NY Times: A Cathedral Under Siege Two Development Projects Threaten the Grand Canyon By KEVIN FEDARKO AUGUST 9, 2014 Perhaps the only thing more dismaying is that the second threat is even worse. Less than 25 miles to the northeast of Tusayan, Navajo leaders are working with developers from Scottsdale to construct a 1.4-mile tramway that would descend about 3,200 feet directly into the heart of the canyon. They call it Grand Canyon Escalade. The cable system would take more than 4,000 visitors a day in eight-person gondolas to a spot on the floor of the canyon known as the Confluence, where the turquoise waters of the Little Colorado River merge with the emerald green current of the Colorado. The area, which is sacred to many in the Hopi and Zuni tribes, as well as Navajo people, would feature an elevated walkway, a restaurant and an amphitheater. Opposition, which is furious, includes a group of Navajos who accuse the developers of tricking fellow tribesmen into supporting the project with misleading presentations. While the developers argue that the entire project would lie within the reservation, the park service suggests that it might intrude into the park and would not be allowed. Whichever is the case, the project would be a travesty. mobile.nytimes/2014/08/10/opinion/sunday/two-development-projects-threaten-the-grand-canyon.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0&referrer=
Posted on: Sun, 10 Aug 2014 02:00:20 +0000