( Mt. Wrightson photo by Gus taken June 14, 2008 @6:30 a.m. MST)Questions
How much can our fragile ecosystem take?
Where will the Gila monsters go?
Will vultures rise on dusty thermals?
Will raptors hunt the fleeing mammals?
Will songbirds lose their voice in clouds of mining dust?
Will Mt. Fagan shudder with the blasting mines?
and when the Monsoon comes
will poison rain fall on the desert and run
down the washes to your house and mine?
From a previous post called The Name of My Mountain.
This photo is of Mt. Wrightson in the Santa Rita Mountains as seen from Sycamore Canyon. Just beyond the ridge is the world renowned scenic area Madera Canyon with world class birding as well as hiking and camping. Augusta Resource Corporation has a plan underway to create an open pit copper mine in the Coronado National Forest which is to the east of Madera Canyon and just north of the Greaterville Road. The proposed Rosemont Mine is also west of Las Cienegas National Conservation Area and Davidson Canyon, which drains into Cienega creek, one of the few year round creeks in Arizona. Home to a variety of birds and wildlife, some rare, it has been designated a “Unique Waterway of Arizona”. Highway 83, which is the main route to the mine, is a designated scenic route, the first in the state. All of these precious and sensitive areas will be impacted by the Opening of the Rosemont Mine. The public comment period has been extended until July 14, 2008. It is not too late to submit comments to the National Forest service. It’s never too late to write to your congressman.
To find out how you can help stop the Rosemont Mine or for more information click on the following links:
- Save the Scenic Santa Ritas
- Empire Fagan Coalition
- Hilton Ranch Road Community Organization
- Madera Canyon
- Las Cienegas NCA
- Cienega Creek
- Birding the Greaterville Road
To view more Skywatch Friday photos visit Wigger's World.
To read about our Saturday hike in Sycamore Canyon click Here.
To see my other Skywatch post visit Kathie's Poet Tree
To see Gus' Skywatch Friday post visit Gusto!
