Taming the Colorado
Posted by: 
brwhiz
N 35° 52.966 W 114° 37.069
11S E 715037 N 3973566
This Historical Marker is located at the Scenic Overlook on the west side of US Highway 93 about 12 miles south of Hoover Dam.
Waymark Code: WMFVKJ
Location: Arizona, United States
Date Posted: 12/04/2012
Views: 6
Taming the Colorado
You are looking into Black Canyon and a narrow, river-like portion of Lake Mohave. To your left, about 59 miles downstream, is Davis Dam. To your right, 11 miles upstream, is Hoover Dam. The U.S. Government built the dams to tame the periodic flooding of the Colorado River, provide irrigation during dry periods, and generate electricity. The dams essentially accomplished these goals.
What effects, however, did they have on the environment? The deeper and wider waters attracted different bird species and altered the vegetation at the edges of Lake Mohave and Lake Mead. The slowing of the river's flow made the water temperature more constant, reduced sediment buildup below the dams, and disrupted the spawning cycles and habitats of native fish species.