Hopi Monitoring Trip 2022

Paayu or Little Colorado River

Kristin Huisinga
Project

The project is an annual monitoring trip where Hopi tribal members record 

their observations of the Grand Canyon and check on both tribal and 

natural resources.

During the trip data is collected by Hopi filling surveys which include both 

Yes/No and narrative responses on the health of LTEMP Resources.

Questions regard Hopi Involvement in Grand and Glen Canyon 

management activities and resource health. 

The monitoring trip switches every spring and fall annually due to different 

resources being present within the Canyon at these times. 

The data is compared year to year to show how the canyon health has 

changed over time. Data is now based off of 351 surveys since 2006.
Project

The project looks at all the resources within the canyon from a Hopi 

perspective. Not just cultural resources but natural resources as a holistic 

whole. 

Data is compiled into a yearly report for the Bureau of Reclamation, data 

is brought back the Hopi. Hopi views are then brought to the technical 

work groups to prepare for the next annual River Monitoring Trip session. 

The project fulfills certain LTEMP goals. D.3. Resources Monitoring, D.4. 

Cultural Resources Monitoring, and D.11. Tribal Resources Monitoring.
Management Actions: Trout Removal

Participants this year continued to agree with the five year trend of mechanical fish removal being an acceptable method. Though as always with the 

avoidance of taking of life as a caveat. Brown trout were caught below mile marker 100 and one catfish was observed at river mile 180.
Management Actions: Tamarisk and Non-natives

This year participants found the abundance of Tamarisk on beaches with lower water levels as 

not healthy. Responses are normally mixed.

Tamarisk provides habitat for other animals, especially sacred birds.

A main area of concern is tamarisk 

impacting springs and the plant’s impact 

on the Little Colorado.
Management Actions: Is Recreation in The Grand Canyon 

Appropriate

This year recreational visitation was seen as negative. The Hopi were uncomfortable at the amount of visitors at archeological sites with no 

park service guidance. There were many collection piles. A lot of visitors at shrine areas such as at South Canyon and visitor trails in the 

erosion areas at the Palisades were also seen as a problem. 

Hopi feel the Grand Canyon can be a place of great growth, renewal, and learning.

Hopi’s issues with recreation lies with respect of the Grand Canyon’s sites and resources, providing framework for visitors to understand. This 

is a constant challenge of collected stewardship.

Hopi feel sites visited along the river should have a recreation off time. 
Culturally Important Resource Health: Archeological Sites

This year advisors found the archeology sites to be in poor health. Part of this is due to increased 

visitor impacts at South Canyon, Unkar, and Palisade sites. The Unkar guide information was 

missing from its ammo can. There was discussion of maybe installing signage at South Canyon 

due to the amount of visitors. 

Erosion was noted at these sites as well. 

To the Hopi archeological sites are living, the ancestors still live there and impacting these sites 

has rippling effects throughout the whole canyon and out. 
Culturally Important Resource Health: Health of Native Fish

Advisors thought the Native fish were healthy this year. Usually its not common to see 

them. However, below the LCR plenty of Chub and Razorback were observed. The 

changes to status are questioned by Hopi. This is good sign of their health and progress. 

Though catfish and smallmouth bass are seen as a major threat.

Forebay Coldwater Barrier is a preferred method
Culturally Important Resourse Health: Animal Health

Hopi continued to see animal health as very good.

Big Horn sheep and Deer were plentiful. 

One hognosed skunk was observed at Diamond Creek.

The Hopi are concerned with rapid changing beaches from water levels and erosion impacts 

ecology wise and how this will impact animals and their population? 
Culturally Important Resourse Health: Bird Health

Hopi this year continued to find bird populations healthy. 

Birds are very sacred to the Hopi, especially golden eagles as they help deliver prayers and are 

collected to foster ceremonies. 

Different birds are observed in the spring and fall trips (need to learn more of climate change 

impacts on migratory birds)
Culturally Important Resource Health: Snake Health

The perception that snakes are healthy has remained high, but this year due to only a select few 

Hopi observing snakes the Don’t know answer was usually given.

Hopi would be interested in a new reptile monitoring project as one has not been done for quite 

some time and may try to find a means to conducting one. 
Culturally Important Resource Health: Willow Health

Willow was seen to be healthy this year. Hopi encourages projects like the Hualapai willow 

project.

The few willows seen are healthy but overcrowded by Tamarisk. Though there seemed to be 

less tamarisk impacting the willows near Diamond Creek. 
Culturally Important Resource Health: Marsh Health

This year marshes were seen as less healthy. Comments were made on most reed plants being 

dry in the west portion of the canyon. The increase of tamarisk around springs and around the 

LCR are concerns to Hopi too. 

They are unique mirco-ecologies with plants of importance to tribal people.
Culturally Important Resource Health: Salt Mine (Öönga) health

This year Hopi felt the salt mine was not healthy. This ended a long trend of the Salt mine 

being observed as healthy. There was little build up and stalactites. Hopi wondered how much 

was due to monsoon impacts last year causing wash out or lower water levels leading to less 

deposits, or if there has been non permitted access to the site. The Hopi will not be collecting 

next year and will be only stopping to pray. 

A site of immense sacredness to the Hopi and other tribes for ceremony use and shared 

stewardship.

The Shrines and petroglyphs were undamaged.
Culturally Important Resourse Health: Insect Health

Like always Hopi have continued to view insects as being healthy.

Certain insects like dragonflies are sacred to the Hopi. 

Many insects and dragonflies were observed on the trip, especially 

between the little Colorado and Havasu.
Bug Flows

When asked about continuing bug-flows it was very mixed. Some liked the idea of 

helping fish and birds by helping the bugs. Others felt it was meddling to much in 

the natural order of things. A majority found bugs to be healthy this year. 

To note: This year the trip started on the first day of bug- flows. 

Caddisflies and Midges were in abundance at day 7 below Havasu Falls and not 

very abundant earlier.

There are too many variables for this project. Albeit, being canceled for now. 

Yes No Yes and 

No

Don't 

know Blank

2021 4 3 0 2 3 

2022 3 4 0 1 0 

Percentage 35% 35% 0.00% 13.04% 15% 
Culturally Important Resource Health: Spring Health

Data yearly is dependent on climate variables and differ fall to 

spring.

Responses this year was mixed. Vaseys spring was the driest 

it has been since 2003. Some springs were thought of as 

healthy while others were not. All advisors felt keeping the 

springs healthy and free from visitation and ecological impacts 

as a utmost importance. 

Concerns at Spring Areas:

1. Climate change Impacts

2. Possible sediment impacts

3. Tamarisk out growing native plants at these locations

4. Water levels and Management along tributaries and 

the corridor effecting the Springs.
Culturally Important Resource Health: Overall health of the Grand 

Canyon

Over all the health was seen poorer compared to previous years. 67% found the overall health 

negative.

Lower water levels, climate change, and concern of water management are major concerns that 

need to be put at the forefront of our program. To the Hopi these are paramount issues 

impacting health for the worse. The amount of visitation without guidance and the site impacts 

also shaped these observations.
What is Next

1. We have been granted funding from this program for two separate projects.

A. Hire a archivist to digitize old Canyon research from the 90s. B. Compose a ethnographic 

project recording Hopi’s relationship to the Grand Canyon especially from the missed female 

perspective.

2. The next river trip is August 2023.

3. The Dam Management team needs to update their climate change and water management 

goals and projects as those are the greater long term issues we all will be facing. 

4. Hopi is planning to work on a Cultural Sensitivity Training for the program.

5. Hopi is in Review on TCP documentation for the Grand Canyon. 

6. Hopi is in discussion of maybe starting a new herpetology project.
A Healthy Landscape

“As a cultural landscape, Hopitutskwa 

[Hopi land] is defined by landforms 

associated with deities and historical 

events, rivers, springs, trails, shrines, and 

what the Hopi people call 

itaakukuven or “our footprints.” 

--from Ang Kuktota: Hopi ancestral sites and cultural landscapes