How Monuments and Public Lands Strengthen Arizona’s Economy

Business coalition, Get Outdoors Arizona (GO AZ), held a roundtable discussion this past Thursday, August 3rd at Grand Canyon Brewery to talk about the proposed — and now designated as of August 8th by President Biden — Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni — Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, Arizona's public lands, and how they both can strengthen our local economies. Attendees included Patrice Horstman, Coconino County Supervisor; Amber Reimondo, Energy Director of the Grand Canyon Trust; Dr. Larry Stevens, River Guide and Director of the Springs Stewardship Institute; Jason Costello, owner of Canyon Coolers; Greg Reiff, River Guide in the Canyoneers; Shawn Frate, owner of Parks Feed and Mercantile.

“The Grand Canyon region is one of the largest drivers in Arizona’s $9.8 Billion outdoor recreation industry” said Michael Cravens, Advocacy and Conservation Director for the Arizona Wildlife Federation. “From rafting companies, to outdoor gear retailers, to gas stations and breweries, Arizona businesses of all types depend on this iconic landscape for their livelihoods.” 

Grand Canyon National Park alone pours $710 million into Arizona’s economy and draws in nearly 4.5 million annual visitors. But what about the public lands surrounding the Grand Canyon? They support our state’s outdoor recreation economy by adding well-paying jobs, strengthening communities, and keeping more money in Arizona. That’s why Arizona business owners have joined the call and are taking action.

The creation of the group, known as Get Outdoors Arizona (GOAZ), was spearheaded by the Arizona Wildlife Federation, which recognized the need for Arizona outdoor business leaders to come together to collectively ask lawmakers to support policies and actions that promote the state’s outdoor assets while protecting some of the state’s most important public landscapes.

For more information and a list of members, visit https://getoutdoorsaz.org/home.

Key Sources of Drinking Water, Flood Protection are Threatened as the Supreme Court Limits Powers of the Clean Water Act

Thousands of acres of wetlands and hundreds of miles of Arizona streams that ultimately provide clean drinking water to most Arizonans could lose critical protections after the Supreme Court decision today in the case, “Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency”.

As part of the ruling, 5 of the 9 Supreme Court justices agreed that the Clean Water Act only protects waters and wetlands with a continuous surface connection to Waters of the United States. With that definition, roughly half the nation’s streams and wetlands and a majority of Arizona’s streams and wetlands could now lose protection. For Arizonans, we must now grapple with the potential loss of protections for many of our wetlands and streams including both ephemeral and intermittent streams that flow after rain and year-round, respectively — as a result of this decision.

Those types of streams account for 79% of the total streams in Arizona that provide drinking water. The Clean Water Act is the reason that our waters cannot have toxic waste and sewage dumped into them. It is the reason that in Arizona, we have productive, healthy waterways, areas safe for fishing and swimming, and increased fish and fish-dependent populations like Arizona river otters. 

“Over the past five decades, the Clean Water Act has revitalized and protected the most vulnerable waters and wetlands of Arizona and across the U.S.,” said Scott Garlid, Arizona Wildlife Federation’s Executive Director. “These waterways act as the kidneys of larger rivers and lakes, filtering water and safeguarding the health and safety of millions of Arizonans. Now state and local agencies must step in to ensure our drinking water supplies, flood protection, and critical habitats are secure for future generations.”

New national monument would permanently protect the region from uranium mining and conserve important fish and wildlife habitat 

Arizona Wildlife Federation, Trout Unlimited, and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

Today, 11 local Tribal Nations hosted a press conference in conjunction with Congressman Grijalva and Senator Sinema to call upon President Biden to establish our nation’s newest national monument, the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument. 

Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument would add long-sought and broadly supported protections for 1.1-million-acres of public land adjacent to Grand Canyon National Park and Kaibab National Forest, including a permanent ban on new uranium mining that would protect the watershed along the Colorado River from contamination. National monuments are a flexible type of designation, with proclamations often written to ensure continued state management of fish and wildlife and to provide for a variety of uses, including habitat improvements. The proposed 1.1-million-acre national monument includes both Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service lands. These agencies would continue to manage this landscape if designated a national monument.  

“Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument is broadly supported by Arizonans across party lines and has long been a priority for sportsmen and sportswomen in the state,” said Nathan Rees, Arizona Field Coordinator for Trout Unlimited. “Given the toxic history of uranium mining in this region, we commend the leadership of the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition to enact the wishes of millions of people hoping to preserve the beauty of this idyllic landscape. We cannot undo the toxic history that's been left in this region, but we can prevent new contamination from destroying its future.” 

After multiple attempts to pass the Grand Canyon Protection Act in Congress, the legislation stalled in the Senate despite strong support from Arizona’s congressional delegation. The national monument proposal would swiftly add permanent protections to the Grand Canyon region, preventing further contamination of water supplies and ensuring quality hunting and fishing opportunities for future generations. 

“This is some of Arizona’s finest wildlife habitat and one of our nation’s most iconic landscapes, so permanent protection from uranium mining while prioritizing outdoor recreation and hunting is the right thing to do,” said Scott Garlid, Executive Director of the Arizona Wildlife Federation. “Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument honors the perspectives of the tribal coalition, allows multiple uses and access, is consistent with management of the adjacent North Kaibab Game Preserve, and ultimately ensures that the area will be enjoyed by future generations.”

More than 500 abandoned uranium mines are scattered across the region, impacting the drinking water of local populations and seeping underground into the Colorado River and other bodies of water found miles away. In fact, a 2010 U.S. Geological Survey study found high-levels of uranium deposits in 15 springs and 5 wells across the region, prompting the 20-year moratorium on mining in the first place. 

Unfortunately, the moratorium has simply stopped new mines from coming online and hasn’t done anything to clean-up the hundreds still endangering the local population, millions of annual visitors, and some of the state’s best areas for trout fishing and big game hunting.  

“Going back to Teddy Roosevelt, this area has been recognized for its world-renowned mule deer herd,” said Terry Herndon, President of the Arizona Mule Deer Organization.  “We’re happy to see a monument designation that matches the existing withdrawal area, maintains the current management of the adjacent North Kaibab Game Preserve, and prioritizes access for wildlife management and the heritage of hunting in the area.” 

This region is also home to an active uranium mining operation, the Pinyon Plain Mine, which is located just miles from the entrance of Grand Canyon National Park. This mine has been allowed to continue operating even after they unexpectedly struck groundwater in 2016, creating the potential for contamination to spread far away from the site through the water table. Local wildlife has also been seen mistakenly identifying the mine’s contaminated retention pond as suitable drinking water and habitat.  

Between the hazards posed to local elk and deer populations – in addition to nearby Lees Ferry, which is home to Arizona’s premiere trout fishing – we once again urge President Biden to establish this national monument and commend the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition for their dedicated leadership on this issue.  

“Hunters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts come from a broad range of backgrounds across the political spectrum,” said Justin Nelson, Chairman of the Arizona Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. “The thing that ties us all together is the conservation of wildlife and wild places. Given the prodigious elk and mule deer hunting across the proposed Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument, codifying the existing mineral withdrawal under this designation is not only good for hunters, it also ensures certainty for the future of this region.” 

“Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument is a responsible approach given the history of uranium mining near the Grand Canyon,” said Alan Davis, President of Arizona Trout Unlimited. “It is unacceptable given the best science available and the known risks to our natural resources, the economy of Northern Arizona, and the communities that depend on Colorado River water that we continue to gamble with the future of Grand Canyon region. As sportsmen and sportswomen, we value multi-use of our public lands and insist on practical and science-based approaches to managing our natural resources.” 

Arizona Wildlife Federation and National Wildlife Federation

New bipartisan legislation in the Senate will dedicate up to $1.4 billion each year to locally-led efforts to prevent extinctions and help wildlife thrive for future generations. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will send roughly $31 million to Arizona each year.

“We are facing a looming wildlife crisis. This commonsense, cost-effective approach will allow us step in quickly to help at risk wildlife with collaborative measures,” said Scott Garlid, Executive Director of the Arizona Wildlife Federation. “This historic bill will create jobs and give the necessary support for at-risk native species like the Apache trout and Sonoran pronghorn.”  

The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act was introduced in the Senate by Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) with Thom Tillis (R-N.C.)

“America’s wildlife are in crisis, with roughly one-third of all species at elevated risk of disappearing from our backyards and the backcountry. The bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act is the solution we need to help people and wildlife alike thrive for future generations,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “This is the most important wildlife conservation legislation in half a century. Congress should pass this bill to secure our shared wildlife heritage before it’s too late.”

The Arizona Game and Fish Department will use the money to implement its existing Wildlife Action Plan, which identifies 531 species at risk in the state. 

Tribal Nations, such as the Havasupai Tribe, Navajo Nation, Tohono O'odham Nation, and many others, would receive up to $98 million annually to fund wildlife conservation efforts on the tens of millions of acres under Tribal management nationwide. 

Let's hold industry to the same standards we hold ourselves

Michael Cravens, AWF Advocacy and Conservation Director

I've been an outdoorsman my whole life. From as soon as I could walk, I was outside playing in the woods, exploring streams and rivers, and finding myself fascinated with all the wonderful wildlife that I encountered. As I grew older and began to fish and hunt, I learned that to truly appreciate and value wildlife is to conserve it. When I harvest a deer or elk, I do so with the intention of utilizing that animal in providing healthy meat for my family. When I bring home a turkey from the woods around my Flagstaff home, I know that I won't simply toss it away because I might not be in the mood to pluck it. The same values apply when I’m on the water. I do not keep every fish I am lucky enough to catch and am very careful that most are returned to the water in a robust and healthy condition. As a hunter and an angler, it is my responsibility to practice conservation and good judgment anytime I’m in the woods or on the water. These are the same values that I'm raising my children with and I hope that these values will guide them through the rest of their lives.

As a western public land hunter, I have often seen the flaring of wellheads all along the horizon in oil-producing states. This routine burning of natural gas is a source of frustration for me because it is so antithetical to the hunting mentality of not wasting a precious resource. Oil and gas companies routinely flare gas to protect equipment or to discard gas when they aren’t able to transport it. The energy industry views this gas as a waste product, but it is in fact a valuable resource that is being carelessly thrown away.

As a hunter, I am held to strict standards of conservation and waste reduction when it comes to the pursuit of game on public lands. So why are we allowing oil and gas companies to waste resources on those same lands? 

Wasting natural gas isn’t just unethical, it is dangerous. Methane leakage and flaring is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions – methane is 85 times more powerful than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. 

Thankfully, the current administration is taking steps to address this issue and stop these harmful practices. The Bureau of Land Management is proposing to update its rules on methane waste and while it is a good start, it needs to be stronger. The agency is proposing to increase the royalties charged for flared gas, but there is no evidence that this will actually reduce flaring. The companies are focused on profits for shareholders and it is often cheaper for them to pay the royalties than to invest in proper equipment and infrastructure to reduce waste.

The Environmental Protection Agency is also proposing stricter protections to limit methane pollution from existing and new facilities. This would include monitoring and repairing of methane leaks and a ban on flaring unless there is no feasible alternative.

We can no longer afford to waste valuable natural resources and contribute to the degradation of our environment. As hunters and anglers, we understand the importance of conservation and the responsible management of our natural resources. It is time for the oil and gas industry to take a cue from our responsible practices and for the current administration to use all of its tools to enact strong methane solutions that will benefit our country for generations to come.