Center for Biological Diversity moves to sue over Clear Lake hitch protections

The Center for Biological Diversity notified U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that it intends to sue over stalled Endangered Species Act protections for the Clear Lake hitch. The federal agency proposed listing the hitch as threatened back in January 2025 but never finalized the rule. If the agency doesn't act within 60 days, the Center plans to take them to court.

The hitch spawns in tributaries around Clear Lake, including Cole Creek, and has lost 92% of its historical spawning streams. Federal protection would strengthen the case for restoring stream flows and fish passage in the watersheds the hitch depends on.