Kelly, Gallego, Stanton, Ansari, Grijalva Push for Federal Funding to Restore Grand Canyon After Floods, Wildfires

Lawmakers call for resources to repair damaged infrastructure, restore visitor access, and support long-term recovery after successive disasters

Read in KNAU: Kelly leads push for additional Grand Canyon recovery funds

Today, Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, alongside Representatives Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04), Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-03), and Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-07), urged House and Senate appropriators to provide additional federal resources to restore the Grand Canyon National Park following the catastrophic August flooding and last summer's Dragon Bravo and White Sage Fires.

In a letter to the leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, the lawmakers called for sufficient funding to repair and rebuild damaged infrastructure, address ongoing hazards, safely restore visitor access and services, and support the park's long-term recovery.

"Over the past year, Grand Canyon National Park and the surrounding landscapes have suffered a devastating series of disasters that have damaged critical infrastructure and disrupted communities across the region," the lawmakers wrote. "These successive disasters have created recovery needs that cannot be adequately addressed through existing National Park Service resources."

On August 29, 2026, severe flash flooding tore through Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area, causing extensive damage to trails, bridges, and critical water infrastructure. The flooding damaged the water intake and pipeline that supply the South Rim and forced closures and restrictions across the park. The National Park Service continues recovery and repair work, including efforts to restore a reliable water supply and repair damaged infrastructure.

The flooding comes as the Grand Canyon and surrounding communities continue recovering from last summer's Dragon Bravo and White Sage Fires. The Dragon Bravo Fire burned nearly 150,000 acres and destroyed more than 100 buildings and structures, including the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, while the White Sage Fire forced evacuations around Jacob Lake and temporarily cut off access to the North Rim.

The lawmakers warned that the effects of these disasters are compounding. Damage from the Dragon Bravo Fire increased the risk of flash flooding and debris flows in North Rim watersheds, creating new threats to infrastructure and visitor safety even as recovery from the fires continues.

"A year after the fires, these same communities are being asked to recover from another major disaster before the last recovery is complete," the lawmakers wrote. "We strongly urge the Committee to ensure sufficient funding is available to address the emergency response, repair, reconstruction, and long-term recovery needs resulting from the August 29 flooding and the Dragon Bravo and White Sage Fires."

The Grand Canyon supports nearly 10,000 local jobs and generates approximately $1 billion in economic output. The lawmakers emphasized that closures of trails, lodging, and other portions of the park have consequences for workers, families, and businesses across northern Arizona and southern Utah.

Kelly has continued pushing to restore the Grand Canyon and support northern Arizona communities. Earlier this year, Kelly and Gallego introduced the North Rim and Kaibab National Forest Restoration Actto cut red tape and speed up cleanup and restoration by providing the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service with emergency contracting authority.

Click here to read the full text of the letter.