Yakima Times

In Central Washington, farmers and ranchers balance species conservation with economic development. However, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) has often been misused to halt development, impacting the region.

The ESA was signed into law in 1973 to “protect critically imperiled species from extinction as a consequence of economic growth and development untampered by adequate concern and conservation.” Since then, it has only recovered or delisted 3% of its listed species. Instead of focusing on its original goal, the ESA has been used by administrations and eco-activists to stop economic development and restrict access to natural resources on federal and private lands.

Abuses of the ESA have led to significant consequences for the region. Farmers and ranchers experienced this with the introduction of gray wolves in Central Washington. Initially considered near extinction, gray wolves are now found across the country. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ignored their rapid population increase for years but is now considering de-listing them, a process that could take years. This delay has left wolves preying on livestock and pets without community response.

Grizzly bears also surpassed their ESA recovery goals years ago but have not been de-listed. Agencies chose to airlift grizzlies into the North Cascades ecosystem despite local opposition, leading to potential predation issues alongside the large gray wolf population.

To address these issues, legislation has been introduced by House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (AR-04) and a co-founder of the Congressional Western Caucus's ESA Working Group. The bill aims to reform the ESA to protect landowner rights, incentivize conservation, and increase transparency in species recovery and de-listing processes.

With recent announcements about gray wolves' delisting, there is hope that concerns are being taken seriously. There is also hope for considering other apex predators like grizzly bears for delisting due to rebounded populations.

The need for reform is underscored by the ESA's 3% success rate in recovering species. Reform is necessary not only for species but also for people affected by land usage restrictions, property value impacts, and costly permitting requirements in Central Washington.