Sinjin Eberle, 720-373-0864, SEberle@AmericanRivers.org
(Washington) – One month after naming the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon America’s Most Endangered River of 2015, American Rivers applauded a positive step toward protecting the river from harmful development.
Newly elected Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye expressed his opposition to the proposed Grand Canyon Escalade Project on the east rim of the Grand Canyon. On Wednesday, President Begaye stated:
“The Begaye-Nez administration will vet and evaluate each project and determine whether the project will be in the best interest of the Navajo Nation and our people. As for the project, Grand Canyon Escalade, this Administration has already stated it does not support the Grand Canyon Escalade project and that position has not changed, as Mr. Begaye has stated it is not in the best interest of the Navajo Nation and the Navajo people.”
American Rivers listed the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon as America’s Most Endangered River because of a battery of threats surrounding the Grand Canyon, one of our nation’s most iconic national parks and an irreplaceable national treasure. One of these threats is the proposed Grand Canyon Escalade project which would create a massive development and tramway with noise, trash, and pollution scarring the heart of the canyon.
“The Grand Canyon should be protected for all of us, for all time. We applaud President Begaye’s stance against the Escalade project and support his efforts to bring economic development to the Navajo Nation while safeguarding one of our nation’s irreplaceable natural treasures,” said Bob Irvin, President of American Rivers.
Since April, more than 50,000 people nationwide have signed a petition to Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell in support of protecting the Grand Canyon from unwise development.
Learn more at www.AmericanRivers.org/GrandCanyon
