Amphibians require high amounts of moisture for survival and reproduction, and most species in glen canyon national recreation area nra are found in or near water sources. I took the tour of the glen canyon dam and was amazed at the history behind building the dam and the work involved. Workers stabilize a sandstone wall along the glen canyon dam near page, ariz wednesday. During the day they rest in shady cracks in the rock, underground, or in other dark, damp places. In addition to its variegated rock formations, glen canyon supported a rich riparian. The massive slab of rock is threatening to come crashing down at the base of the arizona dam. The lake powell reservoir is the second largest artificial lake in the country, extending upriver well into utah. Visits to three western dams californias doomed matilija dam, the unfinished elk creek dam in oregon, and the southwests giant glen canyon dam lead the author to consider the fact.
Glen canyon dam, with lake powell spreading out behind it. Massive rock threatening to crash into base of glen canyon dam. Glen canyon should stay drowned unplugging lake powell is a beautiful dream, but it would hurt the river more than it would help many argue over whether glen canyons lake powell should be. This crack is the largest one in years, and workers at the dam have been watching it closely, watt said. Bureau of reclamation built a onebowlingalley town and a bridge to support construction of glen canyon dam, which. A typical rainfall supplies about an inch of water, or just under 0. The cracking of glen canyon damn with edward abbey and. Rock threatening to crash down at base of arizona dam. When it came into existence and why are subject to discussion and debate however, with no authoritative answers to be found.
Despite the public opposition to the idea, the sierra club board voted to support the draining of the dam. The us bureau of reclamation, who are responsible for the dam, are involved in a project to try to secure a large slab of rock on a near vertical face close to the dam. Glen canyon dam water operations uc region bureau of. The dam was built to provide hydroelectricity and regulate the flow of the river from the upper colorado river basin into the lower. Phantom ranch at the bottom of the grand canyon and about sixty miles. Glen canyon dam in arizona an interesting rockfall problem. The birth of the radical environmental movement is captured in this short, poetic film on the legendary direct action at glen canyon dam in march of 1981.
Glen canyon starts where narrow canyon ends at the confluence of the colorado river and the dirty devil river. Glen canyon dam, completed in 1964 near page, arizona, is the secondtallest concretearch dam in the united states, behind hoover dam near las vegas. In the past, glaciers melted, producing massive volumes of water in the canyon. Glen canyon dam overlook page 2020 all you need to. Cracks naturally form in concrete dams, just as in concrete sidewalks. The layer of rock known as navajo sandstone is common in the southwest, particularly in utah, and is prone to cracks due to erosion. Most hydroelectric dams are solidly attached to bedrock, but glen canyon dam is only attached to permeable navajo sandstone. The creation of the glen canyon dam was quite a mechanical feat. Salt lake city, utah prweb september 04, 2015 officials from the bureau of reclamations upper colorado region have temporarily closed access to the river raft launch near glen canyon dam in arizona, due to an estimated 500,000 pound rock slab that is beginning to slide from the canyon wall and into the river below.
Glen canyon is a natural canyon mostly in southeastern and southcentral utah covering a 169. A missing section of sandstone by the glen canyon dam near page, arizona. Glen canyon dam is located in a scenic area of page known for its beautiful lakeside setting. Page is home to 90 hotels and other accommodations, so you can find something thats perfect for your stay. Glen canyon dam completed in 1966, just two years before the 770foot oroville dam went into operation opened its two spillways for the first time ever to lower the lake levels. The attachment of the 710foottall massive glen canyon. Glen canyon dam overlook, page ticket price timings.
The birth of the radical environmental movement is captured in this short, poetic film on the legendary direct action at glen canyon dam in. Feds give 20 more years to glen canyon dam on colorado. Day use areas at wahweap overlook and the chains area near page, arizona are closed. The film contains one of the only interviews ever given by the.
Do you want to know the entry ticket price for glen canyon dam overlook. Construction of glen canyon dam began in 1956 and was finished in 1966. Glen canyon dam tonalea coconino county 2020 all you. The last days of glen canyon dam adamwerbach medium. The water would be up around your waist or chest, but youd still be able to breathe. Cavitation caused concrete to fail and resulted in scouring of the surrounding rock. Reclamation has approximately 10,000 handdrafted drawings of glen canyon dama good reference for understanding the facilitys composition but less valuable for managers seeking to understand the current and future state of the entire facility. Glen canyon dam may be past its prime, said michael connor, the deputy interior secretary and a former commissioner of reclamation, but its not past its. Winter freezing and thawing of the wet rock expands the cracks on the rock to even speed up the erosion.
Glen canyon dam overlook page all you need to know. As the head of the bureau of reclamation from 1959 to1971, he built glen canyon dam on. As dams fall, a chance for redemption high country news. Lake mead, behind hoover dam, has walls of hard volcanic rock that.
Some theorize that filling only lake mead, further down the river, would be a more efficient way to store water. Term experimental and management plan ltemp for operations of glen canyon dam, the largest unit of the colorado river storage project crsp. Glen canyon dam is a concrete arch dam on the colorado river in northern arizona in the united states, just north of page. Its quite a feeling to be at the bottom of the dam knowing that it is the only. The glen canyon dam overlook sometimes called the white house is a simple downandback to a viewpoint on the rim of glen canyon. Bureau of reclamation, rogers, glen canyon unit 2006. Wahweap, bullfrog, halls crossing, lone rock beach, stanton creek, farley canyon, north wash, lees ferry. In addition to bending and cracks which weaken sections of rock, water in the area is flowing toward the sea. A massive piece of rock is at risk of crashing down from a canyon wall to the base of an arizona dam, prompting the government to send in a.
The area below the slab includes a boat ramp, and water and. The ropes trail exploits one of only a handful of natural routes to the colorado river between lees ferry and glen canyon dam. The cracking of glen canyon damn with edward abbey and earth. The name floyd dominy still rings loud in the west. The dam is named for glen canyon, a colorful series of gorges, most of which now are buried under the reservoir. Book your tickets online for glen canyon dam overlook, page. Eisenhower pressed a button from the oval office that ignited the first demolition blast for.
You can choose from 76 hotels and accommodations within 5 miles of glen canyon dam, including these picks. The dam provides both hydroelectric power and flow regulation. Soon after the bolts were installed, glen canyon dam operations staff reported several small rock falls and a notable crack opening around a. Glen canyon dam in arizona an interesting rockfall problem the. Massive rock threatening to crash into base of arizona dam.
Bureau of reclamation usbr from 1956 to 1966 and forms lake powell, one of the largest manmade reservoirs in the u. Glen canyon dam, rising 710 feet above bedrock within the steep, rustcolored sandstone walls of glen canyon, was constructed to harness the power of the colorado river in order to provide for the water and power needs of millions of people in the west. This dam is only 16 feet lower than hoover dam who h gets all the attention. Massive rock threatens to fall to the base of glen canyon dam.
A massive piece of rock is at risk of crashing down from a canyon wall to the base of an arizona dam, prompting the government to. So it had to be the secret of the sounding rock itself that spoke to their subconscious reverence. Ap a massive piece of rock is at risk of crashing down from a canyon wall to the base of glen canyon dam, prompting the government to send in a crew of rappelers to keep the. Today with the glen canyon dam and lake powell controlling the flow except in a simulation of spring floods, no such volume takes place. Glen canyon dam overlook the best way to see the dam. Glen canyon dam is a concrete archgravity dam on the colorado river in northern arizona. Glen canyon dam created the second biggest manmade reservoir in the country. Opinion unplugging the colorado river the new york times. Giant rock threatens to crash near arizona dam as rappellers battle gravity. When the reservoir filled, the dam began to deliver a steady, regulated flow of water downstream and generate a cheap, plentiful supply of electricity.
Glen canyon dam, also on the colorado river, sustained massive damage in 1983 when its underground spillways. The ltemp would provide a framework for adaptively managing glen canyon dam operations over the next 20 years consistent with the grand canyon protection act of 1992 gcpa and other provisions of. Not as famous as hoover although some of the locals will argue that point. Glen canyon dam currently maintains 28 mw approximately 800 cfs of generation capacity in reserve in order to respond to a system emergency even when generation rates are already high. Repair of rock near dam disrupts glen canyon activities. A small part of the lower end of glen canyon extends into the northern part of arizona and terminates at lees ferry, arizona, near the vermilion cliffs area.
The slab weighs 500,000 pounds and recently began to crack due to erosion. It generally doesnt take more than 20 minutes to hike down, look at the river, and hike back. Includes tour of the dam and power plant, the glen canyon bridge, lake powell and the colorado river. The glen canyon dam in arizona is a concrete arch dam on the colorado river in arizona, usa. System emergencies occur fairly infrequently and typically require small responses from glen canyon dam. The area below the slab includes a boat ramp, and water and power facilities for the dam. Though the waters of lake powell, created by the completion of the glen canyon dam in 1963, covered fossils and drowned hanging gardens and other vegetation and animal communities, these unique natural features can be found elsewhere in glen canyon nra. Beehive campground is open with a limit of three days, but camping beyond the campground is prohibited. The glen canyon dam is mindblowing unless youd seen the canyon before it was destroyed environmentalists. Hole in the rock crossing, now submerged, by philip hyde, via glen canyon institue. Glen canyon dam is a concrete archgravity dam on the colorado river in northern arizona, united states, near the town of page. The layer of rock known as navajo sandstone is common in the southwest, particularly in. A threeperson crew has been working to stabilize the sandstone that forms the walls surrounding the glen canyon dam near the arizonautah border. Workmen at glen canyon dam site put into place the first piece of steel for a 4 12 million dollar steel arch bridge which will span the colorado river just below huge dam in northern arizona.