Mission

During Flight Across America 2025, fly with conservation partners, tribal advocates, and the media over Lake Powell to educate on and view the low water levels and reemerging canyonscape.

Flying over the Lake is a striking reminder of both the vastness of the Colorado Plateau and the power of time. From the air, the lake’s sinuous blue arms twisted below us through ancient layers of red and orange stone. As we traced the Escalante River toward its confluence with the lake, vegetation offered contrast to the arid rock-scape, signaling the rare presence of perennial water that sustains cottonwood trees and willows.

We flew above Bullfrog Bay and stretches of the wide and calm Lake, framed by labyrinthine canyons and towering formations like the Henry Mountains to the north and the Kaiparowits Plateau to the south. The vast Glen Canyon region, now partially submerged beneath Lake Powell, is home to some of the most intricate slot canyons in the Southwest, many of which are reemerging. Lake Powell is only 31% full, and as it recedes, our flight partners are studying how the river, that has been inundated for decades, is recovering and returning to its former self. Altered vegetation, changing ecosystems, and miles and miles of river in the upper Glen Canyon have emerged, along with many rapids. As motorized watercraft activities become threatened, new recreational and economic opportunities in rafting, hiking, and biking are appearing.

The water storage is a site of ongoing ecological and cultural debate. From the air, the beauty is undeniable—but so is the sense of loss and the potential for transformation. The big-picture perspective brings into focus the resilience of the land and the importance of preserving the unique resources and ecosystems that still endure here.

Click for the photos and geo-referenced photos from FLAA.