California Cattlemen’s Association v. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

The federal district court for the District of Columbia ruled that the California Cattlemen’s Association and two other agricultural trade groups lacked standing to challenge the designation of critical habitat for three amphibian species listed under the Endangered Species Act. All three species live in California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range and are threatened by a number of factors, including changes associated with climate change. The district court found that the trade groups had not established that any of their members would suffer an injury traceable to the designation of critical habitat, as opposed to pre-existing requirements. In addition, the groups failed to show that a decision in their favor would redress the alleged injuries.

Center for Biological Diversity and two other organizations moved to intervene in the lawsuit challenging the designation of critical habitat for the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog, the northern distinct population segment of the mountain yellow-legged frog, and the Yosemite toad, all three of which are amphibian species living at high elevations in the Sierra Nevada that are protected under the Endangered Species Act. The organizations noted that all three species were threatened by climate change, among other threats.