Summary of A Damnation of a Canyon

This is a summary of The Damnation of a Canyon by Edward Abbey. The heart of the canyonlands is Glen Canyon and the Colorado River. The author went on a rafting trip in the summer of 1959 with a friend, and greatly enjoyed the experience and scenery that the unspoiled river offered. In 1967, he worked as a park ranger at the new “Glen Canyon National Recreation Area”, which is what the government named the area around the Glen Canyon Dam.

He claims that “Having thus seen Glen Canyon both before and after what we may fairly call its damnation, I feel that I am in a position to evaluate the transformation of the region caused by construction of the dam.” He admits a certain bias towards being a “googly eyed bleeding heart” and a “wild conservative”. There is an implication that the dam is part of a “thoroughly urbanized, elegantly computerized social system [which] is not suitable for human habitation”.

He states that Lake Powell, which is formed by Glen Canyon Dam, is not a lake but is a reservoir. This means that there is a constantly fluctuating water level based on the power needs of the system that the Dam is connected to. Also, this power need is the primary focus of the orchestrators of the dam, not the recreational possibilities that they publicize.

The drastic change of environment around the river, and the continuous changes of water level, had huge negative impacts on wildlife that were settled near it. The only thing noticeable around the edge of the water is the bathtub ring left by the change of water level. The author suggests for those who think he is exaggerating is to take a trip around the lake, then float down the remaining unaltered river below the Dam.

He continues on to argue that the true benefit of the Dam is only to the upper middle class, who are capable of taking power boat trips of some kind. He says that the loss of wild life, and ruins, and beautiful scenery is not outweighed by the ability to powerboat to a landmark, where previously anyone could have walked 6 miles. The dam has removed the possibility of cheap float trips to see the beautiful heart of the canyonlands, replaced by expensive powerboating which does not make up for the loss.

His solution is that as alternative power methods be discovered, the dam should be taken out of commission, and that nature should be allowed to restore the river to the way it was before, which would admittedly take some time.