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An ongoing lawsuit against the City of San Francisco by environmentalist groups over alleged Endangered Species Act violations at when plaintiffs asked a judge to temporarily halt operational activities at the course.
The Wild Equity Institute, Center for Biological Diversity, National Parks Conservation Association, Surfrider Foundation, Sequoia Audubon and Sierra Club filed a motion for a temporary injunction against what the organizations call "illegal" golf cart use, water pumping and mowing at Sharp Park. Environmentalists claim the activities harm populations of red-legged frogs and San Francisco garter snakes, listed as threatened and endangered species respectively.
Such an injunction would realistically prohibit golf on a large part of the course, perhaps even nine of 18 holes.
The motion Friday is just one move made by environmental groups since a handful sued the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department, which manages the course, in early March, 2011.
Since then, environmentalists have against keeping the course open and called for it to be turned over to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area as a public park.
This proposal is supported by San Francisco Supervisor John Avalos, who the Board of Supervisors in early September, citing the need to protect the two species from further harm and casting doubt on the profitability of the golf course.
Golfers have and to save the golf course. They've sought to attack both the allegedly scientific and political reasons and a by the Wild Equity Institute in February.
The injunction called for by plaintiffs would last until the lawsuit is decided (there is no end in sight, currently) or until San Francisco adopts a plan to manage and protect the frogs and snakes at Sharp Park that meets environmentalists' , which would likely include the transformation of a large portion of the course to a reserve or park.
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