Grand Canyon Seeks Comment on Hermits Rest Water Tank Fix

Grand Canyon National Park is asking the public to weigh in on how to make a water tank at Hermits Rest look less out of place. The National Park Service said Wednesday it has drafted a Memorandum of Agreement laying out steps to soften the tank's appearance, which changed more than intended after a 2022 replacement project added safety features not part of the original design.

The water tank sits at Hermits Rest, a stone-built rest stop designed by architect Mary Colter that carries National Historic Landmark status. According to the NPS, the agency completed a review under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act back in 2021 to clear the way for swapping out the old tank. The new one was supposed to match the look of the structure it replaced. But new requirements from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality forced the addition of a ladder, platform and cap to the tank once it went in during 2022 — hardware that made the equipment more visible and shifted the tank's silhouette within the landmark site.

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Agreement targets ladder, platform and cap

The draft agreement now up for public review was developed by the park service together with the Arizona State Historic Preservation Officer. It spells out measures meant to cut down the visual intrusion of those added safety features while keeping the historic character of Hermits Rest intact, the NPS said. The document represents a continuation of the same Section 106 consultation process that governed the original tank swap, rather than a new or separate environmental review.

The park service was careful to note that this effort has nothing to do with the broader water infrastructure recovery work underway elsewhere in Grand Canyon National Park. The Hermits Rest project is narrowly focused on the tank's appearance and its effect on the historic landmark designation, not on supply or capacity issues tied to the park's water system.

Comment window closes in mid-November

The public has a 15-day window to weigh in, running from October 21 to midnight on November 6, 2026. The NPS said the preferred way to submit feedback is electronically, through the agency's Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) project website, where users can find the draft agreement and an "Open for Comment" link. Both individuals and groups are eligible to submit comments during the window.

Once the comment period closes, the park service will review submissions as part of finalizing the agreement with the Arizona State Historic Preservation Officer. No timeline for a final decision was given. Anyone planning to comment should do so before the November 6 deadline, since the window is open for just over two weeks.