Grand Canyon Wildlands Council
Kelly Burke, council coordinator, geologist

   On the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, we are challenged to see ourselves encompassed by and linked to the natural world. A young science called conservation biology can help make this relationship a lasting and healing one—and in this case help protect and restore the diversity of life in Grand Canyon.

   Conservation biology proposes designing large-scale nature reserves including:

   -large areas providing maximum protection for native species, diverse habitats, and natural processes (core reserves)

   -transition zones that minimize human impact toward the cores, and

   -linkages (corridors) that connect the cores.

   Inspired by these ideas, Grand Canyon Wildlands Council formed in March 1996 to design a science-based reserve network for the southern Colorado Plateau region. Within this region, Grand Canyon National Park forms the largest potential core reserve. The Colorado River corridor is its heart.

   The reserve-design work is just beginning, but we recommend the CRMP view the river corridor as within a Grand Canyon core reserve. This calls for the maximum legal protection for the river corridor through Potential Wilderness designation. In addition the river (and its tributaries) should receive another layer of protection against development with Wild and Scenic designation. Park management policy should then provide for the protection and restoration of native biodiversity and natural processes in the context of wilderness.

   The Park Service’s paradoxical mandate to accomodate visitation and preserve resources is thin ice to stand on in the face of astronomical population growth and demand for access to the river. Motorized rafts do not have significant ecological impact on riverine and near-river habitats. Visitation does. The CRMP should state the need for Potential Wilderness designation allowing motor use. Designating the river corridor Potential Wilderness is the best promise we can make to protect the natural systems and wildlife that flourish in riverine and near-river habitats from human impacts.

   Finally, the Council strongly advocates peer-reviewed science for resource management. In the CRMP this means requiring quality research and restoration have the highest priority for funding (from the Colorado River Fund and other sources) and that funding go directly to the Science Center at the park.

   For more information about Grand Canyon Wildlands Council and conservation biology call (520)774-7488 or email burkek@grandcanyontrust.org.