THE GRAND CANYON TRUST INC
Programs
Tribal Conservation and Advocacy Programs
LAND:SPECIAL DESIGNATIONS - THROUGH THE WORK OF OUR CULTURAL LANDSCAPES, GRAND CANYON, ENERGY, AND UTAH AND ARIZONA PUBLIC LANDS PROGRAMS, THE TRUST STRIVES TO EFFECT CHANGE IN CONCERT WITH TRIBAL COMMUNITIES AND NATIONS. WE AUTHENTICALLY SUPPORT TRIBAL LEADERSHIP AND ALWAYS SUPPORT TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY. PARTNERSHIPS WITH TRIBAL COMMUNITIES AND NATIONS SERVE AS THE CORNERSTONE OF THE TRUST'S CONSERVATION WORK ON THE COLORADO PLATEAU. THROUGHOUT 2024, WE HAVE CONTINUED TO ADVOCATE FOR THE CONTINUED PROTECTIONS OF THE BAAJ NWAAAVJO I'TAH KUKVENI - ANCESTRAL FOOTPRINTS, GRAND STAIRCASE-ESCALANTE, AND BEARS EARS NATIONAL MONUMENTS THROUGH ADVOCACY, PARTICIPATION IN PUBLIC PROCESSES, AND SUPPORTING TRIBAL ENGAGEMENT. FOLLOWING THE 2023 DESIGNATION OF BAAJ NWAAVJO I'TAH KUKVENI- ANCESTRAL FOOTPRINTS OF THE GRAND CANYON NATIONAL MONUMENT, WE CONTINUED WORKING WITH AGENCIES AND TRIBES TO PREPARE FOR THE MONUMENT PLANNING PROCESS. WE ALSO CONTINUED TO ENGAGE IN PUBLIC PROCESSES AND WORK WITH TRIBAL NATIONS TO ADVOCATE FOR THE ADOPTION OF LAND MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR BEARS EARS AND GRAND-STAIRCASE ESCALANTE NATIONAL MONUMENTS THAT ADEQUATELY PROTECT THE RESOURCES FOR WHICH THESE MONUMENTS WERE DESIGNATED. WE COMMISSIONED POLLS OF VOTERS IN UTAH AND ARIZONA IN DECEMBER OF 2024 THAT SHOWED OVERWHELMING SUPPORT FOR BEARS EARS, GRAND STAIRCASE ESCALANTE AND BAAJ NWAAVJO I'TAH KUKVENI NATIONAL MONUMENTS. ADDITIONALLY, THE GRAND CANYON PROGRAM HAS WORKED TO DEVELOP A PROPOSAL TO REFORM HIRING PRACTICES AT THE PARK.THE TRUST PROVIDED CRITICAL SUPPORT TO FAMILIES THAT LIVE NEAR THE CONFLUENCE OF THE LITTLE COLORADO AND COLORADO RIVER, ON THE EASTERN EDGE OF THE GRAND CANYON. THESE FAMILIES, THROUGH THEIR ORGANIZATION SAVE THE CONFLUENCE, HELD OFF THE DEVELOPMENT OF A GIANT TRAM TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CANYON IN 2018. IN 2020, A THIRD PROPOSAL FOR A HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT AND DAM (IN ADDITION TO TWO PROPOSED IN 2019) NEAR THE CONFLUENCE WAS SUBMITTED TO THE FEDERAL ENERGY AND REGULATORY COMMISSION (FERC). IN 2024, OUR ADVOCACY PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF A NEW FERC POLICY REQUIRING THE CONSENT OF TRIBES WHOSE LAND WOULD BE DEVELOPED BEFORE A PERMIT CAN BE ISSUED. WE CONTINUE PURSUING FEDERAL REGULATORY CHANGES TO DAM PERMITTING TO ENSURE GREATER TRANSPARENCY AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY AND TRIBAL ENGAGEMENT. PUBLIC LANDS - IN 2009, THE TRUST HELPED LAUNCH THE LARGEST FOREST RESTORATION PROJECT IN THE U.S. THE FOUR FOREST RESTORATION INITIATIVE (4FRI) COVERS A 2.4-MILLION-ACRE SWATH OF PONDEROSA PINE FOREST ALONG ARIZONA'S MOGOLLON RIM, STRETCHING FROM THE GRAND CANYON TO NEW MEXICO. ACROSS 4FRI AND THE 650,000-ACRE NORTH KAIBAB RANGER DISTRICT, WE ARE WORKING WITH THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE, CONTRACTORS, AND DOZENS OF PARTNERS TO REDUCE THE RISK OF SEVERE WILDFIRE, IMPROVE WATERSHED HEALTH, PROTECT OLD GROWTH AND WILDLIFE HABITAT, AND MAKE OUR FORESTS MORE RESILIENT. FROM 2018-2022, THE TRUST LED DISCUSSIONS AMONG STAKEHOLDERS AND THE FOREST SERVICE FOCUSED ON THE RIM COUNTRY EIS THAT ANALYZED TREATMENT OF AN ADDITIONAL 1.24 MILLION ACRES OF NATIONAL FOREST. THE TRUST ALSO SUPPORTS THE FOREST SERVICE AND LOCAL TIMBER OPERATORS IN ACCELERATING THE RATE OF MECHANICAL THINNING TO 50,000 ACRES PER YEAR FOR THE COMING YEARS.ON OUR NORTH RIM RANCHES, WE FOCUS ON PROTECTING THE ECOLOGICAL, CULTURAL, AND SCENIC VALUES OF A VAST LANDSCAPE STRETCHING NORTH FROM THE GRAND CANYON'S NORTH RIM. WE ACCOMPLISH THIS THROUGH DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING SCIENCE-BASED LAND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR ACHIEVING CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION OBJECTIVES, AND THROUGH ECOLOGICALLY RESPONSIBLE LIVESTOCK GRAZING PRACTICES. IN 2024, WE WERE ABLE TO CONDUCT SEVERAL RESTORATION PROJECTS WITH VOLUNTEERS AT CRITICAL SPRINGS AND LAKES AND TO THE BENEFIT OF PRONGHORN.GCT'S UTAH PUBLIC LANDS PROGRAM UNDERTAKES ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS, RESTORATION PROJECTS, AND POLICY INITIATIVES WITHIN THE THREE NATIONAL FORESTS OF UTAH THAT OCCUPY THE COLORADO PLATEAU: THE MANTI-LA SAL NATIONAL FOREST, FISHLAKE NATIONAL FOREST, AND DIXIE NATIONAL FOREST. THE PROGRAM ALSO WORKS WITHIN GRAND STAIRCASE-ESCALANTE NATIONAL MONUMENT, CANYONS OF THE ANCIENTS NATIONAL MONUMENT, AND BEAR EARS NATIONAL MONUMENT. IN 2024, THE UTAH PUBLIC LANDS PROGRAM CONTINUED TO MONITOR FOREST SERVICE PROJECTS AND PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC PROCESSES, OFFERING SCIENCE-BASED SOLUTIONS TO SUPPORT FOREST HEALTH, REDUCE WILDFIRE RISK, AND PROTECT AND RESTORE CRUCIAL WATERSHEDS. PROGRAM STAFF ENGAGED IN RESTORATION INITIATIVES IN THE CANYONS OF THE ANCIENTS. THE TRUST ALSO CONTINUED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LAND MANAGEMENT PLANNING PROCESS FOR BOTH BEARS EARS AND GRAND STAIRCASE-ESCALANTE NATIONAL MONUMENTS. WATER - THE QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF THE COLORADO PLATEAU'S WATER IS AFFECTED BY DAMS, DIVERSIONS, AND GROUNDWATER PUMPING AND ARE THREATENED BY MINING, AGRICULTURE, GRAZING, LOGGING, MUNICIPAL AND INDUSTRIAL USES, ENERGY PRODUCTION, AIR AND WATER POLLUTION, AND EXPORTS TO DISTANT MUNICIPALITIES. AS THE COLORADO PLATEAU BECOMES HOTTER AND DRIER, THE TRUST WILL DEVELOP AND DEPLOY MULTIPLE STRATEGIES TO RESTORE, MITIGATE, AND ADAPT TO WATER SCARCITY AND ITS MULTITUDE OF LIFE-THREATENING CHALLENGES.IN 2024, WE SUCCESSFULLY CONVENED, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE NATIVE AMERICA PROGRAM, A GATHERING OF A SUBSET OF THE CPIC FOR A DISCUSSION ON WATER. FROM THOSE DISCUSSIONS, THE JOINT TEAMS PRESENTED A DRAFT OF THE COLORADO PLATEAU INTERTRIBAL WATER VALUES MAP FOR ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK AND DISCUSSION AT THE CPIC GATHERING. WE ALSO SUCCESSFULLY COLLABORATED WITH THE ARIZONA GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND THE RURAL GROUNDWATER WORKING GROUP (A GROUP OF LOCAL COUNTY DECISION-MAKERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE) TO PROTECT GROUNDWATER FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL ARIZONANS. LASTLY, WE ENGAGED IN WORK TO SUPPORT THE CONTINUED SUPPLY OF WATER AND ECOLOGICAL SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE COLORADO RIVER THROUGH THE GRAND CANYON.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$1.6MNative American Voices and Environmental Protection
NATIVE AMERICA:GCT'S NATIVE AMERICAN PROGRAM FOCUSES ON GIVING NATIVE PEOPLE A VOICE AND ROLE IN THE PROTECTION OF THE COLORADO PLATEAU. WE DO THIS BY FACILITATING DIALOGUE AMONG THE ELEVEN NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES THAT HAVE RESIDED ACROSS THIS LANDSCAPE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, AND WHO NOW CONTROL THE FUTURE OF SOME 30,000 SQUARE MILES OF THIS REGION. THE HEART OF THIS WORK IS THE INTER-TRIBAL GATHERINGS PROCESS, WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER COLORADO PLATEAU TRIBES TO COLLABORATE ON ADDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES AND CULTURAL PRESERVATION. GCT HAS FACILITATED MORE THAN A DOZEN GATHERINGS OVER THE PAST NINE YEARS. THE TRUST'S NATIVE AMERICA PROGRAM HAS BEEN ORGANIZING THE COLORADO PLATEAU INTERTRIBAL CONVERSATION (CPIC) INITIATIVE IN AN EFFORT TO REESTABLISH CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN TRIBAL NATIONS ACROSS THE COLORADO PLATEAU SINCE 2009. TODAY'S CPIC GATHERING GROUP PRIORITIZES TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE-BASED SOLUTIONS, BUILDING COMMUNITY, AND CULTIVATING LONG TERM COOPERATIVE NETWORKS AMONGST TRIBES. IN YEARS PAST, THIS TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE HAS ALLOWED TRIBES TO OVERCOME PERIODS OF DROUGHT AND EXTREME WEATHER. TODAY, IT FORMS THE FOUNDATION FOR TRIBES' ADAPTATION STRATEGIES ON THE COLORADO PLATEAU. CPIC MEMBERS ARE WORKING WITH KERLEY VALLEY COMMUNITY FARMERS TO EMPLOY NAVAJO AND HOPI TRIBAL KNOWLEDGE TO ASSIST FARMERS WITH TRADITIONAL AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTIONS. FARMERS ARE UTILIZING THESE INSTRUCTIONS AND PLANTING TECHNIQUES TO SHIFT THEIR PLANTING SEASONS, WATERING PATTERNS, AND HARVEST TIMING TO FIT CHANGING CONDITIONS. THESE TECHNIQUES ARE FOUND IN STORIES, SONGS, AND CEREMONIES AND TELL OF NATURAL TIMING SYSTEMS SUCH AS ANIMAL MIGRATION PATTERNS, AND PLANT MORPHOLOGY WHICH SERVE AS INDICATORS TO TRACK WHEN PLANTING, WATERING, AND HARVESTING SHOULD OCCUR.IN DECEMBER 2024, THE GRAND CANYON TRUST HOSTED A CPIC GATHERING IN ISLETA, NEW MEXICO. MORE THAN 120 INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTING 15 TRIBES ACROSS THE PLATEAU AND BEYOND PARTICIPATED IN SESSIONS FOCUSED ON WATER, FOOD SOVEREIGNTY, AND ESTABLISHING INITIATIVES TO BETTER PROTECT NATURAL RESOURCES.ANOTHER INTERTRIBAL GROUP ORGANIZED BY THE GRAND CANYON PROGRAM, THE INTERTRIBAL CENTENNIAL CONVERSATIONS GROUP, HAS BEEN CONVENING SINCE 2018 AROUND THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK. THE GROUP NOW MEETS THREE TIMES A YEAR IN PERSON IN FLAGSTAFF, INCLUDING IN 2024, TO ESTABLISH SOLUTIONS TO NATIVE-LED EDUCATION, ECONOMIC PARADIGMS, AND STEWARDSHIP IN THE GRAND CANYON.THE EMERGENCE NETWORK RESULTED FROM THE 2022 AND 2023 EMERGENCE INTERTRIBAL ECONOMIC SUMMITS AIMED AT CREATING MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR NATIVE ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESS OWNERS TO ENGAGE IN GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK'S TOURISM INDUSTRY. IN OCTOBER 2024, 10 ADVISORY MEMBERS FROM FOUR TRIBES GATHERED IN ZUNI, NEW MEXICO, TO BUILD ON THE SUMMITS' PRIOR MOMENTUM. PARTICIPANTS IDENTIFIED SPECIFIC GOALS FOR IMPROVED ECONOMIC ENGAGEMENT IN THE COMING YEAR, INCLUDING RESOURCE-SHARING AMONGST NATIVE BUSINESS OWNERS AND PLANS FOR AN INDIGENOUS ENTREPRENEUR EXPO IN GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK.CHANGE LABS (FORMERLY THE NATIVE AMERICAN BUSINESS INCUBATOR NETWORK) HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON NURTURING THRIVING NATIVE AMERICAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP SINCE 2014. ALTHOUGH CHANGE LABS BECAME AN INDEPENDENT 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION IN 2019, THE TRUST CONTINUES TO HELP ENSURE ITS FUTURE SUCCESS BY PROVIDING STAFF RESOURCES AND OTHER SUPPORT WHERE NECESSARY. OUR SHARED GOAL IS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SUCCESSFUL NEW AND LOCAL NATIVE-OWNED BUSINESSES ACROSS THE PLATEAU BY A MINIMUM OF TEN BUSINESSES PER YEAR. IN 2020, GCT DECIDED TO PRIORITIZE SUPPORTING HOPI AND DIN COMMUNITIES TO DEVELOP REGENERATIVE ECONOMIC PROJECTS. THE TRUST FACILITATED A SERIES OF REMOTE MEETINGS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BEGIN PRIORITIZING ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC IDEAS FOR THE REGION.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$954.8KVolunteer and Leadership Development Programs
VOLUNTEER AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS: GCT'S VOLUNTEER PROGRAM IS BUILDING A CONSTITUENCY OF ADVOCATES AND STEWARDS OF PUBLIC AND NATIVE AMERICAN LANDS ON THE COLORADO PLATEAU. HANDS-ON RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION WORK BUILDS CONNECTIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE AND THE LAND AND INSPIRES LIFELONG COMMITMENTS TO CONSERVATION. IN 2024, OVER 250 PEOPLE COLLECTIVELY CONTRIBUTED NEARLY 2,000 HOURS TO RESTORATION AND RESEARCH PROJECTS ACROSS THE COLORADO PLATEAU. THIS INCLUDES 30 VOLUNTEERS WHO BUILT OR REPAIRED 13 EROSION CONTROL STRUCTURES WITHIN TWO PRIORITY WATERSHEDS IN THE COCONINO NATIONAL FOREST, AND SAW BEAVERS RETURN TO AREAS WE HAD PREVIOUSLY WORKED ON.FROM INTERNSHIPS TO LEADERSHIP TRAINING, THE GRAND CANYON TRUST'S RISING LEADERS PROGRAM MOBILIZES YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS THE COLORADO PLATEAU TO TAKE ACTION ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ISSUES. HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2024 INCLUDE THE THIRD ANNUAL GRAND CANYON REGIONAL INTERTRIBAL INTERGENERATIONAL STEWARDSHIP EXPEDITION (RIISE) DOWN THE COLORADO RIVER WITH 16 NATIVE YOUTH AND A 10-DAY INTENSIVE LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP, CALLED LEADERSHIFT, FOCUSED ON A JUST TRANSITION FOR NAVAJO AND HOPI COMMUNITIES. FIVE INTERNS BROUGHT CREATIVITY AND CAPACITY TO THE TRUST'S RISING LEADERS, LANDSCAPE PROTECTION, GRAZING RESEARCH, AND VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT WORK.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$442.5K
Copyright 2026. All rights reserved to Chario Inc. (d.b.a. Impala)