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Grand Canyon Trust timeline: Advocating for Colorado Plateau conservation since 1984
2009
- Worked with our conservation colleagues to convince the Secretary of Interior to ban new mining claims or exploration for 2 years on more than a million acres of federal land adjacent to Grand Canyon while the Department studies the possibility of a 20-year ban.
- Provided core leadership for launching the largest forest restoration effort in the country. Known as the Four Forests Restoration Initiative, it aims to restore more than a million acres of ponderosa pine forests in northern Arizona over the next 20 years.
- Succeeded in passing the Utah Recreational Land Exchange Act, which will protect 45,000 acres of spectacular state lands along the Colorado River near Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.
- Joined with other groups to stop the leasing of oil and gas sites on over 160,000 acres in southern Utah, including areas adjacent to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, and archaeological treasures like Nine Mile Canyon.
- Obtained a federal court ruling concluding that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s 2008 Biological Opinion for the operation of Glen Canyon dam was flawed, supporting our contention that dam operations are impacting the endangered humpback chub and its habitat.
- The removal of more than 16 million tons of uranium tailings from the banks of the Colorado River near Moab began, the result of more than a decade of work by the Trust.
- Joined the successful effort to challenge the EPA’s issuance of an air quality permit to the proposed Desert Rock coal-fired power plant located in the Four Corners region.
- Led 38 volunteer trips for 20 projects on lands in Kane and Two Mile ranches, Native America, Utah forests, and Grand Canyon National Park.
- Convinced the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to develop the first Utah-wide beaver management plan, aimed at restoring healthy beaver populations.
- Successfully appealed the new Dixie National Forest travel plan, helped close 50 percent of the actual and/or proposed roadways on the forest, and successfully advocated to create a task force charged with assuring that the travel plan is properly implemented.
- Secured an agreement from the three southern Utah national forest supervisors to amend the existing plans to protect cottonwood, aspen, and willow, which are threatened by overgrazing and browsing.
- Hosted a gathering of ten Native American tribes that live on the Colorado Plateau to begin a dialog to gather tribal perspectives on conservation and to discuss potential solutions for resolving environmental issues.
2008
- Joined our conservation colleagues to challenge in court several Utah BLM Resource Management Plans that will affect how 11 million acres of lands are managed in canyon country.
- Advocated successfully for a 60-hour, high-flow event from Glen Canyon Dam to help restore beaches in Grand Canyon and improve native fish habitat.
- Filed a lawsuit against the BLM for operating Glen Canyon Dam in a way that violates the Grand Canyon Protection Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and Endangered Species Act.
- Successfully challenged in court the use of “categorical exclusions” by the U.S. Forest Service to allow exploratory uranium drilling near the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
- Worked with Congressman Raul Grijalva to introduce the Grand Canyon Watersheds Protection Act, which withdraws more than a million acres of public lands near the Grand Canyon from uranium development.
- Established the Renewable Energy Investment Fund, which will invest $5 million to help fund residential and community-based renewable energy projects on Native American lands.
- Secured agreement to develop Utah’s first-ever beaver management plan, which will stop unlimited trapping of beaver and pave the way for the restoration of beaver.
- Convinced southern Utah national forests to improve their management of willow, cottonwood, and riparian aspen stands that are dying out due to excessive consumption by ungulates.
- Initiated an ambitious effort to restore 18 miles of riparian habitat in Paria River canyon, which is part of our Kane & Two Mile Ranches
- Garnered Arizona Governor Napolitano’s support for a broadly supported and precedent setting agreement for undertaking landscape-scale forest restoration in northern Arizona.
- Developed landscape-scale, satellite-based maps showing forest conditions and restoration needs on the Kaibab Plateau
- Developed a cutting-edge model for predicting cheatgrass occurrence on the Kane & Two Mile Ranches.
- Helped the Navajo Nation Council’s Office of the Speaker and tribal NGOs develop legislation to create the Green Economy Commission, which will provide green jobs on Navajo lands.
- Helped the Shonto Chapter write a strategic plan for creating a chapter-owned renewable energy company and to establish a renewable energy task force for developing utility-scale projects. [back to top]
2007
- The Utah Watersheds Program was implemented in April 2007
- The Kaibab Vermilion Cliffs Heritage Alliance completes its first two volunteer projects on the Warm Fire and begins surveying and mapping effort on the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument [back to top]
2006
- BLM’s Administrative Court upholds the Trust’s ownership of grazing permits in the Grand Staircase ~ Escalante National Monument
- President Clinton’s use of the Antiquities Act to establish the Grand Staircase ~ Escalante National Monument is upheld in the U.S. Court of Appeals
- Trust cochairs Arizona Governor Napolitano’s Forest Health Advisory Council, developing a Statewide Strategy to restore forest health
- Grand Canyon Trust assists the National Parks Conservation Association to open a southwest regional office in Salt Lake City
- Volunteer Program more than doubles its volunteer hours finishing the season with over 10,000 hours donated to on-the-ground restoration of the Colorado Plateau
- Sage grouse habitat assessment completed on southern Utah Forest Service, BLM, and Utah Division of Wildlife lands with professional botanists’ and volunteer help
- The Three Forests Coalition submits complete sustainable forest plan alternatives for the Dixie, Fishlake and Manti-LaSal national forests in southern Utah
- 60 MW Sunshine Wind Farm fully permitted on Hopi fee lands
- “Just Transition” motion filed with the California Public Utilities Commission to have revenue from Mohave SO2 credits shared to help fund Hopi and Navajo renewable energy projects
- Federal judge renders decision on lawsuit brought by Grand Canyon Trust invalidating the flawed Department of Interior Recovery Goals for the Colorado River’s endangered humpback chub
- Grand Canyon Trust develops a multi-year experimental flow design for Glen Canyon Dam that will benefit native fish, including the endangered humpback chub, and sediment resources, including beaches
- Grand Canyon Trust partners with the Bureau of Reclamation to complete northern Arizona regional water studies that include water conservation analysis and implementation
- North Rim Ranch purchases cattle and validates Forest Service grazing permits for the Kane Ranch in our first grazing season
- Trust launches the Kaibab Vermilion Cliffs Heritage Alliance to monitor, document, manage, research, and interpret the region’s cultural resources
- Baseline ecological assessment completed on the Kane & Two Mile Ranches [back to top]
2005
- Experimental low steady flows done in Grand Canyon for the benefit of native fish and sediment resources
- Petition filed for “Conserving Arizona’s Future,” a ballot initiative that will protect 62,000 acres of state lands in the Greater Grand Canyon region
- Study effort initiated to protect Grand Canyon springs from nearby groundwater pumping
- Water conservation program developed in Flagstaff, Arizona
- Grand Canyon Protection Act recognized by Secretary of the Interior as part of the Colorado River Law of the River
- Department of Energy announces plan for cleanup of toxic waste at Atlas site outside of Moab Baseline ecological assessment of Kane & Two Mile Ranches begins
- First volunteer project on the Kane & Two Mile Ranches takes place
- Grand Canyon Trust and The Conservation Fund take possession of the Kane & Two Mile Ranche
- Mohave Power plant shut down for failure to comply with the 1999 consent decree that dictated retrofitting the plant with modern pollution control equipment [back to top]
2004
- District Court rules in favor of Trust on San Juan power plant case
- Endangered Species Act lawsuit on humpback chub recovery plan filed
- Flagstaff residents approve funding to purchase open space lands on Observatory Mesa
- Purchase of land at Calf Creek in Grand Staircase ~ Escalante National Monument completed
- Trust provides GIS component of Utah Wilderness Coalition comments on BLM Resource Management Plans
- Interior Department, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, The Wilderness Society and Trust prevail in lawsuit to protect Grand Staircase ~ Escalante National Monument under the Antiquities Act
- Extensive partnerships created with Hopi and Navajo communities, governments, and businesses by the Native America Program
- Trust assists with creation of the Hopi-Navajo Entrepreneurial Collaborative and proposal to the Kellogg Foundation
- Option to purchase Kane & Two Mile Ranches by Trust and Conservation Fund signed
- Three Rivers Withdrawal signed by Secretary Norton
- Utah Land Exchange Legislation introduced
- Sustainable Economic Plan for Sipaulovi Village coordinated by Trust
- Trust assists with the development of the Sunshine Wind Park on Hopi leased lands
- Master Plan that is culturally sensitive and includes green building concepts for Tuba City and Kayenta Shopping Centers completed
- U.S. Court of Appeals overturns unfavorable laches ruling on Springerville case
- Second large dam release to mimic pre-dam floods on the Colorado River [back to top]
2003
- Bill Hedden becomes Executive Director
- Coconino County Comprehensive Plan completed
- Headquarters’ photovoltaic system comes on line
- Trust and Utah Open Lands purchase 560 acres of critical deer habitat in Castle Valley
- Trust helps organize the Three Forests Coalition to advocate for improved forest management in southern Utah’s three national forests [back to top]
2002
- 12,000-acre Willow Gulch grazing allotment in Grand Staircase ~ Escalante National Monument purchased and cattle removed
- San Juan power plant lawsuit filed
- Court issues favorable ruling on St. George airport lawsuit
- 78,000-acre Drip Tanks pasture in Grand Staircase ~ Escalante National Monument retired
- Court rules for Trust on natural quiet in Grand Canyon
- 43,000-acre Moody allotment in Grand Staircase ~ Escalante National Monument retired
- Trust acquires 38,350-acre Tuweep allotment and removes livestock
- $33M bond issue for open space funding supported by Trust approved by Coconino County residents
- Trust releases North Central Arizona Water Demand Study [back to top]
2001
- Grand Canyon Forest Partnership starts work on first phase of the 9,100-acre Fort Valley Ecosystem Restoration Project
- Trust launches effort to include a “Natural Resources Protection Plan” in the update of the Coconino County Comprehensive Plan
- 56,000-acre Clark Bench allotment in Grand Staircase ~ Escalante National Monument purchased and cattle removed
- Bigler / Hedden report on Utah State lands released
- Option to purchase land at Calf Creek in Grand Staircase ~ Escalante National Monument purchased
- 260,000-acre Last Chance grazing allotment in Grand Staircase ~ Escalante National Monument purchased and retired
- Springerville power plant lawsuit filed
- “Greater Grand Canyon Hydrology Symposium” hosted by Trust
- Trust files lawsuit on St. George airport expansion [back to top]
2000
- Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument established
- Arizona Corporation Commission passes the Environmental Portfolio Standard
- Trust files second natural quiet lawsuit
- Robbers Roost grazing retirement (56,714 acres)
- Vermilion Cliffs National Monument established
- Flagstaff regional plan adopted
- Citizen’s Growth Management Initiative and Canyon Forest Village defeated
- White Vulcan mine agreement signed
- GIS program established
- Trust helps purchase open space in Castle Valley
- Trust completes fundraising to purchase Grafton town-site on the Virgin River
- 50,000 acres of oil and gas leases in Grand Staircase ~ Escalante National Monument purchased and retired by Trust [back to top]
1999
- 2000 Citizens Growth Management Initiative filed
- Final EIS for Atlas tailings pile released by the NRC
- Livestock grazing in 132 miles of Grand Staircase ~ Escalante National Monument canyons retired
- Congressman Cannon introduces H.R.4165: “Keep Colorado River Clean Act” designed to move the Atlas Mill tailings pile; the bill passes as part of the Floyd Spence Defense Authorization Act in November, 1999
- Grazing Retirement in Capitol Reef National Park
- Trust volunteer program launched with SF Peaks road inventory
- Consent decree with Mohave signed, requiring the installation of up-to-date pollution control equipment [back to top]
1998
- Mohave Generating Station lawsuit filed
- Grafton Heritage Partnership Project founded, fundraising begins
- Grand Canyon Trust, the Sierra Club, and Earthjustice file a suit challenging USFW and NRC Atlas plan to protect Colorado pikeminnow
- Second Community Conservation Summit held in Cortez, CO.
- Arches National Park expanded by Congress
- Trust retires grazing in Lost spring Canyon
- Lawsuit filed to protect natural quiet in Grand Canyon National Park [back to top]
1997
- Grand Canyon Region Archaeology Conference hosted by Trust
- Community Conservation Summit held in Cortez, Colorado
- Arches National Park expansion proposed by Trust
- Effort to move Atlas Mill tailings pile begins
- Headquarters office moves to the Lockett Homestead
- USFW issues draft biological opinion on Atlas
- Grand Canyon Forests Partnership created
- Flagstaff 20/20 visioning completed
- Beyond the Boundaries–The Human and Natural Communities of the Greater Grand Canyon released [back to top]
1996
- Charting the Colorado Plateau: An Economic and Demographic Exploration released
- Colorado River Basin Workshop hosted by Trust
- Trust awarded the Society for American Archaeology’s Public Service Award
- Colorado Plateau archaeological sites designated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of “America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places”
- First Colorado River dam release to create a flood and restore habitat
- Flagstaff 20/20 community visioning process begins
- Grand Canyon Visibility Transport Commission report and recommendations released
- FAA announces proposed rules for regulating natural quiet at Grand Canyon; Trust disagrees with major portions of the rule
- Grand Staircase ~ Escalante National Monument designated by President Clinton
- Sustainable Communities: A Resource Guide for Colorado Plateau Communities released
- Trust and Conservation Fund retire grazing from the Low Spur allotment along the Green River
- California Condors released for first time [back to top]
1995
- First Colorado Plateau Town Hall held in Moab, cohosted by the Trust and other Colorado Plateau Forum members
- Geoff Barnard hired as president
- Trust hosts a series of cultural resource management training sessions across the Colorado Plateau
- Towards a Geography of Hope, proceedings from Grand Canyon Symposium released
- Beyond the Rangeland Conflict published [back to top]
1994
- Preserving Traces of the Past released
- Bureau of Reclamation releases the DEIS for Glen Canyon Dam operations
- Trust co-hosts Southwest American Indian Tourism Conference
- Trust testifies before U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Water and Power about managing the Colorado River
- NPS report to Congress on natural quiet in Grand Canyon National Park released
- Trust becomes involved in removing the White Vulcan Mine on San Francisco peaks
- Trust helps to create the Arizona American Indian Tourism Association
- Grand Canyon Symposium, focused on ecosystem management at Grand Canyon National Park, co-hosted by Trust and NPCA
- Cameron-Navajo Tourism Development & Management plan completed [back to top]
1993
- Trust and partners complete Kaibab-Paiute Comprehensive Economic Plan
- Developers request Tusayan land exchange for Canyon Forest Village
- St. George office opens
- NAFTA “Trans Canyon Freeway” idea killed [back to top]
1992
- Grand Canyon National Park initiates 3-year general management plan process
- Senate field hearing held in Flagstaff on Grand Canyon tour overflights
- Tom Jensen hired as the Chief Operating Officer for Flagstaff office
- The Grand Canyon Protection Act is passed [back to top]
1991
- EPA proposes a regulation requiring the owners of Navajo to cut emissions by 70 percent, the Trust argues for 95 percent
- Andalex Resources announces its intention to develop the Smoky Hollow coal mine adjacent to the Kaiparowits Plateau
- Kaibab-Paiute Tribe rejects waste incinerator and engages Grand Canyon Trust’s assistance
- Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner orders “interim flow” tests for Glen Canyon / Colorado River
- Colorado Plateau Native American Leaders symposium held in Flagstaff, Arizona
- President Bush visits Grand Canyon to celebrate the agreement to reduce emissions from Navajo power plant by 90 percent
- Colorado Plateau Community Initiatives Symposium held in Cedar City Utah
- First meeting of the Grand Canyon Visibility Transport Commission, Trust argues to include all parks and wilderness areas on Colorado Plateau [back to top]
1990
- Colorado Plateau Monitoring program launched
- Trust helps lead the effort to create the Four Corners Heritage Council
- Community Initiatives Program established
- Trust joins the Utah Wilderness Coalition [back to top]
1989
- Wayne Owens introduces the Utah BLM Wilderness Act
- NPS Navajo Power Plant Visibility Report Released
- Interior Secretary Manuel Lujan orders that the Bureau of Reclamation do an EIS on the impact of dam operations on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon
- U. S. District Court orders the WAPA to do an EIS on the impacts of its long-term power contracts for power generated at Glen Canyon dam
- Jim Ruch hired as Executive Vice-President
- Colorado Plateau Headquarters Office in Flagstaff opens
- Trust releases The Future of the Colorado Plateau: Reconciling Preservation of its Wonders with Economic Opportunity for its Residents [back to top]
1988
- Glen Canyon Environmental Studies Final Report issued
- Grand Canyon Trust, in partnership with the National Wildlife Federation and the Western River Guides Association, files WAPA lawsuit [back to top]
1987
- Long Range Operating Plan adopted by board
- National Parks Overflights Protection Act passed
- NPS announces aircraft management plan for Grand Canyon [back to top]
1986
- Ed Norton appointed as Chief Executive Officer
- Trust opens Washington D. C. office [back to top]
1985
- Articles of Incorporation signed by Jim Trees
- First board meeting, attended by Bruce Babbitt, Harriet Hunt-Burgess, Huey Johnson
- Trust becomes a 501 (c)(3) organization
- First fundraising event held at the American Museum of Natural History in New York [back to top]
1984
- Idea of the Trust first arises on Colorado River raft trip
- First meeting to discuss creation of the Trust held in San Francisco [back to top]
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