Recovery efforts at Grand Canyon National Park continued Sunday as crews worked to restore the park’s damaged water and communications infrastructure following the deadly Aug. 29 flash flood in Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area.
At the delta, contractors used excavators to establish the footprint for a new water intake project that will play a key role in restoring the park’s water supply. A wastewater treatment operator was also brought in to test the wastewater treatment plant as crews prepare to return the system to limited service.
On the South Rim, the contractor responsible for the water treatment plant is preparing to begin startup and testing once the new delta intake can deliver raw water to the facility. The contractor is coordinating with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality as the park works toward approval to operate the plant during the testing process.
Communications Restored at Phantom Ranch
Crews at Phantom Ranch also received a major communications upgrade Sunday with the installation of a Starlink/FirstNet system, providing Wi-Fi and cellular service in the area.
The restored connectivity is expected to support overnight emergency operations at Phantom Ranch while reducing the number of daily flights needed to transport supplies and personnel to the remote location.
Meanwhile, National Park Service information technology personnel are repairing two of three dispatch consoles damaged by a lightning strike on Aug. 31.
Search Continues for Missing Person
The park’s Assessment Team continued processing field data to develop cost estimates, project scopes and longterm recovery plans.
Search crews are also continuing efforts along the Colorado River corridor for the one person who remains unaccounted for following the Aug. 29 flash flood. The below video was taken September 8, 2026, during assessment work along the North Kaibab Trail in Grand Canyon National Park. The footage shows a person walking through the Box north of Phantom Ranch, where woody debris remains following the August 29 flash flood. In the latter portion of the video, an exposed section of black pipeline (normally buried beneath the trail) is visible:
“We remain grateful to the search and rescue personnel, partner agencies, park employees, concessioners and community members who continue to work together through this response.” -Grand Canyon National Park
The flash flood caused extensive damage in Bright Angel Canyon and around Phantom Ranch, disrupting water, wastewater, communications and transportation systems in one of the Grand Canyon’s most remote and heavily visited areas.
