| Description |
The Glen Canyon Dam has long stood as a physical reminder of historic and ongoing controversies since its inception. This research project explored the circumstances that gave rise to attitudes and perspectives about the existence, management, concerns, and potential solutions involving the dam. On-site, in-person, semi-structured and ethnographic interviews were conducted with various stakeholders and representatives of key groups whose members' lived experiences are directly shaped by the existence of the dam. Using the approach of political ecology, I presented an analysis that integrated academic literature, field notes, and interview material to create a comprehensive ethnographic interrogation of the people of Glen Canyon Dam. I organized interview material by topic and created a conversation-like dialogue to illustrate the varying perspectives on each topic. Major themes that emerged from the responses were concerned with, associations, memories, positionality, issues, groupthink, decision makers, solutions, and the future. Each of these topics were explored with respect to the ways in which different stakeholders engage and grapple with the complex issues and questions of Lake Powell, Glen Canyon, and the Colorado River. The results identified avenues of commonality, explored the middle ground between seemingly opposite opinions, and highlighted the human aspect of this conversation. |
