Mile 219.2, Trail Canyon, Upstream View from River Right (Stake 1520a)
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01 March 1890
From a granitic hillslope above the Colorado River at Trail Canyon Rapid, Stanton took this image looking back up the canyon. A small beach is visible in the center foreground, and Mormon tea, creosotebush, and barrel cacti, catclaw, and mesquite grow on the bedrock slope in front of the camera station.
Photo credit: Robert B. Stanton, 57-RS-656, courtesy of The National Archives
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26 February 1991
Some of the Mormon tea and creosotebush have died, while others persist, as do mesquite and catclaw. None of the same barrel cacti are present, although new ones have become established. Brittlebush is common here, and some sweetbush is present. The water level is lower than it was in 1890, so the sandbar on river left appears to be larger but is probably similar in size. The sandbar in the foreground center is now vegetated, mostly with non-native tamarisk.
Photo credit: Liz Hymans
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29 September 2010
Nineteen years later, some of the original catclaw, Mormon tea, mesquite, and creosotebush are still alive. Some of the barrel cacti have died, while several have increased in size, and many of the brittlebush and the sweetbush have persisted. Vegetation in the riparian zone, including tamarisk, brickellbush, arrowweed, and common reed, has increased greatly, obscuring the view of the sandbar in the foreground.
Photo credit: John Mortimer
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