An escape from worries and the world: that’s what draws visitors to guest ranches. It’s as true today as it was 98 years ago when the Circle Z Ranch outside Patagonia was founded. But all that is about to change. Or could.
Diana Nash, co-owner of the Circle Z Ranch with her husband Rick, sat down and read South32’s recently released Mine Plan of Operations for the Hermosa Project front to back with a growing sense that a dark cloud was looming across their ranch just miles from the mine’s center of operations.
The Plan of Operations provides a conceptual overview on how South32 will operate the mining project from start to finish.
But Diana wasn’t satisfied with the level of detail in the document. Some of the content of the plan was redacted, deemed market sensitive, confidential or proprietary.
Diana noted that many details, the magnitude of what they’re proposing, and the lack of specifics in the plan concerned her.
And it’s not just about the impact on the Nashes’ business. They fear construction, heavy traffic, groundwater pollution, potential dewatering, and compromised air quality will threaten their existence not only on the ranch but in the area—for generations to come.
The Circle Z Ranch sits just miles from the Hermosa project’s mining operations. Located south of Patagonia on SR82, it is surrounded by Forest Service and state land where guests can embrace the natural beauty of grasslands, canyons, mountains, lakes and Sonoita Creek. “We are a very low-key, nature-based tourist business bringing a lot of people into the area from all over the world,” Diana said.
Circle Z is the oldest continually operating dude ranch in Arizona. Established as a sheep-herding operation in the 1880s, and opened as a dude ranch in 1926, Circle Z has access to hundreds of miles of trails and is known for its many horses, most of which are bred, raised and trained on the ranch. The total acreage of Circle Z, including leased land, is about 7,000 acres, plus a 3,500-acre conservation area.
Diana’s concerns include the construction of roads that will disturb roughly 140 acres of land. She anticipates dust from road construction blasting impacting air quality. Circle Z has 20 trails that cross over the area where South32 plans to build the primary road which will connect the Project with SR82 south of Patagonia, just north of the Patagonia Lake entrance and less than two miles from the entrance to Circle Z.
“There is [going to be a road] running right through what we do,” Diana said. “We have had a special permit on that land for as long as I can remember. How am I going to be able to navigate trails safely? How is the National Forest going to keep us safe? They’re not even saying what kind and size trucks they’re looking at. There’s a lot of deep canyons out there, so how are they going to navigate those?”
And then there’s water, always an issue here.
Diana is concerned about the water that will be discharged from the mine. South32 expects that up to 3.4 millions gallons per day of groundwater will be treated and discharged into Alum Gulch, Harshaw Creek and two newly constructed rapid infiltration basins.
“This is not a sustainable use of our precious water,” Diana said. “How can we say that it’s okay to dewater our aquifer so they can get in there and make money? Nobody knows what’s going to happen to that water because the geology is too complex. That’s taking a risk on our lives and the future of our water in a state where we’re desperate for water. I have a hundred horses. How can I safely make sure that the water is plentiful and won’t be contaminated?”
And then there’s dust. How will that impact air quality?
“There is plenty of dust in the air when we don’t get rain that causes my horses to cough,” Diana said. “What happens if the dust is laced with manganese? Will our guests be safe? It’s a health risk that a country like ours should not be taking.”
Over the past 150 years or so, the Circle Z Ranch has survived Apache raids, the depression, two world wars, the recession and two pandemics. Now the Nashes feel that there is a new threat looming over this historic ranch.
“My overall reaction to the plan is surprise at the enormous scope of this mine,” Diana said. “I knew it was big, but after reading the plan, it’s going to change life as we know it here, much more than I really had anticipated.”
“During the next two years our residents, our county, and our state need to pay serious attention to protecting our precious communities, streams, mountains, and businesses that sustain this area. I have been engaged and will continue to be engaged with lawmakers, scientists and the community.”