonneville populations here, I doubt that this suit will get very far, but a finding in favor of them could wreak havoc to many of our sport fisheries here in Utah. Good luck this week on the water, I wish I could join you all.
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[Shrimpboy]

Some say that the Bonnevilles in Bear Lake have evolved into its own "Bear Lake" subspecies and there have even been claims that there has been enough tampering with the genes of the cutts put into Strawberry that there is actually a "Strawberry Cutthroat" now.

I don't know too much about all those details...I just thought that it was interesting.

You think that greenie lawyers drive YOU nuts??? Try going to law school with them!!! I get dirty looks every time I log onto a hunting website in class. The other day I was handed a pamphlet explaining how pets should have the same rights as children!!!
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[doggonefishin]

The danger of those "subspecies" classifications is that if they successfully make that case,and get a single water's population declared endangered, then the usfws sets the rules for the spot and that might mean no more fishing at all in the fishery or removal of all nonnative species in said water or drainage. Imagine, no fishing in Bear Lake (for instance) or perhaps no rainbows allowed in Strawberry....

Like I said, I'm definitely not anti-environmentalist myself, but these extremists make it difficult to get public support for sensible environmental policy with their draconian actions.
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