A Grand Idea for a Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National ... · The National Park Service

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Explore, enjoy, and protect the planet

http://sierraclub.org/arizona Grand Canyon Chapter Spring 2016

A Grand Idea for a Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National MonumentBy Sandy Bahr

See Monument continued on p. 13.

Arizonans are lucky to have public lands – national parks, national for-ests, Bureau of Land Management

(BLM) lands, national wildlife refuges – to explore, enjoy, and protect. Exploring and enjoying is the easy part, however. Protecting is much more of a challenge, but it’s worth it.

Time after time, Arizonans have spo-ken up to protect public lands, including to support national monuments, yet Ari-zona’s elected officials have not always been on board. Some elected officials have even sought to obtain control of and privatize public lands and have opposed new protec-tions, such as national monument designa-tions.

National monuments are generally es-tablished by presidents using the Antiqui-ties Act, although Congress can also estab-lish them. In Arizona, nine presidents have established 22 national monuments. Three of those monuments became national parks – Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, and Sa-guaro. A fourth was transferred to the City of Phoenix and became Papago Park. Today, we have 18 national monuments. It is time for number 19.

The proposed Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National Monument would pro-tect 1.7 million acres of public lands north and south of Grand Canyon National Park, including portions of the Kaibab National Forest and BLM lands in House Rock Val-

ley and the Kanab Creek drainage. The foot-print includes key wildlife corridors and old-growth ponderosa pine forests that national monument status would help to protect.

A monument designation would also protect these lands from future uranium mining. Currently, future mining is limited by a mineral withdrawal, but that withdraw-al is temporary and is being challenged le-gally by mining interests. It is critical that we protect these lands – Grand Canyon’s wa-tershed – permanently from toxic uranium mining.

Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake, as well as Congressman Paul Gosar, are op-posed to protecting these lands as a national monument. They say Arizona has too many national monuments and even that we have too much public land. Arizonans disagree. In a recent poll, 86% of likely Arizona voters said they support a plan for a Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National Monument. That support cut across party lines and was strong in urban and rural areas alike.

There is also support for the proposed national monument from four tribal na-tions. The Navajo Nation and the Hopi, Havasupai, and Hualapai tribes have joined forces to back a bill sponsored by Congress-man Raúl Grijalva that would protect this area as a national monument. Although the

A diversity of areas included in the proposed Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National Monument. Photos © Kristen M. Caldon.

2 SierraClub GrandCanyonChapter

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Canyon EchoSpring 2016 Vol. 52 No. 2

Canyon Echo © 2016. Canyon Echo (ISSN 0164-7024) is published quarterly for Sierra Club mem-bers by Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter, 514 W. Roosevelt St., Phoenix, AZ 85003. Phone: 602-253-8633. Printed at Valley Newspapers.

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EDITOR: Tiffany Sprague602-253-9140, [email protected]

DEDICATED VOLUNTEERSOutings Editor/Mailing Organizer: Jerry Nelson

602-279-4668, [email protected]

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Publications Chair: Keith Bagwell520-623-0269, [email protected]

Publications Committee: Jon Findley, Kurt Florman, Chris Gehlker, Tyler Kokjohn, Jerry Nelson, Meg Weesner

Webmaster:John Sheffield [email protected]

SUBSCRIPTIONS: Annual dues to Sierra Club are $39 (including $1 for Canyon Echo). Subscription rate for non-members is $10. Send check payable to Sierra Club - Canyon Echo, 514 W. Roosevelt St., Phoenix, AZ 85003.

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SUBMISSIONS: Send electronic or hard copies to the editor (include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of hard copies). Indicate copyright or Creative Commons preference. We are not responsible for lost or damaged items. Writer’s guidelines can be obtained by contacting the editor. All rights to publication of articles in this issue are reserved. The deadline is the first day of the month preceding the issue. Opinions expressed in Canyon Echo are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the official views or policies of Sierra Club.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes and postage due to Sierra Club Member Services, c/o Canyon Echo, P.O. Box 421041, Palm Coast, FL 32142-6417. Periodi-cals postage paid at Phoenix, AZ.

Arizona Chapter Action DirectoryChapter Director Sandy Bahr 602-253-8633 [email protected] Chapter CoordinatorTiffany Sprague 602-253-9140 [email protected] Canyon Conservation Program CoordinatorAlicyn Gitlin 928-774-6514 [email protected] Conservation Program Coordinator and Coal to Clean EnergyDan Millis 520-620-6401 [email protected] Water Sentinels Program CoordinatorJennifer Martin 602-254-8362 [email protected]

(xc) 2016 Chapter Executive Committee (ExCom) members

2016 Group Voting Representatives to Chapter Ex-Com (see pp. 12–13 for contact information):Palo Verde: Blair McLaughlin Rincon: Meg Weesner Yavapai: Tom SlabackSaguaro: Harry Lumley Sedona/Verde Valley: Brian Myers

CHAPTER OFFICES & COMMITTEE CHAIRSChairperson: Ken Langton (xc) 520-749-3829 [email protected]: Keith Bagwell (xc) 520-623-0269 [email protected]: Elna Otter (xc) 520-212-9736 [email protected]: David McCaleb (xc) 602-840-7655 [email protected]: John Beshears 602-502-3990 [email protected]: Don Steuter (xc) 602-956-5057 [email protected]: Kathy Mohr-Almeida (xc) 480-329-8503 [email protected]: Bev Full (xc) 480-221-2554 [email protected]: Dale Volz 480-892-5102 [email protected]: Jim Vaaler (xc) 602-553-8208 [email protected]: Kathy Ann Walsh (xc) 480-502-5658 [email protected]

Chapter AnnouncementsAPR 2–3 (SAT–SUN) Chapter Conservation (SAT) and Executive Committee (SUN) meetings. Club leaders meet to consider matters related to statewide conservation efforts, share experiences across groups, and coordinate strategy to align our Chapter mission and goals with that of national Sierra Club. For more information, contact Don Steuter at 602-956-5057 or [email protected] or Elna Otter at 520-212-9736 or [email protected]. Meetings will be located in Tucson.

APR 13, JUN 8 (WED) 6:30 p.m. Wildlife Activist Group meeting. Are you interested in learning more about the wildlife that calls our state home and in working for species’ protection? Join us to learn more about what’s happening with Arizona’s wildlife, upcoming projects and opportunities, and how you can get involved. For more information, contact Sandy Bahr at 602-253-8633 or [email protected].

APR 18, MAY 16, JUN 20 (MON) 6:30 p.m. Political Committee meetings. Help us elect more environmentally-friendly candidates! If you are interested in helping improve the political climate in Arizona, consider being part of our Political Committee! All Sierra Club members are welcome to participate. For information, contact Dale Volz at 480-892-5102 or [email protected].

APR 26, MAY 24, JUN 28 (TUE) 6:30 p.m. Energy Team meetings. Discussions, programs, and field trips encompass renewable energy and energy efficiency campaigns nationally and locally. Everyone is invited to participate, no matter how much or how little you know about energy issues. For more information or to be added to our list, please contact Sandy Bahr at 602-253-8633 or [email protected].

MAY 4 (WED) 5:30 p.m. Publications Committee meeting. Have an idea? Help plan future issues of Canyon Echo! Contact Keith Bagwell at 520-623-0269 or [email protected] or Tiffany Sprague at 602-253-9140 or [email protected].

JUN 1 (WED) Copy deadline for Summer 2016 Canyon Echo. Articles, art, photographs, poetry, essays, and brief epiphanies are welcome. Contact the editor before submitting at 602-253-9140 or [email protected] to discuss word count, photos to include, licensing, issue topics, and to request submission guidelines.

JUN 29 (WED) 1–5 p.m. (stop by anytime) Canyon Echo Mailing Party. Volunteers save the Chapter hundreds of dollars by preparing Canyon Echo for mailing. Thank you! The job is easy to learn, and we all have a great time. Any amount of time that you’re available is appreciated. Contact Jerry Nelson at 602-279-4668 or [email protected] for details.

Tucson

Prescott

Flagstaff

PALO VERDE

YAVAPAI

SEDONA/ VERDE VALLEY

Phoenix

PLATEAUCONSERVATION

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Spring2016 CanyonEcho 3


Grand Canyon Chapter – What’s Going On?

Palo Verde: Blair McLaughlin Rincon: Meg Weesner Yavapai: Tom SlabackSaguaro: Harry Lumley Sedona/Verde Valley: Brian Myers

2 Chapter Announcements

5 Thank You!

6 Environmental Day at the Capitol

7 SunZia Approved by ACC

8 Artists and National Parks

9 Chiricahua National Park Campaign

10 NPS Employee Interview

11 Ghost Trip Report

12 Group Happenings

13 Buffelgrass at Saguaro

14 Hikes and Outings

16 Service Outings

SignUpfortheElectronicNewsletter!

Help save resources and money by signing up for the electronic newsletter! Send an email with your full name and membership ID (8-digit number on your mailing label) to [email protected]. You will then receive an email when issues are available online.

The annual election for Sierra Club’s Board of Directors is now underway. Those eligible to vote in the national Sierra Club election should have received in the mail (or by internet if you chose the electronic deliv-ery option) your national Sierra Club ballot in early March. This includes information on the candidates and where you can find additional information on the Club’s web-site. Your participation is critical for a strong Sierra Club.

Sierra Club is a democratically-struc-tured organization at all levels. The Club requires the regular flow of views on policy and priorities from its grassroots member-ship in order to function well. Yearly par-ticipation in elections at all Club levels is a major membership obligation.

In a typical year, less than 10% of eli-gible members vote in the board elections. A minimum of 5% is required for the elec-tions to be valid. Our grassroots structure is

National Sierra Club Elections are Underway – VOTE!A democratic Sierra Club demands grassroots participation

strengthened when our participation is high. Therefore, your participation is needed in the voting process.

How can I learn about the candi-dates? Members frequently state that they don’t know the candidates and find it diffi-cult to vote without learning more.

All candidates provide a statement about themselves and their views on the issues on the official elec-tion ballot. You can learn more by asking questions of your group and chap-ter leadership and other experienced members you know. You can also visit the Club’s election website for additional information about candidates: http://www.sierraclub.org/board/election. Then make your choice and cast your vote!

Voting online is quick andeasy! Even if you receive your elec-tion materials in the mail, we en-courage you to use the user-friendly internet voting site to save time and postage. If sending via ground mail, please note your ballots must be re-ceived by no later than Election Day, April 27, 2016.



Brian MyersEnvironmental Activist

Cast of Characters

Brian took a circuitous route from summer camp in New Jersey in the ’60s to environmental activism in Arizona today. “An incredible camp counselor instilled in me a love and respect for nature,” he says. “It was the beginning of my environmental awareness.” Brian became the Nature Counselor for two sum-mer camps. Degrees in biology and geology later cemented his lifelong fascination with the complexities of our natural world.

After college, Brian traveled to Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, worked as a ranch hand, and discovered the vast splendor of the American West. From there, he ventured east again to southern Ohio to help manage an organic farm and to develop an expertise in green building.

On the move again, Brian dropped southward to Kentucky, restoring – and sometimes moving – 200-year-old log homes for historic societies. Using green materials, he rebuilt them to be as energy efficient as possible. His efforts were recognized by More-head University, which produced a documentary of his work. His work was also featured in Country Living Magazine.

He attended Mother Earth News passive solar workshops in South Carolina and moved to Arizona by way of New Mexico. It was the abundant sunshine that landed Brian in Scottsdale, where he established a company that developed a solar residential component along with a private/public partnership with the City of Scottsdale, NASA, Minolta, and Arizona State University to build a Space/Science Center that would focus on education with a tourist twist. The education focus was to be on our planet’s environment, much inspired by astronauts’ so-called “Overview Effect,” the global vision that sees the earth in its entirety, no borders or countries, just a singular, delicate blue marble glowing on a field of dark space. “Most people even forget we live on a planet,” he says. His goal was to raise awareness of Earth’s uniqueness and the human impact on it. Unfortunately, traditional developers fought against the project and it was shelved.

Brian also developed an interest in Native American cultures, particularly among the Pima/Maricopa and Yavapai na-tions. He studied Hopi, Navajo, Taos, and Yaqui lore, eventually moving to Sedona, a storied place among many Native American peoples.

In 2007, Brian approached Sierra Club to ask for help to defeat a huge development planned for the banks of Oak Creek. The sewage treatment facility’s drain fields were placed dangerously close to the creek. Wells would permeate the rock layer that protects aquifers that provide drinking water for the entire community, a potential disaster in the making. “I learned a lot from that experience,” he says. “You can affect change, but it takes time and work!”

Today, Brian serves as chair of Sierra Club’s Sedona/Verde Valley Group. He is working with others in the community to establish a national monument for the forests that surround Sedona. Brian says, “We need to protect public lands; Ameri-cans take them for granted, thinking they will always be there, but the political climate in Arizona could sweep that all away overnight.”

Brian Myers. Photo courtesy of Brian Myers.

500 Words or Less

“Perhaps some day our descendants will witness the existence of a smarter race of Homo

sapiens sapiens who, unrelenting in their decisive quest to awaken the numinous mind,

have come to know the source of their own consciousness.” –Alondra Yvette Oubré

No fable this time. Poetry instead, To tie heart and head In simplest rhyme.

Homo sapiens sapiens. Not finished evolving yet. Still stretching ourselves to get Perceived oneness through the eons,

Helped by Moon’s song From her other side, And Ajo lily cried Dews from along

Mistletoe cologned paths Through my dear desert park Where green palo verde tree bark Transcends as aromatic baths

In which I swim transfixed By the numen of place Noetic sacred space Gift of flesh and soul mixed.

–Ann McDermott

Ajo lily. Photo by Debbie Ballentine.



Thank You to Our Donors!

NOTE: This list includes donations from Dec. 10, 2015, to Mar. 15, 2016.

Thank you to our monthly donors!

Michael BaldwinP. BaynhamSteven BlackwellLynne BlairTom BrysaczLinda CrouseRoxane GeorgeAnntoinette & John Gurvin

Leonor J. MillerDan MillisMark MulliganKathryn J. & David SchwarzJohn SeamonAlice & Karl StambaughDustin Wolkis

The Morning Stars Sing Together (500+)L. & B. DandurandKenneth P. LangtonDavid McCalebJerry NelsonRobert W. SandersonElizabeth J. StewartWilliam ThorntonJ. Grossman & H. MechanicJanet Witzeman

Make the Mountains Glad ($100–499)Keith BagwellSandy Bahr & David KommPaul BarbyJohn & Heather BeshearsDavid M. BixbyDoug BlandZach BrooksPeter & Barbara BurkholderJan BushLoring CannonJean CarrRoger & Barbara CarterEric CoonsGerald D. CoxYvette DavidBarbara & Don DeMuthDavid DuffeeRobert & Margery EllisRoy & Frances EmrickOtto & Gallina FranzCraig FriesnerEd GogekMr. & Mrs. Thomas HagerFred HaggersonPatrice HorstmanBarbara KellyJacqueline KernPeter KohlMr. & Mrs. William J KusnerMike & Ann LinnettB. R. LoewensteinGeorge LoganPeter B. MagnusonBlair McLaughlinLynn DeMuth & Eugene MertzHarry MitchellTimothy MurphyJanice E. MyersSateesh J. NabarJames NafzigerWayne NelsonDonald Louis PiersonLinda & J. Michael PowersR. Cynthia PruettMichael QuinlanRuth Rettig & David DubeBrit RossoJeffrey SchlegelIvy SchwartzDavid Shane

Linda SheltonChris SmithMichael & Michele Sotak Jerry & Leann StimsonRoz SwitzerStephen & Susan ThompsonBruce J. VillereDale & Christine VolzDuffie WestheimerLinda WhiteheadRobert WistBeth Woodin

Keep Close to Nature’s Heart ($50–99)Joseph ActonRobert BatesShawn Bates & Dale ClarkErnst BauerSusanna BeattyM. Bernardi & S. FinucaneT. & R. BerringerDiane BrownDon BrushRobert BulechekRose CassidyM. Charron & R. LuceJon ChristopherMr. & Mrs. Rudy DankwortR. A. Dittberner & Deni HarrisJohn DotyRay EcklundCheryl & John FieneDaniel L. FischerEkkehard & Anneliese FischerJoe FlynnDale FordEmanuel FurstJean GoetinckC. J. Gorman & P. W. HedrickMichael HamantArne & Ruthanne HassingGary & Yvonne HuckleberryVirginia A. HudsonMargaret HuntingtonJenny JahrausJ. Kay Johnson & W. TowlerRichard JonesAviva KaminTyler KokjohnJulia LawsonJoanne Lewis

Michelle LundP. LundMary MarquardtJohn & Catherine MatthewsRobert MccormickDavid McdonaldSharon McDonough-MeansMarc W. MorelJeanette NadeauCatherine PurdyPeggy RambikurRobert & Reiko ReavisJim RutherfordJames M. SheaMr. & Mrs. Thomas L ShermanJames T. SkardonMichael SorumTim StorerDale Turner & Julia FonsecaPatricia TurpinMelinda Weisser-LeeAlexander WhiteMr. & Mrs. S. J. WilliamsonDale & Gloria Ziesemer

Hitched to Everything Else in the Universe ($1–49)Joyce AbbottPhyllis Smith & Anna ArnoldWilliam AzevedoDeron BealJohn BeilmannAl BellaviaKathleen & Meagan A. BethelJean BickelChristine BondurantTamra BowmanWilliam BriedJoan S. BriggsJoseph BushemeL. ButlerLisa & Tom CambronElaine M. CarlsonZenaida CarrMiranda ChathamAnamarie ChervenickLisa ChristopherRonald CohenE. H. Conway-FischerJohn CrawfordWilliam CrutchfieldGerald Daniels

Andre DargisRobert DelcarloBarbara DillRobert DonahueKen DwyerAshraf & Maria G. EbrahimCarol EisenNancy FahringerDeborah & Steve FranksJake FreemanSid & Ken FreemanJuan Gallardo & Pamela BurrisCheryl GarniceMichael & Sue GeorgeSteve GleasonKim GoldsteinJohn GormanKim & Sandi GravesMark Hayduke GrenardElizabeth GricusGloria GuilloryGary HancockJoyce HardinMr. & Mrs. Steve HertzfeldSteve HibbelerMr. & Mrs. Sidney M HirshDavid HoernerBarbara HucekGary HultmanPamela W. HydeCarl JacobsRuth E. JagolinzerFrank JentsMaren KentfieldJules KetchamMarcia KettererBernard W. KobesCarl KueltzoDaniel LanghorstJose LopezJoann LuceroAnnette Star LustgartenJohn & Linda LynnLynn MacDonald

Patricia MastorisGary McCormickBarbara MckenzieDavid MckenzieJohn K. MeinertDotty MeyerMelanie MillerSonya & Philip MillerMargery MitchellCarleton MooreCecilia MorganCarroll MunzAnne OwensLori L. PearlmutterGregory K. PennistonBruce PlenkDavid Leslie PolandMichelle Prins & Joan KoneckiJean RamsayBob ReavisHarriet RedwineMargaret Regan & Kevin GosnerSandra ReiffEmily RennJoan A. RichardsCynthia RileyMcDonald RobinsonEmily SamaniegoJoan SchneiderFred ShaftNancy SieferJanet & Thomas SlivaHarry StacyMr. & Mrs. Joseph KastingC. ThomasCharles VentalaHarry Robert WarrenPaul WatkinsLois WatsonSandra WhitleySusan K. WillisJeanne WinogradLloyd & Sara WisdomDana Wittmann

Thank you to the following for donating to protect Arizona’s borderlands

Ila L. AbernathyCarol BorgesCarolyn CampbellLaurie JursJanet & David Kriz

Dorothy MotheralJoseph NevinsRandy SerraglioSusan WaitesFreyda Zell

Photo by Dan Millis.

Thank you to Jeanne & Steve Winograd for donating in memory of

Marc Buckhout.



Tyler is a member of the Publications Committee.

When Nothing is Something Special – Exploring the Dark Skies of National ParksBy Tyler Kokjohn

Water is Life! Environmental Day at the CapitolBy Sandy Bahr

Sandy is Chapter Director.

On February 9, more than 160 people from 26 legislative districts from around the state gathered at the Arizona State Capitol to meet with their state legislators to encourage support for environmental protection. This year’s Environmental Day theme was Water is Life, and participants discussed “A Con-servation Vision of Arizona’s Water Future” with more than 60 state legislators and also delivered the conservation vision to Gover-nor Ducey’s office.

It was exciting to see so many people come to the Capitol from all around the state – Yuma, Cascabel, Chino Valley, and more – to speak with their state legislators about the importance of protecting Arizo-na’s waters, lands, and wildlife. In addition

to speaking to legislators, participants heard from William deBuys, author of The Last Unicorn: A Search for One of Earth’s Rarest Creatures (2015) and A Great Aridness: Cli-mate Change and the Future of the American Southwest (2011), among other books, on the subject of “Building a Resilient Arizona.” Mr. deBuys delivered an informative and in-spiring talk, telling participants, “What mat-ters is believing what you do matters.” Ari-zona Interfaith Power and Light also hosted a multi-faith prayer vigil on Water is Life.

Environmental Day participants dis-cussed bills that weaken water adequacy requirements and threaten Arizona rivers, measures that seek to impede wolf recovery and divert dollars from threatened and en-

Thankyoutothemanygroupsthatparticipatedin2016EnvironmentalDayattheCapitol!

Animal Defense League of ArizonaArizona Faith Network Earth Care Commission

Arizona Heritage AllianceArizona Interfaith Power and Light

Chispa ArizonaCitizens’ Water Advocacy Group

Coalition for Sonoran Desert ProtectionDesert Rivers Audubon

Great Old Broads for WildernessKids Climate Action NetworkMaricopa Audubon Society

Phoenix Lobos-Rising PacktivistsSierra Club – Grand Canyon (Arizona) Chapter

Sky Island SchoolTucson Audubon SocietyYuma Audubon Society

Stay Informed!

If you are interested in staying up-to-date on what happens at the Capitol, please sign up for our weekly Legislative Updates at http://bit.ly/GCClegupdates or by contacting Sandy Bahr at [email protected].

dangered species’ habitat protection, as well as bills that limit local government’s ability to require energy saving, energy benchmark-ing, and trash-reducing limits on disposable containers.

Currently, it is shaping up to be one of the worst legislative sessions for environ-mental protection in recent history. Look for a full accounting of the session when

Sierra Club issues its Environmental Report Card after the session ends. Please continue to speak up for water, wildlife, public lands, and more. It really does make a difference. Without your voices, we would not be able to head off some of the worst legislation and take important steps to put Arizona back on a conservation-focused path.

Some of the Environmental Day participants. Photo by Sandy Bahr.

Ask someone what the National Park Service (NPS) does, and you will probably end up in a discussion about preserving awesome landscapes and unspoiled environ-

ments and enabling the public to encounter unique wildlife. Most people would prob-ably be surprised to discover that the NPS is dedicating a substantial effort to the preser-vation of “nothing.”

The Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division works to preserve the acoustical and dark night sky environments in the national park system. Starry night skies are vanishing quickly, and national parks present some of

Check It Out!

On April 7, Saguaro National Park visitors will have the opportunity to participate in a star party led by park naturalists and knowledgeable amateur astronomers. Tele-scopes and binoculars will be available. Space is limited and reservations are required (520-733-5153). The cost is just the park’s entrance fee.

Learn more at http://bit.ly/SAGUstarparty.

the last opportunities for the public to ex-perience this threatened resource. In addi-tion to enabling park visitors to have a more complete and awe-inspiring experience, eliminating light pollution prevents undesir-able disruption of animal behaviors.

Astronomy is big business in Arizona and growing, so preserving dark sky sites in our state makes economic sense. However, anyone venturing out to experience the qui-et, starry nights will realize how these “noth-ings” are really something special.



SunZia Southwest Transmission Project Approved by Arizona Corporation CommissionBy Mick Meader

My Family’s Love for Our National ParksBy Anna Rose Mohr-Almeida

My great grandfather Oscar knew how special our national parks are, and he made sure his daughters got to see them. My nana visited every national park west of the Mis-sissippi between 1946 and 1959, a time when few people left their cities or states.

Oscar took a month every year to drive his family “out West.” Nana says that her family spent about 5% of their income on these trips, which cost $500. Back then, a hotel on Route 66 cost $10 per night. A fam-ily of four could eat dinner for $5, and a full breakfast cost $0.50. For lunch, my family would have a picnic on the side of the road or in a park. Whenever there was something interesting to see, they stopped to see it.

Nana says that family trips were taken on two-lane highways because Eisenhower didn’t start building the freeway system un-til 1955. There was no air conditioning in the car. One year, after crossing Death Val-ley and arriving in the town to the west, the locals were shocked that anyone would be crazy enough to cross the hot desert, espe-cially with a family.

Nana says that her favorite national parks are Yellowstone and Teton. She remembers that the parks were lush green, that the valleys were cov-ered in flowers, and that her family would en-counter about 10 other visitors on the road each day. They saw lots of ani-mals, including moose, deer, bears, and fox. There was a trail to Old Faithful, not a sidewalk like today. You had to be careful where you stepped in the park because the park’s infrastructure was not much more than a two-lane road.

Nana took my mom to see Yellowstone and Teton national parks when Mom was 10. She says seeing the wildlife, especially the bears, was her favorite part of her visit.

She was also impressed by the beauty and amount of wildflowers.

This picture was taken at Yosemite Na-tional Park, and the tree was called Wawona.

My nana, Carolyn, is on the left. My great grandmother Clara, is in the middle, and my great aunt Cathy is on the right. I didn’t get to see this tree when I visited Yosemite last year because it fell down in 1969. Cut-ting a giant hole through its base killed this giant sequoia. When I look at this picture, I think about how important conservation is, so that future generations can love the treasures in the national parks like my family does.

My nana’s stories about her visits to national parks make me want to visit all of them, too, especially Yellowstone. Our na-tional parks are a part of my family’s heritage and are a spectacular part of being Ameri-can. I can visit the same parks and see what my great grandfather and my nana loved.

Anna Rose is a youth climate crisis activist. Visit her blog at https://kidsclimateactionnetwork.wordpress.com to connect.

Anna Rose Mohr-Almeida’s family at Wawona Tunnel Tree in Yo-semite National Park. Photo courtesy of Anna Rose Mohr-Almeida.

Following vigorous argu-ments against the project and a strong public outcry, on February 3 the Arizona Cor-poration Commission (ACC) narrowly approved the Cer-tificate of Environmental Compatibility (CEC) for the SunZia Southwest Transmis-sion Project by a 3–2 vote. Although not directly partici-pating due to a lack of legal counsel, Sierra Club worked hard against SunZia and sup-ported independent pro se intervenors Christina McVie, Peter Else, and Mick Meader in their formal challenge to the project. SunZia proposes to build two 500-kilovolt lines down the San Pedro Valley, purportedly to deliver renew-able energy to Phoenix and California. Two Commissioners, Chairman Doug Little and

Tom Forese, strongly opposed approval be-cause of negative impacts to Arizona’s envi-ronment, exploitation of Arizona transmis-sion resources, and conflicts with our own renewable energy development.

The proposed transmission line would run through Paige Canyon, pictured here. Photo by Mick Meader.

See SunZia continued on p. 11.

Following approval, Commissioner Little stated, “I am extremely disappointed in the outcome of this decision and believe there were better alternative routes with sig-nificantly less environmental impacts that, unfortunately, were not approved during

the route evaluation process un-dertaken by SunZia during the National Environmental Protec-tion Act review process. I am truly saddened that one of the crown jewels of Arizona’s unspoiled wil-derness will be irreparably harmed by this decision.”

In support of approval, Com-missioner Tobin felt the project would be good for rural econo-mies, Commissioner Stump ap-pealed to the need to strengthen our utility infrastructure, and Commissioner Burns cited the potential to reduce water usage by

replacing fossil fuel generation with renew-able energy. Commissioner Forese strongly opposed the project because he felt it ex-

https://kidsclimateactionnetwork.wordpress.com



A Bit of History: Artists and Our National ParksBy Doris Cellarius

Doris has been visiting our national parks since 1938 when her parents took her to Rocky Mountain

National Park in a baby basket.

The beauty of our national parks has in-spired the creations of American artists since the late 19th century, when the famous Hud-son River School painters journeyed west to paint the majestic views of our nation’s western parks. In 1871, landscape painter Thomas Moran joined the Hayden expedi-tion, the U.S. Geological Survey team that surveyed the sources of the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers. As the team’s artist, he painted Yellowstone’s geologic features and landscapes; these paintings helped convince the U.S. Congress to establish Yellowstone as our first national park in 1872.

Art depicting America’s national parks has also graced the White House. During a camping trip in Yosemite with John Muir in 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt met artist Thomas Hill. Roosevelt’s admiration for Hill’s painting of Bridalveil Fall led to the painting returning with Roosevelt to the White House. During his presidency, Theodore Roosevelt signed into existence five national parks, 18 national monuments, 55 national bird sanctuaries and wildlife ref-uges, and 150 national forests.

From 1935 to 1936, as part of the New Deal Works Progress Administration, the Federal Art Project supported struggling artists who created posters to publicize lo-

cal programs. These post-ers, still highly valued, showed the majestic beauty, landscape, and wildlife of America’s national parks.

Today, the grandeur of our national parks con-tinues to inspire artists. The National Park Service residency program sup-ports the contributions of artists across the country with more than 40 Artist-in Residence programs. These artists document na-tional park landscapes with contemporary approaches. Programs vary, but residen-cies are typically 2–4 weeks in length and most include lodging. Artists participating in the program donate an original piece of work representa-tive of their residency to the host park.

Arizona units participating in the pro-gram are Petrified Forest and Grand Can-yon national parks and Chiricahua National Monument. Petrified Forest’s program offers artists the opportunity to pursue their disci-pline while immersed in the park landscape and allows them to share their inspirations,

ideas, and artwork with the public. Petrified Forest also enables regional artists to display their work during spring and summer at its Painted Desert Inn, now a museum of the history of this particular inn and of Route 66. The Grand Canyon Artists-in-Residence program offers seasonal opportunities for 4–6 artists or artist couples during the May–October season. Artists reside in a small his-

toric cabin on the North Rim for a three-week period in summer and early fall.

We who love these wild places owe art-ists our thanks because it was often amazing paintings that helped convince decision-makers in Washington, D.C., to set aside these very special places.

Thomas Moran’s painting of the Grand Canyon of the Colorado (1892 and 1908). Courtesy of Philadelphia Museum of Art, gift of Graeme Lorimer, 1975.



Campaign for Chiricahua National ParkBy Robert L. Gent

Bob is a member of the Sierra Vista Tourism Commission and a retired USAF space systems officer.

Chiricahua National Monument. Photos by Bob Gent.

Last year, the Sierra Vista Tour-ism Commission began a campaign to have Chiricahua National Monument in southeast Arizona changed to Chir-icahua National Park.

Declared a national monument in 1924 by President Coolidge, this site preserves formations from an immense volcanic eruption about 27 million years ago. This blast was one thousand times greater than the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, and this massive explosion eventually laid down 2,000 feet of ash. Over many eons, this fused into rock and eventually eroded into the spires and majestic formations of today.

This “Wonderland of Rocks” includes a paved scenic drive and miles of spectacular hiking trails. With nearly 12,000 acres, it is a natural gem. A visit to the Faraway Ranch Historic District provides an opportunity to explore its colorful history.

Chiricahua National Monument al-ready has a visitor center, campground, and other infrastructure in place. It is operated by the National Park Service, so this could be done with minimal impact on the bud-get. Wouldn’t this be a great way to recognize a geologic wonder of the world? How better to celebrate this year’s 100th anniversary of the National Park Service?

To date, all of the chambers of com-merce in Cochise County have joined to-gether in strong support of our campaign, and we have resolutions from the cities of Si-erra Vista and Benson, as well as the Cochise County Board of Supervisors. Basically, we think it’s a great way to attract visitors to Ari-zona. As tourism commissioners, one of our jobs is to let people know that Arizona is a beautiful place to visit.

If this is such a good idea, why hasn’t it already been accomplished? In short, it takes an act of the U.S. Congress, and get-ting anything done in Congress can be chal-lenging. While a U.S. President can declare national monuments, only Congress can

make national parks. In the past, Grand Canyon, Grand Tetons, Great Basin, and Saguaro were all declared monuments and later approved by Congress to become na-tional parks.

Kevin Dahl, Arizona Senior Program Manager for the National Parks Conserva-tion Association, is a supporter of the Chir-icahua proposal. He said, “The history of our national park system is filled with stories of such strong local support. Saguaro National Monument was established by President Herbert Hoover in 1933, and later Congress expanded its borders and made it a national park in 1994.”

U.S. Congresswoman Martha McSally supports this proposal, and she plans to in-troduce legislation to authorize the change. She also said this is a win-win for Arizona. “My staff and I are currently working with the Natural Resources Committee and other offices to make sure this bill has a chance in the House once it’s introduced.”

While we are building momentum on this campaign, we could use more help. Please write your members of Congress to let them know we want to make this happen. Stay tuned with the latest progress by visiting our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CampaignforChiricahua.

Last spring, Tonto National Forest an-nounced proposals from Bronco Creek Ex-plorations for two drilling projects, Copper King and Red Top, north of the Town of Superior. Of the two, Red Top is of greatest concern as it borders Superstition Wilder-ness. Drill rigs would be immediately adja-cent to the boundary, as close as 2–3 miles from the Haunted Canyon trail and historic Tony’s cabin and about the same distance to Roger’s Trough Trailhead. Access roads to the wilderness that would be affected are Whitford Canyon Road (FR 650) and Queen Creek Canyon Road (FR 342).

The Forest Service issued a Categorical Exclusion (CE) for the Copper King site, meaning no National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis was necessary. A CE is supposed to be limited to actions that, by themselves or along with others, do not have a significant effect on the environment. As of this writing, it appears that drilling at the Copper King site has been completed and the drilling company is awaiting a similar permit to begin at Red Top. However, at Red Top, proper environmental impact studies should be done for a couple of reasons.

How Close Is Too Close? Red Top Mining Exploration ProjectBy Don Steuter

The view from the Red Top area looking south. The proposed Resolution Copper tailings dump would destroy much of the view. Photo by Roger Featherstone. See Red Top continued on p. 11.

https://www.facebook.com/CampaignforChiricahua

https://www.facebook.com/CampaignforChiricahua



Interview with a National Park Service Employee: Don SwannBiologist, Saguaro National Park

See Zika continued on p. 13.

WhenandwhydidyoudecidetoworkwiththeNationalParkService?

I started in the Boston Harbor Is-lands, which is now a national park but was once a state park. I loved the islands when I was young – everything about them. It never occurred to me that there were jobs in places like that. But a few years later, when I was out of college, un-employed and broke, I remembered meet-ing some interns who had worked there as backcountry rangers. I somehow con-vinced the park to hire me, even though I had no experience other than being a pas-sionate visitor. After a week on the job, I knew that it was something I wanted to do the rest of my life.

DidyouworkwithotherNPSunitsbe-foreyourcurrentposition?

I worked for a number of years in the Boston area, as well as state parks in Arizona, before my first seasonal job at Saguaro in 1993. During graduate school at the University of Arizona, I conducted research at Tonto National Monument, Coronado National Memorial, and Fort Bowie National Historic Site and spent a

lot of time in each of those small, but very biologically rich, parks.

Tell us a little about yourpark.

Saguaro is really a hid-den secret. It is larger than most people realize – more than 140 square miles – and 78% wilderness. The Rincon Mountains go up to nearly 8,700 feet in elevation and are an amazing place for long hikes and backpacking.

Describe a challenge thatyourparkfacesandwhatisbeingdonetoaddressthatchallenge.

We are very concerned about invasive grasses, such as buffelgrass, that threaten saguaros and other native So-noran Desert plants through competition and carrying hot fires in plant communi-ties that did not evolve with

fire. In addition, the park is increas-ingly becoming isolated from other natural areas, which we believe may be restricting movement of wildlife in and out of the park and may lead to future extinctions of species, es-pecially mammals. We fear the loss of less-common carnivores, such as black bear, kit foxes, and others, and are working with community part-ners to try to keep wildlife corridors open.

What are your favorite aspects ofbeing an NPS employee? Favoriteaspectsofyourpark?

I feel very blessed to work for the NPS because of our mission of protecting national parks and be-cause most employees have such a high degree of integrity and com-mitment to what they do. I have chosen to work at Saguaro because it has incredible biological diversity, as well as an interesting mix of manage-ment issues and opportunities as it is located next to a city of about one million people.Don Swann at Saguaro National Park. Courtesy of Don Swann.

A once-obscure mosquito-borne virus has produced a global pandemic. The Zika virus outbreak in Brazil captured world-wide attention because it has been linked to a surge in children born with microcephaly. Increas-ing evidence suggesting Zika virus infections during pregnancy cause this birth defect led the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and

Controlling an Emerging Zika Virus ThreatBy Tyler Kokjohn

Prevention (CDC) to issue an advisory for persons considering travel to outbreak re-gions (http://bit.ly/CDC_zika). Additional studies suggest some Zika virus infections may also induce Guillain-Barré syndrome paralysis (http://bit.ly/ECDCzika).

The bad news is that Zika virus is defi-nitely not done spreading. It has already ar-rived in the U.S. through infected travelers, and it is certain there will be many more imported cases in the future. Worse, local epidemics may be sparked if persons harbor-ing the virus are bitten by mosquitoes. Zika fever symptoms and signs include rash, fever, headache, and joint pain, although perhaps up to 80% of infections produce no obvi-ous illness. The harsh reality is that the glob-al spread of Zika virus will never be halted

by screening air travelers or border crossers for illness. No specific anti-viral treatments to halt Zika virus disease are available, and no vaccines will be ready for several years. That means control of Zika virus disease will hinge entirely on breaking the chain of mos-quito transmission to and from humans.

Many people may turn to insecticides as a way to control spread of this disease. However, broadcast spraying of insecticides does not work well against the prime mos-quito vectors. These bugs like to live around people and breed very well in small contain-ers – litter with bottles and tires are perfect environments for them. That makes our be-haviors the critical element in avoiding and controlling mosquitos and the diseases they transmit.

Simple, proactive actions to eliminate mosquito breeding sites can help reduce the threat from Zika virus and other agents like West Nile virus. Keeping swimming pools chlorinated, eliminating stagnant water, not allowing water to accumulate in flower pots, removing trash, and cleaning bird baths fre-quently will help reduce mosquito popula-tions. Making sure window and door screens are in good repair and using repellents ap-propriately can help keep any mosquitoes away. Travelers returning from areas with Zika virus outbreaks with symptoms of ill-ness should be strongly encouraged to take steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. Such actions are practical and affordable and

Photo by Day Donaldson.



Classified Ads(To inquire about advertising, contact 602-253-9140 or [email protected].)

FOR RENT. Cabin & Airstream trailers at Blue River Wilderness Retreat near Alpine, AZ. Pines, flowing streams bordered by National Forest. Outstanding hiking, fishing, & birding. Wireless access. Reasonable rates by week or month. www.blueriverretreat.com – [email protected] – 928-339-4426.

Top: Beth Ann Krueger and Ella Hryniewicz pose at a trail sign. Right: A building in Fairbank Ghost Town. Photos courtesy of Beth Ann Krueger.

Winter Ghost Trip and HikeBy Beth Ann Krueger

Exploratory drilling directly adjacent to a wilderness area is an “extraordinary cir-cumstance” as defined under NEPA, which would preclude use of a CE. Ten drill rigs, as allowed in the proposal, would present visu-al impacts from higher elevations within Su-perstition Wilderness. In addition, the Reso-lution Copper mine at Oak Flat is proposing that its massive tailings dump be located just south of the exploration areas, which means the cumulative effects are significant and

should be analyzed in a NEPA document. It is difficult to see how a CE would be ap-propriate in this circumstance.

It is disconcerting to see new mineral exploration so close to one of our oldest and most popular wilderness areas. As hik-ers know, access to the eastern Superstitions is already severely compromised by large mines. The least the Forest Service should do is proper NEPA analysis when projects are proposed for the rest of it.

Don is the Chapter Conservation Chair.

Red Top continued from p. 9.

Five people enjoyed a spooky ghost tour of Tombstone on Saturday, February 27, as part of a weekend Winter Ghost Trip. Parson George, a lo-cal Tombstone character, narrated a one-hour tour featuring many of the most haunted buildings and locations, including Boot Hill, in this historic Old West mining town. Hikers commented on Parson George’s excellent story-telling skills and not-ed that all the tour guests remained silent and trans-fixed as he wove the tale of Crazy Eddy and his ghost wife, who lived near Fairbank.

The next morning, we visited Fairbank Ghost Town and hiked the Fairbank loop trail. The weather was gorgeous! On this approximately five-mile hike, native trees, plants, and birds were observed, including four-wing salt bush, a Cooper’s hawk, pray-ing mantis egg cases, creosote bush, and

gorgeous cottonwood trees lining the San Pedro River. At about the four-mile mark, remains of the old Grand Central stamp-ing mill could be seen built into the hill-side and scattered along the trail. This mill filled the valley with a deafening roar when it was functional, as it pounded rocks into progressively small pieces in order to retrieve the silver ore. The next stop on the hike was

Beth Ann is an outings leader.

Mick is Co-Chair of the Cascabel Working Group.

SunZia continued from p. 7.

Fairbank Cemetery, which is situated on top of a hill with stunning views of the sur-rounding mountain ranges: the Huachucas, Whetstones, Mules, San Jose Peak (located in Mexico), and Rincons. The cemetery’s graves are mostly unmarked except by rock piles and an occasional fence or remnant of a cross or other monument.

The hike finished at the carefully re-stored Fairbank Schoolhouse. The school-house is staffed on the weekends by vol-unteers from the Friends of the San Pedro River (a non-profit group). It contains a small book and gift store, as well as historic displays and local information.

If this hike and trip interest you, please watch for it again next winter!

ploited Arizona and provided little benefit to the state.

The Arizona Power Plant and Transmis-sion Line Siting Committee had previously voted 8–0 to approve the CEC, with Chair-man Chenal stating, “I think this is a perfect example of the effort to find the least-worst decision.... The jewel, the San Pedro River Valley, is pristine.... And my heart just breaks that…there’s going to be a transmission line through there.”

Primary issues raised included the high environmental values and investments in the San Pedro Valley, the lack of central Arizona transmission capacity to support the project, conflicts with Arizona’s own renewable en-ergy development, the economic infeasibil-ity of the New Mexico wind portion of the project, and the project’s potential to deliver non-renewable energy. Salt River Project,

which has the largest utility stake in the proj-ect, said in a statement to the ACC that its only interest in SunZia was to deliver coal-fired generation from power plants in east-ern Arizona.

Else’s planned request for a rehearing before the ACC would leave open the pos-sibility of a Superior Court challenge. Chal-lenging the SunZia federal Environmental Impact Statement also remains possible, with appropriate legal representation. The project now moves to the New Mexico Pub-lic Regulatory Commission for approval.

The perception that SunZia cannot be built as advertised remains strong, as does the concern that SunZia will bargain with utilities to allow the project to transmit pri-marily fossil fuel-generated power through the San Pedro Valley.

mailto:[email protected]



Happenings Around the StateFive groups and one regional conservation committee make up the Grand Canyon Chapter. All events and meetings listed below are open to members interested in learn-ing more about Sierra Club. You can find out more at http://www.sierraclub.org/arizona/events-activities. Schedules are subject to change. (x) Group ExCom members

Rincon Group (Tucson)http://sierraclub.org/arizona/rincon

Chair: Meg Weesner (x) 520-290-1723 [email protected]: Keith Bagwell (x) 520-623-0269 [email protected]: Roy Emrick (x) 520-326-7883 [email protected]: Ken Bierman 520-882-2708 [email protected]: Russell Lowes (x) 520-321-3670 [email protected]: Mitch Stevens 520-647-3823 [email protected] City Outings: Judy Rubin 520-891-3310 [email protected]: Lee Oler 520-791-9246 [email protected] (At-Large): Michelle Crow (x) 520-743-9958 [email protected]

Randy Serraglio (x) 520-784-1504 [email protected] Tuell (x) 520-404-0920 [email protected]

Palo Verde Group (Phoenix)http://sierraclub.org/arizona/palo-verde

Chair/Programs: Michael Brady (x) 480-990-9165 [email protected]: Fareed Abou-Haidar (x) 480-345-1779 [email protected]: Gary Kraemer (x) 602-373-6301 [email protected]: Jerry Nelson 602-279-4668 [email protected]: Blair McLaughlin (x) 602-515-3850 [email protected]: Don Steuter (x) 602-956-5057 [email protected]: Jim Vaaler (x) 602-553-8208 [email protected] City Outings: Lisa Vaaler 602-468-4158 [email protected] (At-Large): Bettina Bickel (x) 623-939-1667 [email protected]

Michelle Lund (x) 480-664-1069 [email protected] Mohr-Almeida (x) 480-329-8503 [email protected]

Canyon Echo encourages contributors to use Creative Commons licensing.This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCom-mercial-ShareAlike License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5 or send a letter to Creative Commons, 543 Howard Street, 5th Floor, San Francisco, California 94105.

All other contributions, including photos, cartoons, and written work, fall under standard copyright restrictions.

MAY 5, JUN 2 (THU) 6:30 p.m. Conservation Committee meetings. Contact Don Steuter. MAY 12, JUN 9 (THU) 6:30 p.m. Executive Committee meetings. Contact Mike Brady. Located at the Living Space at Rollover Donuts, 10 W. Vernon, Phoenix.

APR 21, MAY 19, JUN 16 (THU) 6:30 p.m. Free monthly programs. The Palo Verde Group offers monthly programs on the third Thursday of each month from 6:30–8 p.m. Location TBD; contact for details. Monthly programs are open to the public. Visit http://sierraclub.org/arizona/palo-verde or call 480-990-9165 for more information.

Saguaro Group (North Maricopa County)http://sierraclub.org/arizona/saguaro

Chair/Website: Harry Lumley (x) 480-474-4993 [email protected]: Dianne Leis (x) 480-432-9181 [email protected]: Sally Howland (x) 602-663-2889 [email protected]: Urb Weidner 602-595-3301 [email protected]: Jo Sylvester 602-595-6170 [email protected]: Peter Weinelt (x) 623-388-2209 [email protected]: Doug Murphy (x) 602-329-3690 [email protected]: Jim Wilkey (x) 480-649-2836 [email protected] (At-Large): Bev Full (x) 480-221-2554 [email protected]

Contact Sally Howland for information about the following events.

APR 2 (SAT) 8 a.m. Breakfast discussion. Join us for breakfast in a beautiful setting at Grotto Café, 6501 Cave Creek Rd. in Cave Creek. We will have a get-to-know-you meeting, then will hike the Bronco Trail, which will be added to the Maricopa Trail.

APR 20 (WED) Executive Committee meeting. For more information, contact Harry Lumley.

MAY 7 (SAT) 8 a.m. Breakfast discussion. Join us for breakfast at Grotto Café, 6501 Cave Creek Rd. in Cave Creek. Our guest speaker will be Tiffany Sprague, who will provide info about the theatened northern Mexican gartersnake and ways you can get involved in her research with this species. After the meeting, join us for a hike in Spur Cross.

MAY 24 (TUE) 6:30 p.m. Verde River. Greg Kornrumph and Leeann Yacuel from SRP will speak about plans to help conserve the Verde River and water conservation in Arizona. Located at Black Mountain Precinct Community Room, 33355 N. Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix.

JUN 4 (SAT) 8 a.m. Breakfast discussion. Join us for breakfast at Grotto Café, 6501 Cave Creek Rd in Cave Creek. We will review the past year’s meetings and hikes – the highs and lows – plus brainstorm ideas for next year’s meetings. Come share your ideas!

APR 28, MAY 26, JUN 23 (THU) Conservation Committee (6 p.m.) and Executive Committee (7:15 p.m.) meetings. The meetings are open to the public. Sierra Club members, in particular, are urged to attend and to participate. Hope you see you there! Located in the first floor conference room of the Historic YWCA, 738 N. Fifth Ave., Tucson.

The following programs are located at Tucson City Council Ward 3 office, 1510 E. Grant Rd., Tucson. Free and open to the public. For more information, contact Keith Bagwell.

APR 14 (THU) 7 p.m. National Park Service and Saguaro National Park. Learn about the National Park Service history from the beginning to 2016, the Centennial year! Jeff Wallner, Park Guide at Saguaro National Park, will dive into the history of the NPS, how it started and the major steps along the way. Then, Jeff focuses on Saguaro National Park’s past, present, and future. He will discuss the Saguaro Cactus Program at the park, which follows the development of the cactus forest over that last 83 years and what to expect in the future. Saguaro National Park’s Centennial projects and events will then be presented, followed by a question and answer session.

MAY 12 (THU) 7 p.m. Groundwater Depletion Impacts Downtown Tucson. Christopher Eastoe, a retired University of Arizona geoscientist, reveals how the growth of Tucson from a Spanish presidio to an urban area of one million has led to a progressive decline in groundwater availability. By the end of the 19th century, a shallow aquifer beneath the presidio and groundwater discharge into the Santa Cruz riverbed had failed. By the end of the 20th century, supply from the large regional aquifer of the basin was no longer sustainable. Beneath downtown, oxygen and hydrogen isotopes in groundwater can be used to trace the decline of the water table. Perhaps we could learn from El Paso and Ciudad Juarez, which are reacting effectively to an even worse groundwater loss.

JUN 9 (THU) 7 p.m. Endangered Cacti: Their Status and Outlook. One-third of all species of cacti are endangered, many critically. Sierra Club activist Bill Thornton will discuss the scope of the problem and conservation efforts, with emphasis on two federally-listed species in the Tucson area. Bill is a second-generation native Arizonan, a lifelong cactus hugger, and a member of the Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society’s “Cactus Rescue” team.



For information about activities in the Sedona/Verde Valley area, contact Brian Myers.

Sedona/Verde Valley Grouphttp://www.reliablescribe.com/svvg

Chair: Brian Myers (x) 928-300-7734 [email protected]: Anne Crosman (x) 928-284-9252 [email protected]: Tina Myers (x) 928-204-1703 [email protected]: Paul Rauch (x) 928-821-4215 [email protected]: John Sheffield 928-204-1517 [email protected]

Monument continued from p. 1.

Sandy is Chapter Director.

Yavapai Group (Prescott)http://sierraclub.org/arizona/yavapai

Chair/Outings/Web: Gary Beverly (x) 928-308-1003 [email protected]/Conservation: Tom Slaback (x) 928-778-4233 [email protected]/Treasurer: Sandy Geiger (x) 928-710-7691 [email protected] Large: Jenny Cobb (x) 928-541-9746 [email protected]

Doug Treadway (x) [email protected]

APR 6, MAY 4, JUN 1 (WED) 6 p.m. Executive Committee meetings. Members are welcome and urged to attend and participate in our monthly Executive Committee meetings. These are where we choose the issues we are involved with and do our strategic planning. Located at Yavapai Title Agency, 1235 E. Gurley St., Prescott.

Plateau Conservation Committee (Flagstaff)http://sierraclub.org/arizona/plateau

Chair: Joe Shannon 928-380-9537 [email protected] Activist: Dick Hingson 928-699-8366 [email protected] Member: Joan Stoner 928-853-9899 [email protected]

Al White 928-527-8567 [email protected]

Contact Joe Shannon for information about the following events.

MAY 12 (THU) 6 p.m. Monthly meeting. Please join us! The Plateau Conservation Committee (northern AZ) holds meetings every other month to discuss happenings and ways to get involved. Sierra Club members are urged to attend and to participate. Open to the public.

bill is unlikely to move in this Congress, a proclamation by President Obama to estab-lish the monument is possible.

That is why we are redoubling our ef-forts to make sure the President understands that Arizonans want to see these lands pro-tected. To do this, we need to make sure he

Take Action!For more information, visit http://www.greatergrandcanyon.org or contact our chap-ter office at 602-253-8633 or [email protected]. We encourage you to sign our online petition at http://bit.ly/GCNMpetition.

hears from as many Arizonans as possible. Please consider signing a petition, a post-card, or writing a letter, expressing your sup-port for the Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National Monument.

During this centennial year of the National Park Service, it’s important to re-member that our national parks need help to protect critical resources. One option is to volunteer for a service project.

On a warm day in mid-February, a dozen Sierra Club members from Rincon Group participated in a buffelgrass pull at Saguaro National Park East. We arrived at 8 a.m. After signing the required forms for volunteering, we listened while park staff told us about the threat that buffelgrass pos-es to the park and gave us instructions and a safety message about what we would be do-ing that morning.

There were about 25 volunteers in all, plus six staff members to provide guidance. We drove to the work site and picked up gloves and tools – hand picks, mattocks, and lightweight caliche bars. We hiked cross-country to a huge patch of buffelgrass 1–4 feet tall, interspersed among cholla, prickly pear, and more-friendly desert plants. We then divided into groups and started digging and pulling.

Pulling Buffelgrass at Saguaro National ParkBy Meg Weesner

A relatively new practice involves piling the buffelgrass plants in thatches to reduce the risk of seeds germinating. Research done in cooperation with University of Arizona indicates that a thick thatch is effective in keeping the seeds from sprouting. The park now advocates stacking the buffelgrass into piles of thatch, keeping all the seeds toward the middle of the pile. Rocks are placed on the pile to prevent wind from scattering the plants (and seeds).

The park will return to the site to re-treat any plants that were missed or seeds that sprout. Experience has shown that in one to three years, the buffelgrass cover will be reduced to almost none. Periodic moni-toring and treatment will still be needed. It is very important that follow-up visits are made until the seeds are eliminated.

The park really appreciated our help, and several of the Sierra Club members who participated in the project were happy to learn to identify buffelgrass. Some said they would return to volunteer again.

Meg is an outings leader and Rincon Group Chair.

Introduced buffelgrass outcompetes native species. Courtesy of Sonoran Desert Weedwackers.

can be initiated immediately to benefit the health and welfare of the entire community.

Zika virus is the latest in a succession of disease agents spreading beyond their usual territories. The quick emergence of a succes-sion of viruses to new areas today is probably due to a combination of factors, including

trade globalization, changes in human ac-tivities, and increased air travel. The invasion of West Nile virus reveals that some of these changes in infectious disease patterns may become permanent. Long-lasting control of these new threats will demand sustained and sustainable approaches.

Zika continued from p. 10.

Tyler is a member of the Publications Committee.



Explore and Enjoy ArizonaFind more events and opportunities on our online calendar at http://www.sierraclub.org/arizona/outings.

ATTENTION,CURRENTANDPOTENTIALOUTINGSLEADERS!

Are you interested in leading outings for Sierra Club? Or are you a current leader who needs to update your first aid or outings leader certification?

OutingLeaderTraining101andFirstAidCertificationSaturday,May14

9a.m.(firstaid)and1:30p.m.(OLT)First Baptist Church, 4448 E. Main St., Mesa

Cost for first aid is $25 ($35 if you’d also like CPR); scholarships are available. OLT 101 is free. First aid and OLT 101 are required of all Sierra Club outing leaders. First aid training is required every three years, and OLT 101 is required every four years. CPR training is optional.

To sign up or for more information, contact Bev Full at 480-221-2554 or [email protected].

APR 2 (SAT) “B+” Music Mountain (12 mi.). This mostly on-trail trek will take us to the 4311’ high summit of Music Moun-tain in Superstition Wilderness. Beginning at Tortilla Trailhead, we will follow the jeep road to Tortilla Well and proceed via the Peters Trail to Peters Canyon. The off-trail stretch of the hike begins as we head up steep and slippery slopes through thick and spiny vegetation to the sum-mit, where the views are commanding. Leather gloves are a necessity, as well as long pants, the thicker the better. Drive 50 mi. from Tempe. Call Ken McGinty at 602-265-2854. Phoenix

APR 2 (SAT) “C+” Bronco Trail (6 mi.). Hike Bronco Trail, which will become part of Maricopa Trail. The trailhead is 15.2 miles northeast of Cave Creek. This hike is moderately difficult. Please have at least 3 liters of water per person. We will hike 2.5 or 3 mi. before reversing direction and retracing the trail back to the park-ing lot. Contact Sally Howland at Sally_ [email protected] or visit http://bit.ly/gcc_meetup. Phoenix

APR 2–3 (SAT–SUN) Gila Box Canoe/Kayak. The Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area has year-round water for canoes and kayaks. The two-day pad-dle starts at Old Safford Bridge near Clif-ton and ends 23 mi. downriver at Dry Can-yon near Safford. We will camp near the halfway point. Participants must provide or rent all equipment, including canoe/kayak, paddles, PFD, dry bags, camping gear, and food. Paddlers must have previ-ous experience and skill to negotiate up to class II+ rapids. The Gila Box RNCA charg-es a $3/person fee. Contact Donald Smith at 520-591-9938 or [email protected] or Mitch Stevens at 520-991-1199 or [email protected]. Tucson

APR 4–9 (MON–SAT) Labyrinth Canyon Green River. Carpool and stay in Moab Monday, then canoe or kayak five days and 62 mi. through spectacular canyons. Sierra Club proposes permanent protec-tion for this area that is threatened by mining and off-road vehicles. Cost: $275, includes the canoe rentals, other equip-ment, shuttles, tips, and meals at our four camps. Limit of 14 participants. Contact

Bev Full at 480-221-2554 or [email protected].

APR 5 (TUE) “D” U.S.–Mexico Border Up Close. Our series continues. Join us at the Douglas Library at 560 E. 10th St. at 10 a.m. for an illustrated talk about environ-mental impacts of U.S. border enforce-ment. Then we head to San Bernadino National Wildlife Refuge, where we’ll have a picnic lunch at the historic Slaughter Ranch and a discussion with the refuge manager. Limit of 35 participants; mini-mum 10. Suggested donation to maintain program: $10. Details may change prior to a final confirmation note. Contact Elna Ot-ter at 520-212-9736 or [email protected]. Douglas

APR 9 (SAT) “B” Florida Saddle (9.4 mi. RT, 3500’ EC). The Florida Trail is a lightly-used trail that goes to the Florida Saddle and on to Mt Wrightson. We will be travel-ing 4.7 mi. to the Florida Saddle. Florida is the Spanish word for flowered. Hopefully, we will see some flowers on this hike. With the EC, we will be hiking through a vari-ety of vegetation. Near the Florida Saddle, there are a number of large Douglas fir that shade our final destination. Con-tact Colleen Collen at 520-577-4543 or [email protected]. Tucson

APR 9 (SAT) “C” Early Morning Nature Hike on the San Pedro River (3–4.5 mi., < 500’ EC). Join us for this moderate early morning hike in the San Pedro Riparian Area. Don’t expect a high speed hike; this hike is designed for about 2.5–3 mph speeds, with pauses to observe birds, plants, and the beautiful scenery. Novice hikers are welcome. Limit 8–10. Contact Beth Ann Krueger at 520-405-5470 or [email protected] or sign up at http://bit.ly/gcc_meetup. Sierra Vista

APR 9 (SAT) “B+” Little Granite Moun-tain (1900’ EC). Little Granite Mountain is a 4214’ peak in Mazatzal Mountains between SR 87 and Bartlett Lake. Most of this hike follows dirt roads, but the last 0.6 mi. and 800’ in EC are off trail. On this last stretch, expect steep, rocky, and slippery slopes and thorny plants (leather gloves recommended). Wet feet are possible if the water in Sycamore Creek is high. Drive 45 mi. from Scottsdale. Call Ken McGinty at 602-265-2854. Phoenix

APR 13 (WED) Tour of Southwest Wild-life Rehabilitation Facility. Docent led. Visit animals permanently cared for here because they could not be successfully be released into the wild. Learn about the mission of SWWR, how it got started, and the many local species that now live here,

including bear, mountain lion, bobcat, coy-otes, Mexican gray wolves, and many oth-ers. Limit: 15. Recommended donation to SWWR: $10. Contact Bev Full at 480-221-2554. Phoenix

APR 16 (SAT) “B” Agua Fria Hills (6–8 mi.). This on- and off-trail hike will take us from Badger Springs Trailhead in Agua Fria National Monument to the conflu-ence of Bishop Creek and Agua Fria River. We will hike mostly over the granite hills northwest of the Agua Fria. Expect up- and downhill travel galore, superb vistas aplenty, and a plethora of spiny plants (leather gloves recommended). Drive 50 mi. from Phoenix. Call Ken McGinty at 602-265-2854. Phoenix

APR 17 (SUN) “B+” Sheepshead Hike/Scramble (4 mi. RT, 1600’ EC). The Sheepshead is a huge granite dome lo-cated in West Cochise Stronghold. Its face presents an awesome sight as it rises an estimated 800+ feet out of the rolling prairies below. Strong hikers with climb-ing/scrambling experience only. Contact John Che at [email protected] (preferred) or 520-360-2507. Tucson

APR 23 (SAT) “B” King’s Crown Peak (7 mi., 1400’ EC). Our entire travel to the summit of King’s Crown Peak, near Supe-rior, will be off-trail and full of such adver-sities as thick brush, spiny plants (leather gloves recommended), and steep and slippery slopes. From the summit, we’ll have excellent views of the eastern Su-perstitions. Drive 70 mi. from Tempe. Call Ken McGinty at 602-265-2854. Phoenix

APR 30 (SAT) “B+” Rover Peak (11–12 mi., 1600’ EC). This exploratory trek near Seven Springs will follow dirt roads and an off-trail route to the nearly mile-high (5279’) summit of Rover Peak. Expect steep and rocky slopes, spiny plants aplenty (leather gloves recommended), and spectacular panoramas of New River Mountains and Verde Valley. Drive 40 mi. from Scottsdale. Call Ken McGinty at 602-265-2854. Phoenix

MAY 1–6 (SUN–FRI) Raft and Kayak the Green River. Travel through remote Deso-lation Canyon in central Utah. This trip is

http://bit.ly/gcc_meetup














It’ll be a wonderful exploration of sub-alpine forest. We will observe rich fauna as well as rare and striking red Arizona madrone trees. The route and summit will highlight some of the most incredible views in the Catalinas. We will observe and discuss the fascinating geology of the sky islands of southeastern Arizona. Limit 12. Contact Mitch Stevens at 520-991-1199 or [email protected]. Tucson

JUN 5–7 (SUN–TUE) “D” Lee’s Ferry Camping and Hiking. Enjoy a short leisurely hike up Paria Creek in Glen Canyon Na-tional Recreation Area. Explore

this historic area where rafts are launched for trips through Grand Canyon. Cost: $40, includes campground fee and food. Con-tact Bev Full at 480-221-2554 or [email protected].

JUN 22 (WED) “D” Explore Mon-tezuma Castle and Montezuma Well National Monument. Car-pool for the 1.5 hr. ride to these scenic, interesting sites and two

of many national monuments that protect important archaeological sites in Arizona. Contact Bev Full at 480-221-2554 or [email protected].

JUL 3 (SUN) “C” Mt. Lemmon: Aspen Loop Trail (4 mi. loop, 800’ EC). We will start early and drive to Marshall Gulch, high in Santa Catalina Mountains. During a snack break, we can talk about the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service and how it differs from the Forest Service and other land management agencies. Limit 15. Contact Meg Weesner at 520-290-1723 or [email protected]. Tucson

AUG 7–13 (SUN–SAT) Raft Green River: Flaming Gorge and Brown’s Canyon. Carpool to Dutch John, UT, stopping to camp the first night at Arches

National Park. Enjoy exciting rides through the numerous named but mild rapids along the way. Cost: $275, includes raft rentals, shuttles, and meals in camp. Con-tact Bev Full at 480-221-2554 or [email protected].

run by professional outfitters. We’ll meet in Moab Sunday for orientation. On Mon-day, we’ll be flown up to the launch site for the ride down-river. This is one of the most primitive areas in the U.S. It borders the Ute Indian reservation on one side and public lands on the other that are being encroached upon by mining development. Cost: $870, includes outfitter fee. Contact Bev Full at 480-221-2554 or [email protected].

MAY 7 (SAT) “D” Spur Cross (<3 mi.). Hike in Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area on two new trails that have just opened and return via Metate Trail. Easy hiking with in-credible views. Contact Sally Howland at [email protected] or visit http://bit.ly/gcc_meetup. Phoenix

MAY 8–10 (SUN–TUE) Channel Islands National Park. Three-island, live-aboard, educational cruise with wildlife viewing, hik-ing, swimming, and kayaking.

This tour is also scheduled for Jun. 12–14, Jul. 17–19, Aug. 21–23, Sep. 25–27, and Oct. 23–25, leaving from Santa Barbara, CA, harbor. Cost: $650, includes assigned bunks and meals aboard. Contact Bev Full at 480-221-2554 or [email protected].

MAY 25 (WED) “D” Hike in Agua Fria Na-tional Monument. Enjoy a short hike to Agua Fria River for a picnic lunch. Learn about the history and archaeological im-portance of this area. Contact Bev Full at 480-221-2554 or [email protected]. Phoenix

JUN 3–5 (FRI–SUN) “C” Be-tatakin Ruins (5 mi. RT, 900’ EC). Two nights group camp-ing and guided tour hike of the Betatakin ruins at Navajo

National Monument at 7300’ elevation. Cost: $40, includes two dinners, two breakfasts, and lunch fixings at the camp-ground. Option to connect this trip to the one at Lee’s Ferry on Sunday. Con-tact Pete Weinelt at 623-388-2209 or [email protected]. Phoenix

JUN 4 (SAT) “B+” Samaniego Peak (12 mi. RT, 2000’ EC). Join us for an awesome and exhilarating on- and off-trail hike to a remote peak in Santa Catalina Mountains.

The Sierra Club is a nationwide organization with active local outings for members and non-members. Please join us as we make friends and explore life-enriching interests. Simply find an outing by date and contact the leader for directions, reservations, time, and additional information. RESTRICTIONS: NO FIREARMS, RADIOS, OR PETS (unless noted otherwise). Outings are by reservation. Call early (group limit 20). Each hike is rated for degree of difficulty and risk by the leader.

“A” >16 miles or >3,000 ft. elevation change (EC)“B” 8–16 miles and 1,500–3,000 ft. EC“C” 3–8 miles, 500–1,500 ft. EC RT Round Trip“D” <3 miles and 500 ft. EC OW One Way

The trip leader has absolute authority to question trip participants as to their equipment, conditioning, and experience before and during the trip. All participants on Sierra Club outings are required to sign a standard liability waiver. If you would like to read the liability waiver before you choose to participate in an outing, please go to http://content.sierraclub.org/outings/local-outdoors/resources or contact the Na-tional Outings Dept. at 415-977-5528 for a printed version. Sierra Club liability covers leaders only. Each person is responsible for his/her own first aid equipment. If you are injured, notify the leader immediately. If you leave the trip, with our without the leader’s permission, you are considered to be on your own until you rejoin the group. Hikers are encouraged to carpool and share the driver’s fuel expense. Donations are accepted from all participants at $1 (member) and $3 (nonmember). Money is collected by the leader and deposited with the group treasurer. For more information, contact Bev Full at 480-221-2554. Hikes and outings are also listed online and in the Sierra Singles newsletters. CST 2087766-40. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California.

Hiking Guidelines

Explore and Enjoy ArizonaFind more events and opportunities on our online calendar at http://www.sierraclub.org/arizona/outings.

Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon Chapter thanks and very much appreciates the WilburforceFoundation and all it does for our Restore and Protect the Greater Grand Canyon Ecoregion project and Edwards MotherEarth Foundation for its support of our energy efficiency work. Mil gracias!

Amina Bennekaa meditates at a pond edge. Photo by Cynthia Bennekaa.











Sierra Service OpportunitiesGet involved and make a difference! Join us for these exciting service outings!

Rio Salado Habitat RestorationSunday, April 17, May 22, June 19

Contact: Jennifer Martin, 602-254-8362, [email protected]

Help us restore habitat! Join us for an invasive weed pull and clean-up at the Rio Salado Habitat Restoration Area, just south of downtown Phoenix. Once a dump site, the area is now a lush riparian corridor that supports a variety of wildlife and recreation opportunities. We need help removing trash and buffelgrass, a non-native, invasive species that alters habitat and increases fire risk. In April, we’ll also be planting native cottonwood trees! Snacks, drinks, gloves, and tools provided.

Water Sentinels Monitoring San Pedro River: Thursday, April 21, May 19, June 16

Verde River: Saturday, May 14, June 11 Contact: Jennifer Martin, 602-254-8362, [email protected]

Get your feet muddy and your hands wet with the Arizona Water Sentinels! These are great opportunities to help protect our important rivers. Volunteers are needed to take water samples and to make field observations. A group also monitors shallow groundwater levels in wells in the Murray Springs Clovis Site and near the San Pedro River near Sierra Vista. These data help track impacts to the rivers and to advocate for their protection. What could be better than spending a day in gorgeous scenery while working to make a difference?

Lower Verde Water Monitoring Saturday, May 14, June 11

Contact: Doug Murphy, 602-329-3690, [email protected]

Join the Saguaro Group and the Arizona Water Sentinels as we kick off the inaugural season of water monitoring on the Lower Verde River at Needle Rock beach! We will be sampling water quality, recording data for analysis and to document the river’s condition, and removing trash from the popular area near north Scottsdale. Bring water and gloves. Equipment and snacks will be provided.

Top: Needle Rock Recreation Area. Bottom: Doug Murphy and Sally Howland take water qual-ity measurements in the Verde River. Right: Arizona Water Sentinels enjoy a job well done. Photos © Dianne Leis.

A Grand Idea for a Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National ... · The National Park Service

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