Conservationists argue that changes must be made to the management of both the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon in order to best preserve the Southwestern ecosystem. Give one suggested change to each system. Then tell why these changes are related. Finally, propose a possible addition or alternative to these suggestions.
Answers
The Colorado River is among the most important waterways on earth. Each year, about six million people come to see the canyon it created. Tens of thousands more explore its winding path by raft or make the effort to hike a mile or more down to its banks. They come here because the Colorado is a testament to the power and the beauty of nature.
And like other rivers across America, its natural course has been blocked, dammed, channeled, diverted, and siphoned to bring water into populated areas. As a result, many watershed areas that once nourished a swamp, marsh, or wetland — as well as the intricate and diverse ecosystems they maintained — have been neglected.
With a mission to restore flows to these areas, the Change the Course campaign aims to bring nature back into balance by recommending achievable environmental goals for both businesses and individuals.