DENVER—An Idaho-based environmental group is suing to overturn a decision reauthorizing livestock grazing on about a quarter million acres on the Pike and San Isabel national forests in south-central Colorado.
The Western Watersheds Project says in a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday that the grazing will further degrade already damaged wildlife habitat, streams and wetlands. The group claims the U.S. Forest Service violated federal law when it concluded there would be no significant impact from allowing the same number of cattle in the same areas.
Forest officials said in the decision announced last year that the management plan was based on the best science and information available. Monitoring will be done to determine if changes are needed.
The area affected stretches from north of Leadville to south of Salida.
