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<br />Volunteers in the Grand Canyon <br /> <br />By: Usa KCUF$/ey. Natio"al Park Sen'icc <br />Researcher, Glen Canyon Em'ironmt'llwl Studies <br /> <br />During the Glen Canyon En~ironmcnral Sludic~, <br />several research projects have made extensi\'c use of <br />volunteers. Since time is limited .....hile performing <br />research on [he C{llorado River, many people are <br />often needed In s....iftly and efficiently collect data. <br />Voluntcen help ....ith much of the data collection <br />and hdp keep the costs do....n. <br /> <br />The different research projecls thai \'oluoleen have <br />been involved in ClIver a ....ide range of topiC'>. For <br />insl;mce, as part of endangered species studies. <br />mlunleers help nCl, tag, and relocate humpback <br />chub. Beach erosion studies use volunteers 10 set <br />up survey IranSCC[lio along ncaches to determine the <br />wnlours of sand deposits below the water's surface <br />for bathymetry (deplhs of waler measurement). <br />Volunteers work ....;th aquatic diptera (two-....inged <br />insects) studies, where they help collcl:l and <br />categorize aquiltic insecb in the Grilnd Canyon. <br />Others work on vegetation projl"els, identif}ing and <br />measuring vegetation located in different en\"iron- <br />menls along the river corridor. Some even help <br />with compuler diltil enlry in the GeES F1a~taff, <br />Arizona, office. <br /> <br /> <br />Folun(t'er.i assist in i,femifying and <br />f/lt'amri!lg I.cgt'tation located in differt'nf <br />emironmt"lts in the com.dor. <br /> <br />8 <br /> <br />While all of the volunteers help tremendou....ly ....ith <br />research in the Canyon. some stand out hn:ause of <br />their exceptional and continuous help. <br /> <br />One such volunteer i.~ Peler ;..tui. Since graduating <br />from the ;..lassachusclts InSlitute of Technology, <br />Peter has used his extensive lechnical background <br />performing beach erosion research. He rei urns <br />again and L1gain, undaunted by !>now and the <br />extrcmdy cold temperatures in Fehruary, hy the hot <br />summer months when desert lemperatures often <br />exceed 100 degrees in the shade, or even by the <br />thousands of miles separating him from his hlmle in <br />Boston. <br /> <br />Cireg Sponenhurgh is another such volunteer. So <br />nne is cerlain how a Phocni.x archilect became <br />in\"(llvcd in beach ertlsion studies in the (jrand <br />Canyon: hut ....ith un.-.tllPpable energy and fantastic <br />drawings of beach layouts, he sOlin became a <br />legendary volunteer. Now that the: numhcr of beach <br />ef{l~ion rese;!rch trip~ has dimini~hcd. Greg is <br />moving on to vcget<ltilln studies, learning, <br />mea<,uring, and photographing the many pLmt <br />species found along the Colorado River corriJnr. <br /> <br />Limited space pre"ent.. n;lming all of Ihe many <br />lalented and hardworking volunteers. Gre;ll value <br />is placed on all of the Hllunlccrs and their research <br />wllrk. Some of the research quite literally could not <br />have been accomplished without Ihe help of these <br />unselfish and hardworking volunteers. <br />