Wildlife advocates are preparing to take legal action against the Trump administration for its failure to protect the Clear Lake hitch, a threatened fish species unique to Northern California’s Clear Lake and its tributaries.The Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental nonprofit organization, has filed a notice of intent to sue the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for not finalizing protections under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for this rare fish species, which has seen a dramatic decline in population over the years.
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norcalpublicmedia.orgbiologicaldiversity.orgThe Clear Lake hitch, known as chi to the Pomo peoples, has faced numerous threats, including severe habitat loss, invasive species, and the effects of climate change leading to drought conditions.Over the past decades, it has lost approximately 85% of its wetlands essential for juvenile rearing and 92% of spawning habitats.
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biologicaldiversity.orgpressdemocrat.comThe situation has become dire, with only a few thousand fish returning to spawn during good years, a stark contrast to the millions that once migrated from Clear Lake into tributaries.
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norcalpublicmedia.orgbiologicaldiversity.orgIn December 2020, the USFWS, under the Trump administration, denied federal protection for the hitch, claiming that the major threats to the species did not significantly affect its overall viability.This conclusion has been met with criticism from conservationists and scientists who argue that it contradicts findings from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and other experts.
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biologicaldiversity.orgpressdemocrat.comJeff Miller, a senior conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, stated that the administration relied on misinformation and climate change denial, ignoring the clearly documented threats facing this native fish.
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biologicaldiversity.orgCalifornia has recognized the Clear Lake hitch as a threatened species since 2014, a status that reflects the ongoing decline of its population due to various environmental pressures.
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norcalpublicmedia.orgThe Center for Biological Diversity has been advocating for federal protections for over a decade, emphasizing the importance of the hitch not only for ecosystem health but also for the cultural heritage of the Pomo tribes, who have depended on this fish for generations.
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norcalpublicmedia.orgpressdemocrat.comThe proposed federal listing was due in January 2025, but that deadline has passed without action, prompting the Center to threaten litigation as a means to compel the USFWS to act.
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pressdemocrat.comMeg Townsend, a freshwater attorney at the Center, expressed frustration at the lack of progress, stating, “Clear Lake hitch are vital to the health of their namesake lake and to the cultural legacy of the Pomo people.” She insisted that only strong protections under the ESA would ensure the survival of this irreplaceable species.
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pressdemocrat.comCommunity and tribal groups have also been active in restoration efforts, working to remove invasive species and improve fish passage in local waterways.However, these grassroots efforts continue to face challenges due to ongoing water management issues and habitat degradation caused by urban development and agricultural practices.
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biologicaldiversity.orgpressdemocrat.comThe plight of the Clear Lake hitch is not unique; it mirrors that of the Clear Lake splittail, a related fish species that was driven to extinction in the 1970s due to similar pressures.
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biologicaldiversity.orgThe Center has highlighted that without immediate federal protections, the hitch could face a similar fate, potentially vanishing from the ecosystem entirely.
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pressdemocrat.comAs the Center for Biological Diversity prepares for possible legal action, the future of the Clear Lake hitch hangs in the balance, underscoring the urgent need for federal intervention to safeguard this endangered species and its critical habitat.
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norcalpublicmedia.orgWith environmental conditions worsening, the time for action is now, as advocates seek to ensure that this native fish continues to thrive in its natural habitat.
