UPDATE December 2002: Federal Agencies to Begin
Test Flow Release
From Glen Canyon Dam Through Grand Canyon
My long awaited Grand Canyon private trip in May was even more special because of the Glen Canyon Environmental Studies controlled "flood" of 45,000 cfs that was conducted for a week in March, 1996. BuRec's official designation was "a habitat-building test flow". Would the beaches be restored or would they be scoured? I was hopeful but I had my doubts, too. Overall, I'd say the amount of sand restored to most of the popular campsites was greater than before. But from a camper's perspective it's tough to appreciate the tons of restored sand when you're hauling gear from the rafts up steep inclines of sliding sand to the campsite. It's my opinion that the beaches were somewhat improved above the Little Colorado confluence. The improvement below the Little Colorado confluence was very evident, but some previously sandy campsites were mostly rock. I was also impressed by the dozens of new "mini-beaches", pristine and never touched, though probably too small for most parties' camping desires. A couple of the guys who had been on the river seven months earlier recalled a ten foot tree at the far end of Grapevine camp. It was now up to its neck, only two feet protruding. Only time will tell how long the deep sand beaches remain.
However, the siltation continues unabated at the mouths of Lake Mead and Lake Powell. I wonder if the Glen Canyon Environmental Studies group could figure a way to move all that silt from the top of Lake Powell past the dam.... And then, ....if we could just do something about all that smog and aircraft noise over the Grand Canyon....
Take a look at fellow private boatman Joe Butler's impressions of the post "habitat-building flow" Colorado River in Grand Canyon.
If you have photos of these same beaches subsequent to 1996 or if you have an upcoming Canyon trip, take some photos at the following locations and send them to me. I would like to post them here for a comparative look.
Rivergeek, July 1996
Images of beaches above the Little Colorado
Images of beaches below the Little Colorado
Last updated: December 18, 2005
