BY EMERY COWAN
What does monument status mean for a landscape? It’s a question that has spurred passionate debate since Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-AZ, introduced legislation to create a Grand Canyon Heritage National Monument.
Grijalva's bill would encompass 1.7 million acres to the north and south of Grand Canyon National Park. Proponents say monument status will provide added protections for landscapes, water sources and sacred sites surrounding Grand Canyon that are intricately connected to its ecosystem. Opponents say the designation will limit public access and is another unnecessary layer of regulation in an area that doesn’t need it or want it...