Glen Canyon Dam releases flood waters in massive experiment to rebuild the sandbars and beaches in the Canyon.
An extraordinary experiment gets underway this past weekend, as four large valves at the base of Glen Canyon Dam in northern Arizona were cranked open to release up to 41,000 cubic feet of water a second.
Scientists hope that the water will push sand, silt, and sediment downstream to rebuild beaches and sandbars along the Colorado River as it runs through the Grand Canyon. Said beaches and sandbars play a crucial role in the ecosystem, sheltering a number of species that have declined or disappeared since the dam was built in 1963 and Lake Powell filled up behind it, halting the flow of more than 90 percent of the sediment downriver.
The $3.5 million experiment, involving more than a dozen groups and government agencies and more than 50 scientists, is being conducted because the feds are, by law, required to do all they can to preserve the Grand Canyon ecosystem. (Except, of course, not build a monstrous dam that cuts off water flow to it.)
The New York Times article has some great photos of the experiment.
Thanks to Grist Magazine
FULL STORY: Colorado River gets soaked in name of science

Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself
The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

‘Displaced By Design:’ Report Spotlights Gentrification in Black Neighborhoods
A new report finds that roughly 15 percent of U.S. neighborhoods have been impacted by housing cost increases and displacement.

Nevada and Utah Groups Oppose Public Land Sell-Off Plan
A set of last-minute amendments to the budget reconciliation bill open up over half a million acres of federally managed land to sales.

More Than a Park: A Safe Haven for Generations in LA’s Chinatown
Alpine Recreation Center serves as a vital cultural and community hub in Los Angeles' Chinatown, offering a safe, welcoming space for generations of Chinese American residents to gather, connect, and thrive amidst rapid urban change.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Clovis
City of Moorpark
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions