Returning Rapids of Cataract 2021

When the free running Colorado River smashes into the still water of Lake Powell, it drops its massive sediment load into Cataract Canyon and the reservoir. This has been happening since the late 1970s when Powell was approaching full pool. And for the last 20 years, Powell has been slowly and steadily decreasing its volume because there is not enough annual inflows from the Green, Gunnison and San Juan Rivers that drain the Southern Rockies into the Colorado River. As the water drops more, sediment and silt is exposed and the river keeps carving down through the mess. A group of river runners has been paying close attention to the changes as only river runners can do. They got organized and developed the Returning Rapids project to document the re-emergence of Cataract Canyon and its rapids.

GIVEAWAY of EmRiver educational river table

Returning Rapids Project

Center for Colorado River Studies

Colorado River

Cataract Canyon

Glen Canyon

Canyonlands National Park

Lake Powell

Glen Canyon Dam

Bureau of Reclamation

Eddyline Welding

THE RIVER RADIUS

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