Much Ado About Snails—Upper Elves Closure EvaluationMost river runners are familiar with the populationof endangered Kanab Ambersnails atVaseys Paradise along the Colorado <strong>River</strong>. In1998, a small population of these snails was introducedto Upper Elves Chasm near one of the upper pools. Thetranslocated population has been thriving in themonkeyflower and maidenhair fern vegetation since thattime.The recent closure of Upper Elves to visitationprompted a joint letter of concern from gcrg and pastpresidentJeri Ledbetter to <strong>Grand</strong> <strong>Canyon</strong> National ParkSuperintendent Steve Martin. The park respondedrapidly and respectfully—Jeff Sorensen from ArizonaGame and Fish was asked to accompany <strong>River</strong> Districtrangers on a regularly scheduled patrol trip in mid-Julyto monitor the population and provide additional guidanceon the site restriction. This action put the rightpeople together for a thorough first-hand evaluation thatshould result in workable solutions for all interestedparties while adequately protecting the snail habitat.Although the closure is still in effect, the wheels areturning and progress is being made. Whatever solution isforthcoming, we count on your stewardship to make itwork. We also ask that all river runners respect theclosure while it remains in effect.We thank Jeri Ledbetter for her continued activismand careful examination of this issue. We also sincerelyappreciate the outstanding response from the diversepersonnel who worked together so seamlessly andthoughtfully in this endeavor, including those from<strong>Grand</strong> <strong>Canyon</strong> National Park, Arizona Game & Fish,and the u.s. Fish and Wildlife Service. As we moveforward with the Colorado <strong>River</strong> Management Plan(crmp) implementation, the level of cooperation shownhere should be a model for making this plan as successfulas it can be. Adaptive management, open communication,expert evaluation, monitoring, and informationsharing are the exceptional tools we saw at work here—tools that will protect the resources of <strong>Grand</strong> <strong>Canyon</strong>while providing the opportunity for visitors to experiencethis magical place.1983 Footage Needed for GTS 2008The 2008 gts land session, March 29–30, 2008,will be incredibly special. It will be the 20thanniversary of gcrg and the 25th anniversaryof the 1983 flood!! Although firm plans have yet to bedeveloped, it seems a no brainer to celebrate the 1983flood with stories, film footage, photographs, etc. Thathigh water year was so extraordinary, that it begs to bere-visited.Jeffe Aronson has photos of the Tour West rig flippingin Crystal, and he thought it would be cool todigitize any and all photos and/or video of that yearand put it together into a dvd for the gts land session.That’s really too good of an offer to pass up. If youhave something you’d like him to include, please sendit to him directly at:And if you have some footage that should standalone, that’s great too. Just let me know. We’re open toideas as well, so if there is something particularly funor interesting you’d like to see at the next gts, pleaseshare your ideas with me: speakers, topics, band, andhands-on activities—whatever!Once we figure out the dates, we’ll let everyoneknow. But we sure hope we’ll see you there as it will bethe best gts ever!Lynn Hamiltongcrg@infomagic.netJeffe Aronson750 Warfield Ave, Apt 601Oakland, ca 94610phone: 650-922-0224email: jeffe@tpg.com.aupage 8grand canyon river guides
Matt Fahey / faheyfoto.comboatman’s quarterly review page 9
- Page 1: the journal of Grand Canyon River G
- Page 4 and 5: FarewellsHenry Quayle, 1946-2007Exc
- Page 6: Guide ProfilesClint Spahn, Age 19Wh
- Page 11 and 12: Barclay Trimble served as the recre
- Page 13 and 14: Egg DayI was up early a hectic daya
- Page 15 and 16: With one of the first copies of thi
- Page 17 and 18: Company, the authors—who happen t
- Page 19 and 20: scree slope and the angle mellows a
- Page 21 and 22: survive. Some of these plants need
- Page 23 and 24: flashlight, hoping there are no rea
- Page 25 and 26: Tempest”Matt Fahey / faheyfoto.co
- Page 27 and 28: up—where you start at that canyon
- Page 29 and 30: Steiger: What year was that?Billing
- Page 31 and 32: saying, “Sue, are you warm enough
- Page 33 and 34: At the Little Colorado River - July
- Page 35 and 36: Susan, Ryan, and Marijka, family bo
- Page 37 and 38: iver. We had it figured out, and th
- Page 39 and 40: Matt Fahey / faheyfoto.comboatman
- Page 41 and 42: R.I.P. Shorty—Forty Years LaterOn
- Page 43 and 44: Carl & Marge BoyerHjalmar BrantingJ
- Page 45 and 46: Grand Canyon River Guides, Inc.Prof
- Page 47 and 48: 2007 GCRG T-Shirts AvailableThe 200