Center for Biological Diversity v. Haaland

The parties agreed that U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would submit a new finding on the endangerment status of the Barrens darter by June 30, 2025.

In a lawsuit filed in federal district court in the District of Columbia, Center for Biological Diversity challenged the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s determination that the Barrens darter—alleged to be one of the rarest fishes in North America—did not warrant listing as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The complaint alleged that the threats faced by the five remaining populations of the Barrens darter included climate change. CBD said climate change’s contribution to more extreme drought and flooding events exacerbated the effects of other threats such as poor grazing and livestock management practices; nurseries and other agriculture; and urbanization.