Navajo Nation intervenes, objects to proposal to build a dam in Western Navajo

The Navajo Nation has filed a motion to intervene with U.S. authorities, who an outside developer is asking for permission to study building a dam on the reservation without first working with local residents or with the tribe.

Virus Silences Air Traffic Over Confluence

If there is one good thing about the coronavirus, it grounded all the air-tour operators over the confluence of the Colorado and Little Colorado Rivers for the first time in about 30 years.

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A permit gives developer chance to threaten Confluence

Federal officials have given the green light to a developer who wants to build a dam to capture scarce water in drought-like conditions near the confluence of the Colorado and Little Colorado rivers.

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Developer seeks two dams on Little Colorado River

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez on Friday told a developer who wants to build two dams on the Little Colorado River to respect the environment and listen to local land users.

Escalade 'Monster' killed

The Navajo Nation Council rejected a controversial plan to build a tourist development at the confluence of the Little Colorado and Colorado rivers, ending a years-long battle with outside developers.

Navajo Suspends Backcountry Permits at East Rim

Hikers and campers will no longer be given permits to a chunk of the Grand Canyon East rim on the Navajo Nation because of lack of enforcement

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One year later: A retrospective on Save the Confluence

A year after thwarting developers from ravaging the confluence of the Colorado and Little Colorado rivers with a tourist stop that included a gondola tram into the Grand Canyon, this hallowed place remains mired in tribal bureacracy preventing families from creating a protected cultural and environmental site.

Developers want to build a tourist trap here. Oppose the Grand Canyon Escalade Project.

(Photo © Jack Dykinga.)

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The Monster Has Been Slain

Families who fought for seven long years against outside developers to take their homeland away for a resort at the eastern edge of Grand Canyon celebrate.

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Actor Robert Redford Endorses Effort to Save the Confluence

“A group of courageous Navajo families who are fighting to save their sacred connection to their land. They welcome the opportunities for economic prosperity, but not at the expense of their culture,” Redford says in the video.

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Tell the Council No

Send e-mail to Navajo Nation Council delegates opposing plans to build a tourist trap at The Confluence.

More than 38,000 petition signatures gathered.

Thousands of registered Navajo voters and even more worldwide have signed a petition opposing the Grand Canyon Escalade.

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The latest from Save the Confluence

Virus slows sacred site designation for Grand Canyon east rim

by Halne'e | Mar 11, 2021 | Environment

The pandemic is slowing plans to craft a bill that will designate a sacred site to portions of Grand Canyon East rim.

Confluence headed for Navajo sacred site designation

by Halne'e | Dec 1, 2020 | Air, Environment, Land, News, People, Water

“They (outsiders) just want to exploit for money. It’s hard for some people to understand the concept of ‘Not everything has to be about money,”‘ said Rita Bilagody, Save the Confluence spokeswoman. “This bill will send a loud message to outsiders that, we will fight for our sacred sites and will fight any attempts of desecration and destroying these sites.”

Navajo leaders, residents mull Big Canyon Dam study

by Halne'e | Aug 1, 2020 | News

A Navajo leader, who represents the western Navajo chapter where a developer proposes to construct a dam, rejects the idea.

Navajo Nation intervenes in Big Canyon

by Halne'e | Jul 30, 2020 | News

The Navajo Nation has filed a motion to intervene in a proposal to build a dam at Big Canyon, near the site where a developer three years ago was kicked out after trying to build a gondola tram and tourist resort.

Big Canyon comments due Monday at FERC

by Halne'e | Jul 27, 2020 | News

The deadline is quickly approaching to send comments to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission about Big Canyon in Western Navajo Nation.

FERC wants to hear from you about Big Canyon

by Halne'e | Jun 3, 2020 | News

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has opened a two-month comment period about Big Canyon near the Little Colorado River. FERC accepted Tuesday a permit application from Pumped Hydro Storage LLC. Steve Irwin, manager of Pumped Hydro Storage LLC, plans to dam up...

Send comments about dams to Navajo leaders

by Halne'e | Jun 3, 2020 | News

Readers of Save the Confluence asked how they can help about two proposed dams on the Little Colorado River. The names of the dams are Navajo Nation/Salt Trail Canyon and Navajo Nation/Little Colorado PSP. Here is Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez's contact. Navajo...

A permit gives developer chance to threaten Confluence

by Halne'e | May 31, 2020 | Economic Development, News

Federal officials have given the green light to a developer who wants to build a dam to capture scarce water in drought-like conditions near the confluence of the Colorado and Little Colorado rivers.

She thought she knew which Monster to fight, until the coronavirus came along

by STC | Apr 24, 2020 | News, People

Rita Bilagody, a Tuba City resident, led the fight against Phoenix developers, who proposed to develop a tourist resort at Grand Canyon East Rim. She called the proposal “The Monster.” That was, until she contracted the coronavirus. This is her story.

Virus Silences Helicopters at Confluence

by Halne'e | Mar 30, 2020 | Environment, Featured, People

If there is one good thing about the coronavirus, it grounded all the air-tour operators over the confluence of the Colorado and Little Colorado Rivers for the first time in about 30 years.

Navajo chapter opposes dams

by Halne'e | Nov 21, 2019 | Economic Development, News

A Navajo Nation chapter voted Wednesday against inviting a Phoenix developer to explain its proposal to build multiple dams on the Little Colorado River.

Death of Escalade brings more developers, ideas

by Halne'e | Oct 31, 2019 | News

By William LongReed It’s been two years since the Navajo Nation Council voted -- 16 opposed and 2 in favor -- to stop the Grand Canyon East Rim project known as the Grand Canyon Escalade. The then-Confluence Partners wanted more 400-acres of Navajo land. The partners’...

Help Save the Confluence! Sign our online petition.

Honorable Navajo Nation Council Members:

We petition the Navajo Nation Council to vote NO on the proposed Grand Canyon Escalade development plan for the following reasons:

•	The Confluence Partners, LLC—headed by a non-Native Scottsdale consultant—want the Navajo Nation to pay $65 million for infrastructure. The Escalade has the potential to turn into another Skywalk, like the venture  owned and operated by non-Indian investors on the Hualapai Nation.

•	The Grand Canyon Escalade is, again, the wrong development plan for the area because it is environmentally and culturally destructive to the area. The plans will block sacred prayer sites along the rim for traditional Navajo medicine men and people of the earth-based faith. In addition, the plans will negatively impact land users and grazing permit holders as their regular use of the area will be impeded and restricted upon.

•	The Grand Canyon Escalade plan will not guarantee the local people highly specialized jobs in any number.

Former Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly ignored two Bodaway/Gap Chapter resolutions, both of which opposed and asked Mr. Shelly to cease an economic feasibility study spearheaded by the Confluence Partners, LLC in relation to the development plan(s); the Confluence Partners, LLC, WILL NOT respect local governments and the outcries of the people affected by the Escalade.

**your signature**