District III Navajo County Supervisor Jason Whiting of Snowflake has joined the tussle over whether the Grand Canyon watershed should be designated as a national monument.

Whiting penned a letter to District 1 Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick asking her to rethink her stance on the issue. Kirkpatrick sent a letter to President Obama in late January asking him to use his authority to make the designation. According to Whiting, such an action would restrict the multiple-use of the land surrounding the Grand Canyon and have a negative impact on the economy in Northern Arizona.

He wrote, “As you know from your up-bringing here in Navajo County, multiple-use of our public lands is essential for who we are and the economies of rural Arizona. I recently read that you are in support of the proposed establishment of the Grand Canyon Watershed National Monument. I write to you today to ask that you reconsider your reported support of this proposed restrictive use of public lands. These lands currently are enjoyed by citizens for proper multiple use, including recreation, hunting, fishing, hiking, logging and other natural resource uses and management.

“As a resident of northern Arizona and our representative in the Congress, I hope that you will support the majority of your constituents who support the continued multi-use of our publicly managed lands.”

Much of the controversy over the proposed designation centers on uranium mining and logging, but opponents also fear that officials will use it as a means to prevent hunting, fishing and other forms of recreation on the lands around the canyon.

Arizona Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake have already voiced their opinions on the matter, and have asked the President not to make the designation. The senators cite concerns that creating a national monument will hamper forest thinning to prevent massive wildfires and prevent effective wildlife management.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department has publicly declared its opposition to the proposal, with the commission noting that the designation would “lock away” public lands that should instead be conserved. Commission members also cited a lack of public input and unreasonable restrictions as reasons why the area should not be designated a national monument.

Proponents argue that the designation would protect both the land and the water, especially from uranium mining and logging of old-growth Ponderosa Pines.

According to grandcanyonwatershed.org, a coalition promoting the designation, creating a national monument is necessary because, “Under current management, the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management are directed to manage these areas for multiple uses, some of which conflict with conservation principles, and have led to damage to cultural and ecological resources. The Grand Canyon Watershed is home to some of the last old-growth ponderosa pine trees in the region, contains important seeps and springs that eventually feed into the Colorado River, and serves as a critical wildlife corridor. All of these are threatened under current management practices, which include mining, logging, irresponsible off-highway vehicle activities and more.

“The monument would also enhance and prioritize management of traditional cultural values and sacred sites of regional tribes, including the Navajo, Hopi, Havasupai, Kaibab Paiute, Zuni and Hualapai tribes. Without a national monument, these sites, the watershed, and our old-growth forests will continue to remain open to development and industry exploitation.”

In his letter to Kirkpatrick, Whiting asks her to consider the wishes of her constituents in moving forward.

“You have proven yourself as a member of Congress who is not afraid to split from your party on issues that are important to the residents of your district, especially on issues that impact natural resources and jobs, the proposed monument is indeed one of those issues,” he wrote. “I hope that you will look at the big picture and consider the wishes of those you are elected to represent.”