Two rare species found only near Beatty could be caught in the middle of a growing gold mining push in Nevada, as a conservation group takes the federal government to court over concerns about the animals’ water supply and habitat.
The Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, seeking Endangered Species Act protections for the Amargosa toad and Oasis Valley speckled dace, a small fish that lives in the same spring-fed wetlands.
The area is home to several proposed gold mining projects by AngloGold Ashanti, including the North Bullfrog Mine, which is moving toward approval by the Bureau of Land Management. The mine is expected to use 387 million gallons of water each year.
The company is also developing the Arthur Project, where the orebody is estimated to be 10 times the size of North Bullfrog’s.
The conservation group says groundwater use from the projects could reduce water flows or dry up springs along the Amargosa River, threatening the habitat both species rely on to survive.
The group first sought federal protections for the toad and fish in 2024. In 2025, the Fish and Wildlife Service determined that protections may be warranted but has missed the legally required 12-month deadline to make a final decision, according to the organization.
The Amargosa toad lives in more than a dozen locations across Oasis Valley and has olive-colored skin with brown bumps. The Oasis Valley speckled dace grows to just a couple of inches long. Both species are important parts of the upper Amargosa River ecosystem.
Patrick Donnelly, Great Basin director at the Center for Biological Diversity, said the species need federal protections as mining plans advance.
The lawsuit seeks to prompt a decision on whether the animals should receive protection under the Endangered Species Act.