Effects of glen canyon dam on colorado river sand deposits used as campsites in grand canyon national park, USA

AbstractGlen Canyon Dam, located on the Colorado River 24km upstream from Grand Canyon National Park, has affected downstream alluvial sand deposits which are used as campsites by recreational boaters. Inventories of campsite numbers and sizes conducted in 1973, 1983 and 1991, and comparison of aerial photograph series taken in 1965, 1973, 1984 and 1990 show that there has been a system‐wide decrease in the number and size of campsites. Campsites are unevenly distributed along the river, and availability is regarded as ‘critical’ along reaches comprising 45% of the river, based on interviews with river guides. During the first 10 years of Glen Canyon Dam operations, at least 30% of all campsites decreased in size. During the next 18 years, between 1973 and 1991, 32% of all campsites decreased in size, and campsite capacity decreased by 44%. High annual dam releases in excess of power plant capacity in 1983 caused a net system‐wide increase in the number of campsites, but decreased campsite capacity in two critical reaches. The ‘benefit’ of sand aggradation due to the 1983 high flow was short‐lived, and by 1991 only a few campsites were larger than they had been in 1973. In contrast, other sites, especially in critical reaches, were eroded by the 1983 high flows and have not recovered in size. Options for future dam management must consider the variable response of campsites to high flows in critical and non‐critical reaches and the duration over which ‘beneficial’ high flow effects persist.