PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO DEVELOP ALTERNATIVE
MOTORBOAT TECHNOLOGY FOR GRANC CANYON NATIONAL PARK

The National Park Service and the Grand Canyon’s professional river outfitters have embarked upon a unique joint effort to develop and implement alternative motorboat technology suitable for commercial river operations within Grand Canyon National Park.  Formally proposed by the river concessioners last fall, the goal of this program is to develop and implement an environmentally-sensitive non-fossil fuel based motorboat propulsion system with silent or very low noise operating characteristics. 

The river outfitters have pledged considerable financial resources to this effort.  For its part, the National Park Service is seeking matching funds from a major agency program known as the Centennial Initiative.  This program is currently being considered by Congress and enjoys broad support.  (More information about the Centennial Initiative can be found at www.nps.gov/2016.)  The National Park Service recently announced that the Grand Canyon alternative motorboat project will be eligible to receive up to $840,000 in Centennial Initiative matching funds over the next few years.

The Grand Canyon outfitters will begin work in earnest on their alternative motorboat project next year.  The effort is scheduled to continue for ten years, and will include partnerships with private sector alternative vehicle specialists, multiple prototype development, and rigorous field testing and comparison of competing systems and technologies.  The program is scheduled to conclude with the wide scale implementation of a new, cutting edge environmentally-sound alternative motorboat propulsion system proven safe, reliable and durable for operations on the sensitive and challenging waters of the Colorado River within Grand Canyon National Park.