Removal of the Glen Canyon Dam

1. Removal of the Glen Canyon Dam By: Emily Halton & Matt Britton

2. Glen Canyon Dam • Construction began in 1956. • Location of dam studied for 2 years prior to decision being made. • Site chosen based on costs to build the dam as well as stability of canyon walls and foundation. • Was built to prevent uncontrollable flooding in the region. • The Dam was completed in 1963.

3. Goals of Glen Canyon Dam • Deliver correct amounts of water to lower states and Mexico. • Control flooding. • Act as a water storage facility. • Meet recreational and environmental needs. • Produce power for the region.

4. Delivering correct amount of water to Southwestern States and Mexico. • Supplies California, Arizona, Nevada, and Mexico with 8.23 million acre feet of water per year for agricultural production. Providing the surrounding region with fruits and vegetables year round. This production would not be possible without the water from the dam. • City of Page, AZ and many Native American Reservations dependent on water from the dam.

5. Controls flooding • Colorado River had an irregular flow before construction of dam. Yuma, Arizona and the Imperial Valley were overwhelmed with floods, destroying agriculture. • First river to be taken under complete human control. • Dam maintains a regulated flow to downstream commitments.

6. Water Storage Facility • Key storage facility of the Colorado River Storage Project. • Can store 27,000,000 acre feet of water. This accounts for 64% of the systems water storage capacity. • It is the second largest man made reservoir in the country next to lake Mead.

7. Recreational and Environmental Needs • The creation of Lake Powell also created many recreational activities including boating, fishing, water-sports and camping to millions of people each year. • Downstream recreational fishing improved with the implementation of the dam, creating clearer, cooler water. • 300 species of birds can be found at Lake Powell.

8. Production of Power • Dam produces 40 billion kilowatt hours per year of electricity. Release of water is made during peak electricity use. • It cost $272 million dollars to build the dam. This is being paid back by money earned from the production of power. • Provides power to 174 towns or areas. Serving mostly low income families.

9. Economic Impact of Removal Tourism 3 million people every year visit Lake Powell 400 million dollars into surrounding economies Page, AZ 6,800 people rely on tourism dollars Federal Government 70-90 million each year in money generated by power production

10. Water Storage Impact Lake Powell helps protect the water of Lake Mead

11. Ecology Impact of Removal One of the largest concentrations of Bald Eagles in the Southwest (Brown et al 1989) Lees Ferry Trout Fishery Self sustaining trout production Riparian Vegetation downstream could not sustain current vegetation with great fluctuations (floods/droughts)

12. What if ? Cost to remove the dam would be incredible. Sediment left is full of heavy metals and other toxic chemicals. Sand would be blowing everywhere. Who is going to clean up forty years of human trash that will be left at the bottom of the lake? Endangered fish caused by the dam would still have other dams impeding their survival. Lake Mead is not going anywhere, too many people depend on its water.