GRAND CANYON CONSERVANCY

SCIENCE PROGRAMMING AT GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK - DARK SKIES: IN 2019, GRAND CANYON RECEIVED CERTIFICATION AS AN INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY PARK, A PROJECT WHICH IS CURRENTLY AT 89% COMPLIANCE. GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK (GRCA), IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GRAND CANYON CONSERVANCY, IS PROUD TO LEAD THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE IN PROTECTING AND PROMOTING DARK SKIES. IN FY 23, GRCA FORMALIZED ITS DARK SKIES PROGRAM, ESTABLISHED ITS FRAMEWORK, IDENTIFIED PRIORITIES TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM, AND BEGAN NEW INTERPRETIVE INITIATIVES, LIKE THE ASTRONOMY VOLUNTEER PROGRAM. THIS NEW STRATEGY ALLOWED GRCA TO DRAMATICALLY INCREASE ITS DARK SKIES EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS, CONNECTING WITH NEARLY 50,000 VISITORS THROUGH 289 DIVERSE PROGRAMS. GRCA CONTINUES TO RETROFIT ITS THOUSANDS OF EXTERIOR LIGHTS TO BE DARK-SKY-FRIENDLY, A PROCESS THAT IS UNPRECEDENTED IN SCALE FOR ANY NATIONAL PARK. GRCA ALSO INCREASED ITS COLLABORATION WITH PARK PARTNERS, EXTERNAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, TO OFFER EXPERIENTIAL, INCLUSIVE, AND DIVERSE INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMMINGBOTH IN-PERSON AND DIGITALLYFURTHER ADVANCING GRCA AS ONE OF THE MOST RENOWNED INTERNATIONAL DARK-SKY PARKS IN THE WORLD.GCC FUNDING IN 2023 MADE THE FOLLOWING POSSIBLE:289 ASTRONOMY PROGRAMS; 48,157 VISITORS WHO ATTENDED A DARK SKY PROGRAM; 125 ASTRONOMY VOLUNTEERS; 4,011 VOLUNTEER HOURS, THE HOSTING OF FOUR ASTRONOMERS IN RESIDENCE, THE HOSTING OF THE 33RD ANNUAL GRAND CANYON STAR PARTY; AN INCREASE IN THE PARK'S NIGHT SKY FRIENDLY LIGHTING FROM 78% TO 89%, AN 11% INCREASE EQUIVALENT TO APPROXIMATELY 550 FIXTURES.KAIBAB PLATEAU HERD BISON TRANSFER: DUE TO OVERPOPULATION, THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE IS WORKING TO REDUCE THE SIZE OF THE KAIBAB PLATEAU HERD FROM OVER 800 TO UNDER 200 BY 2025. THESE EFFORTS WILL PROTECT PARK RESOURCES SUCH AS VEGETATION, WATER, AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES. ALL BISON WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE INTERTRIBAL BUFFALO COUNCIL, WHO TRANSPORTED THE ANIMALS TO THE IOWA TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA AND THE CHEYENNE RIVER SIOUX TRIBE OF SOUTH DAKOTA.NPS INTERDISCIPLINARY RIVER TRIP: STAFF FROM MULTIPLE NPS DIVISIONS EMBARKED ON A TRIP TO MONITOR AND MANAGE THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND VISITOR USAGE ALONG THE COLORADO RIVER. RIVER CORRIDOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES WERE MONITORED TO ENSURE THAT NATURAL AND VISITOR-CAUSED IMPACTS WERE IDENTIFIED AND MITIGATED. SEVEN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES UNDERWENT TREATMENT. THE COLORADO RIVER MANAGEMENT PLAN CAMPSITE MONITORING PROGRAM ASSESSED 137 DOCUMENTED RIVER CAMPS. REHABILITATION WORK OCCURRED AT SIX CAMPS. EXTENSIVE GARBAGE WAS REMOVED FROM THE RIVER'S EDGE.COLORADO RIVER AND FISHERIES: THE GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK NATIVE FISH ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION PROGRAM IS RESPONDING TO THE GROWING THREAT OF SMALLMOUTH BASS AND OTHER WARM-WATER NON-NATIVE FISH IN THE COLORADO RIVER. THE UNPRECEDENTED LOW LEVEL OF LAKE POWELL IS ALLOWING THESE FISH TO "PASS THROUGH" THE TURBINES AT GLEN CANYON DAM AND BREED IN THE GLEN CANYON REACH. THE PRESENCE OF THESE NON-NATIVE FISH IN THE GRAND CANYON IS A MAJOR CONCERN AND COULD RESULT IN NEGATIVE IMPACTS TO NATIVE SPECIES SUCH AS THE HUMPBACK CHUB, WHICH IS CURRENTLY LISTED UNDER THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT AS THREATENED. THROUGH GENEROUS DONATIONS, GRAND CANYON CONSERVANCY HAS BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR CRUCIAL RIVER PROJECTS INCLUDING INCREASED SURVEILLANCE OF NON-NATIVE SPECIES DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE BREEDING SEASON AND A RAZORBACK SUCKER AUGMENTATION PROGRAM.POLLINATOR GARDEN: MONARCH BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION: THE GRAND CANYON VEGETATION PROGRAM HOSTED AN ANCESTRAL LANDS CONSERVATION CORPS CREW IN 2023, WHO PLANTED NATIVE PLANTS AT THE PIMA POINT POLLINATOR GARDEN ON THE SOUTH RIM. POLK FELLOWSHIP INTERNS: THE POLK FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM GAVE THREE COLLEGE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A 10-WEEK PAID INTERNSHIP WITH THE SCIENCE AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT, PROVIDING VALUABLE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCES FOR EACH FELLOW AND BENEFICIAL RESEARCH, DOCUMENTATION, AND CONSERVATION SUPPORT TO GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK.

EDUCATION AND INTERPRETATION - FIELD TRIPS AND SCHOOLS: 20 FIELD TRIPS BROUGHT 1,123 STUDENTS TO THE CANYON RANGING FROM KINDERGARTEN TO HIGH SCHOOL. TWO WATER RESOURCES PROGRAMS BROUGHT THE CANYON TO THE CLASSROOM WHERE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS GOT THE CHANCE TO DESIGN THEIR OWN WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES. FIVE WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTATIONS REACHED 873 STUDENTS BOTH ONLINE AND IN PERSON. GRAND CANYON CONSERVANCY FIELD INSTITUTE:THE GRAND CANYON CONSERVANCY FIELD INSTITUTE PROVIDES IMMERSIVE AND EDUCATIONAL ADVENTURES AT GRAND CANYON - ALL OFFICIALLY DESIGNED AND DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK. FROM HALF-DAY RIM TOURS TO 18-DAY RIVER TRIPS, GCCFI PROVIDED 114 UNIQUE OFFERINGS AND HELPED 880 PEOPLE GAIN A DEEPER CONNECTION TO GRAND CANYON, PROVIDING A TOTAL OF 38,131 HOURS OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING. RESIDENCY PROGRAMS: THE ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM HOSTED THREE ARTISTS IN 2022: DANIELLE GENADRY, PAINTER (US/LEBANON), ELIJAH JAMAL ASANI, AUDIO-VISUAL ARTIST (ILLINOIS/NEVADA), LEAH AEGERTER, SCULPTOR (COLORADO). THE ASTRONOMER IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM HOSTED THREE ASTRONOMERS IN 2022: IMMA BARRERA, ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY (NEW JERSEY), LAUREN CAMP, POET (NEW MEXICO), DR. DANIEL FLEISCH, PHYSICS PROFESSOR (OHIO).