Save the Scenic Santa Ritas

Fighting to protect the Santa Rita and Patagonia Mountains from the devastating impacts of mining.

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Biodiversity

Coleman’s coralroot (Hexalectris colemanii), by Ron Coleman
Pima pineapple cactus (Echinomastus erectocentrus var. erectocentrus), Endangered Species, by Erik Enderson
Male jaguar in the Northern Jaguar Preserve, Sonora, Mexico, Courtesy of the Northern Jaguar Project/Naturalia
Yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus), Proposed Threatened Species, by Steven Baranoff
Chiricahua leopard frog (Lithobates chiricahuensis), Threatened Species, by Gary Nafis
Lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris curasoae yerbabuena), Endangered Species, by Alex Badyaev
Gila chub (Gila intermedia), Threatened Species, by Martin Schlaepfer
Palmer’s agave (Agave palmeri), by Stephen Strom
Huachuca water umbel (Lilaeopsis schaffneriana spp. recurva), Endangered Species, by Bill Radke
Coleman’s coralroot (Hexalectris colemanii), by Brian Forbes Powell
Sonoran desert tortoise eating prickly pear fruit, by Thomas Wiewandt
Jaguar (Panthera onca) roaming the Santa Ritas, Courtesy of USFWS/UA/DHS
Jaguar (Panthera onca) roaming the Santa Ritas, Courtesy of USFWS/UA/DHS
Jaguar (Panthera onca) roaming the Santa Ritas, Courtesy of USFWS/UA/DHS
Ocelot roaming the Santa Rita Mountains, Courtesy USFWS/UA/DHS
Bee in globe mallow, by Jillian Cowles
Mantises mating at Las Cienegas National Conservation Area, by Dennis Caldwell
Barber pole grasshopper (Dactylotum bicolor), by Anonymous
Desert box turtle (Terrapene ornata luteola) looking at long-horned beetle, by Dennis Caldwell
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Southern Arizona is one of the most biologically diverse regions of North America as a result of a complex interplay of geographic location and differences in elevation across the landscape, from the low-elevation valleys to high-elevation Sky Island mountains. All of these influences can be seen in the Sonoita Valley, the Santa Rita Mountains, and at the site of the proposed Rosemont Mine.

If approved, the mine would destroy over 5,000 acres of habitat for plants and animals, including nine threatened and endangered species: Chiricahua leopard frog, Gila chub, Gila topminnow, Huachuca water umbel, jaguar, ocelot, lesser long- nosed bat, Pima pineapple cactus, and southwestern willow flycatcher.

The mine would disrupt an important intersection of wildlife corridors that connect the northern Santa Rita Mountains with Mexico to the south, the Whetstones to the east, and the Rincon and Santa Catalina Mountains to the north. As the Arizona Game and Fish Department noted, the mine would “render the northern portion of the Santa Rita Mountains virtually worthless as wildlife habitat and as a functioning ecosystem, and thus also worthless for wildlife recreation.”

The mine’s impact on the region’s groundwater and storm flows would lead to a drying of already-stressed aquatic and riparian areas, especially Cienega Creek, Davidson Canyon, and Empire Gulch. These areas represent some of the best habitat in Southern Arizona for dozens of species, including the Chiricahua leopard frog and Gila topminnow. Though some of the photographs presented here were not taken on the actual mine site, all the species occur in the affected area and would be impacted by the mine.

Recent Posts

  • Federal Memo May Bolster Hudbay’s Position on Rosemont Mine Site March 16, 2023
  • Hudbay Minerals Stock Tumbled 16% Last Week to US$4.55 per Share March 16, 2023
  • Hudbay Fights Order to Stop Grading at Mine Site Near Tucson March 16, 2023
  • THE HOT TOPIC: WATER OR LACK THEREOF January 24, 2023
  • Hudbay ramps up excavation for Copper World Complex as local resistance continues and expands January 7, 2023
  • Meet The Man Who Shoots At Birds All Day To Keep Them Off A Toxic Pit | World Wide Waste (video) January 5, 2023
  • Lithium America Mine Project Hampered After Judge Schedules Hearing on Nevada Mine January 5, 2023
  • Thousands Will Live Here One Day (as Long as They Can Find Water) January 5, 2023
  • Latest Updates About Local Water Issues and Rosemont / Copper World Mine Complex January 5, 2023
  • Hudbay, Forest Service won’t appeal ruling blocking Rosemont Mine December 19, 2022

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Rosemont/ Copper World Mine Complex News

Federal Memo May Bolster Hudbay’s Position on Rosemont Mine Site

Hudbay Fights Order to Stop Grading at Mine Site Near Tucson

THE HOT TOPIC: WATER OR LACK THEREOF

Hudbay ramps up excavation for Copper World Complex as local resistance continues and expands

Meet The Man Who Shoots At Birds All Day To Keep Them Off A Toxic Pit | World Wide Waste (video)

Lithium America Mine Project Hampered After Judge Schedules Hearing on Nevada Mine

More Posts from this Category

Hudbay Minerals Stock Tumbled 16% Last Week to US$4.55 per Share

 

Update on Lake Mead and Lake Powell water levels

All that rain and snow hammering the West surely means good news for water levels in Lake Mead and Lake Powell. Here’s a video update from last week with the current situation and expectations for the rest of the year.
WATCH NOW

Copper World Flyover January 6, 2023 by David Steele

Another shocking sight of the incredible destruction happening on our beautiful Santa Ritas.WATCH VIDEO NOW

Russ McSpadden’s recent fly-over showing mine activity

In Nov 2022 Russ captured recent bulldozing in the Santa Rita Mountains. His video starts over the Rosemont mine project on the east side and then swings over the Copper World project on the west side. WATCH VIDEO NOW

Explore the proposed Rosemont and Copper World projects virtually

Check out Pima County’s updated map of the proposed mine site. Click on any spot on the map for ownership/status information. Mapping details are based on Hudbay’s PEA dated May 1.

Proposed Rosemont/ Copper World Mine Complex

Image compilation of the area

LENS ON THE LAND

Recommended Reading List

Browse HERE over 30 titles of carefully selected books in various categories including: copper, water, mining, wilderness, exploration, and more. Your purchase supports the efforts of the SSSR

January 2023 Powerpoint Presentation

Click here to download (PDF)

Litigation Update

There have been two recent judicial rulings on the Rosemont Copper Company projects — one favorable and one unfavorable.

Click here to learn more

The latest on Hudbay’s Copper World project in the Santa Rita Mountains

Click here to download (PDF)

Where is the Rosemont/Copper World Mine Complex?

Click here for directions

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