Considering the picturesque image of the Grand Canyon, with its ancient rock formations and timeless beauty, it's easy to think of the natural wonder as a place that will stand forever, as long as modest efforts are made to limit the effects of human activity and tourism. In actuality the opposite is true - the Grand Canyon is a relatively fragile ecosystem prone to damage from almost all exterior causes. People, both inside and outside the canyon, threaten the fragile environment on a daily basis. Numerous issues affect the pristine beauty and vitality of the national park. Colorado River raft trip outfitters are among those on the front lines in the fight to preserve the Grand Canyon. They are stewards of the land and work to not only to protect its precarious beauty, but to educate all river-rafting guests about the dangers the canyon faces and how they can be eliminated or at least mitigated.
External factors
In 1916, Congress passed the Organic Act which was supposed to empower the National Park Service to "Conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such a manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." This act granted the National Park Service a lot of authority which is being exercised still today, to control the number of permits allowed to backcountry hikers or private rafters. In addition, they limit how many tours river rafting outfitters are allowed to schedule annually, to keep visitors in the river at a controllable level. They have a staff to keep the trails clean and well maintained, and to make sure that all visitors understand the policy of carrying out anything taken in, including human waste.
Those issues, however, do not pose the biggest threat to the Canyon. There are numerous external factors that wreak havoc on the physical environment of the Grand Canyon, including:
* Uranium mining on land just outside of the park's borders
* The building of the Glen Canyon Dam which has resulted in unnatural water flows into the Colorado River
* Invasive, non-native plant and animal species within the canyon
* Sound pollution from aerial overflights
* Depleting aquifer reserves from inside the Canyon and diverting to urban areas
* Livestock grazing on adjacent property
The Organic Act, passed almost a century ago, was meant to apply equally to all designated national park lands, but clearly things have gotten out of hand. Those tasked with protecting the canyon as well as all the other national parks are unable to do their jobs well inasmuch as they don't have the authority to regulate what goes on just outside the parks, or in the aerial space above the parks. In addition, funding for National parks is not adequate to manage the park lands effectively.
Water Issues
Perhaps the biggest threat to the canyon and its natural vibrancy pertains to water.
1. The Glen Canyon Dam, located at the east end of the canyon, was built to generate a tremendous amount of electrical power. Doing so, however, requires the release of water into the Colorado River to be tightly regulated. To maximize the generation of power (and revenues from it), the outflow from the dam is limited to between 5,000 and 30,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). By contrast, before the dam was built the range of flow was from 3,000 to 120,000 cfs. This altering of the natural flow has had the following consequences:
* Disruption of the natural flow
* Unnatural cooling and cleaning of the water (due to controlled release of the water)
* Low water flows prevent the building of habitat downstream by trapping sediment. A consequence of this is the loss of native species of fish and the promulgation of invasive fish and vegetation.
2. The Redwall-Muav aquifer is a massive underground lake that feeds the springs which support the vast majority of plant and animal life in the canyon. Currently the aquifer is being tapped by several wells south of the canyon that pump out 800 acre-feet of that water every year to supply urban areas like Flagstaff, AZ. (800 acre feet equates to 260 million gallons). By 2050, it is estimated that the amount pumped could reach 40,000 acre-feet per year. At that rate, it is feared the end result could be the decimation of some native plant and animal life in the Canyon. They need the water to survive such an arid environment.
Aerial Overflights
There are as many as 55,000 helicopter and small plane flights over the canyon each year. While this is profitable to the tourist companies, many visitors on the ground prefer the peaceful, quiet serenity of the area as much as the stunning views and would like to see the aerial flights, and their associated noise pollution, discontinued. The noise has also been shown to affect the wildlife as well as the cultural traditions of the Native American tribes who populate the region. In 1987 an Overflights Act was passed, ostensibly to limit the number of flights over the park, but enforcement of the law has largely been lax. The National Park Service wants to limit the time operators can perform overflights to no more than 25% of the day, but they face a tough legal battle with special interests.
Uranium Mining
Uranium mining, too, is a serious external problem. Federal programs encouraged prospecting for the poisonous element in the 1950s, but despite decades of stagnancy, the mines continue to pollute creeks and water tables. The presence of radioactive materials around the canyon has caused long-term damage to water, plant life, people and the land itself. What's more, new mines have been drilled which will lead to even more pollution in future years.
Conservation Efforts
Organizations such as the Grand Canyon Trust and the Grand Canyon Conservation Fund are responsible for raising money and awareness to protect the canyon and the surrounding Colorado Plateau. They aim to preserve its natural scenic beauty while building sustainable human communities that exist in harmony with the Grand Canyon and all of its ancient wonders. In 2005 they purchased 850,000 acres on the plateau north of the canyon. This acreage was purchased to enable the managers and volunteers to partner with the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management in order to maintain and restore the ecological, cultural, and scenic values of this vast landscape.
Grand Canyon river rafting outfitters are among the most vocal of the conservationists dedicated to protecting this priceless natural treasure. On a Grand Canyon rafting trip, guests learn much about the river, the rock formations, the wildlife and more from their guides. They also gain firsthand knowledge about the importance of preserving the park and all the problems it faces. Rafting trips are carefully managed, and besides having a great time on the river, the guiding principle of outfitters is to leave the canyon in better shape than it was found. Guides are trained in setting up and dismantling campsites to ensure that this tenet is followed at all times.
There is no industry-wide conspiracy to destroy the Grand Canyon, but it is evident that decisions made by businesses and various government agencies have taken their toll on this natural wonder of the world. It doesn't take much to impact a very large area, and due to decades of short-sighted actions, the Grand Canyon has suffered. Those who take a trip with a river rafting outfitter down the mighty Colorado are helping the cause of conservation. Almost all rafting companies are members of conservationist societies and thus support them monetarily. Every tourist on a guided Grand Canyon rafting trip contributes $1 per day to help in the preservation efforts.
Any visitor who has enjoyed the privilege of seeing the canyon from the bottom up (a vantage point few ever get to experience) leaves with an awareness of the amazing splendor of the canyon, and understands just how important it is to protect its fragile beauty.
Reproduction permitted only if all active links are maintained and byline is preserved, and/or your byline is omitted. 2011 All Copyrights reserved.
External factors
In 1916, Congress passed the Organic Act which was supposed to empower the National Park Service to "Conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such a manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." This act granted the National Park Service a lot of authority which is being exercised still today, to control the number of permits allowed to backcountry hikers or private rafters. In addition, they limit how many tours river rafting outfitters are allowed to schedule annually, to keep visitors in the river at a controllable level. They have a staff to keep the trails clean and well maintained, and to make sure that all visitors understand the policy of carrying out anything taken in, including human waste.
Those issues, however, do not pose the biggest threat to the Canyon. There are numerous external factors that wreak havoc on the physical environment of the Grand Canyon, including:
* Uranium mining on land just outside of the park's borders
* The building of the Glen Canyon Dam which has resulted in unnatural water flows into the Colorado River
* Invasive, non-native plant and animal species within the canyon
* Sound pollution from aerial overflights
* Depleting aquifer reserves from inside the Canyon and diverting to urban areas
* Livestock grazing on adjacent property
The Organic Act, passed almost a century ago, was meant to apply equally to all designated national park lands, but clearly things have gotten out of hand. Those tasked with protecting the canyon as well as all the other national parks are unable to do their jobs well inasmuch as they don't have the authority to regulate what goes on just outside the parks, or in the aerial space above the parks. In addition, funding for National parks is not adequate to manage the park lands effectively.
Water Issues
Perhaps the biggest threat to the canyon and its natural vibrancy pertains to water.
1. The Glen Canyon Dam, located at the east end of the canyon, was built to generate a tremendous amount of electrical power. Doing so, however, requires the release of water into the Colorado River to be tightly regulated. To maximize the generation of power (and revenues from it), the outflow from the dam is limited to between 5,000 and 30,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). By contrast, before the dam was built the range of flow was from 3,000 to 120,000 cfs. This altering of the natural flow has had the following consequences:
* Disruption of the natural flow
* Unnatural cooling and cleaning of the water (due to controlled release of the water)
* Low water flows prevent the building of habitat downstream by trapping sediment. A consequence of this is the loss of native species of fish and the promulgation of invasive fish and vegetation.
2. The Redwall-Muav aquifer is a massive underground lake that feeds the springs which support the vast majority of plant and animal life in the canyon. Currently the aquifer is being tapped by several wells south of the canyon that pump out 800 acre-feet of that water every year to supply urban areas like Flagstaff, AZ. (800 acre feet equates to 260 million gallons). By 2050, it is estimated that the amount pumped could reach 40,000 acre-feet per year. At that rate, it is feared the end result could be the decimation of some native plant and animal life in the Canyon. They need the water to survive such an arid environment.
Aerial Overflights
There are as many as 55,000 helicopter and small plane flights over the canyon each year. While this is profitable to the tourist companies, many visitors on the ground prefer the peaceful, quiet serenity of the area as much as the stunning views and would like to see the aerial flights, and their associated noise pollution, discontinued. The noise has also been shown to affect the wildlife as well as the cultural traditions of the Native American tribes who populate the region. In 1987 an Overflights Act was passed, ostensibly to limit the number of flights over the park, but enforcement of the law has largely been lax. The National Park Service wants to limit the time operators can perform overflights to no more than 25% of the day, but they face a tough legal battle with special interests.
Uranium Mining
Uranium mining, too, is a serious external problem. Federal programs encouraged prospecting for the poisonous element in the 1950s, but despite decades of stagnancy, the mines continue to pollute creeks and water tables. The presence of radioactive materials around the canyon has caused long-term damage to water, plant life, people and the land itself. What's more, new mines have been drilled which will lead to even more pollution in future years.
Conservation Efforts
Organizations such as the Grand Canyon Trust and the Grand Canyon Conservation Fund are responsible for raising money and awareness to protect the canyon and the surrounding Colorado Plateau. They aim to preserve its natural scenic beauty while building sustainable human communities that exist in harmony with the Grand Canyon and all of its ancient wonders. In 2005 they purchased 850,000 acres on the plateau north of the canyon. This acreage was purchased to enable the managers and volunteers to partner with the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management in order to maintain and restore the ecological, cultural, and scenic values of this vast landscape.
Grand Canyon river rafting outfitters are among the most vocal of the conservationists dedicated to protecting this priceless natural treasure. On a Grand Canyon rafting trip, guests learn much about the river, the rock formations, the wildlife and more from their guides. They also gain firsthand knowledge about the importance of preserving the park and all the problems it faces. Rafting trips are carefully managed, and besides having a great time on the river, the guiding principle of outfitters is to leave the canyon in better shape than it was found. Guides are trained in setting up and dismantling campsites to ensure that this tenet is followed at all times.
There is no industry-wide conspiracy to destroy the Grand Canyon, but it is evident that decisions made by businesses and various government agencies have taken their toll on this natural wonder of the world. It doesn't take much to impact a very large area, and due to decades of short-sighted actions, the Grand Canyon has suffered. Those who take a trip with a river rafting outfitter down the mighty Colorado are helping the cause of conservation. Almost all rafting companies are members of conservationist societies and thus support them monetarily. Every tourist on a guided Grand Canyon rafting trip contributes $1 per day to help in the preservation efforts.
Any visitor who has enjoyed the privilege of seeing the canyon from the bottom up (a vantage point few ever get to experience) leaves with an awareness of the amazing splendor of the canyon, and understands just how important it is to protect its fragile beauty.
Reproduction permitted only if all active links are maintained and byline is preserved, and/or your byline is omitted. 2011 All Copyrights reserved.
About the Author:
Author Stephen Daniels highly recommends Hatch River Expeditions for their amazing Grand Canyon River rafting trips. Their skilled guides will take you on the adventure of a lifetime, showing you the river and canyon as few see it, while making sure that all your senses are well stimulated, as you learn both facts and fiction about this natural wonder of the world.
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