We live in an “enchanted place,” according to a Pulitzer Prize-winning book. Its author, naturalist Edwin Way Teale, described Patagonia’s site along Sonoita Creek as one filled with wildlife, woods, surprising people and delightful mountain trails. Because of such unique natural and cultural assets at our doorstep, the 2009 Patagonia General Plan outlined planning principles that should guide our future: ensuring land use compatibility, closely studying and rejecting resource extraction proposals which pose a threat to the environmental, economic or cultural resources of the Patagonia area, seeking diverse, locally-based economic growth, ensuring new development projects fit the character of Patagonia, and promoting the use of sustainable energy and the protection of groundwater resources.
One may wonder how the South32 Hermosa mine project has proceeded this far without adequately addressing any of these fundamental principles laid out in the Town’s General Plan in their discussions with our community. At the core of this issue is whether the Hermosa Mining Project is undermining both Patagonia’s unique environmental character as well as its core economy.
The National Park Service has declared that habitats in our watershed are among the 11 National Natural Landmarks in Arizona and among 599 identified nationwide. The Sonoita Creek Watershed is now part of the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area, as well.
The Patagonia area is recognized as a globally important birding hotspot. Patagonia has six Important Bird Areas (IBAs) within 15 miles of town. No other place in Arizona has so many IBAs in such a small area. Patagonia is ranked among the top three must-see spots for both bird and butterfly watchers in the state.
This year, at least 30,000 birding visitors will spend money in Patagonia. At a conservative estimate, another 5000 to 10,000 naturalists annually visit Patagonia Lake and the San Rafael Valley. But how much revenue do all these visitors bring to our community?
Five years ago, former Town Manager David Teel stated that the “direct and indirect economic benefit” for Santa Cruz County “averages 21.2 million dollars, including 6.7 million dollars in salaries and wages. Although Patagonia has only a small share of the county population, it has a large share of its eco-tourism.”
Within three miles of where the South32 Hermosa Project has recently purchased land, we have the highest concentration of land-based conservation, wildlife restoration and regenerative food production projects of any place of equivalent size in Arizona: Borderlands Restoration L3C, Wildlife Corridors, Hummingbird Monitoring Network, Borderlands Restoration Network, Tucson Audubon society, AZ Game and Fish, U.S. Wildlife Safe Harbors for endangered fish through the Partners in Wildlife Program, Native Seeds/SEARCH, Deep Dirt Farm, Friends of Sonoita Creek and Patagonia Area Resource Alliance. These organizations support dozens of additional jobs in our community, and for the last five years have provided dozens of Patagonia High School students with paid internships.
If South32 had randomly thrown a dart at a map, it could not have hit a spot with more conservation, restoration and regenerative economic sites within three miles of its recent land purchases. Their proposed routes to skirt or side-step Patagonia proper will diminish the conservation value, long-term restoration and monitoring efforts and economic base of Patagonia and its surrounding lands.
Despite cordial dialogue between South32 and nonprofit organizations in town, the mining project has not stopped buying up land next to conservation properties nor retired its proposal to build new access roads that would endanger the high concentration of archeological and natural resources in or near our community.
It’s time for South32 to do what is mandated by its Mission Statement and Sustainability Plan: do least harm to natural and cultural resources by respecting the sanctity of biodiversity hotspots.