The water footprint of Arizona's copper mines

Agriculture guzzles more water, but mines are drying up springs and streams nonetheless

The Pinto Valley Mine, processing area, and tailings depositories in the Globe-Miami mining district. Pinto Creek is to the viewer’s left. Source: Google Earth.

⛏️ Mining Monitor ⛏️

Pinto Creek used to run year-round. Bubbling up from springs and occasional snowmelt in the Pinal Mountains of central Arizona, it nourished a riparian ribbon of green throug…