The Office of Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has issued a statement acknowledging community concerns regarding groundwater dewatering and water-quality impacts associated with the South32 Hermosa Project in Santa Cruz County. The statement, released by the Calabasas Alliance, follows the submission of background information, data, and letters from community members, and signals that the state's top law enforcement office is closely monitoring the situation and supports a careful, independent examination of the project's effects on Southern Arizona's water resources.
The Hermosa Project, a proposed underground polymetallic mine, has drawn scrutiny over its potential to lower groundwater levels through high-volume dewatering. Community members, technical experts, and researchers have identified gaps in assessing long-term dewatering effects, contaminant pathways, and cumulative impacts on aquifers and surface waters. These gaps have prompted the Calabasas Alliance, a grassroots organization focused on protecting land, air, and water in Santa Cruz County, to demand transparent, independently verified science rather than reliance on project-sponsored modeling.
Local leaders warn that high-volume dewatering could create a cone of depression that lowers groundwater levels, threatens wells and surface flows around Patagonia Lake, and necessitates immediate independent hydrologic analysis to secure protections before irreversible damage occurs. The Attorney General's acknowledgment lends weight to these concerns, as it represents a state-level recognition that the project's water impacts warrant independent scrutiny. For residents and businesses in the region, the outcome of such an examination could determine the future availability and quality of water supplies that sustain agriculture, tourism, and daily life.
The Calabasas Alliance has been actively engaged in environmental monitoring and advocacy. It serves as the principal community partner for the Arizona State University/University of Arizona AirSMART air-quality monitoring program and is a member of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Citizen Science Alliance. Recently, the organization received a mobile water-testing laboratory through Arizona State University's Water for All program. It is also a stakeholder in University forums on PFAS and participates in the Arizona Rural Water Working Group, collaborating with other groups around the state that strive for similar natural resource protections.
The full announcement, including downloadable images, bios, and more, can be viewed by clicking here. The release was distributed by Reportable, Inc. and sourced through Newsworthy.ai.
The implications of this development extend beyond Santa Cruz County. If independent analysis confirms significant dewatering impacts, it could set a precedent for stricter oversight of mining projects across Arizona and the Southwest, where water scarcity is a growing concern. For the mining industry, the case highlights the importance of transparent, independently verified environmental data in securing and maintaining social license to operate. For policymakers, it underscores the need to balance economic development with the protection of vital water resources. As the Attorney General's office continues to monitor the situation, stakeholders on all sides will be watching closely to see whether the call for independent science leads to concrete actions and safeguards.
