Sandbar in the Colorado River in Grand Canyon

Sandbars in Grand Canyon are influenced by the amount of sand avaiable to build sandbars and the flow of the river, both of which are affected by Glen Canyon Dam. Scientists of SBSC's Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center monitor sandbars in Grand Canyon because sandbars are important campsites in the canyon, are riparian habitat for plants and animals, and the sand helps protect Native American culural sites.