Federal judge dismisses Utah wildfire lawsuit

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by the state of Utah against the U.S. government over the proposed designation of critical habitat for the threatened Colorado River cutthroat trout. Utah argued that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had exceeded its authority in designating critical habitat for the trout, which is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. However, the judge ruled that Utah had not demonstrated that the designation was arbitrary or capricious, and that the Fish and Wildlife Service had followed proper procedures in making the designation. The ruling is a victory for environmental groups, who have argued that protecting critical habitat is essential for the survival of threatened and endangered species.