Conservation group sues U.S. wildlife agency over Nevada toad, fish listing deadlines

LAS VEGAS — The Center for Biological Diversity sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) on Oct 27, alleging the agency missed legal deadlines to decide whether to protect a Nevada toad and fish the group says gold mining threatens.¹

The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, Tucson Division, alleges FWS failed to issue 12-month findings on petitions to list the Amargosa toad and the Oasis Valley speckled dace under the Endangered Species Act.¹

According to the complaint, the findings were due by May 29, 2025, for the toad and July 2, 2025, for the dace.¹ The suit also names FWS Director Brian Nesvik and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum in their official capacities.¹

The group asks the court to declare that the defendants violated the act and to order them to publish the findings by a date certain.¹

The complaint says both species are native only to Southern Nevada and live in small spring-fed waters.¹ It says the toad population possibly does not exceed about 2,000 individuals and that the toad is threatened by seven gold mining projects.¹

According to the complaint, dewatering and groundwater pumping for gold mines could reduce spring flows the species depend on.¹ The group's press release named AngloGold Ashanti as the company with several potential mines under development near Beatty, Nevada.²

"The Amargosa toad and Oasis Valley speckled dace are at the center of a bullseye surrounded by gold mining activity that threatens to push them over the edge to extinction," Patrick Donnelly, Great Basin director at the Center for Biological Diversity, said.²

The group petitioned FWS to list the toad on May 29, 2024, and the dace on July 2, 2024.¹ On Jan 21, 2025, FWS found that listing both species may be warranted, according to the complaint.¹ The group said it sent a notice letter to FWS dated Jan 20, 2026.¹