Environment
Hualapai Tribe, National Park Service in dispute


The Hualapai Tribe of Arizona and the National Park Service are in a dispute over the boundaries of the reservation in the western part of the Grand Canyon.

The tribe says the northern boundary of the reservation lies on the Colorado River. But the park service says the boundary lies along an undetermined high-water mark, meaning the tribe doesn't normally have access to the river.

The issue affects the forthcoming Colorado River Management Plan that will determine how many visitors can make river trips through the Grand Canyon. Under the plan, the park service proposes a cap of 150 per day.

But the tribe wants a cap of 960 per day. The tribe's economy depends on tourism -- more than 300,000 visitors come to the western Grand Canyon a year. The tribe offers its own river tours and is hoping to draw even more tourists with $30 million skywalk over the canyon and other attractions.

Get the Story:
River plan roils tribe (The Arizona Republic 10/13)
Hualapai Tribe finds economy flows better with river plan than casino (The Arizona Republic 10/13)

Related Stories:
Hualapai Tribe to open Grand Canyon skywalk (08/23)
Hualapai Tribe plans skywalk over Grand Canyon (07/23)
Hualapai Tribe awarded $2M in federal grants (7/15)