Has Commercializing Gone Too Far?

     The Grand Canyon is one of the most photographed landscapes in the world. Is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The Grand Canyon is about five or six million years old, but rocks at the canyon bottom date back about 2 billion years. Human artifacts have been found dating back nearly 12,000 years to the Paleo-Indian period, and it's been continuously occupied into the present day. Most visitors spend only a few minutes at the South Rim, experiencing just that famous view of Grand Canyon National Park, unaware of the canyon's role as home to ancient peoples, animals and plant life or the threats and economic pressures placed on it.

     This beautiful place is problem not going to be here for much long. It will away be here but just not the same. There are developer that have this crazy idea to commercialize the canyon. They want to make millions on tourist. There are two very real development projects are threatening to impact the canyon in a big way. Anyone who has intimately experienced the sacred places within its walls, or hopes to someday, should be very concerned.
   
     Less than two miles from the park’s entrance, the gateway community of Tusayan, a town just a few blocks long, has approved plans to construct 2,200 homes and three million square feet of commercial space that will include shops and hotels, a spa and a dude ranch.” While plans to build a community outside of the park may not raise red flags for some, it’s those like Fedarko who are deeply familiar with the canyon, who know what the real cost of that development would be.

     The proposal by developers Confluence Partners LLC from Scottsdale, Arizona, also included a half-mile elevated walkway and food pavilion along the Colorado River and a 420-acre commercial and lodging “village” on the rim. Here, the plan called for 5,000 square feet of restrooms, an RV park, gas station, helipad, restaurants, retail shops, motel, luxury hotel, the Navajoland Discovery Center and additional infrastructure.

  Under the proposal, the tribe would be on the hook for an initial $65 million investment for roads, water and powerlines and communications, while providing a non-revocable 20-year operating license including a non-compete clause. In return, the Navajos would receive just 8 percent of the revenue. This is not fair to the Navajos. 

         

       If you’re thinking that these projects could never happen…well, have you heard the story about Glen Canyon?  We lost one of the greatest river canyons in the world to development once before.  We can’t afford to do it again.The Grand Canyon and the people and communities that depend on it cannot be left to bear the risks of unfettered uranium mining, which is what will happen if the moratorium is removed. The Grand Canyon should be protected for all of us, for all time. While today is a moment for celebration, we must remain vigilant. American Rivers will continue to defend the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River to ensure a positive legacy for future generations.

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