{"id":34467,"date":"2024-01-15T05:35:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-15T10:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/?p=34467"},"modified":"2024-01-15T05:37:13","modified_gmt":"2024-01-15T10:37:13","slug":"cronkite-news-water-project-on-navajo-nation-sees-controversy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2024\/01\/15\/cronkite-news-water-project-on-navajo-nation-sees-controversy\/","title":{"rendered":"Cronkite News: Water project on Navajo Nation sees controversy"},"content":{"rendered":" <\/a>
A view overlooking the rim of Black Mesa in Arizona. Plans for a pumped hydropower project in the area, which opponents say is a critical habitat for several protected species, like the Mexican spotted owl and golden eagles, among other concerns. Photo by Chris Clements \/ KSJD<\/figcaption>\r\n
\u2018Pumped\u2019 hydropower plans proliferate; one in particular stirs opposition<\/div>\r\n
Monday, January 15, 2024<\/div>\r\n
By Renee Romo<\/div>\r\n
Cronkite News<\/DIV>\r\n
cronkitenews.azpbs.org<\/A><\/DIV>\r\n

<\/p>\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C. — When Adrian Herder saw the plans for proposed hydropower project on the Navajo Nation’s Black Mesa, he was shocked by the “outrageous” 450,000 acre-feet of water the project would reportedly use.

<\/P>\r\n“Which is also kind of scary, too, especially given that we\u2019re from such an arid region here on Navajo,” said Herder, media and community organizer for T\u00f3 Nizh\u00f3n\u00ed \u00c1n\u00ed – or Sacred Water Speaks<\/a> – a Din\u00e9-led environmental nonprofit.

<\/P>\r\nDevelopers agree it would be scary – if it was right. But Denis Payre insists that the Black Mesa Pumped Storage Project<\/a> – which is still years away from approval, much less construction – will use only about 3,000 acre feet of water while generating clean, renewable energy.

<\/P>\r\n“The reason why Sacred Water Speaks reacted like that is probably because the process can be confusing if you’re not familiar with it,” said Payre, president and CEO of Nature and People First Arizona, the company that has started the permit process on the project. “They are not permits to build, they are just permits to survey.”

<\/P>\r\nCrossed signals are among the many reasons that opponents are pushing back against the project, which they fear will deplete the region’s aquifers and repeat a history of developers ignoring tribal sovereignty.

<\/P>\r\n

The proposed #BlackMesaPumpedStorage<\/a> (BMPSP) is divided into three (north, east & south) projects on Black Mesa's northern edge. There are 9 reservoirs in total, which would use 126 trillion gallons of Navajo water. \ud83d\ude35\u200d\ud83d\udcab #NoBMPSP<\/a> #ProtectNavajoWater<\/a> #NoFalseSolutions<\/a> #T\u00f3BeeIin\u00e1<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Ad6wNKtCpQ<\/a><\/p>— T\u00f3 Nizh\u00f3n\u00ed \u00c1n\u00ed (@tonizhoniani) November 20, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>