culture
COLORADO RIVER DISCOVERY GOES GREEN National Parks Centennial Sparks Local Innovation BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ
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n 2016 the National Parks Service will celebrate its Centennial, focusing on the achievements of the past 100 years as well as looking forward to the future. “The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations” says Uptown resident Scott Seyler, cofounder of Colorado River Discovery. “As such, they cooperate with local partners – like us – to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.” For the past 10 years, Colorado River Discovery has provided one-day rafting trips along the Colorado River every March to November, in partnership with the National Parks Service, with a focus on making every effort to respect the surrounding land. “Colorado River Discovery has incorporated environmentally responsible practices at every level of our business since day one,” Seyler explains. “For example, over the past decade, we’ve reduced our fuel consumption by 20 percent. We also employ a Smart Green Systems program company wide, which is focused on education, creative recycling and re-use programs on-site and other small steps that combine to make a big difference to the future of the Colorado River.”
As the Centennial approached, he and his team were motivated to do more. Seyler and Colorado River Discovery, in partnership with the National Parks Service and the Bureau of Reclamation, recently announced the launch of Helios, a 100 percent electric raft and the first of its kind in the region. “The raft, named in homage to the God of the Sun in Greek mythology, is in the final stages of field testing before its formal launch in March,” Seyler says, noting the craft recently passed all formal stability and other associated testing, enabling it to be certified by the U.S. Coast Guard and registered with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. According to Seyler, Helios is the culmination of nearly a decade of research and development and will produce zero emissions, exponentially reducing waste products that could pollute the JANUARY 2016 |
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environment or disrupt the climate. It will also greatly reduce noise pollution of the Colorado River. “We are reducing our carbon footprint through Helios in every way we can,” he says. To make the project a reality, the Bureau of Reclamation stepped up with a major assist by installing a charging station where Helios can dock and recharge its batteries at any time. The power will be drawn from the generating station inside the Glen Canyon Dam power plant, which provides a renewable clean power source through hydroelectric power. Though the raft doesn’t formally launch to the public for a few months, the project is already getting national attention. In late 2015, the Travel Channel visited Colorado River Discovery to profile the vessel for a special series in line with the National Parks Service Centennial, which is set to debut in March. In addition to its partnership with the National Parks Service, Colorado River Discovery is also proud supporter of Leave No Trace, the Grand Canyon River Outfitters Association, American Outdoors Association and the Arizona National Scenic Trail. For more information, visit Colorado River Discovery at www.raftthecanyon.com or www.facebook.com/raftthecanyon.