Formation
The Colorado River cut through the plateau, exposing 300-million-year-old rock. The canyon was once a complex space containing some 100 side canyons, natural bridges, arches, archaeological sites and wildlife habitat.
Proposals
In the 1940s, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation planned a series of dams on the Colorado Plateau. The Colorado River Storage Act passed Congress in 1956, providing power, flood control and water storage to much of the West.
Protests
The Sierra Club protested a proposed dam at Echo Park, Colorado, that would have flooded Dinosaur National Monument. It succeeded, but flooding Glen Canyon was the compromise.
Dam
In 1963, Glen Canyon was flooded by the Glen Canyon Dam, creating Lake Powell. Lake Powell has marinas and campgrounds. Houseboats, powerboats, jet skis, kayaking and fishing are popular.
Conditions
The water in Lake Powell is dropping. More than 100 square miles of the canyon's original geography not seen since the dam was built were exposed in 2006.
Article Written By Kelly Aspen
Kelly Aspen's writing focuses on natural places, cultural sites and wildlife. She has nine years of experience as an editor and writer for magazines, books and websites, including Trails.com, Travels.com and Weekendnotes.com. She attended Vassar College and now lives in the mountains of Colorado.
