News Release Date: October 21, 2026
Contact:Grand Canyon Office of Communications

The National Park Service is seeking public comment on a draft Memorandum of Agreement outlining proposed measures to reduce the visual impacts of the replacement water tank at Hermits Rest. Comments will be accepted for 15 days, from Oct. 21, 2026 until midnight Nov. 6, 2026.

In 2021, the NPS completed consultation under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act for the replacement of the Hermits Rest water tank.

The replacement tank, installed in 2022, was originally designed to look like the existing tank, however, new safety requirements from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality resulted in the addition of a ladder, platform, and cap. These features changed the tank's appearance and made modern equipment more visible within the Hermits Rest National Historic Landmark.

The draft Memorandum of Agreement, developed by the NPS in consultation with the Arizona State Historic Preservation Officer, outlines proposed measures to minimize the visual effects of the replacement tank and its safety features while preserving the historic character of Hermits Rest. The agreement is part of the NPS's ongoing consultation under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

This project is separate from ongoing water infrastructure recovery efforts at Grand Canyon National Park.

For more details or to review and submit comments on the draft Memorandum of Agreement, visit the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment project website and click on "Open for Comment."

During the comment period, any individual or group may submit comments electronically through the PEPC project website, the preferred method for submitting comments.

-NPS-

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