Louisiana Landowners Score Property Rights Win in Dusky Gopher Frog Case
In a victory for property rights, a Louisiana family earlier this month reached a settlement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in which the federal government agreed to drop its efforts to designate "critical habitat" for the dusky gopher frog on their land.
The case began in 2012 when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sought to limit development on more than 1,500 acres of the Louisiana family’s land by designating it as a critical habitat for the dusky gopher frog. The action was taken even though the dusky gopher frog had not been seen in Louisiana for more than 50 years.
In 2016, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that the government’s actions were permissible.Two years later in a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court sent the critical habitat designation for the dusky gopher frog back to the Fifth Circuit for reconsideration.
The Fifth Circuit then sent the case down to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, where the parties entered into settlement discussions.
Now that the Fish and Wildlife Service has settled the case in favor of the Louisiana landowners, the agency is working on a proposed rulemaking to define the Endangered Species Act term "habitat."
Latest from NAHBNow
Nov 10, 2026
Which Stage of Construction Takes the Most Time When Building a Single-Family Home?
According to the latest NAHB/Well Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) survey results, interior finishes (drywall, interior doors, painting, cabinets, countertops, plumbing fixtures, flooring, etc.) take an average of 6.4 weeks to complete, longer than any other major stage of single-family construction.
Advocacy
Nov 09, 2026
NAHB Mourns the Passing of Nicolas “Nick” P. Retsinas
Nicolas “Nick” P. Retsinas, a leader in local and national housing policy and advocacy, passed away last week at the age of 79.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Nov 10, 2026
Consumer Credit Growth Picks Up in the Third Quarter of 2026
Consumer credit growth accelerated in the third quarter of 2026, with both revolving and nonrevolving credit increasing at their fastest quarterly rates since 2022. Total outstanding consumer credit reached $5.22 trillion, continuing an upward trend that has strengthened over the past year.
Economics
Nov 10, 2026
Inflation Persists in October
Inflation remained elevated in October even as energy prices eased, raising expectations of another Fed rate hike. Shelter returned as the largest driver of headline inflation, accounting for over 30% of the monthly increase. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy components, rose by 0.3% for the third consecutive month, suggesting broad-based price pressures across the economy.
Economics
Nov 09, 2026
Residential Building Worker Wage Growth Rebounds, but Real Wages Continue to Decline
Wage growth for residential building workers showed signs of a modest rebound in September 2026 following a sharp slowdown earlier in the year. According to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nominal wage growth picked up from its June pace, although it remained relatively modest.