Colorado River Flows in the Grand Canyon End in 2026

During a time when we are all overwhelmed by the magnitude of threats and assaults on wild spaces (and now conflict in Iran) I am writing to ask you to take time out of your day to engage right now in action that will affect management of the Colorado river and its tributaries for the rest of our lives and our children's lives.  For anyone who has a special place in their heart for the Grand Canyon, Glen Canyon, Cataract Canyon, and the San Juan, please read on.  We are on the brink of another tragic story of environmental collapse, or the greatest restoration story on earth in our lifetime. Or probably some of both.

For decades, the impacts of climate change and overuse of water have made it highly likely that Lake Powell will reach Dead Pool this summer.  The reasons for this are fascinating but complex, so I will skip that for now, and get to the chase.  At Dead Pool, it is not physically possible to release flows into the Grand Canyon.  Personally, I am hoping this happens, and even for several years in a row, because I believe only then will enough people wake up, and take the actions needed to address reality.

But NOW is when you can take an important incremental action to shape the course of this history. The Bureau of Reclamation is taking public comment on decisions that will affect the management of the Colorado River for the next 20 years. Comments need to be received by March 2^nd.

The Glen Canyon Institute has provided the most coherent and relevant comments on this issue I am aware of.  You can get their template at the link below and send it to the Bureau of Reclamation at the email address they provide, also at this link.

https://glencanyon.org/deis-comment-template/

Surprisingly, because of very complex water rights negotiations across 7 states, there is not a forceful coalition of environmental non-profits backing the comments provided by the Glen Canyon Institute.  I believe the reasoning for this is very misguided, and history will prove this short-sighted.  The catastrophe unfolding in the Colorado River is the result of climate change, flawed multi-state water rights systems/water use practices, and bad plumbing at Glen Canyon Dam. All need to be addressed.

Be sure to insert a personal paragraph in the messaging template that succinctly describes your relationship to the Colorado River and why it is important to you. This GREATLY increases the impact of your comment.

Thank you for being a part of radical resistance and restoration.

For those who want to read a well-crafted article for more understanding on this issue, see the link below.

https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-nevada/analysis-the-coming-failure-of-glen-canyon-dam-3710408/