The Great Basin Resource Watch (GBRW) protects the land, water, air, and wildlife of the Great Basin – North America’s largest area of contiguous endorheic watersheds – inland bodies of water isolated from the ocean by mountains or other geological features. The Reno-based group, founded in 1994, is a consortium of Indigenous, environmental, scientific, and community representatives working primarily in Nevada to combat the effects of resource extraction. Their work is critical as Nevada, the nation’s driest state, faces record drought and rising temperatures. Large-scale mining for gold, silver, and lithium threatens the region’s survival by depleting and contaminating scarce groundwater, destroying wildlife habitats, and damaging Indigenous cultural sites. Mining companies not only consume vast amounts of clean water but pollute what remains with toxic chemicals like cyanide, while their massive excavations release harmful air pollution. Through legal action, policy advocacy, and rigorous review of mining proposals, GBRW is safeguarding their fragile home.
The Great Basin Resource Watch (GBRW) protects the land, water, air, and wildlife of the Great Basin – North America’s largest area of contiguous endorheic watersheds – inland bodies of water isolated from the ocean by mountains or other geological features. The Reno-based group, founded in 1994, is a consortium of Indigenous, environmental, scientific, and community representatives working primarily in Nevada to combat the effects of resource extraction. Their work is critical as Nevada, the nation’s driest state, faces record drought and rising temperatures. Large-scale mining for gold, silver, and lithium threatens the region’s survival by depleting and contaminating scarce groundwater, destroying wildlife habitats, and damaging Indigenous cultural sites. Mining companies not only consume vast amounts of clean water but pollute what remains with toxic chemicals like cyanide, while their massive excavations release harmful air pollution. Through legal action, policy advocacy, and rigorous review of mining proposals, GBRW is safeguarding their fragile home.
Indigenous tribes unite to protest lithium mining and pray for healing of Mother Earth. Source: Great Basin Resource Watch X account