Manmade Flood Coming to Grand Canyon

[WhiteTara]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/05/AR2008030501219.html

PAGE, Ariz. -- Federal agencies are gearing up to release a manmade flood aimed at refreshing the ecosystem of the Grand Canyon.

A three-day torrent of water will be released from Glen Canyon Dam on the Arizona-Utah state line beginning Wednesday morning.

The Colorado River in the Grand Canyon downstream from the dam used to be warm and muddy. But the dam now traps silt and the river runs cold and clear through the canyon. The shift has helped speed the extinction of four fish species.

The agencies including the Interior Department and Park Service hope the flooding will redistribute sediment in the canyon.

just a short article

[chemp]

1. hope it doesn't last long

If it's longer than Noah's flood it may double the size of the canyon.
:evilgrin:

[WhiteTara]

2. I'll bet, especially if you are downstream! n/t

[kestrel91316]

3. As long as the Glen Canyon Dam exists, the Grand Canyon ecosystem

is threatened. It NEEDS those huge annual floods like people need to breathe.

[opihimoimoi]

4. We have to do Gods work...flushing the system periodically is good.

[EstimatedProphet]

5. Good. It's just what the system needs

The Grand Canyon ecosystem has always been governed by huge floods, and the dams really messed that up immensely.