Conservationists Vs Preservationists

2. By the mid-20th century the split between environmental conservationists and the preservationists had become fully entrenched. Explain how these two camps came into direct conflict in the 1950s and 1960s over the issue of water in the West. Be sure to consider the leaders of these contradictory movements, as well as their philosophies regarding nature, and the significance of the Colorado River. In your opinion, who was right—Floyd Dominy or David Brower? Why?

Both environmental conservationists and preservationists want to protect, but they butt heads on which things are more important. Conservationists try to fight for the protection of natural resources and the proper use of nature whereas preservationists don’t necessarily care

Each had it’s own individual contribution. Despite their hard work, not everyone paid attention to them. Congress tore them apart in 1878 and it turned into a giant controversy. Yet not all of the surveys were a disaster. These surveys were all significant because of the impact each had on the American West and its history as well as its future. Ferdinand Hayden explored the northwestern region of Wyoming that is most commonly known as Yellowstone National Park. According to the article “Four Great Surveys of the West,” it was the first federally funded geological survey. His positivism and optimism was highly viewed by his western followers. Hayden didn’t claim the discovery, though, Nathanial P. Langford actually spearheaded the movement to create the national park. This survey had a grand and positive impact on American’s views, thanks to the beautiful sketches and then a bill signed by President Grant making it a national park. Clarence King organized the Geological and Geographical Survey of the Fortieth Parallel under the sponsorship of the army. This survey was of great use to the mining industry. King produced a 7- volume report that included his second major work, Systematic Geology. He was then named the director of the U.S. Geological Survey. His impact was very practical and