The National Park Service (NPS) announced on August 30th that due to the severe flash flood on August 29th, the southern rim of the Grand Canyon National Park will implement Phase 4 water restrictions starting at noon on Monday, August 31st.
According to the NPS announcement, the flash flood severely damaged the infrastructure within the inner Canyon, including the Transcanyon Waterline responsible for transporting water sources through the Canyon. Currently, this water pipeline is not operational, leading to restricted water storage capacity in the park, necessitating strict water conservation measures.
Starting from today, August 31st, all overnight accommodations within the park will suspend services, including El Tovar, Bright Angel Lodge, Maswik Lodge, Phantom Ranch, Yavapai Lodge, and Trailer Village. Hotels in the town of Tusayan outside the park will not be affected.
Camping will only be allowed for “dry camping,” with water spigots at the southern rim campgrounds being turned off, though restroom faucets will still be usable. All open flames (including campfires and charcoal fires) are prohibited in the southern rim and inner Canyon areas.
The Grand Canyon National Park remains open for daytime visitors. Dining services, clinics, and post offices on the southern rim will continue to operate, with some services possibly having shortened hours of operation.
The NPS urges visitors and residents to actively conserve water, including keeping shower time under 5 minutes, turning off the faucet while brushing teeth or shaving, practicing selective flushing, doing full loads of laundry, and promptly reporting any leaks. Authorities are currently assessing flood damage and working to stabilize the water supply system, with these restrictions expected to continue until further notice.