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<br />greatly extended. Table 3 indicates the change in sediment load at Lees <br />Ferry. By 1966 the river had cleared entirely and no further samplings were <br />made at Lees Ferry. <br /> <br />TABLE 3 <br /> <br />Sediment Load at Lees Ferry <br /> <br />Calendar <br />Year <br /> <br />Million <br />Tons <br /> <br />Calendar <br />Year <br /> <br />1943 <br />1944 <br />1945 <br />1946 <br />1947 <br />1948 <br />1949 <br />1950 <br />1951 <br />1952 <br />1953 <br />1954 <br />1955 <br />1956 <br />1957 <br /> <br />64.8 <br />77 .0 <br />64.0* <br />51.0* <br />107.0* <br />90.7 <br />95.2 <br />49.8 <br />52.8 <br />110.5 <br />44.8 <br />40.2 <br />48.8 <br />50.6 <br />143.3 <br /> <br />1958 <br />1959 <br />1960 <br />1961 <br />1962 <br />1963 <br />1964 <br />1965 <br />1966 <br /> <br />Million <br />Tons <br /> <br />90.2 <br />19.2 <br />27.2 <br />43.3 <br />67.3 <br />2.2 <br />4.5 <br />5.9 <br />(Discontinued due <br />to clarity of stream) <br /> <br />}. <br />~:, <br /> <br />"i <br /> <br />,," <br /> <br />,"; <br />>."; <br /> <br />i,' <br /> <br />*Estimated by correlation <br /> <br />", <br /> <br />Water is released from the lower levels of Lake Powell through the <br />intakes to Glen Canyon Power Plant. The result is a cool clear stream which <br />remains so throughout the entire length of Grand Canyon except for short <br />periods of occasional thunder showers when the side channel contributions <br />are murky. There are a few who complain about the color change and removal <br />of the river's powerful erosive forces in trying to connect the present river <br />with the formation of the Grand Canyon. Centuries ago the Colorado River <br />changed from the tremendous ancient stream that eroded out the original <br />Grand Canyon. The subsequent long time aggrading character of the river <br />is amply evidenced by the depth of over 130 feet of boulders, gravels and <br />sand encountered in uncovering the foundations of both Glen Canyon and <br />Hoover Dams. <br /> <br />:; <br /> <br />,L-; <br />"'~ <br />f.~' <br /> <br />< <br />,. <br />, <br />',- <br />~{ <br />.~:-. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />In its cool, clear character, the present river is certainly a more <br />attractive media for river travelers. <br /> <br />9 <br />