Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
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Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (shortened to Glen Canyon NRA or GCNRA) is a national recreation area and conservation unit of the United States National Park Service that encompasses the area around Lake Powell and lower Cataract Canyon in Utah and Arizona, covering Template:Convert of mostly rugged high desert terrain. The recreation area is named for Glen Canyon, which was flooded by the Glen Canyon Dam, completed in 1966, and is now mostly submerged beneath the waters of Lake Powell.
Glen Canyon NRA borders Capitol Reef National Park and Canyonlands National Park on the north, Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument on the west, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument and the northeasternmost reaches of Grand Canyon National Park on the southwest, and the Navajo Nation on the southeast. The southwestern end of Glen Canyon NRA in Arizona can be accessed via U.S. Route 89 and State Route 98. State Route 95 and State Route 276 lead to the northeastern end of the recreation area in Utah.
Glen Canyon NRA was established "to provide for public use and enjoyment and to preserve the area's scientific, historic, and scenic features." The stated purpose of Glen Canyon NRA is for recreation as well as preservation (whereas a national park may carry more emphasis on natural preservation). As such, the area has been developed for access to Lake Powell via five marinas, four public campgrounds, two small airports, and numerous houseboat rental concessions.
Administrative History
In February 1957 Utah Senator Arthur V. Watkins requested Secretary of the Interior Fred A. Seaton study the possibility of a national recreation area at the reservoir formed by Glen Canyon Dam.<ref>“Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Proposal,” American Fork Citizen, Feb 7, 1957</ref> In June 1958, the National Park Service and the Bureau of Reclamation agreed on administration and development of the upstream and downstream areas of the Colorado River either side of Glen Canyon Dam. The area, according to Secretary Seaton, would be designated the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.<ref>“Recreation Area Program Drawn,” Albuquerque Journal, June 25, 1958</ref>
In January 1959, President Dwight D. Eisenhower proposed a budget that included $43,500 for the construction of roads in Glen Canyon NRA. That March, the National Park Service announced plans for GCNRA including the expenditure of $16.5 million over the next 10 to 15 years.<ref>“Park Service Announces Glen Plans,” Deseret News, March 2, 1959</ref> In April 1959, a Department of Interior source stated James Milford Eden, Superintendent of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, would be named the first Superintendent of GCNRA.<ref>“Wins Glen Recreation Post,” Salt Lake Tribune, April 21, 1959</ref> That May, Eden set up office in a trailer near what would become today’s Wahweap Marina.<ref> “Park Service Project Chief In Page To Begin Planning,” Arizona Daily Sun, May 11, 1959</ref> That October, the National Parks Advisory Board toured Glen Canyon Dam. Superintendent Eden was on the tour, accompanied by Frank Masland Jr., Chairman of the Advisory Board.<ref>“National Park Advisory Board Visits Page, Walks Bridge, Sees New Tunnels,” Arizona Daily Sun, Oct 13, 1959</ref>
In March 1960, Eden presented a map of the tentative boundaries of GCNRA, including the road to Lees Ferry from Highway 89 and lands just west and south of the northwest side of Navajo Bridge.<ref>“Planning Well Underway On Lake Powell Rec Area,” Arizona Daily Sun, March 23, 1960</ref> On June 1, 1960, GCNRA received a used WWII 24-ton LCM Landing Craft Mechanized from the U.S. Navy. It was the second boat the new Recreation area had, the first was a “trim little boat” called the Park Ranger.<ref>“Desert, Rocks Everywhere, Park Service Has A Boat,” Arizona Daily Sun, June 1, 1960</ref> The Park Service opened the campground at Wahweap Marina on December 6, 1961. It had 57 camping sites.<ref>“Wahweap Camp Area Open To The Public, Arizona Republic, December 6, 1961</ref> In July 1962, GCNRA let out bids for construction of NPS housing in Page, Arizona and at Wahweap Marina.<ref>“Bids Asked In Page Area,” Arizona Republic, July 14, 1962</ref>
In September 1962, the US Senate Public Works Commission authorized $3,000,000 for a bridge to cross the Colorado River just upstream from the confluence with the Dirty Devil River.<ref>“Senate Committee Approves Funds For Hite Bridge,” Richfield Reaper, September 6, 1962</ref> That November, GCNRA let bids to operate a concessions contract for the operation of a marina near the bridge called Hite Marina. Recreation facilities at Lees Ferry were also planned.<ref>“Firms Seeking,” Tucson Citizen, November 9, 1962</ref><ref>”Magazine Expanding Staff Here,” Arizona Daily Sun, January 19, 1966</ref> In August 1963, Utah Senator Frank Moss introduced legislation to create Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The area in Moss’s Bill encompassed 1,430,000 acres of land and intended to establish by law the recreation area designated by the Interior Order of 1958.<ref> “Bill Introduced For Recreation Area In S. Utah,” Arizona Daily Star, August 29, 1963</ref> The final bill passed by Congress, Public Law 92-593, was for 1,236,880 acres and was signed into law by President Richard Nixon on October 27, 1972.<ref>”Consumer Protection Bill Among 30 OK’d By Nixon;” Tucson Citizen, October 28, 1972</ref>
Geology
The geology of the area is dominated by the Glen Canyon Group, consisting of the Navajo Sandstone, Kayenta Formation, and Wingate Sandstone.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The entire stratigraphic section includes rocks dating from the Cretaceous to Pennsylvanian periods.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Double Arch
A well-known rock formation named the Double Arch existed over Lake Powell. It collapsed on August 8, 2024.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Recreation
Lake Powell has nearly Template:Convert of fish-holding shoreline and provides opportunities to fish for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and striped bass that swim in the waters of the recreation area.
Several local marinas and sports outfitters provide houseboats, powerboats, jet skis, kayaks, fishing gear, and related equipment to visitors.
Graffiti Removal and Intervention Team (GRIT)
With millions of visitors to the recreation area each year, it is inevitable that vandals will deface the rock faces of the canyon. Glen Canyon NRA has implemented a voluntourism program wherein volunteers sign up for a five-day houseboat trip during which they help remove graffiti from the canyon walls.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
See also
References
External links
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- Official National Park Service site
- Official National Park Service Concessionaire Site Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas, managed by Aramark, is an authorized concessioner of the National Park Service, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
- Glen Canyon Conservancy
- Page Lake Powell Chamber of Commerce
Template:Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Template:Protected Areas of Arizona Template:UT Parks Template:USNRAs Template:Navbox
- Pages with broken file links
- Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
- National Park Service National Recreation Areas
- Parks in Coconino County, Arizona
- Tourist attractions in San Juan County, Utah
- Tourist attractions in Garfield County, Utah
- Tourist attractions in Kane County, Utah
- Protected areas on the Colorado River