Debate: Dam Controversy

Bureau of Reclamation How would the dams benefit the Why were projects like these dams To what extent would the dams What alternatives were proposed by southwest? necessary in the southwest? flood the Grand Canyon? the Bureau? There was tremendous The Bureau of Reclamation These two dams would population and urban The dams would not proposed that the Marble provide funding and power growth occurring throughout completely flood the Grand Canyon Dam not be built for other Bureau of the southwest. In order to Canyon. In fact the but instead only the Bridge Reclamation projects have enough water to sustain reservoir in some areas Canyon () Dam throughout the southwest the growing populations in would not even be visible would still be built. The through the sale of the arid region water from the rim of the canyon. Grand Canyon National hydroelectric power management plans had to be Monument would also be including funding the put into action. These dams abolished in order to avoid Central Project. would help to fund those encroaching on a part of the plans. national park system.

Sierra Club Why should the Grand Canyon be Was there an alternative source of What perception did the American What damage could the dams cause protected from development like funding and power for the water public have of the Grand Canyon? to the surrounding ecosystem? dams? management projects? Explain. (Suggested Response: should include Opponents of the dam After the ads about Dam would information from the reading) argued that the required the dams to be built in the Grand flood 53 miles of river and The Grand Canyon wilderness and power and funding necessary Canyon hundreds of thousands of would ecosystem would be forever changed letters were sent by the public to by the construction of these dams. for the planned projects legislators. American’s and flood 93 miles. 40 miles of The canyon is one of the world’s could be generated from preservationists saw the Grand the Grand Canyon National treasures and should be protected in order to preserve the natural coal-fired thermal plants or Canyon as one of the world’s Monument would be wonders of the region. Dams would nuclear generators. treasures and something that affected and 13 miles of the stop the flowing river that created must be protected. Sierra Club National Park. Over time the canyon in the first place and membership also rose during the sedimentation would prevent people from enjoying the Grand Canyon controversy from adventure of running the river. 39,000 in 1966, 67,000 in 1968 to continue to affect more areas 135,000 by 1971. of the canyon’s ecosystem.