Save the Scenic Santa Ritas

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

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Contact
    • Board of Directors and Staff
    • Endorsements
    • Opposition and Resolutions
    • Volunteers and Friends
  • Background
    • Rosemont Mine
      • History
      • Impacts
        • Air Quality
        • Land Use
        • Wildlife and Habitat
        • Scenic Views
        • Heritage
        • Recreation
        • Economy
        • Water and Hydrology
    • Legislation
    • Copper
    • Patagonia Area Mines
  • In the News
  • Action
    • Donate
    • Volunteer
    • Join Mailing List
    • Endorse Us
    • SSSR Presentation
    • Show Your Support
    • Letter Writing
  • Events
    • Past Events
  • Resources
    • Visual Media
    • Links
    • Documents and Reports
    • 1872 Mining Law
    • Inspiration
  • Projects
    • Lens on the Land
      • Biodiversity
      • Culture
      • Economy: Industry, Tourism & Recreation
      • The Land
      • Night Sky and Astronomy
      • Water Resources
    • Rosemont Mine Truth
  • Newsletter Archive

Water Resources

Flash flood in Davidson Canyon - 1, by Charlotte Cook
Flash flood in Davidson Canyon - 2, by Charlotte Cook
Exploring Cienega Creek, by Brian Forbes Powell
Gila chub (Gila intermedia), Threatened Species, by Martin Schlaepfer
previous arrow
next arrow
 

 

Impacts on water resources have been one of the most contentious and debated issues of the Rosemont Mine proposal. But some facts are not in dispute. For example, the 3,000-foot-deep open pit, when abandoned, would begin filling with groundwater, eventually creating a circular pit lake measuring almost 1 mile across.

Because the water would be toxic, the estimated 90,000 acre/feet of water (enough water for nearly 300,000 families for a year) could never be used for recreation or human consumption. The mine would also significantly reduce surface water flows into Davidson Canyon and Cienega Creek, which are located downstream of the mine.

Pima County is extremely concerned about the impacts that reduced surface flows would have on the lush riparian and aquatic resources of the Cienega Creek Natural Preserve and the species that depend on this water. Other signi cant water concerns include impacts to wells in Sahuarita (from pumping for mine use) and in the Cienega Valley (from the pit lake), and contamination of surface and groundwater from mine processing procedures and the pit lake.

Recent Posts

  • More water cuts coming to Arizona (Christopher Conover, Arizona Public Media) August 16, 2022
  • Feds announce short-term cut in Colorado River water for Arizona (Tony Davis, Arizona Daily Star) August 16, 2022
  • Hudbay opposition (Cathy McGrath, Vail Voice – Part 2) August 12, 2022
  • The cost of green energy: The nation’s biggest lithium mine may be going up on a site sacred to Native Americans (Chloe Atkins and Christine Romo, NBC News) August 11, 2022
  • Conservationists file notice of intent to sue EPA over Queen Creek mining waste (Ron Dungan, Arizona Public Media) August 11, 2022

Newsletter Sign-up

Sign up to receive important updates straight to your inbox! We will guard your privacy and will not provide your email to anyone else.

Rosemont News

More water cuts coming to Arizona (Christopher Conover, Arizona Public Media)

Feds announce short-term cut in Colorado River water for Arizona (Tony Davis, Arizona Daily Star)

Hudbay opposition (Cathy McGrath, Vail Voice – Part 2)

The cost of green energy: The nation’s biggest lithium mine may be going up on a site sacred to Native Americans (Chloe Atkins and Christine Romo, NBC News)

More Posts from this Category

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
PlayPause
 

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

DONATE
COPPER WORLD

Copyright © 2022 ยท Save the Scenic Santa Ritas