Glen Canyon Dam -- The Fight For Water
[Page, Arizona, August 2009]
The story of the American Southwest is nothing, if not about water.
The Colorado River Compact (1922), an agreement between Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, was an attempt by the states to apportion the waters of the untamed Colorado River.
The Hoover Dam was the result (1933). Not only did this engineering colossus apportion the waters, it controlled flooding, provided water flow for irrigation, and generated hydroelectric power. It also created Lake Mead, a 180-mile long reservoir. It made Las Vegas possible.
The lower states (Arizona, California, and Nevada) eventually complained that they were not getting their fair share of the water. In response to these complaints and in seeing the need for the generation of additional hydroelectric energy, the Congress authorized construction of the Glen Canyon Dam (1966). The Dam created Lake Powell, a 186-mile long reservoir, which has become a recreational paradise.
Construction of both dams was not without controversy. Ecological damage to both plant life and wildlife was pervasive, and the Glen Canyon, now under water, was a geological wonder, not unlike the Grand Canyon. There are powerful voices that continue to argue in favor of dismantling Glen Canyon Dam.
By far, the Glen Canyon Dam is the lesser known of the two dams. It has no “Las Vegas” to supply a steady stream of tourists. Instead, it has Page, Arizona (pop. 7,000), just below the Utah border. Page does, however, have a Wal-Mart.
But, other than that, the Glen Canyon Dam concedes very little to its downstream neighbor. At 710 feet, GCD is just 16 feet lower, but at 1,560 feet, GCD is 304 feet longer (the length of a football field), than Hoover Dam.
Glen Canyon Dam is a hydroelectric power plant, featuring eight 155,500-horsepower turbines and a generating capacity of 1,296,000 kilowatts. I can’t relate that to anything in my life, but it sounds good.
What I can relate is the value of a visit to both dams. A visit to Hoover Dam (which I first visited in 1956) is no longer the thrill that it once was. Because of “9/11,” Hoover Dam is tightly restricted. That is not the case at Glen Canyon Dam.
Glen Canyon Dam also has the advantage of being a gateway to Rainbow Bridge National Monument (the world’s largest natural bridge), the North Rim of the Grand Canyon (which is a better experience than the South Rim), and many other attractions. I highly recommend a visit to Glen Canyon Dam.
[Note: I placed this in the "Fluid" category because the water is converted to energy!]
In the Crossing the Colorado River photo essay.
34 responses
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Andrea Petersen gave props (24 Sep 2009):
Wonderful essay and also the picture of Glen Canyon Dam is very beautifully photographed....Excellent for the theme...Well done!
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elfriede fulda gave props (24 Sep 2009):
Very interesting ,,,excellent compo, great entry
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Alexis Gerard gave props (24 Sep 2009):
Wow..amazing landscape - and great recommendation, thank you!
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Patty Gross gave props (24 Sep 2009):
What a brillliant shot!!! I love the desert landscape and you composed this photo just beautifully!!!
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Susan Littlefield gave props (24 Sep 2009):
I love your POV with that gorgeous curve leading the eye through the photo. And your information, as always, is very interesting and educational.
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JOE FAILK gave props (24 Sep 2009):
Great shot Thanks for the info.
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Judy Wanamaker gave props (24 Sep 2009):
A grand capture, and wonderful history. Beautiful.
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Regenia Brabham gave props (24 Sep 2009):
A wonderful essay!! I never knew about this damn. The land around it is fantastic and I can see the controversy involved. This is a fantastic shot!!! Georgia's lakes are all man made. Of course, our lakes don't cover up anything as spectacular as this.
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Dawn Duffield (Deleted) gave props (24 Sep 2009):
Excellent commentary and spectacular composition!
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david ong gave props (24 Sep 2009):
DAM good!!!!!
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eithne mythen gave props (25 Sep 2009):
Great POV, fabulous background landscape..
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Karen Foto Fiddler gave props (25 Sep 2009):
I for one love knowing some history with some photos like this one. What an excellent POV and that landscape in the distance is gorgeous! Nice curve in this dam. well composed and thought out!
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John Linton gave props (25 Sep 2009):
If I took one of my classes out on the dam I'd tell them all about the tens of millions of tons of water pressing against the dam and then I'd say something like "Did you feel that? I think I just heard a crack."
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Leanna Lomanski gave props (25 Sep 2009):
Isn't it interesting that of the two dams, you hear about one and not the other. Great view of this structure and I enjoyed the history very much.
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Sonia Adam Murray gave props (25 Sep 2009):
Thank you for the interesting lesson and your photo is just terrific and really illustrates your point.
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Richard Knight said (26 Sep 2009):
Thank you very much, my friends, for stopping by to look at concrete and mortar -- not the most exciting topic. I doubted whether I would upload this, but then decided to, as the Glen Canyon Dam is at the heart of so many transportation, ecological, and lifestyle issues. (The houseboat series, which shows us at our best . . . and our worst . . . follows.)
Thanks also for commenting positively on the narratives. Yes, I write narratives. The challenge is to weed out what is not necessary to the story, and to keep in mind that most of us have 500 "contacts" more or less and therefore little time to stop and read, let alone read everything.
My thanks to all of you. -
John Tanner gave props (26 Sep 2009):
fantastic shot !!!! so well done!!!
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Litz Go gave props (26 Sep 2009):
awesome shot and very informational narratives! I have seen the Hoover dam and read stories about it (the company I'm working now is currently building a bridge ) but not this Dam. Thank you for sharing.
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Mary Brown gave props (27 Sep 2009):
VERY impressive image!! I was fortunate enough to see this dam when I was 12 and I was so impressed. Thanks for your lovely image and informative narrative!
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LauraCPhotography gave props (28 Sep 2009):
Great info. and a lovely shot! One of my dreams is to visit a place like this in the states!;))
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Linda Houghton gave props (28 Sep 2009):
WOW You did fantastic the capture of this monster ! Beautifully Done
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Linda Houghton gave props (28 Sep 2009):
WOW You did fantastic in the capture of this monster ! Beautifully Done
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Desiree Adams gave props (28 Sep 2009):
Wondeful image and history well done Brava!
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dp * gave props (29 Sep 2009):
Lovely photo. Great read too! Reminded me of the film "China Town", I think that was all about water in the Southwest. dp
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Manon Boily gave props (30 Sep 2009):
that's huge! heard about that a lot but never saw it. nice landscape
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Rob Roy gave props (1 Oct 2009):
Amazing image, Richard... looks as if you might have shot it from a helicopter!! Interesting background as well... I'd never heard of it... but have been to its "brother".
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Lanis Rossi gave props (1 Oct 2009):
Nice comments and photo! Well done!
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Elaine Manley gave props (1 Oct 2009):
wow fabulous capture!
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Deborah Downes gave props (1 Oct 2009):
Wonderful entry and essay, Richard. Love the POV and contrast between the dam and those beautiful red rocks.
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Latrenia Bryant gave props (2 Oct 2009):
Wow! It's Wonderfuuuuuul!
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PINAKI SARKAR gave props (3 Oct 2009):
nice angle . wonderful essay
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JamesHarmon McQuilkin gave props (8 Oct 2009):
What a POV! My sister is in Apache Junction, and I just learned more from you than her ever. Thanks
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Jean Creamer gave props (27 Oct 2009):
Wonderful history and current events lesson along with great picture
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Michael Ball gave props (9 Dec 2009):
Fantastic shot and info Dick!! Super entry!!
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