Buck Canyon: Tracks in the Canyon

A sign at the Buck Canyon Overlook provides information on human impact on the canyon.

E. Butko

Quick Facts

Location:

Island in the Sky

Significance:

Wayside Panel

Amenities

1 listed

Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits

Human activities have changed the face of Canyonlands. Livestock grazing in the late 19th century altered plant communities. The roads and seismic lines you see below were constructed in the 1950s in a search for uranium and oil. Mining and grazing activities eventually ceased with the creation of Canyonlands National Park, but the impacts of are still visible today.                    

Desert plants endure poor soil, infrequent rain, intense heat, and strong winds. Annual precipitation is less than 10 inches. Because of these challenges, seeds only germinate once every few years. this means that desert plant communities recover very slowly from any disturbance.               

Grazing has ceased, mining has stopped, abandon roads have been closed, and backcountry travel is regulated. Natural revegetation is slowly repairing these impacts. Visual rehabilitation has begun to conceal the scars on the landscape, but full biological recovery will take many years in this arid environment.