Future of Grand Canyon at grave risk, report says

Aug 24, 2010, 23:13 GMT

Los Angeles - The world-famous Grand Canyon in Arizona is facing a series of challenges that could fundamentally alter the character of the popular natural wonder, according to a new report released Tuesday by the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA).

The 80-page State of the Parks report said that the main danger came from mismanagement of the Colorado River. The river once ran wild through the canyon where its warm waters, filled with nutrient- rich sediment, encouraged a unique ecosystem of plants and wildlife.

But the construction of the Glen Canyon dam in the 1960s trapped the sediment behind the dam, making the waters clearer, cooler and more hospitable to invasive species and wildlife.

'When you look at all of the challenges, you find out that the Grand Canyon is at risk, at grave risk,' said David Nimkin, the southwest regional director of the NPCA.

An increase in the number of uranium mines near the site also poses a severe risk, while air and noise pollution from power plants, cities and air tours over the Grand Canyon are an additional environmental hazard the report said.

The northern Arizona park draws 4.5 million visitors a year and comprises some 500,000 hectares along 400 kilometres of the Colorado river.