The move by the current administration to secure dams in the northwest must also be extended to secure the Glen Canyon Dam. Radical environmentalists have increased their efforts to dismantle the dam and drain Lake Powell— which provides clean, renewable energy to six states; supplies critical water to cities and farms throughout the southwest; and supports recreation and tourism that are vital for rural communities. We have prepared a letter at the bottom of this article to send to the White House, Department of Interior and your local representatives. Your support is needed!
Last week, President Trump issued a memorandum withdrawing the United States from the Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement, a controversial deal signed in 2023 under the Biden administration. This move was a major win for energy security, water infrastructure, and rural communities across the Northwest. The agreement, developed in collaboration with several environmental groups and tribal governments, aimed to replace hydropower from the four lower Snake River dams and open the door to their potential removal. The Trump administration called it a “radical green agenda” that put energy reliability and national interests at risk.
By ending U.S. participation in the agreement, the administration sent a clear message: these dams are here to stay.
Glen Canyon Dam:
Glen Canyon Dam has faced this same threat for decades as groups have pushed to decommission the dam and restore the Colorado River which would completely drain Lake Powell. Glen Canyon Dam is one of the most vital water and power infrastructure assets in the Colorado River Basin. For years, extremist anti-dam groups have pushed to drain Lake Powell, dismantle Glen Canyon Dam, and radically alter how water and power are managed in the American Southwest.
Just like the Snake River dams, Glen Canyon Dam:
- Produces clean, reliable hydropower used by millions across six states;
- Stores critical water supplies for cities, farms, and tribes throughout the basin;
- Supports recreational access and tourism that sustains rural local economies;
- Maintains regional energy stability, grid support, and water delivery agreements.
If this dam were ever decommissioned, the consequences would be catastrophic: for agriculture, affordable electricity, drinking water, and long-standing legal compacts that sustain communities across the West.
The White House’s move to defend the Snake River dams is the right model for water and power policy across the West. BlueRibbon Coalition and our members are now calling for equal protections for Glen Canyon Dam. Specifically, we are asking the administration and elected officials to:
- Publicly affirm that Glen Canyon Dam is essential and will not be considered for decommissioning.
- Reject any federal participation in proposals, administrative processes, or internal guidance to bypass or breach the dam or drain Lake Powell.
- Apply the same policy protections extended to the Snake River dams in the recent memorandum.
- Continue to support Glen Canyon’s role in water storage, energy production, recreation, and river compact obligations.
- Include modernizing water infrastructure in efforts to remove regulatory compliance burdens from technologies such as desalinization plants and water delivery infrastructure that would enable the Western states to develop 21st century water supplies.
We’ve prepared a letter that you can send to the White House, the Department of the Interior, and your elected officials to urge action by filling out the form below.
The West’s future depends on stable, reliable infrastructure and Glen Canyon Dam is a cornerstone. Let’s make sure it receives the same protections as the Snake River dams.
