Mining: Greater Grand Canyon Watershed

The greater Grand Canyon watershed is one of America’s most spectacular natural landscapes. Stretching hundreds of thousands of acres in northern Arizona, it is one of the wildest and most ecologically important areas of the West.

The Grand Canyon is also one of the best-known sites in the West, attracting millions of visitors each year. The surrounding watershed includes lesser-known gems like Vermilion Cliffs National Monument and the ancient ponderosa pines of the Kaibab National Forest. 

However, this area is at risk of new uranium mining claims, despite a 20-year moratorium signed in 2012.

This is why we featured Grand Canyon National Park in a report as one of 15 wild places deemed too important to lose. 

In 2012, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar banned new uranium mining claims in the greater Grand Canyon watershed because of the danger they posed to water, wildlife, areas sacred to Native American tribes and other sensitive resources.  

However, several members of Congress have recently urged the Trump administration to reopen the watershed to new uranium mining claims.

These mines would present dangers to the land, wildlife and people. Water quantity and quality within the greater Grand Canyon watershed would be at especially acute risk from pollution and damage. Local residents, including the Havasupai Tribe, depend on these streams and tributaries.