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Only 130 years ago, maps of the
United States showed a great
blank space in the southwestern
corner of the continent labeled
"Terra Incognita" - Unknown Land.
What lay within the boundaries of
this vast and unexplored territory
was only speculation until John
Wesley Powell launched the first
journeys into the heart of this
region, which we know today as
the Colorado Plateau. He
discovered a land of color and
form, of light and shadow, of
immense space and time - a
wrinkled country of canyons,
plateaus, and rivers so expansive
that it defied imagination.
United States showed a great
blank space in the southwestern
corner of the continent labeled
"Terra Incognita" - Unknown Land.
What lay within the boundaries of
this vast and unexplored territory
was only speculation until John
Wesley Powell launched the first
journeys into the heart of this
region, which we know today as
the Colorado Plateau. He
discovered a land of color and
form, of light and shadow, of
immense space and time - a
wrinkled country of canyons,
plateaus, and rivers so expansive
that it defied imagination.
A Land like No Other
The Colorado Plateau straddles
the region known as the Four
Corners, where the states of
Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New
Mexico join boundaries. The
Plateau's physical statistics are
remarkable: an average
elevation of 5,000 feet above
sea level, encompassing 240,000
square miles (approximately the
size of Pennsylvania, Ohio and
New York combined). There is a
greater and more complete
span of Earth's history exposed in
the rocks of the Colorado
Plateau than in any other
comparably sized region in the
world. And a greater number and
variety of strange and wonderful
erosional land forms than in any
other land: mesas and buttes,
hoodoos and monuments,
arches, windows and spires, rock
fins, reefs - and canyons.
Thousands of canyons: Tiny slot
canyons carved into smooth
sandstone and so narrow you
have to turn sideways to walk
through, wide canyons eroded
out of painted rocks, impressive
enough in their own right to be
called national parks in any other
part of the country. The Colorado
Plateau is drained by the two
main rivers that are the heart of
the southwestern United States -
the Green and Colorado rivers
and their thousands of tributaries
large and small which have been
home to ancient peoples for at
least 12,000 years. They have
been the focus for life in an arid
land whose vegetation is sparse
and precious. They have drawn
people from around the world to
work and play in a land that once
discovered is hard to leave.
Impressive as they are, the
physical statistics for the
Colorado Plateau reveal little
about the nature of the land,
about its heart and soul, and
about the experiences awaiting
the visitor to the country. Visitors
to these lands gain new
perspectives on time and space
and on themselves as well - and
one of the best possible ways to
see this place and feel the heart
of the country is on one of its
rivers.
The Colorado Plateau straddles
the region known as the Four
Corners, where the states of
Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New
Mexico join boundaries. The
Plateau's physical statistics are
remarkable: an average
elevation of 5,000 feet above
sea level, encompassing 240,000
square miles (approximately the
size of Pennsylvania, Ohio and
New York combined). There is a
greater and more complete
span of Earth's history exposed in
the rocks of the Colorado
Plateau than in any other
comparably sized region in the
world. And a greater number and
variety of strange and wonderful
erosional land forms than in any
other land: mesas and buttes,
hoodoos and monuments,
arches, windows and spires, rock
fins, reefs - and canyons.
Thousands of canyons: Tiny slot
canyons carved into smooth
sandstone and so narrow you
have to turn sideways to walk
through, wide canyons eroded
out of painted rocks, impressive
enough in their own right to be
called national parks in any other
part of the country. The Colorado
Plateau is drained by the two
main rivers that are the heart of
the southwestern United States -
the Green and Colorado rivers
and their thousands of tributaries
large and small which have been
home to ancient peoples for at
least 12,000 years. They have
been the focus for life in an arid
land whose vegetation is sparse
and precious. They have drawn
people from around the world to
work and play in a land that once
discovered is hard to leave.
Impressive as they are, the
physical statistics for the
Colorado Plateau reveal little
about the nature of the land,
about its heart and soul, and
about the experiences awaiting
the visitor to the country. Visitors
to these lands gain new
perspectives on time and space
and on themselves as well - and
one of the best possible ways to
see this place and feel the heart
of the country is on one of its
rivers.
A FRAGILE RESOURCE
Conservation of Rivers on the Colorado Plateau
Conservation of Rivers on the Colorado Plateau
Water in the desert is as precious as gold; any flowing water in an arid land will be the source of
contention and competition, and the rivers of the Colorado Plateau have drawn controversy to
them like bees to honey. Powell's exploration of these rivers opened the region to a settlement
boom which has yet to abate in 130 years. With settlement came the need to contain these
rivers in order to "reclaim" the desert. There are few free-flowing rivers left in the southwest. A
flurry of dam-building begun early in the century has left most of them chained and impounded in
a series of reservoirs and dams that have created the largest plumbing system outside of the
Columbia River. Very little of the Colorado's life-giving water that once flowed into the delta at
the Gulf of California now reaches its destination.
The ecological impacts to this region are beyond severe. Upstream, where the waters still flow,
the impacts have been no less important. Native flora and fauna have disappeared from many
stretches of the river and daily fluctuations in water released from dams upstream have caused
important changes in the character and ecology of the river systems. Clear, sediment-free water
scours the beaches and sandbars, and changes in water temperature affect the native fish and
other riparian creatures.
Dams and reservoirs are not the only threat to these fragile ecosystems, however. Mining can send
dangerous chemicals into the water, agriculture adds pesticides and salts to the rivers and their
soils. Development removes riverside vegetation and habitat to make way for homes and
towns. Water is diverted for agriculture, and grazing tramples and fouls tiny tributaries to larger
streams. In addition, human visitors often damage or destroy fragile habitat with careless use of
recreational vehicles.
Riparian (riverside) habitat is the most diverse and precious habitat in the arid lands, supporting a
disproportionately greater number of wildlife species than any other habitat. More than 90% of
the original riparian habitat in the arid lands has been destroyed since settlement began in this
area and estimates are that as much as 80% of the remaining amount is in seriously endangered
condition. A recent report by the Defenders of Wildlife listed southwest riparian habitat as one of
the most endangered ecosystems in the United States.
Moab Rafting & Canoe Company supports conservation and educational efforts on the Colorado
Plateau, and we encourage and practice low-impact camping. It is our belief that only through
education and mindful stewardship of the lands on which we work and play can we develop a
healthy relationship to our planet, and preserve these lands for our children and all those who
follow. There are many organizations that are dedicated to education and conservation efforts
in the region.
contention and competition, and the rivers of the Colorado Plateau have drawn controversy to
them like bees to honey. Powell's exploration of these rivers opened the region to a settlement
boom which has yet to abate in 130 years. With settlement came the need to contain these
rivers in order to "reclaim" the desert. There are few free-flowing rivers left in the southwest. A
flurry of dam-building begun early in the century has left most of them chained and impounded in
a series of reservoirs and dams that have created the largest plumbing system outside of the
Columbia River. Very little of the Colorado's life-giving water that once flowed into the delta at
the Gulf of California now reaches its destination.
The ecological impacts to this region are beyond severe. Upstream, where the waters still flow,
the impacts have been no less important. Native flora and fauna have disappeared from many
stretches of the river and daily fluctuations in water released from dams upstream have caused
important changes in the character and ecology of the river systems. Clear, sediment-free water
scours the beaches and sandbars, and changes in water temperature affect the native fish and
other riparian creatures.
Dams and reservoirs are not the only threat to these fragile ecosystems, however. Mining can send
dangerous chemicals into the water, agriculture adds pesticides and salts to the rivers and their
soils. Development removes riverside vegetation and habitat to make way for homes and
towns. Water is diverted for agriculture, and grazing tramples and fouls tiny tributaries to larger
streams. In addition, human visitors often damage or destroy fragile habitat with careless use of
recreational vehicles.
Riparian (riverside) habitat is the most diverse and precious habitat in the arid lands, supporting a
disproportionately greater number of wildlife species than any other habitat. More than 90% of
the original riparian habitat in the arid lands has been destroyed since settlement began in this
area and estimates are that as much as 80% of the remaining amount is in seriously endangered
condition. A recent report by the Defenders of Wildlife listed southwest riparian habitat as one of
the most endangered ecosystems in the United States.
Moab Rafting & Canoe Company supports conservation and educational efforts on the Colorado
Plateau, and we encourage and practice low-impact camping. It is our belief that only through
education and mindful stewardship of the lands on which we work and play can we develop a
healthy relationship to our planet, and preserve these lands for our children and all those who
follow. There are many organizations that are dedicated to education and conservation efforts
in the region.
For further information contact:
Utah Guides and Outfitters
P.O. Box 322
Moab, UT, 84532
Colorado Plateau River Guides
P.O. Box 344
Moab, UT 84532
Glen Canyon Institute
P.O. Box 1925
Flagstaff, AZ 86002
Headwaters Institute
138 J Street Second Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 442-3155
Utah Guides and Outfitters
P.O. Box 322
Moab, UT, 84532
Colorado Plateau River Guides
P.O. Box 344
Moab, UT 84532
Glen Canyon Institute
P.O. Box 1925
Flagstaff, AZ 86002
Headwaters Institute
138 J Street Second Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 442-3155
Sierra Club
2273 S. Highland Drive #2D
Salt Lake City, UT 84106
(801) 467-9294
Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance
P.O. Box 968
Moab UT 84532
(435) 259-5440
Utah Rivers Council
1471 South 1100 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84105
(801) 486-4776
Wild Utah Project
165 S. Main Suite 1
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
(801) 328-3550
2273 S. Highland Drive #2D
Salt Lake City, UT 84106
(801) 467-9294
Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance
P.O. Box 968
Moab UT 84532
(435) 259-5440
Utah Rivers Council
1471 South 1100 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84105
(801) 486-4776
Wild Utah Project
165 S. Main Suite 1
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
(801) 328-3550
The
Colorado
Plateau
Colorado
Plateau
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