The extinction crisis is happening right now across Nevada. Dozens of taxa of aquatic organisms including fishes, toads, insects, and plants at risk of extinction. Threats are primarily due to groundwater pumping for agriculture, mining, solar and geothermal energy, fracking, and residential sprawl.

The Endangered Species Act provides the best tool to save these organisms, with a 99% success rate at preventing extinction. The Center for Biological Diversity has engaged in a rigorous program of pushing for Endangered Species Act protections for aquatic organisms in Nevada through listing petitions, deadline litigation, and intervention in consultation for listed species.

This presentation will give an update on listing activity for various organisms including the Fish Lake Valley tui chub (Siphateles obesus ssp.), Oasis Valley speckled dace (Rhinichthys nevadensis nevadensis), Wall Canyon sucker (Catostomus murivallis), Amargosa toad (Anaxyrus nelsoni), Dixie Valley toad (Anaxyrus williamsi), Railroad Valley toad (Anaxyrus nevadensis), bleached sandhill skipper (Polites sabuleti sinemaculata), Tecopa bird's beak (Chloropyron tecopense), and Sodaville milkvetch (Astragalus lentiginosus sesquimetralis).