c arizona: climate celebrate earth day! see inside for ......our climate is what makes the cs...

Celebrating arizona: CliMate

Explore, enjoy, and protect the planet

http://arizona.sierraclub.org Grand Canyon Chapter Spring 2012

Celebrate Earth Day! See inside for great events.

Arizona’s Climate – It Is A-Changin’By Tiffany Sprague

Tiffany is the Chapter Coordinator.

Electronic Newsletter Available!

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] or fill out the short form at http://arizona.si-erraclub.org/echo/paperlessform/form.asp. You will

receive an email when issues are available online.

As the front-page article of the Winter 2012 Canyon Echo discussed, Arizona has often been defined by its “five Cs” – copper, cattle, cotton, citrus, and climate. However, to celebrate Arizona’s centennial, our chapter is focusing on more inspiring and hopeful Cs that better depict our state – conserva-tion, cacti, critters, cienegas, and climate.

But, wait, you may say. Climate? That’s the same! The same, yes, but different.

Arizona’s climate has always drawn peo-ple to our state. Starting in the late 1800s, people began to realize the therapeutic ben-efits of our sunny days, mild temperatures, and relatively dry air. Doctors encouraged patients to head to Arizona for relief from a diversity of ailments, recreationists flocked to enjoy the sights and the beautiful days, and many more came to stay.

Our climate is what makes the Cs possi-ble – both the historic ones and the ones on

which we’re focusing. Our climate supports an incredible diversity of wild spaces and wildlife and remains a draw for people from around the world. But our climate is changing.

Scientists world-wide have found that the burning of fossil fu-els (coal, oil, and natural gas) releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, forming a blanket over the planet and trapping heat that would normally escape. The resulting rise in tem-perature is causing climates – temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind, and seasonal patterns – to change.

Okay, so temperatures might increase by a couple of degrees. Not a big deal, right?

Wrong. Arizona is project-ed to get much warmer and drier. We have already start-ed to see severe drought, more intense and frequent wildfires, and significant changes in wildlife habi-tat. Species that are already on the cusp of extinction, including Sonoran prong-horn and many of our native fishes, may be moved closer to the edge as their habitat changes or disappears. The human habitat is also changing as the resources on which we depend are affected.

This issue of Canyon Echo includes in-formation about Arizona’s climate – how it’s changing, effects, and, most importantly, what can be done. Climate has made Ari-zona what it is, from the weather to the land-

scapes to the wildlife to the job opportuni-ties and so much more. As awareness and understanding grow, people are standing up to fight for what matters to them, and they are taking action in their own lives to make a difference.

As Bob Dylan so eloquently said, “…please heed the call…for the times, they are a-changin’.”

LEFT: Solar panels on a home. Photo by Kurt Florman. RIGHT: Smart transportation choices. Photo by Mike Brady. BOTTOM: Pronghorn are one species affected by climate change. Photo by Scott Sprague.

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2 SierraClub GrandCanyonChapter

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Canyon EchoSpring 2012 Vol. 48 No. 2

Canyon Echo © 2012. Canyon Echo (ISSN 0164-7024) is published quarterly for Sierra Club mem-bers by the Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter, 202 E. McDowell Rd., Ste. 277, Phoenix, AZ 85004. Phone: 602-253-8633, Fax: 602-258-6533. Printed at Valley Newspapers.

Front page banner designed by Erika Gronek.

Printedon100%recycledpaperwithsoyink.

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

DEDICATED VOLUNTEERSOutings Editor: Jerry Nelson

602-279-4668, [email protected]

Mailing Organizers: Bill Gill, Jerry Nelson

Publications Committee: Priscilla Benbrook, Jon Findley, Kurt Florman,

Chris Gehlker, Tricia Gerrodette, Renée Guillory, Tyler Kokjohn, Jerry Nelson,

Carole Piszczek-Sheffield, Mike Smith

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

Webmaster:Dawson [email protected]

SUBSCRIPTIONS: Annual dues to the Sierra Club are $39 (including $1 for Canyon Echo). Subscription rate for non-members is $10. Send check payable to Sierra Club - Canyon Echo, 202 E. McDowell Rd., Ste. 277, Phoenix, AZ 85004.

ADVERTISING: Advertising is sold on a first-come, space-available basis. The editor reserves the right to re-fuse any advertisements, and inclusion of advertisements does not imply endorsement by the Sierra Club. All in-teractions between advertisers and consumers are solely the responsibilities of those parties.

SUBMISSIONS: Send electronic or hard copies to the editor (include a S.A.S.E. for return of hard copies). In-dicate 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 the 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. Periodicals 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 CoordinatorDan Millis 520-620-6401 [email protected] Sentinels Program CoordinatorSteve Pawlowski 602-254-9330 [email protected] Southwest Regional OfficeRob Smith 602-254-8362 [email protected]

CHAPTER OFFICES & COMMITTEE CHAIRSChairperson: Ken Langton (xc) 520-749-3829 [email protected]/Delegate: Elna Otter (xc) 520-212-9736 [email protected]: Sharon Fairchild 602-997-1178 [email protected]: David McCaleb (xc) 602-840-7655 [email protected]: Jenny Roberts (xc) 480-488-2256 [email protected]: Don Steuter (xc) 602-956-5057 [email protected]: Jim Vaaler (xc) 602-553-8208 [email protected]: Cynthia Pardo 928-380-9175 [email protected]: Doug Mings 480-628-2481 [email protected] (At-Large): Keith Bagwell (xc) 520-623-0269 [email protected]

Bev Full (xc) 480-221-2554 [email protected] Martin (xc) 928-558-0742 [email protected]

Palo Verde: Mike Brady Saguaro: Bob MoorePlateau: Cynthia Pardo Sedona/Verde Valley: Carole Piszczek-SheffieldRincon: Randy Serraglio Yavapai: Tom Slaback

2012 Group Voting Representatives to Chapter Ex-Com:

(xc) 2012 Chapter Executive Committee (Ex-Com) members

Chapter AnnouncementsAPR 2, MAY 7, JUN 4 (MON) 6:30 p.m. Political Committee meetings. Are you interested in helping change the political direction the state is taking? Your voice for reason and recognition of the role of conservation can be even louder if you participate in our Po-litical Committee! This is the most important time to get involved. For more information or to talk about ways you can help preserve our state, contact Doug Mings at 480-628-2481 or [email protected].

APR 24, MAY 22, JUN 26 (TUE) 6 p.m. Energy Committee gatherings. Discussions, programs, and field trips will encompass various energy activities, including 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. Specific time and location will be announced online or via email. To be added to our list or to get more information, please contact Jon Findley at 480-756-2916 or [email protected].

MAY 2 (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]. All meetings conducted via Skype/phone.

MAY 23 (WED) 6:30 p.m. Wildlife Committee 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 Rebecca DeWitt at (602) 405-9060 or [email protected] or our chapter office at (602) 253-8633 or [email protected].

JUN 1 (FRI) Copy deadline for Summer 2012 Canyon Echo. Theme is “Cacti and Cienegas.” 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 27 (WED) 1–5 p.m. (stop by anytime) Canyon Echo Mailing Party. Volunteers save the Chapter hundreds of dollars by prepar-ing 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 avail-able is appreciated. Contact Jerry Nelson at 602-279-4668 or [email protected] or Bill Gill at [email protected] for details.

Tucson

Prescott

Flagstaff

PALO VERDE

YAVAPAI

SEDONA/ VERDE VALLEY

Phoenix

PLATEAU

SAGUARO

RINCON

GRAND CANYONCHAPTER





Spring2012 CanyonEcho 3


2 Chapter Announcements

4 Letters to the PubCom

5 Thank You!

6 CO2-Free Electricity?

7 Solar Savings

8 Climate and the Colorado River

9 Citizen Scientists

10 Grand Canyon Threats

11 Rosemont Mine Update

12 Group Happenings

14 Hikes and Outings

16 Service Outings

Grand Canyon Chapter – What’s Going On?

Help Raise Funds for Conservation! Shop at Buffalo Exchange to Support Sierra Club

The Grand Canyon Chapter of the Sierra Club has been chosen as a recipient in Buffalo Exchange’s Tokens For Bags® program. Buffalo Exchange donates to local nonprofit agencies in the community through Tokens for

Bags, which has generated nearly $399,000 for hundreds of nonprofits since 1994, saving 8 million bags.

What do you need to do? Sierra Club is a featured charity from January–June 2012 at the Tempe location (227 W. University Dr., Tempe). When shopping at this location, you just need to accept a token instead of a bag for your purchases. Buffalo Exchange then donates $0.05 to the featured charity of your choice. Just let them know you’d like to support us!

Find out more about Buffalo Exchange and the Tokens for Bags program at http://www.buffaloexchange.com.

Getting to Know Your Chapter Staff

Dan MillisBorder Conservation Program Coordinator

Volunteers Needed!

We are digitizing past issues of Canyon Echo and need your help. If you have some time to spare, are able to come to our Phoenix office, and have some computer skills, please consider helping us out!

For more information, please con-tact Tiffany Sprague at 602-253-9140 or [email protected].

Whether we’re talking about global warming, politics, or where we grew up, climate matters.

I was fortunate enough to spend my childhood among the pines on Mars Hill in Flagstaff. My dad worked at Lowell Observatory (for 41 years!), and my mom would give the neighbor kids, my brother, and me a ride to school each morning on her way to Flag High, where she taught math.

Once that bell rang, however, it was up to us “Observatory Kids” to hoof it back up that damn hill. As we trudged our way up the slope, praying for a ride, I don’t think we knew how good we had it. Who else gets to toss pinecones and walk single-track trails flanked by wildflowers every weekday?

Living on that high-altitude hill gave me lungs and legs that came in handy during Boy Scout hikes through Grand Canyon. It also gave me an idea of what it’s like to be the little guy. Until I was 10, the other half-dozen kids on the hill were at least three years my senior. The abuse was pretty mild, but it made me pay attention as I grew older when I saw people and places being picked on. It may have also played a role in ill-advised ascents of Sedona’s flaky sandstone spires or in hatching the Camp-Verde-to-Phoenix-in-a-kayak idea (I can’t believe I survived either!).

While studying abroad in Chile for a year, I found myself the brunt of many jokes during the 2000 election. I decided to finally educate myself about the U.S. electoral and political systems. I became more aware of how national and global happenings affect people on the ground, and I became more involved in efforts to improve people’s lives by pushing for better policies.

Working with the Sierra Club has perhaps been the most educational experience of my life. The Club has given me tools to reach out to a vast network of passionate and engaged people all across the U.S. The volunteers of the Grand Canyon Chapter and the Bor-derlands Team inspire and direct my daily work to protect wildlife and wild places along the border.

Sometimes I feel like we are still walking up Mars Hill. We enjoy the unmatched beauty of our forest, desert, or riparian climates while trudging our way up the exhausting, sometimes impossibly steep slopes of the political climate. Eventually, together, we’ll get there.

Dan Millis biking the Sweetwater trail system near Tucson. Photo by Alex Viktora.

Arizona Centennial Conference Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort

11111 N. 7th St., PhoenixApril 18–22, 2012

An Official Centennial Event, this conference will cel-ebrate Arizona’s 100th year of statehood. Join us for a unique opportunity for people to share their love and appreciation for the Grand Canyon State’s cultural and natural resources.

On Friday, April 20, Sandy Bahr will be presenting The 100-plus Year History of Environmental Conservation in Arizona Through the Eyes of the Si-erra Club. The Sierra Club will also have an information table throughout the conference.

For more information, please visit http:// arizonacentennial.org/nav_registration.php or con-tact 480-420-4601 or [email protected].

http://arizonacentennial.org/nav_registration.php



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.

Cast of Characters

Cynthia PardoYouth in Action

Letters to the PubCom

Born in Miami, Florida, this first generation Mexican-Ameri-can grew up in Tucson. After arriving in Flagstaff about six years ago, Cynthia became involved in environmental issues when she joined the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at Coconino Community Col-lege and became active developing projects to improve the local Flag-staff community, such as litter cleanups with the City of Flagstaff Sustainability Program and helping get community glass recycling on and off campus.

Cynthia began an internship with Sierra Club in the summer of 2010 with Stacey Hamburg, then with the Grand Canyon Protec-tion Campaign, and Andy Bessler, Beyond Coal and Community Partnerships. She is now actively involved with the Plateau Group, chairs the chapter’s Membership Committee, volunteers with the Sierra Student Coalition, and works closely with student and lo-cal community organizations. She is also a former Youth in Action AmeriCorps volunteer.

As if all her volunteer work was not enough, Cynthia holds two jobs: Outreach Coordinator and Office Manager with Friends of Flagstaff ’s Future, a local non-profit environmental and social justice advocacy organization, and Field Director for Northern Arizona for a northern Arizona congressional candidate.

With an ingrained spirit of community service, Cynthia enjoys working on developing community partnerships and enhancing youth involvement in environmental activism. Cynthia notes, “This builds a stronger local community and sup-ports environmental conservation of Flagstaff and our surrounding areas.” Cynthia is thrilled to be surrounded by national monuments and parks like Grand Canyon and its watersheds and wants these lands to be free of uranium mining, air tours, invasive species, and pollution.

“I really enjoy supporting efforts to build community partnerships and transition initiatives to move our communities off of coal and onto cleaner renewable energy sources like wind and solar. I also feel strongly about native rights, promoting environmental and social justice in our poor and minority communities, and working with political leaders and progressive organizations to fight for equality in our courts and for transparency in our governments.”

When she gets a chance, Cynthia enjoys reading, hiking, attending lectures, going to coffee houses and book stores, helping others, volunteering, watching movies, cooking, and engaging in political discourse. When she is not riding her bike to commute, you may find her visiting museums and national parks, traveling, camping, and learning and trying new things. Oh, and Cynthia has two dogs, a couple of rescue birds, and a fish.

We are impressed with this dynamic, intelligent young woman and enjoy working with her as she continues on her creative pathway in a wide number of environmental and community activities.

Cynthia Pardo. Photo by Leonel Pardo.

Dear Publications Committee,I’m going out on a limb here and writing a letter. I want

to see if you really mean it about wanting to know what readers think.

So I read the Echo online like you tell people to do and, let’s face it, it’s friggin’ beautiful. And I think to myself, okay, you’re doing good here. But I have to wonder about the people who don’t. I mean, it makes sense to not use so much paper anymore. And using all that ink and stuff can’t be too good. Then there’s the gas, oil, and other smuck used to get the paper stuff to actual readers! It’s gotta cost a lot, right?

Anyway, I’m throwing the gauntlet here. I’d like to see people who identify themselves as Sierra Club, environmental, do-gooders to act like they mean it. If you say you worry about waste, oil, energy, climate change, and all that stuff, let’s see you – I’m talking readers out there – try reading stuff like the Echo online. Say, for a year. How hard would that be? Seriously?

Anyway, like the old cereal commercial said, “Try it; you’ll like it.” I’m just saying.

–Curious Reader – online, of course

To Grand Canyon Chapter PubCom,

RE: “Question: Should We Conserve Energy or Be More Efficient? Answer: YES!” by Jon Findley (Canyon Echo, Winter 2012)

Mr. Findley makes a strong case that proactive adoption of new energy technologies may entail some worthwhile monetary sacrifice by consumers. I agree but feel that his article understated the potential immediate benefits of such actions. It is important to recognize that the highly profitable petroleum industry receives multi-billion-dollar subsidies from the American taxpayer directly. Other costs associated with our dependence on foreign oil are underwritten in less obvious ways. Viewed from this perspective, new technologies may already be far more economically competitive than they appear at first glance.

–Tyler Kokjohn

Do you have something to say about Canyon Echo or some-thing in it? Share your thoughts with the Publications Com-mittee! Send your letter to [email protected]. (Note: Not all letters will be printed in the newsletter.)

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Thank You to Our Donors!Make the Mountains Glad ($100–499)Patricia & Briggs AckertBarbara AllgoodSandy Bahr & David KommPaul BarbyDinah BearStephen Coons & Karen SauerMark & Ronda FiskGallina FranzEd GogekPaul GolabJ. Grossman & H. MechanicJoy & Dave Herr-CardilloM. Hughes & A. MarshallThomas HulenStephen R. JohnstonKenneth P. LangtonSusan LockwoodHeather MarshallEd & Debbi McCulloughRoger McManusCary W. MeisterMichelle MeyerDuane & Margaret MorseJeff PeltzBob RiehleJohn SampanesSonja StupelJose UrdanetaDale & Christine VolzJeff WilliamsonVivian Wood

Keep Close to Nature’s Heart ($50–99)Joseph ActonStuart & Cindy AltBarbra H. BarnesShawn BatesRichard BaucomDeron BealJean ClarkM. A. CookKathy CooperMark CoryellJohn DotyTrina Howard FeldmanJames & Nancy ForemanVicky & Mark FosterAnne GeoffrionTricia GerrodettePaul R. Gordon & Eve ShapiroGloria GuilloryDr. & Mrs. Norman P HansonSusan HassenbuschSteev HiseRebecca HoustonBetty & Earle HoytLee R. HutchinsJ. Kay Johnson & W. TowlerRobert G. KahlMartha A. KimballTyler KokjohnDavid LangebartelMatt McWenieItalia Millan

Jeanne Miyasaka & Joseph RyanJody PelusiJon RadtkeSandra RooneyMarty RuppBarrie RyanRobin & Robert SalthouseB. Schneider & S. M. KovarikDaniel & Lois ScottRandy SerraglioJohn SilvesterMatt SkrochMichelle Pulich StewartF. Stoller & W. GrabeWilliam ThorntonTom TimmerClague Van SlykeAlex ViktoraBarb WarrenFranke Watson, IIJean M. WhiteLiz Wise

Hitched to Everything Else in the Universe ($1–49)Dorothy AugustValentina BarchukovaLeueen BelangerKenneth J. BiermanBruce BilderKerry BlumeMary BolgerDave Bowersock

Arizona is celebrating its 100th year of statehood this year. What better way to celebrate the centennial than through support of conservation efforts, including those we work on in your Grand Canyon (Arizona) Chapter.

In 2011, your support was crucial. With our strong partners, we succeeded in winning protection for more than one million acres of public lands near Grand Canyon from new mining. Our Arizona Water Sentinels program expand-ed its work to the San Pedro River and engaged more volun-teers in advocacy for the Verde. We connected with youth in projects to remove invasive weeds, build homes for burrow-ing owls and prairie dogs, and more. Our chapter generated strong support for reducing noisy air tours at Grand Canyon and engaged hundreds of people throughout the country in learning more about the threats to sensitive borderlands and wildlife. Despite an all-out assault on environmental protec-tions in the 2011 Arizona Legislature, we were able to turn back the worst bills. Our energy work helped fend off waiv-ers and other measures to stop clean energy programs and to weaken both the energy efficiency and renewable energy standards. In addition to all that, our volunteers led hikes

We face huge challenges in Arizona’s 100th year. To help with those, two generous individuals are matching every donation made, up to $7,500.

Thank you!

Warm regards,Sandy BahrChapter Director

Jan BuckwalterLisa & Tom CambronTim CullisonNorman & Shirley DavisJeanne DevineNick DeyoPaul DuckorEarlham CollegeSheryl EatonLorraine EwbankKathryn FergusonSandra J. FieteMike J. FranczakRobert FrostMark Hayduke GrenardHoward GrindlingerRenee GuilloryKathryn HeidepriemMarta HereroKris HoltGeorge HornPamela W. HydeSteve & Marta KetchelBernard KobesJonathan H. KressStanley & Esther LewinPat LewisJohn LippertLynn MarcusMiguel J. MargaridaOttilie R. & J. Boyd Matchett

Lazaro Medrano VelesKaren & Cecil MichaelHarry MitchellScott MittelsteadtRod MondtCarleton MooreD. W. Mount & J. D. HallBeth A. OttersteinCarol S. ParksCaroline PatrickWalter PennVenita M. PlazewskiLisa RickerAllison RindgeHelene RollinsMarcia RunnbergJim ScheefRicky SchulzeRobert SchwarzJames M. SheaRita SmallingEdwin SwansonR. Michael TaylorPaula TrahanPisamai & Harold VogelaarMargaret WeesnerMelinda Weisser-LeeJohn & Lorraine WestMr & Mrs S. J. WilliamsonDonna D. YoderGabriel P. Zinsli

and other trips throughout Arizona, enabling hun-dreds of people to experience the wondrous lands of the Grand Canyon State.

In 2012, we are continuing our efforts to en-sure thriving populations of Mexican gray wolves, California condors, desert tortoises, and other spe-cies at risk; protect the remaining old growth forests in the Kaibab National Forest and defeat destruc-tive logging proposals; safeguard sensitive border lands from ineffective and harmful infrastructure; and promote protections of Arizona’s waters, in-cluding the San Pedro, Verde, and Salt rivers.

We are also working to fend off the Arizona Legislature’s efforts to weaken, repeal, or rescind environ-mental protections on just about every level. Despite strong public support for protection of public lands, parks, and wildlife, legislators are promoting damaging activities, enact-ing exemptions from environmental laws, and eliminating standards that merely line the pockets of a few in the short-term at the expense of the rest of us, future generations, and other species.

Celebrate Arizona’s Centennial With ConservationSupport Your Grand Canyon Chapter! When you make a donation to our chapter,

you support the Sierra Club’s work in your own backyard. You allow us to continue our work to protect wilderness and wildlife, to improve the quality of life in our cities, to curb global climate change, and to promote the enjoyment of nature.

Donations to the Sierra Club are not tax-deductible.

Donate online at http://arizona.sierraclub.org or by mail toSierra Club – Grand Canyon Chapter

202 E. McDowell Rd., Ste. 277Phoenix, AZ 85004

Support Your Local Sierra Club



So you’ve heard of CO2-emission-free

nuclear energy? Carbon-free solar and wind? Greenhouse-gas-free hydro/dam energy?

You may have heard of them, but they don’t exist. Not as emissions-free, carbon-free, CO

2-free, nor greenhouse gas-free, they

don’t. These methods of producing energy all require steps that produce CO

2.

Hey, Bud, Where Can I Go for CO2-Free Electricity? By Russell Lowes

Take a dam, for instance. It is impor-tant to add up all the energy that goes into an electricity source. This embedded energy, when compiled, goes into what is called a life-cycle analysis (or LCA). The way to the total all the CO

2 produced by a

dam would be to add up the energy it takes to cre-ate and manage the dam and to then decommis-sion the dam and that pile of muck behind the dam. That would

include manufacturing of the cement and steel, drilling and earthmoving and other site preparation, and muck control.

For coal electricity, the embedded ener-gy costs, with its attendant CO

2 production,

are as follows: 1) mining the coal (powered by oil energy); 2) preparing the coal to burn, for example pulverizing (oil); 3) burning the

coal (coal, obviously); 4) cleaning some of the pollutants from the emitting smoke (a mix of coal and electrical energy from the largely coal-based grid); 5) cleaning the solid wastes like coal ash (a mix of energy); 6) building the plant that produces the electric-ity (largely oil energy); 7) running the plant with water pumping, lighting, etc. (grid elec-tricity); and 8) decommissioning the plant at its production completion (largely oil).

For other fossil plants like natural gas and oil, the same eight steps are there, with slight description changes.

For nuclear energy, there are 20 distinct steps of the lifecycle; 18 of these steps are CO

2-emitting. They include mining, mill-

ing, conversion of the milled “yellowcake” into a gaseous state, enriching the fuel, re-converting it back into a solid, and 15 more steps.

How do you measure this? CO2 grams/

kilowatt-hour. CO2 output can be stated in

terms of how much CO2 in grams is emit-

ted by the lifecycle of each energy source per kilowatt-hour of electricity.

Emissions from Different Electric Options

There are hundreds of lifecycle studies on different options. Here is an estimate of the CO

2 that is emitted by

our main electricity options. • Coal – 960g of CO

2/kWh

• Nuclear – 120g short-term, 1000s of grams long-term (over 1 million years of waste management)

• Natural gas from gas fields – 450g, plus the methane CO

2 equivalent,

totaling hundreds more• Solar photovoltaic – 35g, recently

reduced to about 25g due to im-provements in efficiencies

• Wind – 10g• Energy efficiency (saving energy

through technological improve-ments) – less than 5g on average

The more you look at electricity, the more it becomes apparent that energy effi-ciency tops the list of options, followed by more sustainable renewables like solar and wind.

Russ is the Rincon Group’s Energy Chair.

Smokestacks. Photo by Dori.

Climate Change in Our BrainsBy Gary Beverly

Gary is the Yavapai Group’s Vice-Chair.

Our climate is changing. Regional cli-mate changes in the Colorado River basin are projected to include temperature increases of 2–8 degrees Fahrenheit and 8–11% reduced runoff by the end of the century. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the area of high-est U.S. annual temperature increase ranges from southern Nevada through much of Arizona and southeastern Utah. Diverse climate models predict that severe drought cycles and extreme weather variations will become the climatic norm. Environmental effects include increased wildfires, habitat movements, phenology modifications, and changing biotic susceptibility to insects and disease.

Arizona, we have a problem. Decades of study by thousands of scien-

tists worldwide, multiple lines of evidence, and intense peer review have produced overwhelming scientific consensus that

global temperatures are rising due to human activity. The problem is that most Ameri-cans don’t believe it, and many believe that scientists have falsified research. American skepticism contrasts with the predominant European view that climate change is a se-rious problem. What accounts for this vast difference in understanding?

Scientists are trained to avoid bias in de-signing experiments and interpreting data. They disclose the uncertainties and limits in their work. They avoid public debate and controversy. They are generally inept public communicators. They are fat targets for the deniers of climate change.

Science journalists are supposed to trans-late science to the masses. There are excellent science journalists at national newspapers, but most public information on climate change comes from the web and broadcast media where stories emphasize conflict and controversy over facts. The result is that one

wacky denier gets equal coverage with thou-sands of scientists. The louder the message, the “truthier” it becomes. People believe what they hear, and American media broad-casts disproportionately more news coverage of deniers than does Europe, thus the differ-ence in public attitudes.

Deniers are predominantly political conservatives. Using conservative media, they skillfully frame messages targeted to the moral values wired into the conserva-tive brain. They have successfully politicized a scientific issue, making fact appear to be partisan opinion. The deniers are masters at public relations.

Conservationists, on the other hand, hope that people will make the right deci-sions based on the facts. This hasn’t worked so far and it won’t work in the future because all our brains – conservationists and deniers alike – use a complex mix of internal psy-chology and learned moral values to reach

decisions. Not “just facts.” For example, our instinctive avoidance of fear, pain, and disaster surfaces as a psychological response: repression and denial. Our brains are suckers for deniers’ implications of fear, uncertainty, and doubt. No wonder conservationists are losing the political battle to mitigate climate change!

Conservationists need new climate change messages that effectively address both our innate psychology and our learned moral values. Repeating the facts and argu-ing with deniers simply won’t work. We can, and must, work smarter! The knowledge and principles are well understood. For a psychological analysis, see http://tinyurl.com/yej6xfn. For moral values discussions, watch Jonathon Haidt (http://tinyurl.com/bt99q7l) and George Lakoff (http://tinyurl.com/6xww2m).

http://tinyurl.com/yej6xfn

http://tinyurl.com/bt99q7l

http://tinyurl.com/bt99q7l

http://tinyurl.com/6xww2m

http://tinyurl.com/6xww2m



The SunZia Saga ContinuesBy Elna Otter

Elna is involved with the Cascabel Working Group.

Bob is an 80-year-old retired electrical engineer.

The move to photovoltaic (solar) elec-trical energy generation in private residences is blossoming in Arizona. PV panels are ap-pearing on a growing number of rooftops in my neighborhood. When the sun beams down on our PV panels, we are making money.

My 5-kilowatt system was activated in early September 2011 and, in the first four months, has produced over 3,000 kilowatt-hours of energy...this in spite of an unusually cloudy and rainy autumn. Annual savings on our electric bill are estimated to be at least $1,000 to $1,200.

Our local electric utilities are still offer-ing significant rebates, nearly $7,000 for a typical 5-kilowatt residential PV system. Ad-ditionally, the federal government gives a tax credit of about 30% of your net system cost, plus the state of Arizona gives a flat $1,000 tax credit. Solar contractors often offer a cash discount up to about 20% (don’t be afraid to negotiate). The net cost to the homeowner is

High Noon Comes Every DayOffering Saving$ to Homeowners

By Robert Hymer

in the range of $8,000 to $10,000, depend-ing on your chosen contractor’s bid.

Most people who might be interested in solar ask me about savings each month and the length of the payback period? Most older folks assume their advanced age precludes ever realizing payback. I believe that asking the time to achieve payback is not the opti-mum question and that one’s age is actually not a very significant factor. Here’s why.

The financial picture comes into clearer view from these three separate factors:1. Naturally, what are the current annual

savings on electricity?2. Considering electricity costs generally

increase 5% each year, annual savings will inflate in the future. Imagine your electric bill in five years!

3. How much more will your house be worth having a PV system installed? An instant boost in home equity is typically realized upon installation. I believe the increase in home equity alone is enough

to essentially offset the entire net system cost, making the PV system an over-night profit center rather than a cost item.These three factors make PV systems a

cost-effective and safe investment, immune to the gyrations of stock markets or savings interest rate variations.

Some folks ask about homeowner in-surance increases to cover the value of a PV system. I increased my home insurance to

cover my out-of-pocket PV costs, and the insurance premium increased by only $20 per year.

The value of improving our environ-ment is the other important basis to make good use of the sun’s gift to us.

Finally, PV technology has advanced tremendously. The systems operate auto-matically without any homeowner interven-tion. Install it and forget about it.

Solar on the Hymer home. Photo by Bob Hymer.

The SunZia saga started in 2007 with a Southwestern Power Group (SWPG) pro-posal to have a “clean coal-fired” power plant in the small town of Bowie, Arizona. Efforts to get a license for this project failed. The Cochise County Board of Supervisors then gave SWPG a permit to build a natural gas plant at the site. SWPG and SunZia are re-ally two elements of the same company.

Two 500-kV lines, with about 160-foot-tall towers, are proposed from central New Mexico to near Coolidge for “Western Pow-er Markets.” Three routes are under consid-eration in Arizona: one on either side of the San Pedro and one at the edge of Aravaipa Canyon. There has been active resistance to any of these proposed routes on the part of environmentalists, San Pedro River Valley residents, ranchers, and more. Meanwhile, quite a few residents and at least one envi-ronmental organization have been swayed because of sympathy toward a general goal of transporting renewable energy through this line.

When it became clear that the only way to save the valley was by fighting the proj-ect itself, valley residents began looking at SunZia’s claims carefully. They found some questionable information. First, there is little

need to transport renewable energy from New Mexico to “Western Power Markets.” California claims to be pro-ducing enough by itself.

Second, there is the renewable aspect. The Bureau of Land Manage-ment (BLM) accepted all of SunZia’s renewable claims, but those turned out to have been misleading. Lo-cal Natural Resource Conservation Districts filed an Information Qual-ity Act request to the BLM over that support. The failure of the BLM to respond is still being appealed.

Third, as seems to be almost universally the case these days, the claims for the number of jobs that the project will bring to the area are hugely inflated. These claims generally

multiply the jobs by the anticipated years, so what one has are “man-years,” although this is not explicitly stated. Further, they add in services that the workers might use, along with the labor going into the construction

materials – which can include labor outside the U.S.

One more misleading item ought to be mentioned. You may recall the now-bank-rupt Solyndra loan for $535 million that caused such uproar. SunZia is the potential recipient of a similar $250 million loan (be-fore the project was evaluated, approved, or even a route selected), presumably on its re-newable credentials. However, publicly, the company is very proud of the fact that it has not accepted “one red cent” of taxpayers’ money (yet). A very fine distinction indeed.

Look for telltale characteristics in big proposals such as this: misrepresentation of renewable energy benefits and environmen-tal desirability, hugely inflated claims of jobs, and the desire to streamline.

Visit http://cascabelworkinggroup.org/SZhome.html for details. Please also consid-er joining us for an April 28th naturalist-led walk along the San Pedro (see outings sec-tion on pg. 15).

The endangered Southwestern willow flycatcher, one of many species threatened by the SunZia project.

Photo by Jim Rorabaugh, USFWS.



Sarah is a student of Environmental Sciences at Northern Arizona University. Alicyn is the Conservation Coordinator for the chapter’s Grand Canyon Protection Campaign.

Squeezing More Water from a Smaller Colorado RiverBy Sarah Johnson and Alicyn Gitlin

Climate predictions for the Colorado River water supply are all bad: longer, hot-ter summers will increase evaporation; more rain and less snow in the Rockies means more runoff and less retention in regional soils; earlier spring will cause earlier snow-melt, increasing evaporation in reservoirs.

During the last decade, demand for Colorado River supply exceeded river in-flows. People use more water when it’s hot-ter and drier, so the changing climate will exacerbate demand. While the wiser among us try to reduce consumption, several new water projects are being planned to compete for the shrinking supply. These are some of the biggest plans for the Colorado River and its tributaries, upstream of Grand Canyon:Lake Powell Pipeline

This pipeline could pump 86,000 acre-feet of water from Lake Powell to Utah through 133 miles of pipe. The unelected Washington County Water Conservancy District runs the project and proposes a new state sales tax to cover the $1.4–$2.7 billion cost. Utah’s citizens will need to vote on the new sales tax in order for the pipeline to pro-ceed.Blue Castle Nuclear

The right to 53,600 acre-feet of Green River water was awarded to Blue Castle Holdings for a proposed nuclear power plant five miles from Green River, Utah. If

constructed, this project puts at risk endan-gered Colorado pikeminnow, humpback chub, and bonytail and razorback sucker habitat. The plant would need large reser-voirs to ensure a safe shut down and must plan for water supply interruptions. Flaming Gorge Pipeline

After the Army Corps of Engineers turned down this project to divert 25% of the Green River 560 miles across Wyoming, over the Continental Divide, to Colorado’s front range, applicant Aaron Million added hydropower components and called it an en-ergy project. He then applied to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The Sierra Club was part of a coalition of 10 conservation groups that intervened to stop the project. FERC denied the permit. Victory! Western Navajo Pipeline

A plan for a pipeline from Lake Pow-ell to serve the western Navajo Nation has been proposed but is not currently moving forward. This pipeline could include a cost share with municipalities, such as the City of Flagstaff, so that water could be sold to de-fray costs. That means extra water would be sucked out of the Colorado River unneces-sarily. This plan may resurface in the future.The Navajo-Gallup Pipeline

The Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Proj-ect will deliver 7,500 acre-feet of San Juan

River water through 280 miles of pipe to western New Mexico. More than 40% of the Navajo Nation has to haul water many miles for drinking, shower-ing, and agriculture. Two water treatment facilities, 24 pumping stations, and pipeline construction will cost about $870 million. We hope that special measures will be fol-lowed to reduce impact on Colorado pikemin-now, razorback sucker, southwestern willow flycatcher, and the Mesa Verde cactus, and the extra use should be compensated with reductions for other users.

Get Involved!

To get involved in protecting the Colorado River through Grand Canyon, contact Alicyn Gitlin at 928-774-6514 or [email protected].

The Colorado River snakes through Grand Canyon. Photo by Mike Dege.

Spring 2012 Canyon Echo 9


Citizen Scientists Study Contaminated SoilsBy Doris Cellarius

Doris leads the Sierra Club Activist Network Contaminated Communities Project.

Most of us take for granted that a home garden is a safe place to grow our favorite vegetables. This is not true at some min-ing waste sites in the West where dust from smelters and runoff from mines have con-taminated residential soils.

At the Iron King Superfund site in Dewey-Humboldt, Arizona, some yards have excessive levels of lead and arsenic. Some have already had the soils removed, and more are slated for removal. Residents in this rural community have gardened for years, and many wanted to know if garden-ing could continue. To learn how to do this safely, University of Arizona (UA) doctoral student Monica Ramirez-Andreotta, work-ing with their Superfund Research Program, created Gardenroots, a citizen science proj-ect to educate and empower communi-ties living near contaminated sites. Monica recently received a national award for this project (http://bit.ly/SRPaward).

In Dewey-Humboldt, local gardeners collaborated with Monica to learn how to garden safely. It was a two-part effort con-sisting of local residential gardening and UA laboratory scientific studies of water, soils,

and samples of harvested crops provided by the local gardeners. The program began with education about the scientific methods for determining the levels of metals in their wa-ter, soils, and crops. Their “Gardenroots In-structional Manual” explained the care that must be taken to minimize contamination. Step-by-step details were provided describ-ing sampling locations, number of samples, depth of sampling, amount of sample, stor-age, preservation, etc. Each participant also received a kit with all the necessary tools and sampling supplies to properly collect and store samples of their soils. Additionally, Monica collected residential soil samples that were used in a greenhouse study at the UA to determine uptake of arsenic and lead. In this controlled environment, bush bean, let-tuce, radish, and onion were grown in three different soils mixtures with varying arsenic and lead concentrations. You can learn more at their website: http://garden-roots.org.

After the gardeners harvested crops and provided samples to the UA for analysis, a final meeting was held to distribute indi-vidual results. Monica and other experts explained health impacts that might occur

and how best to limit expo-sure if their own soils or water show contami-nation. Studies in Washington state have found that transfer of lead and arse-nic from soil to crops is minimal but that it does occur. If there is surface contam-ination, vigor-ous washing of hands and produce is important.

To respond to additional concerns community members have had about the contaminants found in the area, other Su-

Check out Sierra Club’s Contaminated Communities Project! Visit http://bit.ly/ContaminatedCommunities.

Gardenroots participants Bart Brush, Monica Ramirez-Andreotta, Karlo Harootunian, and Gene Morris. Photo by Edessa Carr.

An Update on the San PedroBy Elna Otter

The San Pedro River in February. Photo by Tiffany Sprague.

See San Pedro continued on pg. 12.

The San Pedro River Valley is home to a great diversity of wildlife and is a major flyway for neotropical birds that summer in the Western U.S. and Canada. A New York Times article explained the role of the river for migrating birds as analogous to that of restaurants along a freeway.

The San Pedro flows north from Mex-ico and eventually feeds into the Gila. Forty miles along its first half is protected by the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area (SPRNCA), which ends short of Inter-state 10. There are few protections north of the freeway, so the birds that avail themselves of the SPRNCA are then on their own. To date, the depletion of the water table has been the biggest threat to wildlife in this northern section. Trees along the river are dying, and the flow in the river is significantly down as a result of water use and the 10-year drought that many attribute to climate change.

Developers of various sorts have seen the area north of Benson as ripe for devel-opment. A proposed I-10 bypass through the valley didn’t work out. However, the proposed threat of twin 500-kV transmis-sion lines running the length of the valley remains – the Draft Environmental Impact Statement is proposed for mid-April.

Unfortunately, that’s not all. In Febru-ary, the Benson City Council passed a reso-lution supporting the location of a Federal Aviation Administration national test range in Benson for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)/drone development. It is expected that this development will attract hundreds of additional people to the area. So much for the water table!

Furthermore, the city engineer believes that the area north of Benson is an ideal loca-tion for UAS designation due to the amount of open space and lack of structures. Many

people are concerned that both human and wildlife might be bothered by the opera-tions. Any questioning of the project has already been characterized as un-American.

A ray of hope exists. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is exploring the

perfund Research scientists have been visit-ing Dewey-Humboldt to answer questions and find out if there is interest in additional studies.



Dick has worked for over 30 years to restore natural quiet to Grand Canyon. Rob is the Sierra Club’s Senior Organizing Manager based in Phoenix.

Grand Canyon Quiet Protection Advancing But Under AttackBy Dick Hingson and Rob Smith

A helicopter tour invades the natural quiet of Grand Canyon. Photo by Dennis Brownridge.

A classic high-stakes drama is playing out in tiny Tusayan, Arizona – popula-tion 550, give or take a few. Tusayan provides food and lodging to tourists bound for Grand Canyon, just two miles farther north.

Gruppo Stilo, an Ital-ian resort developer, wants to build an immense 3-mil-lion-square-foot high-end commercial mall, luxury re-sort, spa, hotel, dude ranch, condo, and housing project on land it has been buying up around Tusayan.

Stilo forged a partnership with Elling Halvorson, who owns Papillon Helicopters. Halvorson’s aerial tour businesses would benefit from an influx of visitors brought in by the proposed developments.

Impacts would profoundly affect the entire area, including Grand Canyon itself.

Money, Politics, and Tourism Development in Tusayan, AZBy Paul Jones

The national park is already struggling to accommodate 4.5 million tourists each year under continuing budget limitations.

The already-arid Four Corners region is projected to become even drier in coming decades. Existing water supplies are a major concern. Massive development so close to the park would reduce flows in natural seeps

and springs within the canyon. It would also displace wildlife from breeding areas and travel corridors and inhibit their ability to move freely to adapt to antici-pated climate changes.

Stilo pushed two incor-poration drives in Tusayan to gain greater local control. High-powered attorneys and political strategy consultants were mo-bilized, but long-established Tusayan business-owners and others mounted a determined re-sistance. The second attempt was approved in 2010, along with a

Town Council. These elections remain con-troversial, amid charges of voting fraud and outside political influence. All of the current Council have ties to Halvorson through em-ployment or other relationships, and poten-tial conflicts of interest seem everywhere.

Halvorson is no stranger to election controversy, having been implicated in fail-

ure to publicly disclose and report financial contributions to City Council candidates in two municipal elections in the Seattle area 10 years ago. He and his partners later agreed to pay substantial fines.

A May referendum on zoning changes the Council passed to allow Stilo-Halvorson developments to proceed is pending a court decision.

Related issues include a recent Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) proposal to expand the small Tusayan air-port, 90% of whose flights involve Halvor-son’s helicopter tour operations. ADOT had previously proposed closing the airport as a result of continuing operating losses.

Noise from canyon tour overflights has been an issue for years, prompting a mas-sive effort by the National Park Service (and thousands of citizens) to reduce helicopter noise within the canyon. Unexpected new legislation sponsored by Senator John Mc-

See Tusayan continued on pg. 13.

The national park entrance lies just north of Tusayan. Photo by Koen Vereeken.

The National Park Service (NPS) is nearing an April 30 release target for the long-delayed Grand Canyon Overflights Fi-nal Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), aimed at reducing air tour noise in Grand Canyon. The Record of Decision would fol-low at least 30 days later (possibly June).

Open resistance and jousting from the air tour industry and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) continues, includ-ing a last-ditch attempt by Senator John McCain (R-AZ) to derail the 25-year plan-ning process and the $10 million spent on it. McCain attempted to amend the Surface Transportation bill by adding a provision that eliminated entire classes of aircraft from inclusion in the noise analysis and, therefore, could have set back the entire effort to re-store natural quiet to the park.

The McCain amendment was soft-ened through the efforts of national park champion Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), although the Sierra Club still opposed it as unnecessary and potentially confusing. The

final version would allow the NPS planning process to move ahead, an important next step, but would still let noisy jet traffic to in-vade flight-free zones over the park.

At this writing, passage of the Trans-portation bill is in doubt, but a new threat to Grand Canyon quiet has emerged from Representative Paul Gosar (R-AZ). His bill, HR 4198, is cosponsored by other Republi-can members of Congress from Arizona, in-cluding Reps. Jeff Flake, David Schweikert, Trent Franks, and Ben Quayle.

The Gosar bill would lock into place the status quo of noisy air tours over Grand Canyon forever. It would undo two decades of NPS research and public involvement, including close to 30,000 comments on its recent draft EIS, most of which supported protection of the park’s natural quiet. The Sierra Club is joining numerous other con-servation and outdoor groups in opposition to this bill.

Meanwhile, we are urging the NPS to press ahead with protecting Grand Canyon’s

“eternal silence,” which is so integral to its glory and a core attribute of vast openness.

Stay tuned for updates as we approach the 25th anniversary of the National Park Overflight Act, the law that calls for restor-

ing natural quiet at Grand Canyon. To learn more and to enjoy an informative film – and to take action to protect Grand Canyon – go to http://bit.ly/GCoverflights.



Park Profile: McFarland State Historic ParkBy Bill Thornton

Lisa is with Save the Scenic Santa Ritas.

Bill is a board member of the Arizona Heritage Alliance.

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FOR RENT. 100 yr old river rock cabin, newly refurbished, in Cascabel AZ on the middle San Pedro River – for virtual tour, write up, and contact see http://www.realestateshows.com/385352. $40/night, $250/week. 520-212-0286

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COOL MOUNTAIN VACATIONS. Near Alpine, AZ. All-inclusive packages: delicious meals, wonderful rooms, day hikes OR rent the lovely, spacious home for self-catered vacation. Great for larger groups. www.charleysmtretreat.com 602.579.9310 [email protected]

It may not be the best known state park, but McFarland Historic Park in Flor-ence honors a great Arizonan and preserves a unique bit of Arizona history. It is also an example of the damage done by years of in-adequate funding and an inspiring story of a community that came together to save its park.

Earnest “Mac” McFarland first came to Arizona after naval service in World War I. After earning a law degree from Stanford, Mac started law practice in Florence, Arizo-na. He went on to serve as a Superior Court Judge, then was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1940 and re-elected in 1946. As senator, Mac is best remembered as co-author of the GI Bill of Rights that opened college doors to millions of World War II veterans.

In 1952, Mac narrowly lost his bid for a third Senate term to Barry Goldwater. He ran for and was elected governor in 1954 and was re-elected in 1956. As governor, he successfully argued Arizona’s case for a share of Colorado River water before the U.S. Su-preme Court and signed the bill creating a State Park System. In 1964, McFarland was named to the Arizona Supreme Court.

The park’s building, con-structed in 1878, is the oldest surviving courthouse in Arizona. When a larger courthouse was built in 1891, the adobe structure served as county hospital and pub-lic health center. In 1963, the Pinal County Historical Society ac-quired the building as a museum. In 1974, McFarland purchased and donated it to the Arizona State Parks Board.

Beginning in 2003, the legis-lature imposed a series of budget cuts that seriously impaired State Parks’ ability to maintain our parks. Historic structures, includ-ing McFarland, crumbled as the backlog of maintenance grew. By 2008, the building’s condition had deteriorated to the point that the park was closed.

Utilizing a Parks Heritage Fund grant of $600,000, major restoration was completed in Oc-tober 2009, but re-opening was delayed by budget cuts. In March 2010, the

Town of Florence began a partnership with the Main Street Program and State Parks to re-open the park. The $9,000 provided by the town proved a very good investment as park visitation increased 58%.

The closure and re-opening of McFar-land State Historic Park is a familiar story in Arizona communities. Their parks may not be profitable from admission fees, but residents of these communities are keenly aware that parks bring visitors and dollars. Local governments, historical societies, vol-unteer “friends” groups, and the Hopi Tribe have all worked to keep parks open and to re-open those that have closed. Their efforts are heroic but, in the long run, may not be sustainable without adequate state funding.

In the end, we will have the parks we are willing to work and pay for. Our legisla-tors need to be reminded how much parks mean to us and of their responsibility to act as good stewards. We must work to elect leg-islators who support parks and be prepared to support measures to properly fund them.

McFarland State Historic Park, bailiff’s view. Photo by Scott Jones.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) weighs in on the proposed Rosemont Mine.

In recent letters to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and to the U.S. For-est Service, the EPA outlined major flaws in the USACE’s 404 permit and in the Forest Service’s Draft Environmental Impact State-ment, both of which were issued for public review late in 2011.

The letter to the USACE, dated Feb-ruary 13, 2012, stated that deficiencies in a critical Clean Water Act permit “could pro-vide an adequate basis for permit denial.”

Rosemont Mine UpdateBy Lisa Froelich

The letter to the Forest Service, dated Feb. 21, 2012, said, “Based on the mag-nitude of the environmental impacts de-scribed…and the significant inadequacies of the document, EPA believes the project should not proceed as proposed.”

We expect it will be many months be-fore either agency issues a decision on these permits, but these letters from the EPA as well as thousands of comments from the public and other agencies submitted during the comment period for each permit will likely lead to additional analysis before any decisions are made.

Learn More!

For more information, please see Save the Scenic Santa Ritas’s website at http://www.scenicsantaritas.org or their Facebook page at

http://www.facebook.com/scenicsantaritas.



http://realestateshows.com/385352

http://www.ajourneyofdiscovery.com



Happenings Around the StateSix groups make up the Grand Canyon Chapter. All the events and meetings listed below are open to members interested in learning more about the Sierra Club. You can find out more at our website: http://arizona.sierraclub.org/meetings_events.asp. Schedules are subject to change. (x) Group Ex-Com members

Palo Verde Group (Phoenix)http://arizona.sierraclub.org/paloverde

Chair/Membership: Michael Brady (x) 480-250-4054 [email protected]: Fareed Abou-Haidar (x) 480-345-1779 [email protected]: Jerry Nelson (x) 602-279-4668 [email protected]: Blair McLaughlin (x) 602-618-8591 [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]: Ute Brady (x) 480-250-9716 [email protected] Justice: Gil Venable (x) 602-254-4574 [email protected] (At-Large): David McCaleb (x) 602-840-7655 [email protected]

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

Chair: Randy Serraglio (x) 520-784-1504 [email protected]: Keith Bagwell (x) 520-623-0269 [email protected]: Ken Bierman 520-661-7555 [email protected]: Roy Emrick (x) 520-326-7883 [email protected]: Russell Lowes (x) 520-321-3670 [email protected]: Mitch Stevens 520-991-1199 [email protected] City Outings: Judy Rubin 520-891-3310 [email protected]: Lee Oler 520-791-9246 [email protected]: Natalie Lucas (x) 928-600-7844 [email protected] (At-Large): Michelle Crow (x) 520-743-9958 [email protected]

Carl Kanun (x) 520-297-1128 [email protected] 3, MAY 1, JUN 5 (TUE) 6:30 p.m. Conservation Committee meetings. Contact Don Steuter. APR 10, MAY 8, JUN 12 (TUE) 6:30 p.m. Executive Committee meetings. Contact Mike Brady. Located in the 2nd floor conference room in the SE corner of the Quality Inn, 202 E. McDowell Rd., Phoenix.

The April and June programs will be in the Garden Room of the Quality Inn, 202 E. McDow-ell Rd., Phoenix. The May program will be at the Audubon Facility, 3131 S. Central Ave.,

Phoenix. FREE and open to the public. For more information, contact Ute Brady.

APR 17 (TUE) 6:30 p.m. The Ins and Outs of Inner City Outings. For many inner city children, getting into nature is seemingly impossible. We believe that every child should have an op-portunity to explore the wild, even if it is just for a day. Join Lisa Vaaler, Chair of the group’s Inner City Outings, to learn about this important program and what you can do to help inner-city kids get to hear the trees and the desert speak. Join us for a fun and informative evening to see how you can help make this happen.

MAY 15 (TUE) 6:30 p.m. Celebrate International Year of the Bat! Join us to celebrate Inter-national Year of the Bat (2012) and Endangered Species Day (May 18)! Bill Burger with the Arizona Game and Fish Department will lead us into the wonderful world of Arizona’s bats. Learn about the 28 mysterious bat species that call Arizona home, why they are important, and various aspects of bat management, including bat houses and management of aban-doned mines. Note change of location above.

JUN 19 (TUE) 6:30 p.m. Ocelots and Coatis and Bears, Oh My! East of Superior, AZ, an ocelot was found dead on the roadside. Was this an escaped illegal pet? An autopsy revealed that this was a wild ocelot. Is it an anomaly that an ocelot was found here? Or is this ocelot country? Ocelots have been spotted recently in the Huachuca Mountains near the Mexican border, in Cochise County, and now near Globe. Learn about ocelots and other wildlife threat-ened by the Resolution Mine in this captivating presentation by Roger Featherstone.

APR 26, MAY 31, JUN 28 (THU) Conservation Committee (6 p.m.) and Executive Commit-tee (7:15 p.m.) meetings. Located in the first floor conference room of the Historic YWCA, 738 N. Fifth Ave., Tucson. Open to the public. Sierra Club members, in particular, are urged to attend and to participate. Hope to see you there!

Programs are on the second Thursday of each month at SEIU, 1600 N. Tucson Blvd., Tucson. Free and open to the public. For more information, contact Keith Bagwell.

APR 12 (THU) 7 p.m. You Say You Want a Nuclear Waste Dump in Arizona? At least State Senator Al Melvin does, since he introduced a bill in the Senate this year to have a national nuclear waste dump developed here. We will take a look at the implications of Captain Al’s crazy plan. Would its one-time fee per ton of nuclear waste shipped here cover the millions of years of waste management that federal courts mandate? Come and find out from Rus-sell Lowes, who also will provide attendees with alternatives to Captain Al’s Loony Tunes bill.

MAY 10 (THU) 7 p.m. Wild Cats of the Southwest. We learn about the ecology and conser-vation status of our region’s mountain lions from Lisa Haynes, coordinator of the University of Arizona’s Wild Cat Research and Conservation Program. Lisa reveals the results of the lo-cal research projects of the UA Wild Cat Center and provides a brief overview of the region’s other three wild-cat species – bobcat, jaguar, and ocelot. She tells us how the Wild Cat Cen-ter is studying, and working to conserve, all 36 species of the world’s wild and beautiful cats.

JUN 14 (THU) 7 p.m. An Update on Global Climate Change. Elna Otter brings us the latest information on the status of global climate change. Based on the initial work of former Vice President Al Gore, Elna presents the most up-to-date information about the areas where we are gaining on climate change and those where we continue to fall dangerously behind. She reveals how the proposed Keystone XL pipeline would be a major step backward in the effort to halt and reverse climate change.

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

Chair/Political: Tom Martin (x) 928-558-0742 [email protected]: Jim McCarthy (x) 928-779-3748 [email protected]/Membership: Cynthia Pardo (x) 928-380-9175 [email protected]: Sharon Galbreath 928-774-1571 [email protected]: Marti Callahan (x) 928-525-9165 [email protected]: Jennifer Mitchell 9285238524 [email protected] (At Large): Steve McKellar (x) 928-526-4864 [email protected]

APR 9, MAY 14, JUN 11 (MON) 6:30 p.m. Monthly programs. Topics to be determined. For more information, please contact Sarah King at 928-266-0475 or [email protected].

San Pedro continued from pg. 9.

Elna is the chapter’s Vice-Chair.

feasibility of establishing a Collaborative Conservation Area, which would include an area two miles on either side of the San Pe-dro starting a few miles north of Benson and going all the way to the Gila. This venture would be landowner-driven; the USFWS could contribute an array of various tools that landowners could voluntarily and freely choose from, including no involvement, technical assistance, cooperative agreements for management, Partners for Fish and

Wildlife grants, conservation easements, or fee title acquisition by the USFWS for a na-tional wildlife refuge.

Despite the voluntary nature of partici-pation, many valley residents are fearful of federal intrusion. Others see this as a way to preserve wildlife and the “ranching way of life.” Scoping meetings are planned along the river and in Tucson. Only time will tell if there is enough support for this idea to make it happen.



Marlene is part of Sierra Club’s Zero Waste Team. Doris is part of the Waste to Energy Team.

Sedona/Verde Valley Grouphttp://arizona.sierraclub.org/sedona

Chair: Marlene Rayner (x) 928-203-0340 [email protected]: Bob Donahue (x) 928-639-1885 [email protected]: Brian Myers (x) 928-204-1703 [email protected]: Carole Binswanger 928-282-1206 [email protected]: Margaret Anderson 928-203-4355 [email protected] (At Large): Anne Crosman (x) 928-284-9252 [email protected]

Carole Piszczek-Sheffield (x) 928-204-1517 [email protected]

The following are located in the Sedona Library Community Room, 3250 White Bear Rd., Sedona. For more information, contact Marlene Rayner.

APR 13 (FRI) 6 p.m. Friday Night Tree Huggers Theater: A Sense of Wonder. See this award-winning film! Using many of Miss Carson’s own words, actress Kaiulani Lee embodies this extraordinary woman. It is Rachel Carson with both humor and anger as she attacks the chemical industry, government, and press as she tries to get her environmental message to Congress and the American people.

MAY 18 (FRI) 6 p.m. Friday Night Tree Huggers Theater: The Age of Stupid. Join us to view and discuss this film, which shows an old man living in a devastated world, watching “archive” footage from today, and asking, “Why didn’t we stop climate change when we had the chance?” See http://www.bullfrogfilms.com for reviews.

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

Chair/Conservation: Tom Slaback (x) 928-778-4233 [email protected]/Outings: Gary Beverly (x) 928-636-2638 [email protected]/Political: Joe Zarnoch (x) 928-636-5501 [email protected]: Constance Eichenlaub (x) 928-776-2402 [email protected]

For more information, please contact Tom Slaback.

APR 4, MAY 2, JUN 6 (WED) 6 p.m. Executive Committee meetings. All members are en-couraged to attend and participate in your monthly meetings of the ExCom. We discuss local issues, receive updates on current projects, set our priorities, and formulate action plans.

APR 24 (TUE) 6:30 p.m. General public meeting. Alicyn Gitlin will discuss a massive devel-opment plan outside Grand Canyon National Park. Delve into the history and learn why Sierra Club is keeping a close eye. Intrigue and suspense! Located at the Prescott Library, 215 E. Goodwin St.

JUN 15 (FRI) 6 p.m. Annual Watson Lake Park picnic potluck dinner. Burgers and dogs provided. Set up at 5 p.m. Lower ramada.

Film Nite is undergoing a change of venue. Volunteer opportunities: Executive Committee member, Programs Chair, Membership Chair. To help monitor the flow of the Upper Verde River, participate in mini cleanups, contact Tom Slaback. To help establish Wild and Scenic designation for the Upper Verde River (support letters are needed), contact Gary Beverly. Let us know what you want to do as a volunteer. To subscribe to our e-newsletter, contact Gary Beverly. Current announcements may be found there and on our website.

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

Chair/Secretary: Bob Moore (x) 480-543-7409 [email protected]/Membership: Louis Lantz (x) 480-575-1782 [email protected]: Urb Weidner 602-595-3301 [email protected]/Fundraising: Bev Full (x) 480-221-2554 [email protected]: Nancy Santori (x) 623-780-4734 [email protected]: Lynne Cockrum-Murphy (x) 602-569-6078 [email protected] Co-Chair: Jim Wilkey (x) 480-649-2836 [email protected]: Pete Weinelt 623-388-2209 [email protected]: Doug Murphy (x) 602-569-6078 [email protected]

For more information about the following, contact Bob Moore.

APR 21 (SAT) Earth Day tabling at Carefree Sundial, Black Canyon City, and Cave Creek. Pete Weinelt will be hosting the film Carbon Nation at the Cave Creek Library. Volunteers are needed.

MAY 16 (WED) 6 p.m. General meeting at Cave Creek Regional Park, shelter #4. Wieners, buns, beans, and lemonade will be served (bring a dish to accompany, if you like). Grace Schoonover, a Cave Creek advocational archaeologist, will speak on evidence of the ancient cultures who occupied this area.

JUN 13 (WED) 6 p.m. Executive Committee meeting at the home of Bev Full. Interested members are invited to join in planning discussions.

A very alarming situation threatens our health and the environment in Arizona and other states. Burning garbage for energy is being promoted as renewable energy and a way to address climate change. Sierra Club has long opposed “waste to energy” because it discourages waste reduction and recycling and because it creates dangerous pollutants such as dioxin that are very hard to control. We are offering to help the Grand Canyon Chapter’s local groups promote Zero Waste, a way to transition our society away from end-of-pipe “waste management” to local government programs based on waste reduc-tion and recycling.

The national Zero Waste Team has information on its national page (http://www.sierraclub.org/committees/zerowaste) and its Activist Network Team site (http:// connect.sierraclub.org/Team/Zero_Waste). The team has a goal of establishing local Zero Waste Committees and is also doing national work to promote product redesign,

A Zero Waste Project for Your Local GroupBy Marlene Rayner and Doris Cellarius

a stewardship system designed, financed, and managed by producers.

To describe the problems with burning waste, a national “Waste to Energy” Team was created because of the dangers associated with the proposed Mohave Electric Coop-erative garbage burner in the Phoenix area (http://connect.sierraclub.org/Team/Waste_to_Energy2). Burners in disguise, such as the proposed Clarkdale pyrolysis plant, are not the answer to climate protection.

It may take a long time to achieve Zero Waste, but projects that work toward this goal will create true renewable energy, local jobs, and healthier communities. For ex-ample, Arizona needs and we offer informa-tion about local and municipal composting: http://bit.ly/CompostForPlants.

You can join these teams. We will help you organize in your community because that is where you can make a difference.

Learn More and Get Involved!

For more information and to get involved, please contact Marlene Rayner at [email protected] or Doris Cellarius at [email protected].

Tusayan continued from pg. 10.

Cain and others would block new restric-tions, citing the need to protect tourism jobs. McCain had long championed protec-tion of the park’s integrity. Not surprisingly, Halvorson has made large donations to sev-eral recent McCain campaigns.

There is much more to this story. It af-fects all who want to preserve some degree of

natural integrity within the park. Stay tuned. Better yet, find a way to get involved. Many thanks to everyone who already has!

For more information, please con-tact Alicyn Gitlin at 928-774-6514 or [email protected].

Paul teaches a course on nature and values at NAU.

http://www.sierraclub.org/committees/zerowaste

http://connect.sierraclub.org/Team/Zero_Waste

http://connect.sierraclub.org/Team/Waste_to_Energy2





Explore and Enjoy ArizonaFor up-to-date information about outings, visit http://arizona.sierraclub.org/outings.asp.

APR 7 (SAT) “C” Vulture Peak (4 mi. RT, 1000’ EC). The first 1.3 mi. of the trail fol-lows a pleasant path through a hilly desert floor area, with an approximate gain of 300’. The last 0.7 mi. up to the saddle is a challenging uphill of 700’ over a number rocky surfaces and high stepping parts. The planned route is to the saddle, but plans are open to go to the top if some want to do that. The final 240’ from the saddle to the top of Vulture Peak is a steep non-maintained path that involves some hand-over-foot climbing. The top offers 360 degree views of the entire far northwest valley. Contact Pete Weinelt at 623-388-2209 or [email protected]. Phoenix

APR 7 (SAT) “B+” LaBarge Mtn (8 mi., 1800’ EC). On this mostly on-trail peakbag, we will ascend to the 5,077’ high summit of LaBarge Mtn. in the eastern Superstitions. We’ll gain 1200’ of elevation on the J F Trail and the other 600’ on the off-trail stretch. Expect steep slopes, abundant brush, and spectacular views. Leather gloves recom-mended. Call Ken McGinty at 602-265-2854. Phoenix

APR 7–8 (SAT–SUN) “B” Salome Canyon Photography Workshop (8 mi. RT, 400’ EC). An overnight canyoneering experi-ence not to be missed by the avid outdoors photographer. This exclusive one-day Si-erra Club photography workshop will take place in the most beautiful and seldom-photographed canyons in Central AZ. We will carpool via Globe to Salome Jug in the Sierra Anchas and meet professional pho-tographer Michael Madsen. After estab-lishing camp at the mouth of the canyon, we will float a short distance to the jug for dramatic photos of the canyon narrows. We will hike to the top and explore the canyon rim. The charge is $40 per person. Contact Mitch Stevens at 520-991-1199 or [email protected]. http://heartsrock.org/1/Salome.html. Tucson

APR 8 (SUN) “B” Ridges of the Catalina Front Range IV – Blackett’s Ridge Trail (6 mi. RT, 1700’ EC). Our 4th and final hike of this series, this is a popular trail starting at Sabino Canyon. We will discuss forest and recreation management over lunch at the summit of this ridge. Contact Meg Weesner at 520-290-1723 or [email protected]. Tucson

APR 14 (SAT) “B” Little Saddle Mountain Victory (8.4 mi. RT, 1900’ EC). This trail, maintained by the Sierra Club, climbs along stream sides through the rugged Mazatzal Wilderness to its endpoint at the intersec-tion with the Saddle Mountain Trail. In the mid 1990s, this trail was threatened by the Beeline Highway. We worked to help save it. Let’s celebrate! Call Mike Brady at 480-250-4054. Phoenix

APR 15 (SUN) “B” King’s Crown Peak (7 mi., 1400’ EC). On this off- and on-trail hike near Superior, we’ll ascend to the summit of King’s Crown Peak (5541’) and encoun-ter such adversities as thick brush, spiny plants, and steep and slippery slopes. From the summit, we’ll have excellent views of the eastern Superstitions and the mountains between Superior and Globe. Leather gloves recommended. Drive 70 mi. from Tempe. Call Ken McGinty at 602-265-2854. Phoenix

APR 21 (SAT) “A” Superstition Peak (9 mi. RT, 2800’ EC). This strenuous peakbag, for fast and strong hikers only, will ascend to the 5057’ summit of Superstition via the Carney Springs Trail. The commanding view from the summit will more than com-pensate for the steep and slippery slopes, rock scrambling, and spiny plants encoun-tered. Leather gloves recommended. Drive 60 mi. from Tempe. Call Ken McGinty at 602-265-2854. Phoenix

APR 28 (SAT) “C” McDowell Mtn. Rd. Adopt-a-Hwy Project (3 mi. RT, 500’ EC). We’ll spend the morning cleaning the road-side of this scenic “Blue Highway” that me-anders through the McDowell Mtn. foothills with backdrops of Four Peaks and the Su-perstition, McDowell, and Mazatzal Mtns. There’s no finer place to provide this com-munity service, and we always finish before noon, leaving the afternoon free. Call Mike Brady at 480-250-4054. Phoenix

APR 28 (SAT) “C” Strawberry Crater Po-tential Wilderness Area and proposed transmission corridor (3–4 mi., nominal EC). Guided tour of potential wilderness ex-pansion being considered by Coconino Na-tional Forest. We’ll drive to access points and hike in to view outstanding resources; at vantage points, we’ll discuss a nearby proposed transmission corridor. Forest

Explore, enjoy, learn, and contribute.

Join us on these wild adventures! Please note that any funds in excess of trip expenses will be used to support chapter projects. For more information and to make reservations, contact Bev Full at 480-221-2554 or [email protected].

APR 27–29 (FRI–SUN) San Juan River Rafting. Raft with an experienced guide to learn archaeology, geology, and history of this area. Two nights camping at Sand Island campground near Bluff, UT. Cost: $225 covers rafting, shuttle, campground fees, and food in camp.

MAY 10–15 (THU–TUE) Green River Labyrinth Canyon Canoeing/Kayaking. Float the 40 just north of Canyonlands National Park along sheer colorful sandstone cliffs. Camp on sandbars with 360° spectacular views. Cost: $225 includes canoes, shuttle, food in camp, and fees.

JUN 25–28 (MON–THU) Tour and Hike Northern Arizona. Grand Canyon, North Rim; Toroweap; Vermilion Cliffs and Grand Canyon Parashant National Monuments; and Wire Pass slot canyon hike. Cost: $225 includes rental vans, camp fees, and food in camp.

JUL 8–10 (SUN–TUE) Black Canyon of the Colorado River Canoeing. This is a cool midsummer trip through historic and scenic Black Canyon. Intriguing side canyons lead to hot springs. Sit in the cool river and enjoy lunch. Two nights are in nearby Hacienda Hotel with swimming pool. Hike to Lake Mead from the hotel, see the famous new bridge and Hoover Dam. Cost: $225 includes canoe, shuttle, lunch on river, and two nights in motel.

JUL 27–29 (FRI–SUN) Greer Weekend. Stay in cozy cabins at Greer Lodge near the Little Colorado River. Group happy hours and dinners on Fri. and Sat. Group breakfasts on Sat. and Sun. mornings. Lunch provided for hikes. Hike beautiful Mt. Baldy Trail, suitable for all hiking levels. Cost: $225 includes lodging and meals.

AUG 13–18 (MON–SAT) Flaming Gorge and Green River Rafting. Carpool to Moab, UT, to camp and do a short hike in Arches National Park. Next day, drive to Flaming Gorge Lake, UT; camp and explore. Wed. pack the rafts for three days rafting in easy, fun class 1 and 2 rapids, sightseeing, and camping along the way. On Fri. our shuttle will pick us up and we’ll head home. Cost: $275 includes raft, shuttle, food while camping, and campground fees.

Rafting through Flaming Gorge. Photo by Sandy Draus.

http://heartsrock.org/1/Salome.html

http://heartsrock.org/1/Salome.html



Explore and Enjoy ArizonaFor up-to-date information about outings, visit http://arizona.sierraclub.org/outings.asp.

See our service outings on the back page!

Service staff and volunteers will discuss resource protection and wilderness designation. Limit 10 participants. Contact Alicyn Gitlin at 928-774-6514. Flagstaff

APR 28 (SAT) “B” Hike the Verde: Part 5 – Sycamore Creek to Railroad Draw (6–12 mi., 600’ EC). We’ll hike up the Verde River through a wild and spectacular part. There is no trail, but the walking is easy. Outstanding views of the red rock Verde Canyon, a historic homestead, and search for os-prey and bald eagles. Occasional shallow wading is required, and it’s fun to get your feet wet. We’ll learn about the natural history of and the conservation issues surrounding our Verde River Reservation required, 12-hiker limit. Contact Gary Bev-erly at [email protected] (preferred) or 928-636-2638. Prescott

APR 28 (SAT) “D” Nature Walk along the San Pedro. Join veteran naturalist and author Ralph Waldt and explore a rare and remarkable area along the San Pedro River that features permanently running water, sequestered on private land managed by The Nature Conservancy. The forest along the river forms a shaded green canopy sheltering lizards, bloom-ing wildflowers, numerous mammals, and an astonishing richness of birds. Bring lunch and plan to get your feet wet. Limit 16. Contact Elna Otter at 520-212-9736 or [email protected]. Tucson

APR 28 (SAT) “B” Agua Caliente/La Milagrosa Canyons. Join hiking leaders Mitch Stevens and Claudia Johnson for an off-trail traverse of Agua Caliente and La Milagrosa can-yons in the Santa Catalina Mtns. The hike is great training for folks who want to improve their technique at boulder hop-ping and scrambling. The canyon features banded granitic

gneiss, which is prevalent in this rugged range. We will discuss the geology of the sky island ranges surrounding Tucson. Contact Mitch Stevens at 520-991-1199 or [email protected]. Tucson

MAY 2 (WED) “C-” Thunderbird Park H1H3 Trail (3 mi., 500’ EC). This hike begins at 6 p.m. and will loop around and then to the top of a hill on the east side of the park. The last 1.5 mi. is a steady down-hill and offers nice elevated sunset views of almost the entire west val-ley. Sunset will be at 7:14 p.m. Hike takes about 1.5 hours. Contact Pete Weinelt at 623-388-2209 or [email protected]. Phoenix

MAY 12 (SAT) “C” North Loop Victory (3 mi. RT, 500’ EC). This easy loop hike through beautiful Sonoran Desert is a great opportu-

nity for newcomers, birdwatchers, and those who just like to get out for a morning walk in paradise. We’ll start early and finish mid-morning to beat the heat, leaving the afternoon free. We’ll observe wildlife and learn about the park’s his-tory. In the early 1990s, the northwest section of the park was threatened to be traded away for development under the guise of protecting the mountaintops. We worked to help save the park, and the mountaintops are safe, too! Let’s cel-ebrate! Call Mike Brady at 480-250-4054. Phoenix

MAY 19 (SAT) “B” Hike The Verde: Part 1 – Perkinsville Bridge to Bear Siding (7 mi., 100’ EC). After shuttling vehi-cles (2WD, 12 mi.), we’ll bush-whack down the Verde River through a very pretty and wild part. There is no trail; be prepared to push through the brush and wade the river. This will be a long day in the wilder-ness, but there is outstanding scenery, photography, and other remarkable features. Frequent shallow wading re-quired. We’ll learn about the natural history of and the con-servation issues surrounding our Verde River. Reservation required, 12-hiker limit. Con-tact Gary Beverly at [email protected] (preferred) or 928-636-2638. Prescott

MAY 21 (MON) “D” SW Wildlife Center Tour. We’ll carpool to Southwest Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center. Tour the facility and meet the native wildlife being cared for. Optional lunch after at Pinnacle Peak. Contact Bev Full at 480-221-2554 or [email protected]. Phoenix

MAY 26 (SAT) “C” McDowell Mtn. Rd. Adopt-a-Hwy Project (3 mi. RT, 500’ EC). See description of April 28 outing on pg. 14. Call Mike Brady at 480-250-4054. Phoenix

JUN 2 (SAT) “B” Hike The Verde: Part 2 – Bull Basin to Hell Point (7 mi., 600’ EC). After shuttling vehicles (4WD, 7 mi.), we’ll bushwhack down the Verde River through the most iso-lated and beautiful section. There is no trail; be prepared to push through the brush and wade the river. This will be a long day in the wilderness, but there is outstanding scenery, pho-tography, and other remarkable features. Frequent shallow wading required. We’ll learn about the natural history of and the conservation issues surrounding our Verde River. Reser-vation required, 12-hiker limit. Contact Gary Beverly at [email protected] (preferred) or 928-636-2638. Prescott

JUN 9 (SAT) “C” Lucky Strike Victory (4 mi. RT, 1500’ EC). High in the remote Sierra Anchas, the Lucky Strike Mine was once a major trash heap in an old growth forest. The Sierra Club helped clean up the trash and rebuilt the trail. Now it’s paradise, so let’s celebrate! Spectacular cliff-side views of vast wilderness. Call Mike Brady at 480-250-4054. Phoenix

JUN 23 (SAT) “C” McDowell Mtn. Rd. Adopt-a-Hwy Project (3 mi. RT, 500’ EC). See description of April 28 outing on pg. 14. Call Mike Brady at 480-250-4054. Phoenix

Uncommon astronomical events visible to Arizonans!

MAY 20 (SUN) Annular (ring) eclipse of the sun. Full eclipse visible from Grand Canyon (black disk of the moon entirely “inside” the sun) as the sun sets; from Phoenix, the sun will be 83% obscured with the maximum at 6:39 p.m. The next central eclipse to reach the U.S. will be the total eclipse that will cross from Oregon to South Carolina in August 2017; it will be partial in Arizona.

JUN 5 (TUE) Transit of Venus. Beginning at 3:05 p.m. Venus will cross the sun, as viewed from Earth. Venus is only 1/30th the diameter of the sun, but the dark spot slowly moving will clearly appear. This exceedingly rare event will not occur again until December 2117. The transit takes several hours, and the sun will set with Venus still crossing. (Note: Mike Smith will be showing people the transit at the Pima County Medical Society parking lot in Tucson. For more info, contact Mike at 520-299-0122 or [email protected].)

NOTE: These events must be viewed with eye protection. Sunglasses and unexposed film are not adequate. Only #14 welder filters or Mylar are appropriate.

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://www.sierraclub.org/outings/chapter/forms or contact the National Out-ings 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 ac-cepted 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 Jim Vaaler at 602-553-8208. 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








Fossil Creek Clean-Up Saturday, April 14

Contact: Steve Pawlowski, 602-254-9330, [email protected]

Friday, April 20, 8 a.m. Contact: Angela LeFevre, 928-399-0999,

[email protected] Creek is one of only two Wild and Scenic Rivers in the state. Since its restoration from a dammed-up stream to an incredibly beautiful wild river, Fossil Creek has become an extremely popular destination for recreational activities. That brings with it overuse problems like trash and habitat degradation. Help us explore, enjoy, and protect this area by cleaning up trash and spending some time enjoying the area.

Water Sentinels Monitoring San Pedro River – April 19 and June 28

Verde River – April 28 and June 23 Contact: Steve Pawlowski, 602-254-9330, [email protected]

Get your hands dirty and your feet wet with the Arizona Water Sentinels! This is a great op-portunity to help protect our important rivers. Sentinels collect water samples and also make field observations and measure the dissolved oxygen, pH, and total dissolved solids concen-trations. This data helps us track impacts to the rivers and advocate for actions to protect them. What could be better than spending a day in gorgeous scenery while working to make a difference?

Celebrate Earth Day (a day early) at Sonoran Desert National Monument! Saturday, April 21

Contact: Tiffany Sprague, 602-253-9140, [email protected] Day provides an excellent opportunity to give back to the planet that sustains us. Join us at Sonoran Desert National Monument to help clean up and protect our public lands! This special area southwest of Phoenix is home to an incredible diversity of plants and animals and provides outstanding recreational opportunities. We will be working to clean up sites that have been abused by irresponsible recreationists. We hope you’ll join us for this fun day! Carpooling available.

Granite Creek Clean-Up Saturday, April 21


We will be teaming up with Prescott Creeks for the annual Granite Creek Clean-up. Join us at Granite Creek Park to help protect this important area. An upcycled art event and chance to pick up materials will be held after the clean-up.

Kick Some Grass! Sunday, April 22, May 20, and June 24


Help restore habitat! Join us at the Rio Salado Habi-tat Restoration Area, just south of downtown Phoe-nix. Once a dump site, the area is now a lush ripar-ian 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. Snacks, drinks, gloves, and tools provided.

Celebrate Endangered Species Day! Friday, May 18

Contact: Tiffany Sprague, 602-253-9140, [email protected] Species Day provides the perfect opportunity for people to learn more about the many species we share our planet with and what can be done to ensure their survival. Join us at Sonoran Desert National Monument to monitor the endangered Acuña cactus, to learn more about Arizona’s endangered species, and to explore and enjoy our public lands.

Grand Canyon Service and Celebration Trip!Friday–Monday, May 25–28

Contact: Alicyn Gitlin, 928-774-6514We’ll help restore the native plant community on Grand Canyon’s South Rim during the days and have a barbeque at Shoshone Point Sunday night to celebrate Sierra Club’s 120th birth-day! We may hike into the canyon on Monday. Free entry and camping in the park for those helping with vegetation restoration.

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

Thanks to Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalist trainers and nature walk leaders, I was able to enrich a Tucson Inner City Outings (ICO)/Audubon field trip for 15 Desert Sky Community School 2nd and 3rd graders on Saturday, December 10, 2011.

The trip began at Sweetwater wetlands, moved to Columbus Park for lunch, and then to a hike at the Sweetwater Preserve in the Tucson Mountains along the Wildflower Ridge trail.

Deb Vath, a newly hatched ICO certified leader and active Audubon member, used skills and equipment from her former

grant-funded middle school Aububon junior birder program to introduce the children and six adult volunteers to 28 species of birds at Sweetwater wetlands. Each child was given a Sibley field guide and a pair of binoculars to use following a terrific presentation on field marks of 18 common birds. Her deft use of a spotting scope brought the red orange eye of a Cooper’s hawk and other birds’ plumage and bill details up close and personal to the children. One thrilled little boy said, “I’m gonna have one of these when I grow up!”

Trip highlight was a five minute quiet reflection activity where each child was sent

Up Close and Personal for YouthBy Sharon Arkin

Volunteers enjoy Grand Canyon after a day of work. Photo by GrandPar.

off to a quiet spot of his or her choosing to write or draw something inspired by the beauty around them.

Among the birds seen were American wigeon, Northern shoveler, coot, cinnamon teal, bufflehead, Cooper’s hawk, Harris’s hawk, red-tailed hawk, and many other common birds of the wetlands.

Sharon is a Tucson ICO leader. Seeing what they can see. Photo by Sharon Arkin.

c arizona: climate celebrate earth day! see inside for ......our climate is what makes the cs...

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