News
Guest Comment: A time for the ‘perfect storm’
By Thomas F. Purdon, MD
A series of events has descended upon the Greater Green Valley and Santa Rita Mountain range area that has all of the makings for a “perfect storm.”
No, I am not talking about a stronger monsoon season this year, but rather several events that, if left uncontrolled and unsupervised, could lead to the permanent destruction of some significant ecological features in and around our beautiful valley.
What I am referring to is the impending water shortage crisis and the lack of coordination between state, county and or city regulatory entities, the possibility of a new copper mine starting up in the Rosemont area of the Santa Rita Mountains in our Coronado National Forest, and a so-called conservation sub-division being planned for a pristine area of the bajada near the entrance to Madera Canyon.
It does appear that the concern many have had about the lack of serious water regulation is starting to get some attention both at the state, county and city levels as well.
One has to wonder how any planning entity could have seriously consider allowing permits to go forward for the proposed new Twin Peaks community of 20,000 people, just based on an assumption that there would be a “100 year water supply” somewhere in our aquifer. Fortunately, that one has been pulled off the table for now.
Then we have the Augusta Resource-Rosemont mine proposal. The Augusta people propose taking pure, potable water from the aquifer and to replace some of it with less pure CAP water by “giving” the community a water pipeline from the CAP trunk to recharge the aquifer.
Why would anyone think giving up pure water for industrial use and getting less pure CAP water is a fair trade? In addition, the county reports that the size of the proposed pipeline is too small, and there is no long-range guarantee that the CAP water will always flow at rates sufficient to meet the needs for replacement.
Thankfully, the Arizona Corporation Commission came to Green Valley to hear the concerns of all parties in this matter. We hope and trust that their deliberations and those of the Green Valley water users group will contribute to some serious long-range solutions to the water issues.
The water fiasco is only part of the problem with the proposed new mine. They would likely be discharging toxic wastewater into the Santa Rita Mountain areas near the mine. How long will it be before that toxic water contaminates the Madera Canyon area and the aquifers on the west side of the mountain range?
We do have some experience with that eventuality on the east side of the valley, don’t we? What about the other effects of a mining operation on nearby Madera Canyon? The blasting, tailings and general blight on the area would be devastating to the beauty and ecology of this rare sky island .
This area is exceedingly important for eco-tourism for birding, hiking and general family enjoyment of the outdoors.
Did you know that tourism from bird-watching visitors to the canyon accounts for nearly a billion dollars a year to our Tucson and local economy? Do we really need a foreign mining company with no track record in the United States, to ruin the east side of our valley? The mining operations we have on the west side are quite enough for our area.
Another threat to the unique beauty of our range, including the grasslands of the bajada, is the proposed Kettenbach development near the entrance to Madera Canyon. After failing to design a proposal for a “cluster” development of 280 houses and condos that the county DRC would approve, they have submitted for what is called a “conservation subdivision.”
This is a scaled down version of 180 homes, all on one-acre lots, each with septic systems, and does not contain as much land set aside for conservation as the cluster proposal did. One has to wonder what the plans might be for the remaining acres not included in the plan. The current subdivision plan provides access for adjacent properties owned by this developer, and other off-site properties, by including several roadways, notably a 50-foot roadway, which would run through the proposed conservation open space areas to the offsite parcels.
A 50-foot-wide roadway is not an appropriate use for a conservation preserve. This would forever destroy the natural beauty, as well as the rare ecosystem of wild life, birds, plants and grasslands that exists there today.
The County Development Services Department has given a preliminary approval to the new proposal, pending meeting the requirements for design, platting and other engineering issues. The Defenders Committee of the Friends of Madera Canyon remains concerned about the issues affecting the ecosystem noted above as well as others. We have grave concerns over the old and sub-standard bridges and roads leading to this area. This should to be addressed before any serious thought to construction were to occur.
Who should pay for bringing these structures up to standard? Should the county, or should the developer? What about water? To date there has been no factual demonstration that there is indeed adequate water for a project of this size.
Fire danger is an ever-present threat in the area. All of the water needed to fight a fire has to be either flown in or brought up by trucks over the old roads and bridges. There is only one way down and out of the area. During an evacuation, who gets to go down first the evacuees or the fire fighters coming up? This area is remote by over eleven miles from emergency and other support services. It is a bad idea to increase the traffic and the population to this area of pristine wilderness.
There are many interested parties who would prefer to see this area remain undeveloped; including astronomers at the Whipple Observatory, hikers, bicyclists, and nature lovers in general, as well as citizens who just want to come to the canyon to picnic and enjoy the peace and serenity the area provides.
What about the “perfect storm?” Have the concerns of the citizens over the water issues, the fear of the potential destruction of the Santa Rita Mountain range by mining and the threat of a development at the entrance to Madera Canyon created a storm-like situation that will make us all, citizens and government alike, say “wait a minute?” It is time to get serious about coordinating land usage and protecting some land for the enjoyment of everyone in the years to come.
As for the entrance to Madera Canyon, the most ecologically sensitive outcome would be to set aside the land forever as natural open conservation land. It has been designated as high priority by the Sonoran Desert Conservation group. Could this be accomplished?
It can if the Kettenbach family, which surely must have a sense of love and steward ship for this land that they have owned for over 50 years, would sell the property for a “fair market value” price for conservation.
We all could do it, if the state, county, citizens and citizen groups have the will, the drive, and the commitment to preserve and protect the precious, irreplaceable ecological resource that is Madera Canyon and the Santa Rita Mountains. Maybe, given the current economic conditions and the aforementioned elements, we do indeed have a “perfect storm.”
Thomas F. Purdon, MD is a clinical professor of OB/GYN in the Department of OB&GYN, The University of Arizona. He’s also a consultant at United Community Health Centers of Southern Arizona. Purdon is president of Madera Foothills Estates Homeowners Association and a member of The Friends of Madera Canyon. He and his wife, Kathryn, have lived full time in Green Valley for six years. Before moving to Green Valley, they lived in Tucson for 13 years.
The views expressed are the writer's own and do not reflect those of this newspaper.
No, I am not talking about a stronger monsoon season this year, but rather several events that, if left uncontrolled and unsupervised, could lead to the permanent destruction of some significant ecological features in and around our beautiful valley.
What I am referring to is the impending water shortage crisis and the lack of coordination between state, county and or city regulatory entities, the possibility of a new copper mine starting up in the Rosemont area of the Santa Rita Mountains in our Coronado National Forest, and a so-called conservation sub-division being planned for a pristine area of the bajada near the entrance to Madera Canyon.
It does appear that the concern many have had about the lack of serious water regulation is starting to get some attention both at the state, county and city levels as well.
One has to wonder how any planning entity could have seriously consider allowing permits to go forward for the proposed new Twin Peaks community of 20,000 people, just based on an assumption that there would be a “100 year water supply” somewhere in our aquifer. Fortunately, that one has been pulled off the table for now.
Then we have the Augusta Resource-Rosemont mine proposal. The Augusta people propose taking pure, potable water from the aquifer and to replace some of it with less pure CAP water by “giving” the community a water pipeline from the CAP trunk to recharge the aquifer.
Why would anyone think giving up pure water for industrial use and getting less pure CAP water is a fair trade? In addition, the county reports that the size of the proposed pipeline is too small, and there is no long-range guarantee that the CAP water will always flow at rates sufficient to meet the needs for replacement.
Thankfully, the Arizona Corporation Commission came to Green Valley to hear the concerns of all parties in this matter. We hope and trust that their deliberations and those of the Green Valley water users group will contribute to some serious long-range solutions to the water issues.
The water fiasco is only part of the problem with the proposed new mine. They would likely be discharging toxic wastewater into the Santa Rita Mountain areas near the mine. How long will it be before that toxic water contaminates the Madera Canyon area and the aquifers on the west side of the mountain range?
We do have some experience with that eventuality on the east side of the valley, don’t we? What about the other effects of a mining operation on nearby Madera Canyon? The blasting, tailings and general blight on the area would be devastating to the beauty and ecology of this rare sky island .
This area is exceedingly important for eco-tourism for birding, hiking and general family enjoyment of the outdoors.
Did you know that tourism from bird-watching visitors to the canyon accounts for nearly a billion dollars a year to our Tucson and local economy? Do we really need a foreign mining company with no track record in the United States, to ruin the east side of our valley? The mining operations we have on the west side are quite enough for our area.
Another threat to the unique beauty of our range, including the grasslands of the bajada, is the proposed Kettenbach development near the entrance to Madera Canyon. After failing to design a proposal for a “cluster” development of 280 houses and condos that the county DRC would approve, they have submitted for what is called a “conservation subdivision.”
This is a scaled down version of 180 homes, all on one-acre lots, each with septic systems, and does not contain as much land set aside for conservation as the cluster proposal did. One has to wonder what the plans might be for the remaining acres not included in the plan. The current subdivision plan provides access for adjacent properties owned by this developer, and other off-site properties, by including several roadways, notably a 50-foot roadway, which would run through the proposed conservation open space areas to the offsite parcels.
A 50-foot-wide roadway is not an appropriate use for a conservation preserve. This would forever destroy the natural beauty, as well as the rare ecosystem of wild life, birds, plants and grasslands that exists there today.
The County Development Services Department has given a preliminary approval to the new proposal, pending meeting the requirements for design, platting and other engineering issues. The Defenders Committee of the Friends of Madera Canyon remains concerned about the issues affecting the ecosystem noted above as well as others. We have grave concerns over the old and sub-standard bridges and roads leading to this area. This should to be addressed before any serious thought to construction were to occur.
Who should pay for bringing these structures up to standard? Should the county, or should the developer? What about water? To date there has been no factual demonstration that there is indeed adequate water for a project of this size.
Fire danger is an ever-present threat in the area. All of the water needed to fight a fire has to be either flown in or brought up by trucks over the old roads and bridges. There is only one way down and out of the area. During an evacuation, who gets to go down first the evacuees or the fire fighters coming up? This area is remote by over eleven miles from emergency and other support services. It is a bad idea to increase the traffic and the population to this area of pristine wilderness.
There are many interested parties who would prefer to see this area remain undeveloped; including astronomers at the Whipple Observatory, hikers, bicyclists, and nature lovers in general, as well as citizens who just want to come to the canyon to picnic and enjoy the peace and serenity the area provides.
What about the “perfect storm?” Have the concerns of the citizens over the water issues, the fear of the potential destruction of the Santa Rita Mountain range by mining and the threat of a development at the entrance to Madera Canyon created a storm-like situation that will make us all, citizens and government alike, say “wait a minute?” It is time to get serious about coordinating land usage and protecting some land for the enjoyment of everyone in the years to come.
As for the entrance to Madera Canyon, the most ecologically sensitive outcome would be to set aside the land forever as natural open conservation land. It has been designated as high priority by the Sonoran Desert Conservation group. Could this be accomplished?
It can if the Kettenbach family, which surely must have a sense of love and steward ship for this land that they have owned for over 50 years, would sell the property for a “fair market value” price for conservation.
We all could do it, if the state, county, citizens and citizen groups have the will, the drive, and the commitment to preserve and protect the precious, irreplaceable ecological resource that is Madera Canyon and the Santa Rita Mountains. Maybe, given the current economic conditions and the aforementioned elements, we do indeed have a “perfect storm.”
Thomas F. Purdon, MD is a clinical professor of OB/GYN in the Department of OB&GYN, The University of Arizona. He’s also a consultant at United Community Health Centers of Southern Arizona. Purdon is president of Madera Foothills Estates Homeowners Association and a member of The Friends of Madera Canyon. He and his wife, Kathryn, have lived full time in Green Valley for six years. Before moving to Green Valley, they lived in Tucson for 13 years.
The views expressed are the writer's own and do not reflect those of this newspaper.
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