Environmentalists filed suit against the Fish and Wildlife Service on Tuesday for alleged inaction in the face of threats to a rare desert plant called the Tecopa bird’s beak. Citing the presence or possibility of nearby mines, solar energy farms and geothermal projects, the Center for Biological Diversity called on the federal agency to make a final determination as to whether the plant warrants listing as threatened or endangered. According to the lawsuit, the FWS missed a decision deadline established under the Endangered Species Act. “The Fish and Wildlife Service has delayed long enough,” said Patrick Donnelly, Great Basin director at the CBD. “We’re suing to make sure that these special little plants get the protections they need before it’s too late.” Donnelly added that the wildflower found in parts of Nevada and California are “uniquely vulnerable to extinction” because of their reliance on groundwater that’s also being tapped for farming, energy production, (and) residences.

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• Center for Biological Diversity: News release: Lawsuit seeks protection for rare desert wetland wildflower in Nevada, California