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

  • A great win today for our Santa Rita Mountains and for American public lands! May 12, 2022
  • “Uncelebrate!” The 1872 Mining Law is an antiquated law! Support Rep. Grijalva’s and Sen. Heinrich’s legislation, the Clean Energy Minerals Reforms Act of 2022 instead! May 10, 2022
  • Oak Flat event here in Tucson, May 11, 2022 May 9, 2022
  • Dismissing Native American concerns, Hudbay keeps moving dirt (AZ Luminaria feature) May 7, 2022
  • Arizona Public Media’s “The Buzz” interviews Save The Scenic Santa Ritas for episode on mining. May 6, 2022

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RSS Latest from Rosemont Mine Truth

  • Hudbay says it is developing plans to build at least three open-pit copper mines on west side of Santa Rita Mountains October 6, 2021
  • Hudbay tells investors and analysts that it owns enough land to mine the western side of the Santa Rita Mountains August 12, 2021
  • Rosemont will destroy Santa Rita Mountains to export copper overseas May 18, 2021
  • Pima County reaffirms resolution opposing Rosemont Mine April 19, 2019

Selected Lens on the Land Photographs

Land
Members of the Tohono O'odham Legislative Council, by Jeanne S. Broome
Night Sky
Water Resources
People
Economy
Biodiversity
Hiking at the Rosemont Site, by Dennis Caldwell
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Litigation Update

Oral arguments for our case before the 9th Circuit Appeals Court were held on February 1, 2021. Because of COVID, the oral arguments were virtual, and we could listen in. You can watch the recording here.

We cannot predict when we will hear a decision, but we expect to have to wait several months.

Click here for more updates

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