Glen Canyon, Concessioners Coordinate Plans for Low Lake Powell Visitor Access

If you plan to boat Lake Powell in 2026, plan for changes: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area managers, concessioners and state partners are actively coordinating contingency plans to sustain visitor access as reservoir elevations trend lower. The planning effort covers a landscape that stretches from Lees Ferry to the Orange Cliffs and encompasses over 1.2 million acres of water-based and backcountry recreation.

The National Park Service is conducting the work through its public planning process. The NPS said, "The NPS is preparing these plans through a public process that complies with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and other applicable laws, regulations, and policies." As part of that process, NPS announced five open houses in February to showcase current planning topics; one confirmed meeting was in Blanding, UT on Tuesday, February 4 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Blanding Arts and Events Center, 639 West 100 South.

At those open houses the NPS showcased an Off‑road Vehicle (ORV) Management Plan / Draft Environmental Impact Statement that evaluates continuing current management against four action alternatives. The Plan/DEIS lays out a preferred alternative that, in NPS wording, "designates a mixture of opportunities for motorized recreation on park roads and designated ORV routes and at remote shoreline areas while prohibiting such uses in areas where resources and values may be at risk." The preferred alternative also includes provisions to improve signs and road/route markings, and to "develop a communication strategy to better educate visitors on regulations and resource concerns."

Invasive species prevention at Lake Powell was another topic on the table. NPS staff said they would provide information and gather public comments on the "future of Lake Powell invasive mussel prevention" during the February meetings; the public materials reviewed for this story did not include specific prevention measures or timelines.

Glen Canyon Conservancy, the official nonprofit partner of the park founded in 1986, is positioned to support education and visitor services as conditions change. GCC operates the Powell Museum & Archives, runs three retail locations in the park whose proceeds fund educational, safety, outreach and research programs, and offers member benefits including discounts at site stores and online shopping options.

Historical visitor behavior data referenced by planners includes a Glen Canyon Visitor Services Project study conducted in spring (May 2-8) and summer (July 14-20) of 2007. The VSP figures in the materials note multiple information channels used by visitors, including the Glen Canyon NRA website and "Aramark and Antelope Point websites," though specific percentages and some sample-size labels (Spring N=397; Spring N=521; Summer N=459) appear inconsistent in the excerpts provided.

Officials did not name which concessioners are leading operational coordination for 2026 nor publish the full list of the five open-house locations in the public excerpts reviewed here, leaving key operational details to be confirmed. Superintendent Todd Brindle urged participation in the process: "This is a great opportunity to take part in the management of your public lands. I welcome and encourage everyone to participate in these meetings," stressing that public input will help shape long-term decisions that affect park resources and visitors' experiences.