DOCSLIB.ORG

FISHERIES REPORT of the LOWER COLORADO RIVER by The

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
FISHERIES REPORT of the LOWER COLORADO RIVER by The FISHERIES REPORT OF THE LOWER COLORADO RIVER by The Fisheries Task Group Colorado River Great Basin Field Committee September, 1951 Printing and Distribution by Arizona Game and Fish Commission Phoenix, Arizona FISHERIES REPORT OF TBE LOWER COLORADO RIVER by The Fisheries Task Group Colorado River Great Basin Field Committee INTRODUCTION At the request of the Colorado River Great Basin Field Committee, a report on the fishery of the Lower Colorado River was prepared by Fisheries Task Group composed of fisheries biologists from the State fish and game departments of Nevada, Arizona and California, and a representative of the Fish and Wildlife Service. The report divides the Colorado River into seven sections, each river sec- tion being considered individually. The purpose of the report is to describe the present and potential aspects. of the fishery and of fishing recreation in the area, and to point the way for future fisheries research and management programs. However, some definite recommendations, based on the results of field surveys and research carried out to this date, have been made. The entire Colorado River area from Hoover Dam to the Mexican border has been covered by the field crews during the past year. The following individuals are accredited with undertaking the field survey End preparation of their compiled data as follows: Section I - Al Jonez, Nevada Fish and Game Commission and Jack Hemphill, Arizona Game and Fish Commission; Section II - Al Jonez and Jack Hemphill; Section III - Richard D. Beland, California Division of Fish and Game; Section IV - Richard D. Beland; Section V - Richard D. Beland; Section VI - Gerald Duncan, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Section VII - Richard A. Wagner, Arizona Game and Fish Commission. The Lower Colorado River Fishery is a diversified one and with minor exceptions one that is not being utilized to its fullest extent. As a result of serious drought conditions and the subsequent drying up of many lakes and reservoirs throughout the Southwest, the Lower Colorado River repre- sents the last frontier for the ever increasing number of fresh water resident anglers. There has been, and no doubt will continue to be, an ever increasing recre- ational use made of the Lower Colorado River, and with wise management, the fishery will continue to provide good angling. The fishes referred to in the report are as follows: * Rainbow trout, Salmo gairdnerii, (Richardson) Largemouth black bass, Micropterus salmoides (Lapcepede) Smallmouth black bass, Micropterus dolomieu (Lacepede) Black crappie, Pomoxis nigro - mactifiEW-(Ee Sueur) White crappie, Pomoxir, -nnularis (Rafinesque) Bluegill, Lepomis macOodEgag,—(Rafinesque) Green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus (Rafinesque) Redear sunfish, Lepomis microlophus (Gather) Brown bullhead, Ameriurus nebulosus (Le Sueur) Yellow bullhead, Ameriurus natalis (Le Sueur) Channel catfish, ICtalurus lacustris (Walbaum) Carp, Cyprinus cti5157(-Eanaeus) Bonytail, Gila robusta elegans, (Baird & Girard) Colorado squawfish, Ptychocheilus lUcius (Girard) Razorback sucker, Xyrauchen texanus (Abbott) Striped mullet, Mugil cephalTIT(EEnaeus) Ten Pounder, flops affinis (Began) Gambusia, Gambusia affinis (Baird & Girard) The aquatic plants referred to in the report are as follows: ** Sago pondweed, Potamogetonlaectinatus Spiny naiad, Najas marina Widgeon grass, Ruppia maratima Horned pondweed, Zannichel iajm. Cattail, Typha domingensis Rush, Juncus torreyi Tale, Scirpus californicus Spike rush, Eleocharis parishii SECTION I - MOHAVE LAKE I. Physical Inventory This segment of the river is bordered on the north by Hoover Dam and on the south by Davis Dam. The reservoir itself is contained in Black and Eldorado Canyons, with the lower portion in Pyramid Canyon. High water elevation of the lake is 647 feet above sea level, and the operating level is 643 feet. During June and July, the lake level will drop (because of the requirements of the Mexican Water Treaty), and by August, will be approximately 627 feet. Lake Mohave is 67.5 miles long with a maximum width of four miles near Cottonwood Landing. All land use and concessions are under the jurisdiction of the * Common and scientific names of fishes used in the sectional reports are taken from the American Fisheries Society Special Publication No. 1, A List of the Common and Scientific Names of the Better Known Fishes of the United States and Canada. **Aquatic plant names were taken fromFlowering Plants and Ferns of Arizona by Kearney and Peebles. National Park Service and Bureau of Reclamation. Fish and wildlife are administered by the states concerned. The upper lake is a canyon-type lake, with sheer vertical rock sides broken occasionally by sandy washes that wind down from the surrounding mountains. Upper and lower Lake Mohave are arbitrarily separated at Emery's Landing in Eldorado Canyon. All roads leading into the lake follow these large washes in their gen- eral descent into the canyons. Near the center of the lake, long, sloping foot- hills extend back to the high mountain ranges on either side. These foothills contain many wide washes that have formed long fingers of water extending inland. These fingers have furnished excellent bass spawning areas during this fi year of inundation. Lower Lake Mohave is characterized by rough, rocky shores with numerous in- lets and coves. The lake is subject to strong winds at various seasons. In Summer, these winds are from the south and southwest; in winter, they are from the north. Occasional waves of oceanic proportions occur on the open portions of the lake during periods of strong winds. To date, this rough water is one of the main limiting factors to good fishing. The present policy of the Bureau of Reclamation is to operate the lake with a four foot maximum fluctuation. How- ever, emergency action in operational procedure may alter this policy. II- Biological Inventory The -species of fish present in Lake Mohave are: A. Game Fish: 1. Rainbow trout 2. Largemouth bass 3. Crappie 4. Channel catfish 5. Bluegill sunfish 6. Brown bullhead . Rough Fish: 1. Carp 2. ponytail 3. L,...mpback sucker 4. Colorado squawfish C. Rainbow Trout Most angling on Lake Mohave has been for rainbow trout, which comprises about 95 percent of the total catch. The game commissions of Nevada and Arizona maintain this trout population by plants of young fry and fingerling. Many millions of fry have been planted over the past several years ) and many age classes are present in the lake today. The record rainbow for 1950 weighed 18 pounds. Thus far, for 1951, an 18i pound rainbow caught near Willow Beach holds this season's record. From observations maa,. on the limited spawning beds a mile below Hoover Dam, it is known that many more of these large fish are present in the lake. Asa result of observations over the past year, it is definitely known that trout can and will spawn in the upper portion of the lake. It was thought that rainbow did not spawn in the old river; but these recent observations prove beyond a doubt that rainbow did spawn in suitable areas as far down as Cotton- wood Landing. The fluctuation of water that occurred in the old river undodlt- edly damaged the redds of the rainbow. The deeper redds would not have been affected; these would have hatched. This conclusion was borne out by observa- tions made among the spawning beds in and below the tailrace of Hoover Dam. With the filling of Lake Mohave, and subsequent deepening of the water, spawning is now confined to the area above Ringbolt Rapids. There the current . has become slower and the water somewhat deeper. The increaied depth of the water should make the upper area of the lake a better spawning area in the future. The growth rate of rainbow trout has decreased somewhat during the period of filling the lake. Now, however, growths of filamentous algae, widgeon grass, horned pondweed and sago pondweed are becoming established in shallow areas of the upper lake. With the establishment of aquatic vegetation, a proportionate increase of aquatic insect life is expected, along with the continuance of the fresh-water shrimp (Gammarus fasciatus) and snail (Limnaces E2.). This ex- pected increase in available food should restore the previous growth rate. D. Largemouth Black Bass: A sizeable population of largemouth bass existed in the river area that has since been inundated to form lower Lake Mohave. This population had a very successful spawn in April and May, 1951, and promises to furnish some of the best bass fishing in the Southwest. This body of water is unique in that a sizeable population of trout and largemouth bass exist together. From studies complikted to date, it is believed that the shore areas of the lower lake will be excellent bass waters and the upper lake more suitable0 to trout. Water re- leased from Hocver Dam has a constant temperature of 53 F. when released from the lower level of0 the dam. (In 1951, the temperatures from the lower level have been near 56 F. because of the low level of Lake Mead.) This gives the0 upper ten miles of the lake cool water, even when the air temperature is 115 F. in 0summer. The surface temperature of the lower lake is expected to rise to 80 to 85° F. in late August, driving the trout upstream or to greater depths. In winter, this lake will become almost uniform in temperature, allowing a mixing of trout and bass populations. The extent of this mixing of species is not known, but it is hoped that the trout will occupy the open lake waters and the bass the rocky shoreline. In early summer, the trout will either migrate upstream into cool waters or live in the lake depths near bottom. Bass did not migrate into the cool upper lake water to any great extent In past years, unless.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Chapter One – Existing Conditions
    Laughlin Land Use Plan Adopted - July 2017 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Clark County Board of Commissioners: Laughlin Town Advisory Board: Steve Sisolak, Chair James Maniaci, Chair Susan Brager, Vice-Chair Kathy Ochs, Vice-Chair Larry Brown Stephanie Bethards Chris Giunchigliani Bruce Henry Marilyn Kirkpatrick Gina Mackey Mary Beth Scow Tammy Harris, Secretary Lawrence Weekly Brian Paulson, County Liaison Office of County Manager: Planning Commission: Yolanda King, Manager Dan Shaw, Chair Randy Tarr, Assistant Manager J. Dapper, Vice-Chair Jeff Wells, Assistant Manager Edward Frasier III Kevin Schiller, Assistant Manager Vivian Kilarski Tom Morley Department of Comprehensive Planning: Nelson Stone Nancy Amundsen, Director Donna Tagliaferrri Community Planning Team: Mario Bermudez, Planning Manager Shane Ammerman, Assistant Planning Manager Kevin Smedley, Principal Planner & Project Lead Paul Doerr, Senior Planner Chris LaMay, GIS Analyst Garrett TerBerg, Principal Planner Michael Popp, Sr. Management Analyst Justin Williams, Parks Planner Ron Gregory, Trails Assistant Planning Manager Scott Hagen, Senior Planner Laughlin Land Use Plan 2017 i ii Laughlin Land Use Plan TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ............................................................................................................. 1 State Law ............................................................................................................ 1 Background ......................................................................................................... 1 Purpose
    [Show full text]
  • November 17, 2017 David Beaver & Karen Summitt 8226 S Evergreen Dr Mohave Valley, AZ 86440 Re: Purchase and Sale Agreement F
    From: Karen Summitt To: Thomas Buschatzke; Sharon Scantlebury Subject: Fw: Objections to the MVIDD Water Transfer Date: Thursday, November 16, 2017 6:24:42 PM Attachments: ADWR Letter.docx November 17, 2017 David Beaver & Karen Summitt 8226 S Evergreen Dr Mohave Valley, AZ 86440 Re: Purchase and Sale Agreement for CAWCD to Acquire Water Rights and Land in Mohave Valley Irrigation and Drainage District, Mohave County, Arizona Dear Thomas Buschatzkle, I write to advise you that I am opposed to the proposed Central Arizona Water Conservation District (CAWCD) land and water purchase to move Colorado River water, prudently set aside for rural Arizona Colorado River mainstream users, to central Arizona for replenishment. As you may recall, the Mohave County Board of Supervisors passed two resolutions opposing the permanent transfer of any Colorado River Water Rights and Allocations to the Central Arizona Water Conservation District for use in the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District – first as to the Quartzsite transfer and second as to the WPI-WAN transfer in the Mohave Valley Irrigation and Drainage District. Here is why I oppose this purchase and transfer of our water: First, as a matter of public policy, 4th Priority Colorado River water allocated to the users on the mainstream of the River, such as Mohave Valley Irrigation and Drainage District (“MVIDD”) in this case, should not be transferred away from mainstream of the River. This is part of the water that the State of Arizona requested be reserved for municipal and industrial uses along the River. Except for that small reservation of 4th Priority Colorado River water to the users on the mainstream, CAWCD received all of Arizona’s Colorado River entitlement remaining at the time that CAWCD and the United States entered into their initial agreement in 1972.
    [Show full text]
  • Part XII Public Facility Element San Diego County General Plan
    Part XII Public Facility Element San Diego County General Plan Adopted March 13, 1991 Amended January 12, 2005 GPA 04-010 Amended October 15, 2008 GPA 08-007 Amended October 14, 2009 GPA 09-004 Section 1 - Introd uction ............................................ X 11-1-1 Section 2 - Coordination Among Facility Planning, Financing Programs and Land Use Planning ................................ XII-2-1 Section 3 - Parks and Recreation ............................ XII-3-1 Section 4 - Transportation ....................................... XII-4-1 Section 5 Flood Control ......................................... XII-5-1 Section 6 - Solid Waste ........................................... XII-6-1 Section 7 - Law Enforcement ................................... XII-7-1 Section 8 - Animal Control ....................................... XII-8-1 Section 9 - Libraries ................................................. XII-9-1 Section 10 - Schools .............................................. X11-10-1 Section 11 - Fire Protection and Emergency Services ......................... XII-11-1 Section 12 - Wastewater ........................................ XII-12-1 Section 13 - Water Provision Systems ................... XII-13-1 Section 14 Child Care .......................................... XII-14-1 Section 15 - Courts and Jails ................................. XII-15-1 Section 16 Social Services .................................. XII-16-1 Section 17 - Health ................................................ XII-17-1 Section 18 - Senior Services ................................
    [Show full text]
  • Resource Law Notes Newsletter, No. 8, Apr. 1986
    University of Colorado Law School Colorado Law Scholarly Commons Resource Law Notes: The Newsletter of the Natural Resources Law Center (1984-2002) Newsletters 4-1986 Resource Law Notes Newsletter, no. 8, Apr. 1986 University of Colorado Boulder. Natural Resources Law Center Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.law.colorado.edu/resource_law_notes Part of the Energy and Utilities Law Commons, Energy Policy Commons, Environmental Law Commons, Environmental Policy Commons, Indian and Aboriginal Law Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Natural Resources Law Commons, Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons, Oil, Gas, and Energy Commons, Oil, Gas, and Mineral Law Commons, Public Policy Commons, Water Law Commons, and the Water Resource Management Commons Citation Information Resource Law Notes: The Newsletter of the Natural Resources Law Center, no. 8, Apr. 1986 (Natural Res. Law Ctr., Univ. of Colo. Sch. of Law). RESOURCE LAW NOTES: THE NEWSLETTER OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES LAW CENTER, no. 8, Apr. 1986 (Natural Res. Law Ctr., Univ. of Colo. Sch. of Law). Reproduced with permission of the Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment (formerly the Natural Resources Law Center) at the University of Colorado Law School. Resource Law Notes The Newsletter of the Natural Resources Law Center University of Colorado, Boulder • School of Law Number 8, April 1986 10:50 John D. Leshy, After the Concrete Sets: The Two Conferences Future Role of the Bureau of Reclamation in Western Water Management Scheduled for June 1:15 Panel: The Natural Resources Law Center will present its Mohamed T. El-Ashry, Policy Options for Improved seventh annual summer program this June, 1986.
    [Show full text]
  • Community Economic Profile Blythe
    COMMUNITY ECONOMIC PROFILE for BLYTHE RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Prepared in conjunction with the City of Blythe and Blythe Area Chamber of Commerce Blythe, incorporated July 24, 1916, is located 227 miles east of Los Angeles, 626 miles south of San Location Francisco and 150 miles west of Phoenix in the Palo Verde Valley along the Colorado River. 1980 1990 2000 2009 Economic Growth Population-County 663,166 1,170,413 1,545,387 2,107,6531 Taxable Sales-County $3,274,017 $9,522,631 $16,979,449 $26,003,5952 and Trends Population-City 6,805 8,428 20,463 21,3291 Taxable Sales-City $69,134 $102,364 $129,240 $160,4762 Housing Units-City 2,433 2,783 4,103 4,5871 Median Household Income-City $14,777 $22,847 $35,324 $42,8503 School Enrollment K-12 4,000 3,772 3,706 3,6104 1. California Department of Finance, January 1, 2009. Population fi gures include Ironwood and Chuckawalla Valley State Prisons populations. Housing count refl ects occupied dwellings. 2. California State Board of Equalization, calendar year 2008. Add 000. 3. WITS, 2009. 4. California Department of Education, 2009. Enrollment count is for 2008-09. AVERAGE TEMPERATURE RAIN HUMIDITY Climate Period Min. Mean Max. Inches 4 A.M. Noon 4 P.M. January 37.4 52.6 67.8 0.48 57 32 32 April 53.4 70.9 88.3 0.13 55 22 19 July 75.7 92.1 108.4 0.21 60 28 25 October 55.4 73.4 91.4 0.27 58 27 28 Year 55.2 71.9 88.5 3.96 58 27 26 RAIL: Arizona & California Railroad serves the Palo Verde Valley, with connections to Burlington Transportation Northern Santa Fe Railroad out of Barstow and Phoenix for transcontinental destinations.
    [Show full text]
  • ATTACHMENT B Dams and Reservoirs Along the Lower
    ATTACHMENTS ATTACHMENT B Dams and Reservoirs Along the Lower Colorado River This attachment to the Colorado River Interim Surplus Criteria DEIS describes the dams and reservoirs on the main stream of the Colorado River from Glen Canyon Dam in Arizona to Morelos Dam along the international boundary with Mexico. The role that each plays in the operation of the Colorado River system is also explained. COLORADO RIVER INTERIM SURPLUS CRITERIA DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT COLORADO RIVER DAMS AND RESERVOIRS Lake Powell to Morelos Dam The following discussion summarizes the dams and reservoirs along the Colorado River from Lake Powell to the Southerly International Boundary (SIB) with Mexico and their specific roles in the operation of the Colorado River. Individual dams serve one or more specific purposes as designated in their federal construction authorizations. Such purposes are, water storage, flood control, river regulation, power generation, and water diversion to Arizona, Nevada, California, and Mexico. The All-American Canal is included in this summary because it conveys some of the water delivered to Mexico and thereby contributes to the river system operation. The dams and reservoirs are listed in the order of their location along the river proceeding downstream from Lake Powell. Their locations are shown on the map attached to the inside of the rear cover of this report. Glen Canyon Dam – Glen Canyon Dam, which formed Lake Powell, is a principal part of the Colorado River Storage Project. It is a concrete arch dam 710 feet high and 1,560 feet wide. The maximum generating discharge capacity is 33,200 cfs which may be augmented by an additional 15,000 cfs through the river outlet works.
    [Show full text]
  • The Journal of San Diego History Vol 53, 2007, Nos 1 & 2
    The Jour na l of San Diego History Publication of The Journal of San Diego History has been partially funded by generous grants from the Joseph W. Sefton Foundation; Quest for Truth Foundation of Seattle, Washington, established by the late James G. Scripps; and an anonymous friend and supporter of the Journal. Publication of this issue of The Journal of San Diego History has also been supported by a grant from “The Journal of San Diego History Fund” of the San Diego Foundation. The San Diego Historical Society is able to share the resources of four museums and its extensive collections with the community through the generous support of the following: City of San Diego Commission for Art and Culture; County of San Diego; foundation and government grants; individual and corporate memberships; corporate sponsorship and donation bequests; sales from museum stores and reproduction prints from the Booth Historical Photograph Archives; admissions; and proceeds from fund-raising events. Articles appearing in The Journal of San Diego History are abstracted and indexed in Historical Abstracts and America: History and Life. The paper in the publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Science-Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1984. Front Cover: Robinson-Rose House built in Old Town San Diego in 1874; presently the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park Visitors Center. Back Cover: Thomas Sefton with his collection of toy trains, September 4, 1958. ©SDHS UT #85:7793, Union-Tribune Collection. Cover Design: Allen Wynar The Journal of San Diego History Volume 53 Winter/Spring 2007 numbers 1 & 2 IRIS H.
    [Show full text]
  • Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge Complex
    Appendix J Cultural Setting - Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge Complex Appendix J: Cultural Setting - Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge Complex The following sections describe the cultural setting in and around the two refuges that constitute the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge Complex (NWRC) - Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR and Coachella Valley NWR. The cultural resources associated with these Refuges may include archaeological and historic sites, buildings, structures, and/or objects. Both the Imperial Valley and the Coachella Valley contain rich archaeological records. Some portions of the Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWRC have previously been inventoried for cultural resources, while substantial additional areas have not yet been examined. Seventy-seven prehistoric and historic sites, features, or isolated finds have been documented on or within a 0.5- mile buffer of the Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR and Coachella Valley NWR. Cultural History The outline of Colorado Desert culture history largely follows a summary by Jerry Schaefer (2006). It is founded on the pioneering work of Malcolm J. Rogers in many parts of the Colorado and Sonoran deserts (Rogers 1939, Rogers 1945, Rogers 1966). Since then, several overviews and syntheses have been prepared, with each succeeding effort drawing on the previous studies and adding new data and interpretations (Crabtree 1981, Schaefer 1994a, Schaefer and Laylander 2007, Wallace 1962, Warren 1984, Wilke 1976). The information presented here was compiled by ASM Affiliates in 2009 for the Service as part of Cultural Resources Review for the Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWRC. Four successive periods, each with distinctive cultural patterns, may be defined for the prehistoric Colorado Desert, extending back in time over a period of at least 12,000 years.
    [Show full text]
  • Mohave County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
    Mohave County Multi‐Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan 2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 2 1.1 Purpose ............................................................................................................................................ 2 1.2 Background and Scope ................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Assurances ....................................................................................................................................... 3 1.4 Plan Organization ........................................................................................................................... 3 SECTION 2: COMMUNITY PROFILES ................................................................................................... 4 2.1 Mohave County ............................................................................................................................... 4 2.2 Bullhead City ................................................................................................................................. 14 2.3 Colorado City ................................................................................................................................ 19 2.4 Kingman ........................................................................................................................................ 21 2.5 Lake
    [Show full text]
  • Water, Capitalism, and Urbanization in the Californias, 1848-1982
    TIJUANDIEGO: WATER, CAPITALISM, AND URBANIZATION IN THE CALIFORNIAS, 1848-1982 A Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences of Georgetown University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History By Hillar Yllo Schwertner, M.A. Washington, D.C. August 14, 2020 Copyright 2020 by Hillar Yllo Schwertner All Rights Reserved ii TIJUANDIEGO: WATER, CAPITALISM, AND URBANIZATION IN THE CALIFORNIAS, 1848-1982 Hillar Yllo Schwertner, M.A. Dissertation Advisor: John Tutino, Ph.D. ABSTRACT This is a history of Tijuandiego—the transnational metropolis set at the intersection of the United States, Mexico, and the Pacific World. Separately, Tijuana and San Diego constitute distinct but important urban centers in their respective nation-states. Taken as a whole, Tijuandiego represents the southwestern hinge of North America. It is the continental crossroads of cultures, economies, and environments—all in a single, physical location. In other words, Tijuandiego represents a new urban frontier; a space where the abstractions of the nation-state are manifested—and tested—on the ground. In this dissertation, I adopt a transnational approach to Tijuandiego’s water history, not simply to tell “both sides” of the story, but to demonstrate that neither side can be understood in the absence of the other. I argue that the drawing of the international boundary in 1848 established an imbalanced political ecology that favored San Diego and the United States over Tijuana and Mexico. The land and water resources wrested by the United States gave it tremendous geographical and ecological advantages over its reeling southern neighbor, advantages which would be used to strengthen U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • What a Gully
    ~~GOLLY9 WHAT A GULLY / History does not record the words spoken by Don Garcia Lopez de Cardenas, proud captain of Castile, that memorable day in 1540 when he and his companions looked into the Grand Canyon, the first Europeans to do so. In all probability those words were strong, soldierly expletives, although a footsore scribe, of a poetical bent, recorded for posterity and prying eyes in Spain that the buttes and towers of the Canyon which "appeared from above to be the height of a man were higher than the tower of the Cathedral of Seville." An apt description, my capitan! The gentle Father Garces came along in 1776 and was quite .impressed by the canyon, giving it the name of "Puerto de Bucareli" in honor of a great Viceroy of Spain. James 0. Pattie, trapper and mountain man, arrived at the canyon in 1826, the first American tourist to visit there. Unfortunately there were no comfortable Fred Harvey accommoda­ tions awaiting him and he was pretty disgusted .with the whole thing . "Horrid mountains ," he wrote . Lt . Joseph Ives , an explorer, came to the "Big Canyon" in 1857 and "paused in wondering delight" but found the region "altogether valueless. Ours has been the first and will doubtless be the last party of whites to visit this profitless locality ," was his studied opinion. But the lieutenant's feet probably were hurting him and he should be forgiven his hasty words . John Wesley Powell, twelve years later, arrived at the canyon the exc1tmg way - by boat down the Colorado. To him it was the "Grand" Canyon and so to all the world it has been ever since.
    [Show full text]
  • The Colorado River
    KD [Qu THE COLORADO RIVER HISTORY SEVEN-STATES COMPACT AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENT WA WATER RESOURCES CENTER AFlo lCJ,UF?C,IVJESej CENTER i,,nCHIVES DEC 1990 MR a F CALlpnn rvlA OF CALIFORNIA By WALTER GORDON CLARK i THE COLORAI:>O RIVER INDEX Location, Discovery and History . River Characteristics and Formations . Geographical Changes Caused by the Deposit of River Detritus . Development of the Imperial Valley . Appropriation of Waters . The Colorado River Compact . Distribution of Water to the States in the Respective Basins Arizona and the Compact . Present and Ultimate Irrigation Demand in the Upper Basin Present and Ultimate Irrigation Demand in the Lower Basin Reduced Demand After Cultivation . Available Damsites in the Lower Basin . The Boulder Canyon Damsite . Rockfill Type of Dam . Damsites Above Boulder Canyon . Dams Below Boulder Canyon . Balancing Reservoir . Summer Season Power for Irrigation . Equitable Distribution of Cost . Federal Ownership of Water . Federal Ownership of Power . Federal Power Commission Control . Present and Future Demands for Power . A Section of the Grand Canyon from the Rim Showing Extensive Erosion. The Colorado River HE drainage basin of the Colorado River lies between longitude 105 ° 30' west and 116 ° west and latitude 30°40' north and 43°30' north, in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, California, Arizona, T and the extreme northern part of Mexico, meeting tidewater in the Gulf of California at 32'15' north latitude . The distance from the northernmost tributary in Wyoming to the south- ernmost tributary in Mexico is nine hundred miles ; and from its most easterly tributary in Colorado to its most westerly tributary in Nevada is five hundred and fifty .
    [Show full text]