Heavy sediment deposition is changing conditions in Cataract Canyon

Raft in Cataract Canyon at the rapids of the Colorado River in Canyonlands National Park, 2003 / NPS

If you plan to swim through Cataract Canyon Canyonlands National Parkremember: another large sedimentation in Cataract Canyon changed the flow of water in the main channel and created a new small stream.

The slump occurred in Narrow Canyon at river mile 175.1 sometime between October 25 and 29. Approximately 300-350 meters of the shoreline descended from the left bank of the river into the river bed.

Sediment and silt continue to move and change river conditions for a three-mile stretch upstream from the drawdown. Because of the rapid change in conditions between Dark Canyon and the North Wash access point, personal flotation devices (PFDs) should be worn.

The coordinates of the new small threshold are 37.888428, -110.296780.