Arizona cities are dependent on Lake Powell, but historic photos show Glen Canyon's ecosystems are surviving - and even thriving - as the waters deplete.
40 Million People Rely on the Colorado River It s Drying Up Fast tucsonweekly.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from tucsonweekly.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Seth Arens studying plant life in 50 Mile Creek, 100 feet below high water.
Seth Arens is an ecologist and climate scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He accompanied Balken on the trip. He said while the ecosystems aren’t exactly the same as they once were, because of the sediment left behind by the lake, life is returning to the canyon at a rapid pace.
“In a desert environment, where we think of things being slow to grow, the speed at which ecosystems are reestablishing in these areas is pretty remarkable,” Arens said.
He said the return of native ecosystems raises an interesting question: Should the dry parts of the canyon be actively managed, or should they continue to be treated like the bottom of a water tank?
Cedar Breaks Opens Roads Early This Season
The National Park Service re-opened roads through Cedar Breaks National Monument on Monday. Park service officials said it is happening earlier this year because of a limited snowpack and work done by Utah Department of Transportation crews. Visitors are warned to be cautious though as paths and overlooks may still be covered in snow and ice. The park service added that trails are still covered with snow and fallen trees, and crews will clear them as soon as possible. Summer services including restrooms won’t start operating until Friday, May 28 for Memorial Day weekend.