EDMONTON — The federal government is facing a lawsuit over its failure to meet legal deadlines to come up with a plan that protects Alberta's endangered native trout.
The lawsuit has been filed in Federal Court by the Alberta Wilderness Association.
The group points out that populations of cutthroat trout in Alberta's southwestern foothills have been declining badly.
Critical habitat for the fish was identified almost two years ago.
The association says Ottawa hasn't acted on that information, despite a six-month deadline enshrined in federal law.
The lawsuit seeks to force the government to issue the needed protection orders.
Recent research suggests that all of southern Alberta's trout are under extreme pressure from industry and from recreational users.