2021 Colorado River Basin History Symposium
The Colorado River Basin History Symposium was held in Kanab, Utah, at the Kanab Center on October 13-16, 2021. Over 150 attendees enjoyed 34 presentations pertaining to the history of the Colorado River Basin. There were three evening keynote speakers, twelve featured presenters with 40-minute talks, and nineteen presenters with 20-minute talks.
The Symposium Proceedings are available here.
The videos pf the presentations, below, are in the order they were given. Each video has the audio of the presenter linked to a high-quality video of their presentation with a biography of the speaker. In a few presentations there were several authors noted but the biography is only for the speaker.
Thursday, October 14th
The Grand Canyon’s Uncle Jimmy Owens – A North Rim Legend, Al LeCount
Al tells the wonderful history of the famed mountain lion hunter, who helped saved the buffalo and was the subject of Zane Grey’s book Roping Lions in the Grand Canyon.
Wood Boats, White Water: 150 years of Innovation, Importation and Adaptation, Brad Dimock
Beginning with Powell, Brad explains how river runners pursued the perfect riverboat. To understand this 150-year river evolution, Brad and others replicated, rowed, and evaluated these historic boats
Central Arizona Project – To the Last Drop, Frank Barrios
The 1922 Colorado River Compact; Hoover and Glen Canyon Dams; California, Nevada, and Mexico using Arizona’s allocation; two proposed Grand Canyon dams, law suits, etc. Frank explains it all!
Saving the Condor: 25 Years of Recovery Efforts, Tim Hauck
Have you ever seen a California condor? After Tim’s presentation, you are going to love this big ugly bird, praise those who saved the condor from extinction, and hope to see more.
Before Powell? A Journey Through the Grand Canyon on a Tule Reed Boat, Peter Brown and Tom Martin
Indigenous legends recount floating the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. Peter launched a tule reed boat and paddled it every mile and through every rapid.
Pathways to Safeguard the Lower Little Colorado River from Current & Future Dam Proposals, Amanda Podmore
The Little Colorado River has been targeted for various dams in recent years. Amanda presents pathways to defend against future locally undesired dams and safeguard the lower LCR for future generations.
John Wesley Powell, Jacob Hamblin and “a Mormon Map,” Richard Quartaroli
Richard discusses what information might Powell have gleaned from this “manuscript” and what other information might have been obtained from Jacob Hamblin if they had met prior to 1869.
Artist Maynard Dixon – Lifelong Passion for Roaming the West, Susan Bingham
Susan tells of young Dixon who became an illustrator of stories of the old West and developed his own incomparable style characterized by clarity, honesty, and beauty.
Submerged Memories: Dick Sprang Recalls Hite Ferry, Cindy Stafford
With recordings of Dick Sprang’s memories, Cindy focuses on some of the history of the area, the dedication of the Hite Ferry, discusses local characters and first visitors to the “Defiance House.”
Looking Back: Reverse Archeology in Glen Canyon, Amy Horn, presented by Kim Spurr
A century ago, the Bernheimer Expedition first explored canyons in what now is the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Learn why archaeologists are returning and what this look back means today.
Remembering Lake Powell, Gary Ladd
Landscape photographer, writer, and a frequent contributor to Arizona Highways magazine, Gary shows and reflects on his remarkable photographs of Lake Powell, Glen Canyon Dam, and the nearby area.
Powell 150, Cody Perry
The 2019 Sesquicentennial Colorado River Exploring Expedition retraced Powell’s 1869 trip. Cody Perry’s wonderful film captures the beauty, adventure, and changes in the Colorado River Basin.
Friday, October 15th
Video File #13 Presenter Jack Pongyesva (Time 20:40)
Jack discusses how Native communities value the Grand Canyon and its sacredness with the desire that all people stay respectful, reverent, and responsible during river trips.
Video File #14 Presenters Matt Brown & Dirk Clayson (Non-speaking) (Time 18:32)
In the center of Kanab is Parry Lodge. Matt's personal history at this landmark facility explains what it has meant to Hollywood film stars, tourists, and generations of local residents.
Video File #15 Featured Presenter Cecelia Mortenson (Time 36:51)
Cece shares the video story of 1950s Colorado River runners on the highest water ever run; about replicating these early river boats and her rowing the replica of her grandfather's boat.
Video File #16 Presenter Paul Bingham (Time 19:01)
Jack Hillers was the photographer on Powell's second expedition and took amazing photos of the Southern Paiute tribes. Paul shares and explains this photographic history made almost 150 years ago.
Video File #17 Presenter David E. Purcell (Time 20:28)
Popular accounts say miner Alexander Ringhoffer visited “Arches” and first advocated for protection. David gives research that a train passenger traffic manager and a photographer are why it happened.
Video File #18 Featured Presenter Richard Jenkinson (Time 34:27)
Richard shows his favorite commonly known rock-art images in the Colorado River Basin. No theories or analysis, just great rock art. Some images have been enhanced that are amazing.
Video File #19 Featured Presenter Jack Schmidt (Time 35:30)
A tough assignment: to explain the Colorado River's future. Jack's presentation reflects his 30-year studies of processes and conditions of the Colorado River. Clearly and logically, Jack gives his forecast.
Video File #20 Presenter Kern Nuttall (Time 18:20)
The cemetery at Lee’s Ferry consists of 20 graves placed between 1874 and 1933. Kern tells how historian Pat Reilly researched and identified three unknown graves and placed stone markers.
Video File #21 Presenter Helen Howard (Time 19:59)
Helen's lower Colorado knowledge and love of the birds is clear. Her images show the lower river diversity representing half of the bird species found in the lower 48 states.
Video File #22 Presenter Harvey Leake (Time 22:00)
The late 1920s began efforts to create a massive Navajo National Park. Harvey's great-grandfather John Wetherill worked hard but failed. Learn what was done and the reasons for this past failure.
Video File #23 Featured Presenter Alan Titus (Time 40:33)
Alan's description of the geology we all see is clearly explained and highlighted by showing lifeforms of that era, such as a horned dinosaur Nasutoceratops titusi. Yes, named after Alan.
Video File #24 Keynote Presenter Laurie Algar (Time 1:03:51)
James Algar was the producer of Ten Who Dared, a movie about Powell’s historic run down the Colorado River and he directed The Grand Canyon Suite, which won an Oscar for Disney.
Saturday – Oct 16th, 2021
Video File #25 Presenter Arnie Richards (Time 17:13 )
Research has “field” work. Arnie did his in Separation Canyon and its rim. Researching what difficulties were encountered; boxed-in canyons, failed routes, water availability at the rim, and how they died?
Video File #26 Presenters Craig Schellbach & Traci Wyrick (Time 19:50)
Brother and sister tell about their grandfather working 9 years as a hydrographer in the 1950s at remote Bright Angel and Lees Ferry and of family life based on letters.
Video File #27 Presenters Matthew Toro & Remi Tuijl-Goode (Non-speaking) (Time 26:29)
Between 1902 and 1923, USGS teams surveyed long sections of the Colorado River. Using multimedia, Matthew visually dissects these beautiful survey sheets while contextualizing their historical and geographical significance.
Video File #28 Presenters Jerry Snow & Ken Ives (Non-speaking) (Time 18:56)
Jerry's focus: Ives wrote 51 letters to his wife Cora while on his exploration. “Cora, As for the horrid old Colorado, I am perfectly disgusted with it ...”
Video File #28 Presenters Jerry Snow & Ken Ives (Non-speaking) (Time 18:56)
Jerry's focus: Ives wrote 51 letters to his wife Cora while on his exploration. “Cora, As for the horrid old Colorado, I am perfectly disgusted with it ...”
Video File #29 Presenter Kimberly Spurr & David E. Purcell (Non-speaking) (Time 20:11)
Kim covers how uranium prospecting opened the land to explorers and exploiters; incursions into the park lands; ore processing issues on riverbanks; and how toxic scars cover untrammeled wilderness
Video File #30 Featured Presenter Ed Meyer (Time 39:16)
Zane Grey is known for best-selling westerns. He was the most commercially successful American author of the 1920s. Ed will talk about the real people that became his book characters.
Video File #31 Presenter Marcia Thomas (Time 40:09)
Marcia's focus is on Emma’s younger years, such as when she and with their baby support her husband’s work in Kanab. She also focuses on Emma after they all moved to Washington, D.C.
Video File #32 Presenter Robin Stuart (Time 19:11)
Powell's discovery trip included celestial equipment, but loss of all working chronometers greatly limited his ability to determine longitude. Robin explains how he determined his longitude and if he was correct.
Video File #33 Featured Presenter Greg Hatten (Time 38:59)
From Missouri, Greg towed his replica Martin Litton dory for the boat display. But he drove via Oregon to run this Colorado River boat on its most technical NW river. See why
Video File #34 Keynote Presenter Wayne Ranney (Time 39:01)
Wayne discusses the river’s evolution and evidence that informs our understanding of its history. His coherent story of the river’s history and evolution is foundational for this gathering
16 Restored or Replicated Colorado River Boats
1. Powell – 1869 J.W. Powell boat replicated 1984
GALLOWAY DESIGN
2. Edith – 1911 Emery Kolb boat, replicated 2011.
3. Julius – 1937 Buzz Holmstrom boat, replicated 2002.
NEVILLS DESIGN
4. MOE – 1938 Norm Nevills WEN, replicated 2013.
5. Grand Canyon -1949 Bert Loper Boat, replicated 2019.
6. Boxcar -1940 Norm Nevills San Juan Punt, replicated 2014.
NEVILLS OFFSHOOTS
7. Susie R – 1954 P.T. “Pat” Reilly’s Double-ender boat, replicated 2011.
8. Flavell – 1955 P.T. “Pat” Reilly’s Double-ender boat, replicated 2011.
9. Flavell II – 1962 V.R.“Brick” Mortenson’s Double-ender, replicated 2014.
DRIFT BOAT/DORIES
10. Juan – 1948 Hindman McKenzie River Drift Boat replicated 2002.
11. Ciara Meg – 1954 Moulty Fulmer’s Hindman McKenzie River Drift Boat, replicated 2016.
12. Portola -1962 Keith Steele hull/Martin Litton’s interior replicated 2012.
13. Betty Boop -1967 original Keith Steele McKenzie, restored 2012.
14. Hetch Hetchy – 1969 Keith Steele dory, restored 2019
15. Tatahotso – 1972 Briggs Grand Canyon Dory.
16. Diamond Desert – 2020 contemporary re-imagined version of Briggs boat.