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Spring Creek Foreign Species Lawsuit
Judgment
Received - 21 February 2006 Read the
complete judgment here. Below is a summary of some of the key points regarding this lawsuit. 1. The mission of Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) is to protect and preserve Oklahoma wildlife. 2. The introduction of trout and other non-native, predator fish species in pristine Ozark mountain streams like Spring Creek allows for competition with native fish for habitat and food and constitutes a risk of loss for the native species. A major cause of biological diversity loss throughout the world is from biological pollutants, e.g., zebra mussels, etc., that were intentionally or unintentionally introduced into the environment. 3. Protection of native species should be given priority over the introduction of non-native sport fish. 4. A recent rule adoption by the ODWC provided for a general listing of
criteria to be used by the ODWC Director in approving or denying a fish
introduction (stocking) permit. However, we believe this criteria does not do
enough to protect native species. We believe there should be outright
prohibitions for the introduction of non-native species into High Quality Waters
like Spring 5. We also believe there should be a public notice and comment period before the approval of any permit allowing the introduction of non-native fish species into any stream or river in Oklahoma. 6. We have two choices or a combination of the two choices to try to prevent further stocking of trout in Spring Creek: a. Start an informational campaign to convince ODWC to deny the trout stocking permit that is presently pending. b. Initiate a declaratory judgment lawsuit asking the Court to find that the regulation that sets the criteria for approving a permit was flawed and subject to invalidation, thereby affecting the entire permitting process. c. Pursue both initiatives at once. In summary, we have decided on Option c. and proceeding are underway. Click here to view the Master Document List. Click here to view a Timeline of events. Click here to view detailed Talking Points Click here to view the Position Statement
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Spring Creek Watershed •
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Membership • Contact Us Spring Creek Coalition & Spring
Creek Conservation Coalition • P.O. Box 217 • Peggs, Oklahoma 74452 • Phone:
(918) 637-1449 |