Grand Canyon ain't what it used to be

[dArKeR]

By Seth Hettena
The Associated Press

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. - It’s hard to get the sense anything is wrong in the Grand Canyon while floating through it.

On a recent spring morning, the Colorado River was cool and calm. Trout leapt, splashing back into the river with a plop. Stands of salt cedar lined the banks, offering shade from the desert heat.

But all is not well in this crown jewel of America’s national park system.

The salt cedar and trout are invaders, part of a wave of alien fish and plants that have moved in and devoured or crowded out the native species. The sandy shorelines are washing away. And once-buried Indian archaeological sites are slipping into the river.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5166114/


Grand Canyon In Deep Trouble

 It's hard to get the sense anything is wrong in the Grand Canyon while floating through it.

On a recent spring morning, the Colorado River was cool and calm. Trout leapt, splashing back into the river with a plop. Stands of salt cedar lined the banks, offering shade from the desert heat.

But all is not well in this crown jewel of America's national park system.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/06/09/tech/main622004.shtml

I took a rafting trip down Cataract Canyon in 1978.
http://www.utah.com/raft/rivers/cataract.htm