September, 2006 

Dear fellow river runners, 

It has been a frenetic few months since this organization was founded. Since inception in September, 2004, we tore into the CRMP planning process at full throttle. We attended meetings, wrote a lengthy response to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, and embraced new allies. We were simultaneously tending to the everyday tasks of managing a new organization, from filing governmental paperwork to designing a website and promotional materials and attracting and maintaining our membership. 

Last September, under the capable editorship of Catharine Cooper, our first newsletter debuted, The Grand Canyon River Runner. If you received a copy you know how attractive and informative it was, and all of us are exceptionally proud of this first GCRRA effort at print journalism. For now we are happy to issue two newsletters per year, but as future demands dictate we will certainly consider publishing more frequently. 

In late March of this year the Record of Decision was signed by Secretary of the Interior Gail Norton, finalizing the Colorado River Management Plan that provides the new blueprint for management of all recreational activity in the river corridor of Grand Canyon. The plan is the culmination of years of scientific research, projection and planning, and public and stakeholder input through workshops, public meetings and oral and written comment. 

Dr. Linda Kahan, one of GCRRA’s founding directors, has summarized key aspects of the plan.  In addition to the summary she has also provided a more comprehensive review of the plan, a thorough dissection of changes that will most impact commercial river runners once the new plan is implemented beginning in 2007. There are links to both documents on our home page. Because the plan has consequences for commercial river runners I highly recommend that you read Dr. Kahan’s summaries. The CRMP is a living document, and therefore we will always welcome your input should we see a need to consider a recommendation to revise this plan. 

Finally, another boating season is winding down. I hope that you found yourself on the river this year with an opportunity to enjoy the magic that Grand Canyon offers. This is the core of what we are about and what drives all our efforts on your behalf. If you know Grand Canyon from the river you come to understand the power of this place in ways that are not possible otherwise. 

See you downstream! 

Mari Carlos, President

CLICK HERE for Mari's First Ever Slide Show : Her exquisite photography set to music.