South Rim Water Update: Conservation Efforts Continue as Treatment Plant Startup Progresses

The Grand Canyon community’s continued water conservation efforts are making a difference. From Oct. 15–21, South Rim potable water use averaged 157,733 gallons per day, staying within the park’s target range (see graphic below).

Keeping the seven-day average at or below 180,000 gallons per day will help maintain water levels above 10 feet in the storage tanks, allowing the park to transition out of Stage 4 water conservation measures more quickly and support the return of overnight guests.

Progress at the South Rim Water Treatment Plant

The park remains on track to begin treating water at the new South Rim Water Treatment Plant scheduled for Nov. 16. Since Oct. 15, crews have been pumping untreated water from the Bright Angel Creek intake into the plant for testing and startup. During this process, water may flow through drainage areas near the Village Greenway Trail, Yavapai Lodge East, Yavapai Road, South Entrance Road, the Grand Canyon Railway Station and Rowe Well Road.

This discharge is untreated raw water and is not safe to drink or use for household purposes. Please keep children and pets away from flowing water and drainage channels, and stay clear of the discharge route.

Share Your Feedback and Find Resources

Do you have feedback about the current water situation or suggestions for how the park can improve its response? Please share your input through thiscommunity feedback form.

Visit the Bright Angel Community Recovery Resources website for information about water delivery events, household conservation tips, remaining potable water tank locations and other resources.

Bright Angel Trail Closure Extended

Due to recent rockfall and ongoing trail work, Bright Angel Trail remains temporarily closed to foot traffic between the Mile-and-a-Half Resthouse and Havasupai Gardens. The closure will remain in place until further notice as crews continue clearing debris and stabilizing the area.

Stock traffic is expected to be delayed longer as trail work continues. Hikers should check the park’s Key Hiking Messages page for current trail status.

Public Comment Period Open for North Rim Recovery and Redevelopment Through Nov. 6

Grand Canyon National Park has received 690 comment correspondences as of Oct. 22 on draft concepts for the North Rim’s recovery and redevelopment following the Dragon Bravo Fire. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to review the concepts and share their input!

Community members who have not yet participated can review the concepts and learn more about the planning process through a virtual public meeting, available online. An audio-described version of the meeting is also available.

• Virtual public meeting
• Audio-described meeting
• Project information and public comments

An in-person public meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 22, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Squire/Holiday Inn in Tusayan.

The public comment period closes at midnight on Nov. 6, 2026. Community members are encouraged to review the concepts and submit comments through the National Park Service’s Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website.

-Caroline Grass, Science Communications Assistant

Many school groups from across the state and country visit Grand Canyon, and this week Arizona State University (ASU) students spent time learning about place-based stories and the evolving narratives at Grand Canyon as part of public history courses.

While ASU holds multiple study away programs for their students, this is the first “Field School” trip at Grand Canyon. Eighteen students and their course instructors explored the South Rim from Desert View to the archives and learned about interpretation, wayside design projects, co-stewardship projects, and more through educational sessions from Park Service and Grand Canyon Conservancy staff.

The National Council on Public History defines public history as describing “the many and diverse ways in which history is put to work in the world. Mark Tebeau, course instructor and associate professor of history, said 60-65% of ASU history students complete their degree online and having intentional, in-person programming allows students to see public history in action.

“We asked ourselves: how do we take these students who have really different experiences and bring them together in a place in the world where they can see history working?” Tebeau said. “Grand Canyon lends itself to public history just by its nature and it’s a premier national park.”

The students on this trip are taking either an undergraduate course called “History in the Wild” or the graduate level “Public History Lab” through the university’s School of Historical, Philosophical, and Religious Studies. Tebeau said students are focusing on the park interpretive process and how it’s expressed in a physical place.

The undergraduate students are culminating their course by writing their own stories of people, places, and thoughts for Salt River Stories, a platform created by ASU students and faculty in collaboration with the community.

Tebeau said that when students write papers they write for their professor – an audience of one. “Isn’t it cooler if they started writing for their community?” Tebeau said. “[Salt River Stories] is a way for students to write history … and have their work seen in this dynamic platform.”

Currently the platform “brings the history, cultures, and communities of the Valley of the Sun, the Phoenix-Scottsdale-Tempe metro area your fingertips” but the student work from this course will expand content to cover more locations in Arizona including the Grand Canyon.

Katy Kole de Peralta, Associate Clinical Professor of History and course instructor, said having immersive, hands-on experiences through trips like this Grand Canyon Field School give students transformational experiences.

“I think they will forever see national parks differently, and even museums and other similar places that are interpreting history,” Kole de Peralta said. “It’s showing them how to have a critical eye about what they’re looking at and to think about not only the process that goes into interpretation but also the time.”

Winning Design Selected for New Grand Canyon Specialty License Plate

Grand Canyon Conservancy has selected Peoria-based artist Peter Malamas as the winner of its Arizona Grand Canyon specialty license plate design contest. His artwork received the most votes in both public online voting and the contest’s judging process.

The new plate was authorized by the Arizona Legislature in June 2026 and is anticipated to be available in late 2027, pending review and approval by the Arizona Department of Transportation. Arizona drivers will be able to purchase the specialty plate for an additional $25 annually, with $17 from each plate supporting Grand Canyon Conservancy’s work on behalf of Grand Canyon National Park.

Revenue from the plate program will help fund park initiatives focused on conservation, education, cultural preservation and visitor experiences. More information can be found in GCC’s recent news release.

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to small businesses and private nonprofit organizations in Arizona to offset economic losses caused by flash flooding at the Grand Canyon National Park occurring Aug. 29 – Sept. 3. The SBA issued a disaster declaration in response to a request received from Governor Katie Hobbs on Oct. 8.

The disaster declaration covers the Arizona counties of Coconino, Gila, Mohave, Navajo, and Yavapai, as well as the Utah counties of Kane and San Juan.

Economic Injury Disaster Loans are for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the business or private nonprofit did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills which could not be paid due to the disaster.

To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s National Support Network Center at (866) SBA-HELP or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. SBA is operating a Business Recovery Center in Tusayan for in-person service through October 30—more details are available here.

Grand Canyon Conservancy Community Events Continue in October and November

Tonight, Thursday, Oct. 22, community members are invited to a Halloween-themed evening at the Grand Canyon Recreation Center. The kids’ haunted house runs from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., dinner provided by We Cook is available from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., and the adult haunted house runs from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

All Grand Canyon community members are welcome. For more information, see the attached flyer here.

Tusayan Fire Hosts Pancake Breakfast during Grand Canyon Trail Marathon Series

The community is invited to the 8th Annual Pancake Breakfast and Beer Garden Fundraiser during the Grand Canyon Trail Marathon on Saturday, Oct. 24, beginning at 7 a.m.

Enjoy breakfast and cheer on runners as they take part in the Grand Canyon Trail Marathon, half-marathon and 5K. For those interested in participating in the races, registration is available online for the marathon, half-marathon and 5K run/walk.

More information can be found in the attached flyer here.

Grand Canyon Trick-or-Treating Oct. 31

Local trick-or-treating will occur on Park Circle on Saturday, Oct. 31. As in previous years, NPS Rangers will be present in and around Park Circle.

Park Circle will be closed to all non-residential traffic and suggested hours are from 4:30-7 p.m.for all trick-or-treating activities. These hours are suggested in order to ensure resident’s and children’s safety in periods of low light or darkness.

A full flyer for the event can be found here.

*New changes to operations are indicated in red.

South Rim

Xanterra

• Maswik Food Court and Pizza Pub: CLOSED
• Bright Angel Fountain: 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Harvey House Café/Fred Harvey Burger Restaurant: Breakfast 8:30-11 a.m., Lunch 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Dinner: CLOSED
• Fred Harvey Tavern: CLOSED
• Arizona Steakhouse, Dinner 5-8:30 p.m.
• El Tovar Dining Room and Lounge: CLOSED
• The Grand Canyon Kennel: CLOSED

Delaware North

• Yavapai Dining Hall: CLOSED
• Yavapai Lodge Tavern and Patio: CLOSED
• Coffee Shop: CLOSED
• The Canyon Village Market, 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Deli: CLOSED
• Desert Drifter Kitchen and Provisions (food truck): located at Market Plaza: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Camper Services: CLOSED
• Trailer Village: CLOSED

Other

• Grand Canyon Rec Center, 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. daily
• Grand Canyon Clinic: Open 5 days a week, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Canyon Adventures bike rentals and cafe: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Grand Canyon Visitor Center (GCVC): 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily
• Grand Canyon Conservancy stores: Kolb Studio, Verkamps, Yavapai Geology Museum, and Grand Canyon Visitor Center: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
• The Grand Canyon Community Library: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., CLOSED Saturday and Sunday
• Grand Canyon Food Pantry: Monday 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Wednesday 5:30-7:30 p.m., Saturday 2-4 p.m.
• Fall Shuttle Bus Schedule (Sep. 12-Nov. 30, 2026)
• Hermits Rest (Red) Route: 8 a.m. to one hour after sunset
• Village (Blue) Route: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Kaibab Rim (Orange) Route: 6 a.m. to one hour after sunset
• Hikers’ Express: Daily departures from Bright Angel Lodge at 6, 7, and 8 a.m.

Desert View

• Desert View Watchtower, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. with last stair access at 4 p.m.
• Desert View Trading Post, ice cream, and coffee shop: CLOSED
• The Desert View Market & Deli: CLOSED
• Desert View Gas Station & Service Station Retail: CLOSED, 24-hour pay-at-the-pump access

North Rim

• Access to the North Rim open through Nov. 30, 2026 or after the first major snowstorm, whichever comes first
• The Cape Royal and Point Imperial Roads CLOSED through Nov. 3 for roadwork

Please visit the Grand Canyon National Park website for a complete list of closures and available amenities.

• Timelapse photos from Kolb Studio on Oct. 12, 2026 (GCC Kolb Studio webcam)
• Graphic showing average daily water use below target (NPS File/C. Kraus)
• Bright Angel Point Trail on the North Rim (NPS Photo/M. Jenkins)
• ASU Public History course participants (Julia Taylor/ASU)
• Winning license plate design by Peter Malamas (Photo courtesy of GCC)

Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up for the Weekly Wrap Up newsletter here.