Live with The Returning Rapids Project, at the America Outdoors Conference

Live with The Returning Rapids Project, at the America Outdoors Conference

From The River Radius Podcast by Sam Carter

March 3, 2026 · 1h 21m · Episode 130

About this episode

This episode features a live discussion about the Returning Rapids Project and the observational insights of river guides regarding changes in river ecosystems.

This episode was recorded live at the America Outdoors annual conference and is a conversation with three members from the Returning Rapids Project in Utah. The Returning Rapids Project is documenting the changes and restoration happening to the reservoir-affected areas of the Colorado River and the San Juan River as Lake Powell continues to recede out of the river canyons it inundated with reservoir waters for the past several decades. The deeper focus of this episode beyond this research project is the powerful observational ability of river guides who work on rivers day after day, year after year, and how they can notice the most minute changes. In the case of the Colorado River and the Returning Rapids Project, it was this guide observation that witnessed a subtle shift to the river. This observation has developed into a powerful project that is learning how rivers recover from life under a reservoir.

People in this episode

Host: Sam Carter

Topics covered

  • river restoration
  • environmental observation
  • Colorado River
  • America Outdoors Conference
  • Returning Rapids Project

Keywords

  • Returning Rapids Project
  • Colorado River
  • river guides
  • Lake Powell
  • environmental changes
  • America Outdoors Conference

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Returning Rapids Project

Places: Utah, Colorado River, San Juan River, Lake Powell

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