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Crystal Rapids, Colorado River May, 1985 |
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| At high water the Colorado River runs thick with sediment which gives the river its characteristic red color (hence the name "Colorado" for red). Construction of Glenn Canyon Dam on the Colorado upstream from the Grand Canyon captures much of the sediment that used to enter the canyon. This has lead to a reduced supply of sediment resulting in the erosion of beaches in the canyon. Since the Dam, only high water flows on tributary streams contribute sediment to the Colorado. Management agencies are currently experimenting with the timing and magnitude of dam water releases to attempt to improve the sediment regime of the river and reduce beach erosion. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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