Explore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet
In this issue:
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The Greater Grand Canyon Ecoregion is a wild and remote landscape that includes two Bureau of Land Management national monuments (Vermilion Cliffs and Grand Canyon-Parashant), two national forests (Coconino and Kaibab), numerous wilderness areas, and the crown jewel of our national park system: Grand Canyon National Park. |
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Confluence Development: A Battle for Local Support Navajo Nation residents in the area surrounding the confluence of the Little Colorado and Colorado rivers do NOT want a resort development and gondola to deface Grand Canyon and impede on some of its most sacred locations. Responding to opposition from locals (see http://savetheconfluence.com to learn more), Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly sent a letter to the developers on August 6, giving them until the end of the year to sway locals, or else plans will be terminated. In response, the developers hosted a “job fair” with the intent of gaining signatures on a petition. They have been going door-to-door with their petition, and now claim to have over 1600 signatures on it. In this highly rural area, it is questionable how they got so many signatures in such a short amount of time. If you haven’t already, please sign the petition against this development and encourage your friends and family to do the same. The petition will go to President Shelly, the developers, and others with influence. |
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Join the Paseo del Lobo for Wolf Awareness! Want to travel the path that wolves used for centuries to move between the White Mountains and Grand Canyon? The Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project is seeking volunteers to hike portions of this route to spread awareness of wolves. The hike began in July and runs until October. You can hike, bike, or volunteer to support for any day! Visit http://www.gcwolfrecovery.org and click on “Volunteer for Paseo del Lobo” for more information on how you can get involved. |
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Sierra Club Seeks Protections for Wildlife from Lead Poisoning This week, conservation groups filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Forest Service for failing to protect wildlife from toxic lead in spent ammunition in Arizona’s Kaibab National Forest. Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity, and Grand Canyon Wildlands Council filed suit under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, a federal law governing disposal of hazardous waste. Lead bullet fragments from hunting contaminate the food supply for Arizona wildlife, such as condors, bald and golden eagles, northern goshawks, ferruginous hawks, and ravens and are also a hazard to human health. Lead poisoning is the leading cause of death for endangered California condors in Arizona. Earlier this year, scientists said the rare birds would not recover until the threat of lead poisoning from ammunition is eliminated. Lead has been removed from water pipes, gasoline, paint, and cooking utensils, as well as from shot used to hunt water fowl. Because lead is so dangerous to people and wildlife, even at very low levels, the Forest Service should require nonlead ammunition for hunting on public land. To read the complaint, click on Lead Complaint, you can also learn more about this issue by contacting Sandy Bahr at sandy.bahr@sierraclub.org. |
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Grand Canyon Protection Campaign Hits the Classrooms We now have a new suite of activities aimed at children in grades K–6, appropriate for classrooms or public events. Thanks to volunteer Shirlene Patterson, our “Animals of the Grand Canyon” program is ready to go. The lesson uses a cross-sectional map of Grand Canyon, colorful stickers, riddles, poetry, and investigation to learn more about the animals of the canyon and their habitats. From the endangered humpback chub swimming in the Colorado River to the mule deer grazing happily on the rim, students will learn more about where and how the animals live. They’ll see the actual size of a condor’s great wings and learn how this bird is making a comeback to Grand Canyon. With older grades, we will discuss why Grand Canyon is so important for species that must migrate to deal with climate change because of its dramatic elevation changes, springs, and relict habitats. The lesson meets current public education standards, and students love it. If you’d like to bring the program to your school or event, or if you’d like to volunteer for our education team, call Alicyn at (928) 774-6514. |
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More Noise and Damage in Our Forests? The Kelly Motorized Trails project on the Coconino National Forest will stretch from Lake Mary Road to Munds Park, wrapping around Mountainaire, with trailheads on I-17 and Lake Mary Road. How do you feel about this project? Do you want to invite more off-road vehicle use to your national forests? Do you feel like the current level of enforcement is enough to protect your public lands? Learn more about the project online or contact Alicyn at (928) 774-6514 or alicyn.gitlin@sierraclub.org. |
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Upcoming Events | |||
Water is Life (Paatuwaqatsi) Run at Hopi Saturday, September 8 This unique ultra-marathon combines the deep traditions of running at Hopi with public awareness about water issues. The 30-mile course follows ancient foot trails through two of the Hopi mesas and passes springs threatened by Peabody Coal's use of the Navajo Aquifer. We need volunteers to come up to Hopi and help serve a massive meal, spot runners on the course, and organize parking. Please contact Andy Bessler if you can help at (928) 774-6103 or andy.bessler@sierraclub.org. Learn more about the run at http://www.waterisliferun.org. |
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Biodiversity of the Verde River Watershed: An Unappreciated Global Hotspot Monday, September 10, 6:30 p.m. Thorpe Community Center (245 N. Thorpe Rd., Flagstaff) Tony Krzysik will discuss this rare and severely endangered landscape, which is the biological crossroads of five major ecoregions. He will describe the secret lives of native fish, ghosts of predators past, butt breathers, ecosystem engineers, and more! Free and open to the public. |
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Volunteer meeting and social! Tuesday, September 25, 6:30 p.m. Sundara (22 Historic U.S. 66, Flagstaff) Want to get more involved? Already a volunteer? Meet like-minded people, learn what our needs are for the fall, and dream up new action plans over a cup of tea or coffee! |
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Make a Difference Day! Saturday, October 27 Join Sierra Club, City of Flagstaff Stream Team, and a suite of other organizations for the nation’s largest day of volunteering. This year, we’ll clean up the beautiful confluence of Rio de Flag and Sinclair Wash in Flagstaff. New this year: participants will be entered in raffles, including a two-night stay at the Maswik Lodge at Grand Canyon!! Don’t miss it. To get involved, contact Marti Callahan at grept@hotmail.com or (928) 856-1471. |
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Arizona's Dirtiest Coal Plant, the Navajo Generating Station Click here for dates and locations Come to this FREE event and learn what you can do to clean up Arizona's skies! Presented by Andy Bessler of Sierra Club and Howard Dennis of Black Mesa Trust. For more information, contact Andy Bessler at (928) 774-6103 or andy.bessler@sierraclub.org. |
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For more events and outings across the state, please visit http://arizona.sierraclub.org/activities.asp. To get involved with Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon Protection Campaign, contact Alicyn Gitlin at (928) 774-6514 or alicyn.gitlin@sierraclub.org. |
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