[Awclist] [Fwd: RRFW Riverwire - Pearce Ferry Rapid Update]

[Thomas Robey]

RRFW Riverwire -- Pearce Ferry Rapid Update

September 5, 2007

 

In 2003, RRFW Riverwire reported that the normally tranquil waters of 
the Colorado River at the end of the Grand Canyon near Pearce Ferry, 
Arizona, were beginning to become turbulent near Pearce Ferry, the 
takeout for river trips traveling past Diamond Creek. Since then, the 
rapid has continued to form at this location.

 

This reach of the Colorado River, just past the western boundary of 
Grand Canyon National Park, is controlled by the water level of Lake 
Mead. When the lake is near full pool, a large lake with no current 
greets river runners departing the end of Grand Canyon.

 

With the ninth year of drought continuing, the unusually low level of 
Lake Mead has caused the Colorado River to down cut into the sediment 
deposited in the upper reaches of the lake.

 

The river is now flowing with strong current near Pearce Ferry and no 
longer follows its historic channel of 70 years ago, before the waters 
of Lake Mead covered the area. The new channel is flowing over low 
gravel hills approximately one mile north of Pearce Ferry. The rapid is 
forming where the river is cutting through a saddle between two of these 
hills.

 

Pearce Ferry rapid has formed where the river makes a sharp ninety 
degree turn. A large rock sits in the middle of the rapid, with a strong 
eddy on the left side of the rock. A fast channel has developed on the 
river right side of the rock, and is the route of choice at this time 
for river runners.

 

This rapid now poses a threat to river travel, as a boat could wrap on 
the mid-stream boulder. Night floating through this area is not 
recommended.

 

Concessions jet boats are still up-running this rapid with ease, but use 
the right channel and can not see approaching downstream traffic at this 
location. Jet-boats are sounding their horn as they up-run the rapid to 
warn downstream rafters of their approach.

 

This area has the potential to form a more serious rapid---possibly even 
a waterfall---as lake levels continue to drop, much as falling lake 
levels in Lake Powell formed the 15 foot falls at Paiute Farms on the 
San Juan River. The Fatt Falls waterfall renders the lower section of 
the San Juan River unrunnable. Projections are that Lake Mead will 
continue to drop for at least the next 8 months.

 

Photographs of this new rapid taken by Duwain Whitis on Saturday, 
September 1, 2007, can be seen at the online version of this Riverwire 
at Pearce Ferry Riverwire 
<http://www.rrfw.org/article.php?file=20070905.RRFW_Riverwire.Pearce_Ferry_Rapid_Update>.

 

A more in-depth review of the formation of this rapid and its future 
difficulty may be found at the following web site, which is not 
affiliated with River Runners for Wilderness:

http://www.durangobill.com/GCTourSuperimposition.html.

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