Strategic Litigation

Cascadia Wildlands consistently argues as the voice for wild places, wildlife and ecosystem function. Our comments are based on strong science, common sense, and an understanding that our fate is inextricably tied to the health and completeness of our ecosystems, but sometimes politicians, administrators and agencies fail to heed prudent advice. In those situations, Cascadia Wildlands and our various partners look to legal remedies.  We do so solely to keep it wild and we do so strategically.

Examples of Our Current Legal Docket Include:

 

Actions	Grounds	Status
Marbled Murrelet: lawsuit to protect this federally threatened seabird on the Elliott, Clatsop and Tillamook State Forests in western Oregon.	Cascadia Wildlands et al v. Kitzhaber et al alleges the State of Oregon is violating the Endangered Species Act's "take" prohibition of marbled murrelets through its state forest timber practices.	Complaint filed June 1, 2012. Please visit Marbled Murrelet Legal Defense Fund to support these efforts.
Goose Timber Sale: lawsuit to halt older forest logging on the McKenzie Ranger District, Willamette National Forest.	Cascadia Wildlands et al v. US Forest Service challenges riparian reserve logging, impacts to threatened northern spotted owl and more.	Complaint filed May 7, 2012. VICTORY! On March 26, 2013, the District Court of Oregon ruled in our favor.
Oregon Wolf: lawsuit to protect the recovering gray wolf from ongoing lethal control efforts.	Cascadia Wildlands et al v. Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission alleges the State of Oregon is violating the state Endangered Species Act by "taking" listed gray wolves through its lethal control program.	Petition filed October 5, 2011. Stay of wolf execution issued October 6 by Oregon Court of Appeals. Briefed and argued, waiting for a decision.
North Fork Overlook Timber Sale: lawsuit to protect known red tree vole populations on the Salem BLM district.	Cascadia Wildlands et al v. BLM alleges the BLM failed to properly buffer known populations of the red tree vole, a species in danger of extinction in this portion of its range.	Complaint filed on January 11, 2012. VICTORY! On December 21, 2013, the District Court of Oregon ruled in our favor.
Sampson Cove Timber Sale: lawsuit to safeguard older forests within Cascade-Siskiyou Monument expansion lands.	Soda Mountain Wilderness Council et al v. BLM alleges numerous violations of the National Environmental Policy Act and Federal Land Policy and Management Act.	Complaint filed on March 12, 2012. VICTORY! On November 30, 2012, the Magistrate Judge ruled in our favor.
Rickard Creek Timber Sale: lawsuit aimed at protecting the imperllied red tree vole around Corvallis, Oregon.	Cascadia Wildlands et al v. BLM alleges the BLM failed to properly buffer known populations of the red tree vole, a species in danger of extinction in Oregon's North Coast Range	Complaint filed on September 25, 2012.

 

• Judge tells feds to study owls before selling timber April 6, 2013
• The Wedge Group Recipe April 1, 2013
• Federal Court Ruling Puts Brakes on Goose Logging Project March 27, 2013
• Press Release: Sensitive Wildlife Habitat and Drinking Water Supply Protected Above McKenzie March 27, 2013
• Don Peay: the Man Who Would Be King… Baron March 7, 2013
• Wolves Need Protection: DeFazio Asks the Feds to Extend Their Protected Status March 7, 2013
• Congress Members Seek Continued Wolf Protections March 6, 2013
• Press Release: 52 Members of Congress Urge Continued Federal Protections for Wolves in Lower 48 States March 5, 2013
• More than a Mile of Dead Wolves Need Your Attention Now February 15, 2013
• The Little Worm and the Big Lies January 29, 2013
• Identifying and Dealing with the Anti-wolf Forces (PG-13) January 14, 2013
• Press Release: Conservation Groups Challenge Crater Lake-Area Logging January 2, 2013
• Press Release: Anniversary of OR-7's Arrival in California Inspires New Wolf Alliance December 21, 2012
• We Need to Address Wolf Myths and Hatred Head On--Stand with US December 18, 2012
• Small Seabird Stops Logging, Again November 29, 2012
• Murrelet Story on KLCC (NPR) November 27, 2012
• Judge blocks timber sales over sea bird nesting November 27, 2012
• Court Halts Clearcutting in Murrelet Habitat on Oregon State Forests November 27, 2012
• Lawsuit Blocks Elliott Logging November 18, 2012
• Can We Really Afford Cattle as King Any Longer? November 17, 2012
• Lawsuit Chops Down Logging Plans on the Elliott November 16, 2012
• Pacific Northwest Wolf Map November 16, 2012
• Press Release: Oregon Suspends Clearcutting in the Elliott State Forest November 14, 2012
• Blog: Marbled Murrelets—The Sounds of Silence October 15, 2012
• Press Release: Lawsuit Filed to Protect Threatened North Oregon Coast Red Tree Vole September 26, 2012
• Of Wolf Experts and "Wolf Experts" September 18, 2012
• Upper Minam Wolf Pack Documented in Eagle Cap Wilderness August 30, 2012
• Lawsuit Intervenor Opposed: Conservation Groups are Against Oregon Counties Joining Defendants’ Side in a Challenge to Logging Rules August 24, 2012
• Conservation groups ask Obama to keep western population of Northwest's gray wolves on endangered species list August 15, 2012
• Bob Ferris on the Radio in Coos Bay--of Timber, Coal, LNG, and Jobs August 13, 2012
• Let's Talk of Wolves and Cattle but Please Include Elk, Deer, Fish, and Birds Too. July 30, 2012
• The Flying Potato is Famous: Marbled Murrelet Media Madness July 6, 2012
• Press Release: State of Oregon Suspends 10 State Forest Timber Sales in Marbled Murrelet Habitat July 2, 2012
• Pups, Pups and More Pups June 27, 2012
• Cascadia Sues to Protect Seabird June 12, 2012