Posted on 07/20/2006 12:57:20 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - A federal judge halted a $320 million irrigation project Thursday for fear it could disturb the habitat of a woodpecker that may or may not be extinct.
The dispute involves the ivory-billed woodpecker. The last confirmed sighting of the bird in North America was in 1944, and scientists had thought the species was extinct until 2004, when a kayaker claimed to have spotted one in the area. But scientists have been unable to confirm the sighting.
Still, U.S. District Judge William R. Wilson said that for purposes of the lawsuit brought by environmental groups, he had to assume the woodpecker exists in the area. And he ruled that federal agencies may have violated the Endangered Species Act by not studying the risks fully.
"When an endangered species is allegedly jeopardized, the balance of hardships and public interest tips in favor of the protected species. Here there is evidence" that the ivory-billed woodpecker may be jeopardized, he said.
The National Wildlife Federation and the Arkansas Wildlife Federation had sued the Army Corps of Engineers, arguing that the project to build a pumping station that would draw water from the White River would kill trees that house the birds and that noise from the station would cause the woodpeckers stress.
The judge said the Corps and the Interior Department must conduct further studies before proceeding.
The Corps began building the Grand Prairie Irrigation Project last year, about 14 miles from where the bird was supposedly spotted. It suspended work in mid-March to keep from exceeding its budget and is scheduled to resume construction in October with the start of a new fiscal year.
About $80 million has been spent so far. The project is scheduled to begin delivering water to farmers in 2010 or 2011.
The kayaker's claim to have seen an ivory-billed woodpecker in the woods near the White River caused a sensation in scientific circles. But more than 100 volunteers and researchers who spent weeks last winter trying to find conclusive evidence of the bird's existence came back empty-handed.
The Corps had conducted a study showing the project would not significantly harm the woodpecker's habitat, but environmental groups said the study was too narrow.
Under the judge's order, the agencies must evaluate any ivory-bill nests and forage sites within 2 1/2 miles of the construction project.
The pumping station would draw 158 billion gallons from the White River per year. Authorities said it is needed because the main aquifer beneath eastern Arkansas's soybean, cotton and rice fields is running out of water and could run out by 2015, causing economic hardship.
A Justice Department lawyer said this year that a one-month delay would cost the Corps as much as $264,000, and a six-month wait $3 million.
A stuffed male ivory billed woodpecker, is shown in this Monday, May 2, 2005 file photo taken in the main lobby at the New York State Museum in Albany, N.Y. The museum is uncertain about the date or place of acquision of this artifact or the female ivory billed woodpecker, which is also on display. Until recently the last sighting of the bird was in 1944. (AP Photo/Jim McKnight)
The judge is a pecker himself.
that would explain the gavel thing. ;-)
Presumably then I can claim to have seen a dodo pretty much anywhere where I want work to stop.
The other shoe finally drops on this story.
I remember reading last year about how hundreds of birders were out looking for this bird, and not finding it. I thought at the time that there would eventually be a ESA case at this location.
Want to make any bets that the kayaker who "saw" this thing opposes the irrigation project?
Is the project called "Morning Wood" by any chance? ;-)
And that field next to my house that is going to be developed into tract housing - I SWEAR I saw a passenger pigeon in it last week.
The judge has exactly as much evidence that Bigfoot is loose in the same area.
You in the area? I'll check local papers to see.
I am curious about the statement that there is no proof whatsoever.
In April, I was channel flipping and found a satellite channel that was airing a lecture about this woodpecker.
The professor had a video clip of this bird flying off the side of a tree and into the woods. He went frame by frame pointing out various features that would distinguish this bird from the pileated woodpecker.
I'm no scientist, but I am an avid bird watcher on my own property, and I was quite intrigued. I could definitely see the differences. Of course, what I don't know whether the video itself is authentic.
I'm sure the enviro set has never claimed they saw something just to inhibit growth.
Stop everything.
Now.
Looks like it would be fairly easy for an amature tomistake a Pileated woodpecker for an Ivory bill. I took this photo of a Pileated in the yard just a few weeks back.
http://www.worldisround.com/articles/54892/photo276.html
OH NOOOOOOO NOT AGAIN;
Planting Evidence? The discovery of a protected herb sparks accusations of sabotage
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1668452/posts
Endangered flowers trigger fight over California housing project (another plant of a "plant"?)
Dang, you beat me by half a minute
"Authorities said it is needed because the main aquifer beneath eastern Arkansas's soybean, cotton and rice fields is running out of water and could run out by 2015, causing economic hardship."
This is an aquifer, not an oil field. Is it really running out of water, or are they over taxing it by allowing too much farming?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.