WE WORK WONDERS for NATURAL WONDERS
When an environmental plight calls for lean and hard-hitting legal muscle, conservation groups, Native American Tribes, and concerned citizens call on us. Advocates for the West boosts the strength of our partners by providing free legal representation in federal court—advancing the mission of every client by putting the power of law and science on the side of the West.
Since our founding in 2003, Advocates for the West has provided free legal support to our partners with an 85% record of success.
Smart and efficient, our attorneys work with partners to develop strategic cases aimed at enforcing the nation’s bedrock environmental laws. We handle an extensive caseload with an impressive win record.
We work wonders to perpetuate natural wonders. We win for the West.
Stibnite Mine Pollutant Discharge Permit
Case: Idaho Conservation League, Idaho Rivers United, Save the South Fork Salmon, and Earthworks v. Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
February 27, 2026 — Representing Idaho Conservation League, Idaho Rivers United, Earthworks, and Save the South Fork Salmon, Advocates for the West along with co-counsel at the Western Environmental Law Center filed a petition for review with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) challenging a permit the agency issued early this year to Perpetua…
Sage-Grouse Land Use Plans
Case: Center for Biological Diversity, Gallatin Wildlife Association, Great Old Broads for Wilderness, Rocky Mountain Wild, Sierra Club, Western Watersheds Project, and WildEarth Guardians vs. Bureau of Land Management
March 2, 2026 — Advocates for the West and our conservation partners sued the Bureau of Land Management to challenge its final plans governing greater sage-grouse management across 71 million acres of federal public lands in nine Western states. The lawsuit covers the dwindling species’ habitat in Montana, Idaho, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nevada,…
Northern Corridor Highway Followup
Case: Conserve Southwest Utah, Conservation Lands Foundation, Center for Biological Diversity, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, The Wilderness Society, WildEarth Guardians vs. U.S. Department of the Interior, et al.
March 1, 2026 — The U.S. District Court granted a motion by Advocates for the West and our partners to block ground-disturbing activities associated with construction of the Northern Corridor Highway through the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area near St. George, Utah. The Court’s injunction prohibits the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) from starting construction-related activities that…
Public Lands Sale FOIA Violations
Case: The Wilderness Society v. U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
January 6, 2026 — Representing The Wilderness Society, Advocates for the West filed a federal lawsuit seeking to compel the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to release records related to a joint federal initiative targeting the sale of public lands…
Coolin Wetlands Clean Water Act Violations
Case: N/A
December 23, 2025 — Representing Idaho Conservation League, Advocates for the West sent a 60-day Notice of Intent to Sue over Clean Water Act (CWA) violations to Tricore Investments, LLC and company associates for unlawfully excavating a channel in the Coolin Wetlands on the south shore of Priest Lake in northern Idaho. The notice letter stems…
Trestle Creek Commercial Marina and Luxury Housing
Case: Center for Biological Diversity and Idaho Conservation League v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
December 23, 2025 — In response to our litigation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ordered the Idaho Club to stop construction on a commercial marina and lakeside housing development at the mouth of Trestle Creek on Lake Pend Oreille. The Corps’ permit authorized marina construction only after completion of the planned reroute of Trestle…
Chuckwalla National Monument Defense
Case: Daniel Torongo and BlueRibbon Coalition, Inc. v. Douglas Burgum; Bureau of Land Management; and the United States Department of the Interior
March 3, 2026 — A district court judge approved nine organizations’ request to intervene in a lawsuit to defend California’s Chuckwalla National Monument. The intervening organizations include CactusToCloud Institute, California Native Plant Society, CalWild, Center for Biological Diversity, Conservation Lands Foundation, the National Parks Conservation Association, Sierra Club, Vet Voice Foundation, and The Wilderness Society….
CuMo Mine Exploration Followup
Case: Idaho Conservation League and Golden Eagle Audubon Society v. U.S. Forest Service
February 20, 2026 — Advocates for the West filed our motion for summary judgment, opening brief in support of our motion for summary judgment, statement of facts, and accompanying declarations in this case. June 25, 2025 – Advocates for the West and Idaho conservation groups filed suit against the U.S. Forest Service for its approval of a…
NEXT Refinery Clean Water Act Section 401 Certification
Case: Columbia Riverkeeper, Northwest Environmental Defense Center, Wendy Schmidt, and Haley Voekel vs. Oregon Department of Water Quality
January 6, 2025 — Advocates for the West presented oral argument in defense of our challenge. November 7, 2025 — Advocates for the West filed our reply brief in this case. August 22, 2025 — Advocates for the West filed our motion for summary judgment in this case. May 22, 2025 — Advocates for the…
Point Reyes Settlement Legal Attacks
Case: Nicolette Hahn Niman, William Niman, David Evans, and Claire Herminjard v. United States Deparment of the Interior, et al.
January 23, 2026 — Following a hearing at which Advocates for the West Staff Attorney Lizzy Potter and attorneys representing federal defendants and The Nature Conservancy argued for dismissal, a federal judge dismissed a complaint filed by filed by Marin attorney Andrew Giacomini. The lawsuit erroneously alleged that the Park Service conspired with The Nature…
