A conservation group has filed a lawsuit against the federal government, alleging a failure to make a timely decision on whether to list a rare Nevada toad and fish as endangered or threatened species. The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Tuesday, asserting violations of the Endangered Species Act after federal wildlife managers reportedly missed the legally required deadline to issue a final decision concerning the Amargosa toad and the Oasis Valley speckled dace. Both species inhabit spring-fed areas along the Amargosa River in Oasis Valley near Beatty, Nye County.
Last year, a review conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had determined there was substantial evidence indicating both the toad and fish might be eligible for federal protection. This review followed petitions filed by the Center for Biological Diversity to safeguard both species under the Endangered Species Act. However, the agency subsequently failed to issue the mandated 12-month finding or a final decision on their protection status within the timeframe required by federal law.
The Amargosa toad is a localized species, found only along a 14-mile stretch of the Amargosa River, with its population estimated at approximately 2,000 individuals. The Oasis Valley speckled dace also relies on these unique spring-fed habitats. These areas, crucial for the survival of both species, are concentrated within the Oasis Valley region of Nye County, Nevada.
The conservation group’s petition highlights a significant threat to these species: extinction due to groundwater pumping from proposed gold mining operations along the Amargosa. The area has drawn the attention of gold mining company AngloGold Ashanti, which has proposed several potential mines in the vicinity.
According to the Center for Biological Diversity, six of the seven proposed gold mining projects in the region are being advanced by British multinational miner AngloGold Ashanti. One of these, identified as the Arthur Gold Deposit, is claimed by AngloGold Ashanti to contain an estimated 16 million ounces of gold resources, a quantity nearly five times Nevada's annual gold production. Another significant project, AngloGold Ashanti’s North Bullfrog Project, is currently navigating the permitting phase. This project, located about nine miles north of the Town of Beatty, would encompass approximately 5,400 acres of public lands and is projected to withdraw up to 2,500 acre-feet of water per year from Oasis Valley. This amount of water could potentially serve around 7,500 homes annually.
The Center for Biological Diversity warns that the combined groundwater drawdown resulting from these various projects could significantly reduce water flows or entirely dry up the vital springs along the Amargosa River that both the Amargosa toad and the Oasis Valley speckled dace depend upon for their survival.
Patrick Donnelly, Great Basin director at the Center for Biological Diversity, stated that the Amargosa toad and Oasis Valley speckled dace are "at the center of a bullseye surrounded by gold mining activity that threatens to push them over the edge to extinction." He emphasized that Endangered Species Act protections are urgently needed before AngloGold’s mines deplete the water sources critical for the species. Donnelly also described the Amargosa River as a "crown jewel of the Mojave Desert," arguing against sacrificing it for gold mining. He called the Amargosa toad and Oasis Valley speckled dace "emblems of Nevada’s remarkable biodiversity," adding that the group will continue its efforts until these species receive the necessary protections.