Few public works projects in the Western states are as controversial as the Glen Canyon Dam. Completed in 1966, the massive concrete structure erected on the Colorado River by the Bureau of Reclamation holds back Lake Powell, one of the largest man-made reservoirs in the world.
The myriad stakeholders, including state and local governments, agricultural interests, environmentalists, recreationists, and the 400,000 households that derive their electricity from the dam, have wrangled over the management of this iconic structure for decades.
In recent weeks, the U.S. Department of the Interior has released a proposed 20-year adaptive management plan for a 90-day public comment period. The sprawling document outlines many initiatives, including an annual high flow event in which the Colorado River below the dam is artificially raised to restore beaches, reduce non-native plant species, and to clear backwater spawning areas for fish.
To view the plan follow this link; don’t miss your opportunity to let your voice be heard.
