Summary Strong Response to Damation of a canyon article Essay

Summary Strong Response to Damation of a canyon article - Essay Example In this article, the author took an in-depth look at the ramifications of damming a place called Glen Canyon, a location on the border between Utah and Arizona, in order to create Lake Powell. In making his observations, the author managed to launch worldwide environmental concerns regarding the actual effects of dams on the greater community. As the author describes the setting of Glen Canyon as it existed naturally, he tells about a river trip he took down the Colorado River in this area in which the current of the river was sufficient to drive his raft nearly 150 miles in 10 days through a rich environment full of life. He then compares this experience with a couple of seasons he spent working as a seasonal park ranger at the Powell Lake reservoir. This establishes his credibility in having known the canyon both before and after the creation of the dam in this vicinity and thus able to assess the positive and negative changes that were brought about as a result. Having established his credibility as someone familiar with the area both before and after the industrial changes, Abbey then provides full disclosure telling his audience about his environmental interest and generalized anti-industrial stance. However, in making this admission, he also makes a feeble claim that there are a growing number of Americans who join him in these sentiments. While this would seem to weaken his argument, his further discussion reveals that there are well-founded reasons for him to feel the way he does as he launches the article into a more specific investigation of the effects of the construction of the dam. Abbey strengthens his argument against the dam by pointing out the environmental damage that had been realized by the dam. The first problem introduced by the dam is described most accurately as the ‘bathtub ring’ effect. The purpose of building the dam was primarily for the