Revised July 27, 2024
WHO WE ARE AND ACTIONS TAKEN TO FULFILL OUR MISSION
The Coalition of Counties, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, is made up of five Counties in Arizona: Apache, Cochise, Gila, Graham and Navajo; and nine Counties in New Mexico: Catron, Chaves, Eddy, Harding, Hidalgo, Lea, Luna, McKinley, Roosevelt, Sierra and Socorro, along with strong support from the timber, livestock, mining, small business, farming, sportsman, trapping and outfitter industries, our representation currently exceeds 700,000 in population.
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Coaltion Board of Directors
Woody Kline, President - Gila Co………………………………………………Kim Chesser - Chaves Co.
Lewis Derrick, Vice President - Eddy Co.……………………………………....Paul David - Graham Co
Dean Jackson, Immediate Past President - Lea Co……………………………...Collette Chandler - Luna Co.
Caren Cowan, Sec./Treas. - New Mexico Livestock Director…………………..Tina Dixon - Roosevelt Co.
Kelly Peterson - Hidalgo Co…………………………………………………….Vickie Marquardt - Otero Co.
Ray Martinez - Socorro Co………………………………………………………Peggy Judd - Coshise Co.
Nelson Davis - Apache Co……………………………………………………….Travid Day - Sierra Co.
Gary Moore - Mckinley Co………………………………………………………Anita Hand - Farming Director
Jason Whiting - Navajo Co……………………………………………………….Tom Klumker - Guide/Outfitter Director
Haydn Forward - Catron Co.
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Endangered Species Act Activities
In January of 2005, we successfully concluded our litigation against the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service over the Designation of Critical Habitat for the Spikedace and Loach Minnow. This resulted in the withdrawal of the designation. This year, we again submitted comments on the redesignation and accompanying environmental assessment and economic impact analysis. In anticipation of another faulty designation, we are preparing to file yet another suit to compel the Service to do the proper analyses.
The same month, we intervened in a lawsuit designed to force the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to declare critical habitat for the Jaguar. We were able to have the court recognize local governments as legitimate participants in these types of decisions. The Coalition, its members and affiliate organizations mounted an effort to gather the most recent scientific information on the Jaguar and its habitat requirements. The recent outcome was the finding by the Service that designation of critical habitat for the Jaguar was unwarranted. We are now awaiting legal action again, as proponents of the designation have indicated they intend to file suit.
We would like to thank Judy Keeler for all of her hard work on this issue, representing the Coalition, as well as the member counties, Soil and Water Conservation Districts in New Mexico, and Natural Resource Conservation Districts in Arizona, by participating on the Jaguar Conservation Team.
In 2005, the Federal Court again rejected our arguments against the wolf reintroduction. The Court dismissed the suit on the basis of failure to show harm to the livestock industry and counties, and to demonstrate ESA violations due to hybridization with domestic and feral dogs. Unfortunately, the reality of these impacts have manifested themselves 10-fold since the decision. The Coalition and local ranchers and industry partners have been actively working with the Service to develop mitigation for wolf impacts on livestock operators, outfitters and guides, and hunters.
In 2010 & 2011 The Coalition entered comments on the listing and critical habitats for the Sonoran Destert Tortise, Spikedace and Loach Minnows, Jaguar, Dunes Lizard, and Lepard Frog.
Member counties have actively participated on the Wolf Management Team in the two states with our respective State Game and Fish Departments. In addition, the Coalition has submitted comments for the update of the Wolf Management Program and the Five Year Review. The Coalition now has representation on the wolf recovery planning team and had representation on the wolf commpensation fund working group.
Following the removal of critical habitat for the Mexican Spotted Owl, due to litigation brought by the New Mexico Cattle Growers and the Coalition, critical habitat was again designated. Environmental groups challenged that, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service made another designation. The Coalition submitted additional comments challenging the sufficiency of the environmental and economic impact analyses. The Coalition Board of Directors, at our August 18, 2006 meeting, decided to join in a suit being brought by the Arizona Cattle Growers, challenging the recent redesignation of critical habitat for the owl.
The Coalition has had representation on the Mexican Spotted Owl Upper Gila Recovery Unit Team.
The Coalition worked to secure the first ever Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for county governments to be active participants in the preparation of the Mexican wolf environmental impact statement for a species recovery plan.