FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Clean Water Indicator Needs Safety Net of the Endangered Species Act to Prevent its Extinction

Conservationist Groups Act to Secure Protection for the Imperiled Black Hills Dipper

The Black Hills dipper, an aquatic songbird whose presence indicates clean water, remains on the brink of extinction, prompting conservationists to file suit today to overturn a federal decision to deny Endangered Species Act protection to the imperiled songbird.

The Black Hills dipper, an aquatic songbird whose presence indicates clean water, remains on the brink of extinction, prompting conservationists to file suit today to overturn a federal decision to deny Endangered Species Act protection to the imperiled songbird.

“Extinction is forever,” said Jeremy Nichols with Biodiversity Conservation Alliance.  “The Black Hills dipper needs the safety net of the Endangered Species Act to prevent its extinction and protect our clean water.”

The Black Hills dipper, which is genetically distinct from the more widespread American dipper, is an indicator of clean water and has declined significantly over the years.  It once inhabited several permanent streams in the Black Hills.  Today, only Spearfish Creek in the northern Black Hills supports a healthy population of dippers.  Even French Creek and Rapid Creek, which once supported thriving populations of dippers, have not supported breeding populations for years.  In 1996, the dipper was listed as Threatened by the State of South Dakota.

Last January, the federal government rejected a formal request to protect the Black Hills dipper under the Endangered Species Act, a critical safety net for wildlife on the brink of extinction.  Despite scientific findings that the Black Hills dipper is genetically distinct, South Dakota Field Office Director for Fish and Wildlife Service, Pete Gober, claimed that the findings “were not received in time to give them consideration.” 

A review of Fish and Wildlife Service records, however, shows the agency received findings that the Black Hills dipper was genetically distinct in August of 2005—almost five months before rejecting Endangered Species Act protection.

“We have a responsibility to prevent the extinction of the Black Hills dipper,” said Erin Robertson, staff biologist with the Center for Native Ecosystems.  “The Department of the Interior is continuing to ignore scientists and instead is letting politics rule the day.”

The decision to reject Endangered Species Act protection comes as the U.S. Forest Service has weakened clean water protections in the Black Hills National Forest.  The Phase II Amendment, which was approved in the fall of 2005, calls for more road building in sensitive streamside habitats and makes clean water protections voluntary, rather than required.

“The Forest Service has failed the wildlife of the Black Hills National Forest,” said Nichols.  “Now, more than ever, the Black Hills dipper needs Endangered Species Act protection to prevent its extinction.”

Endangered Species Act protection for the dipper would mean that its habitat will be protected and restored, which will improve water quality and watershed health in the Black Hills and rescue the bird from the brink of extinction. 

More information on the Black Hills dipper.

The recent study of dipper genetics.

###