Embedded Files
About Our Conservation Advocacy
About Our Conservation Advocacy
The Lower San Pedro Watershed Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization funded largely by Lower San Pedro stakeholders, with vital pro-bono support provided by nationally and locally active conservation organizations. Our financial independence from corporate interests and government agencies allows us to speak out and to pursue legal remedies when agencies fail to follow through on their mandates. We have thus become a watershed-wide voice for volunteer conservationists in legal and other advocacy efforts.
Perennial flow on the Lower San Pedro River.
2026: Ramping up for Regional-Scale Groundwater Modeling
2026: Ramping up for Regional-Scale Groundwater Modeling
Members of LSPWA understand how incredibly unique the Lower San Pedro River is … and why, as the last free-flowing river in the southwest, it is worth protecting. Of deep concern is the fact the watershed and surrounding hydrology of the adjacent Galiuro Mountains remain largely unstudied.
The continued existence of the Lower San Pedro and surrounding communities is threatened today by water-intensive industrial incursions, including a full-scale copper mine and major gas pipeline, for starters.
Scientists and our close conservation partners agree: we need to gather the facts if we hope to stave off environmental destruction of one of the nation's most unique desert-riparian biohabitats and endangered wilderness areas.
You can help us to achieve our goals, whether through hands-on community science or through your generous support. Click the link below to learn more about this major hydrological undertaking—and why it is vital to our conservation efforts.
Mexican Spotted Owl, spotted on nearby Mount Graham. A threatened species, a number have been photographed at night in and around Copper Creek. Photo: @shwackem
LSPWA & Allies Notify BLM and US Fish & Wildlife of Their Intent to Sue to Protect the Mexican Spotted Owl
LSPWA & Allies Notify BLM and US Fish & Wildlife of Their Intent to Sue to Protect the Mexican Spotted Owl
On April 28, 2026, LSPWA, the Center for Biological Diversity and the San Carlos Apache Tribe together notified the US Bureau of Land Management and the US Fish and Wildlife Service of their intent to initiate a lawsuit, over the protection of Mexican Spotted Owls in the Copper Creek Exploration Project near Mammoth, Arizona.
The Notice of Intent (NOI) to sue includes evidence of the Mexican Spotted Owl (captured on LSPWA trail cams from 2023-2025), along with improper lighting practices, and low-altitude, exploratory flight paths directly over the Mexican Spotted Owl’s location. Providing Federal agencies 60 days' notice is standard protocol. To learn more, read the Center's press release along with regional news coverage.
The running waters of Copper Creek. Photo: Andrea Koesters.
Safeguarding Arizona's Water Protection Mechanisms
Safeguarding Arizona's Water Protection Mechanisms
Along with other rural community groups, on May 18, 2026 LSPWA signed a letter to Gov. Hobbs asking to ensure continued funding of the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority, which is working to secure Arizona's water resources into the future.
This issue is especially critical as rural communities increasingly face severe water shortages due oftentimes to excessive industrial use.
Oak Flat may soon be replaced by a 1.8-mile-wide, 1,000-foot-deep crater, despite its sacred value to the Apache. Photo: Russ McSpadden/Center for Biological Diversity
Joint Opposition to Proposed Oak Flat Tailings Facility at Dripping Springs
Joint Opposition to Proposed Oak Flat Tailings Facility at Dripping Springs
On April 28, we co-signed an opposition letter with Arizona Tribal, environmental, community and faith advocates, urging Gov. Hobbs to deny Resolution Copper's proposal to construct a massive toxic tailings-storage facility for its Oak Flat copper mine, on State Trust Lands at Dripping Springs. The Center for Biological Diversity press release is also available.
An aerial view of Faraday's destructive copper-exploration activities on Copper Creek. © EcoFlight
Speaking Out on Proposed Changes to the U.S. Forest Service's Mineral Rules
Speaking Out on Proposed Changes to the U.S. Forest Service's Mineral Rules
On April 20, 2026, in partnership with the Western Mining Action Network and associated colleagues, LSPWA signed on to a letter regarding the United States Forest Service’s Proposed Locatable Minerals Rule.
Authors opposed in particular the expansion of Forest Service lands open to mineral exploration without public review. See the separate legal remarks that accompanied the letter.
Open pit at the nearby Ray Mine. © EcoFlight, 3/31/2026.
Mining Regulatory Clarity Act
Mining Regulatory Clarity Act
On Dec. 15, 2025, LSPWA, along with 181 other organizations, Tribes, companies and elected officials, signed on in strong opposition to this harmful legislation that would allow mining companies to claim indefinite numbers of millsites on public land, without meaningful limitations, where multinational mining companies can permanently dump toxic waste and construct infrastructure like pipelines and roads.
Cottonwoods on Copper Creek, an uphill tributary of the San Pedro River, located in the Galiuro Mountains outside of Mammoth.
BLM Approves Copper Creek Project. LSPWA, San Carlos Apache and Environmental Organizations Appeal.
BLM Approves Copper Creek Project. LSPWA, San Carlos Apache and Environmental Organizations Appeal.
On June 30, 2025, despite heavy public opposition (7,500 public comments), the Bureau of Land Management quietly approved Redhawk/Faraday Copper’s 67-site exploration project in the Galiuro Mountains near Mammoth, authorizing round-the-clock operations for the next two to three years.
Just three days after LSPWA submitted its appeal letter, the State BLM Director, Raymond Suazo, issued an immediate refusal to even review our comments.
See our appeal letter to BLM, which outlines our concerns regarding a lack of meaningful public participation with the BLM Safford Field Office, as well as overlooked and inconclusive responses to substantive comments, and a FONSI (or finding of no significant impact) unsupported by evidence and analysis.
Review our partner and joint comment letters to the BLM, for further insight into the ways BLM mishandled their environmental assessment of the Copper Creek Mining-Exploration Project.
A quick email to BLM, in support our appeal letters, will send a message that mining does not belong this close to the San Pedro River. Click the button below for paragraph samples.
Aerial view of the Copper Creek exploration area by Faraday/Redhawk reveals a series of drill pads and widened roads impacting this vital water source and wildlife connectivity corridor. Photo: Elias Butler
LSPWA Response to the BLM Draft Environmental Assessment of the Faraday/Redhawk Copper Creek Exploratory Mining Project
LSPWA Response to the BLM Draft Environmental Assessment of the Faraday/Redhawk Copper Creek Exploratory Mining Project
In April 2025, LSPWA submitted comments to the Bureau of Land Management on its Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) of the Faraday Copper/Redhawk "Copper Creek" exploratory mining project.
Among the many deficiencies we were able to discover, the EA failed to take account of the impact of exploratory drilling on protected species.
Civil Demonstration Against the Greenwashing of Mining’s “Social License”
Civil Demonstration Against the Greenwashing of Mining’s “Social License”
LSPWA joined partner efforts to protest the holding of a University of Arizona summit on Earth Day, April 22, 2025, the purpose of which was to enable the mining industry to better manage and manipulate public opinion.
The coalition faulted the University, in particular, for failing to include the voices of those who stand to be most impacted by mining's depredations, namely, local communities and Tribal nations.
Proposed supersonic overflight zones encompass Tribal lands and much of the Lower San Pedro's pristine wilderness.
Environmental Impact Statement on the Proposed Expansion of U.S. Air Force Flight-Training Zones
Environmental Impact Statement on the Proposed Expansion of U.S. Air Force Flight-Training Zones
In October 2024, LSPWA and the Cascabel Conservation Association together issued a joint response to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement issued by the U.S. Air Force in regard to the "Regional Special Use Airspace Optimization to Support Air Force Missions in Arizona."
Our comments focused in proposed proposed plans for the Outlaw and Jackal Military Operation Areas (MOAs) that would permit up to 30 daily sorties, involving cadres of low-flying supersonic aircraft, over vast portions of the San Pedro River Valley and nearby Native Tribal lands.
SunZia transmission lines. Photo: Greg C. Parent/Ulteig
SunZia / Pattern Energy Transmission Lines
SunZia / Pattern Energy Transmission Lines
For over 13 years, LSPWA worked, alongside the Cascabel Conservation Association and other partners, to educate policy makers and the public, as well as undertake legal actions to prevent the construction of a 33-mile corridor of behemoth transmission lines through the most remote and ecologically sensitive portion of the San Pedro River ecosystem. Read the Dec. 12, 2022 filing related to that effort.
The need for an infrastructure corridor along the San Pedro was obviated by the fact that existing industrial-infrastructure corridors could have well served the purpose. While the last court of judgment did not find in our favor, the battle continues as a lawsuit brought by San Carlos Apache Tribe and Tohono o'Odham Nation is being given new life, with support from the Center for Biological Diversity and Archaeology Southwest.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse