Are We Losing the Grand Canyon?

Just read this in the print magazine (which I highly recommend--it's still a beautiful experience).

The TL;DR is that there are private or Native American properties that abut the Grand Canyon National Park, where development is much less restricted. The three examples from the article are:

- A Native American tribe permits unlimited helicopter flights into the canyon from their reservation, causing constant noise.

- Another Native American tribe is seeking to build a tram (wire gondola, like a ski lift) from their property on the edge of the Canyon down to the confluence of the Little Colorado, and build a mini-mall down there on the river's edge--which is currently totally wild and unchanged.

- Uranium mining and commercial tourism development could over-draw or pollute the aquifers that feed springs and seeps that water vegetation within the Canyon.

Mentioned only briefly in the story is the tremendous development that has already been permitted or committed by the National Park Service itself. The "village" at the lip of the Grand Canyon is a maze of paved roads, schlocky tourist trap gift shops and restaurants, paths, and hotels--even a train station! In this way we have already lost a significant portion of the Canyon.

The National Park Service has the mission to preserve the parks for future generations. In many parks they have instead developed--or permitted others to develop--the most scenic areas with concrete, asphalt, buildings, cars, and parking lots. Yosemite Valley is Exhibit A.

Then, having damaged the natural landscape, they use the "preserve" mission to further develop things--having installed a path, they then pave it to prevent erosion. Having installed a wood building that ages, they then replace with a concrete and steel building. Having intalled a road, they enlarge the parking lots. Etc.