are there any parks at the former location of the river mentioned earlier?
Yes, the southwestern United States contains many well-known national parks including Grand Canyon , Death Valley,  Great Sand Dunes ,  Arches, etc.
Southwestern United States
The southwestern United States contains many well-known national parks including Grand Canyon in Arizona, Death Valley in California, Great Sand Dunes in Colorado, Arches in Utah, Big Bend in Texas, Great Basin in Nevada, and White Sands in New Mexico.
Arizona parks 
where is the colorado river located on the map Southwestern United States and northern Mexico what are its tributaries? Gila River, Gunnison river, San Juan river, Green river, etc. who were the early settlers here? Spanish what kind of plants are found here? Creosote bush, saguaro cactus, and Joshua trees, etc. how has the environment been effected? Reduction in flow caused by dams, diversions, water for thermoelectric power stations, and evaporation losses from reservoirs – the latter of which consumes more than 15 percent of the river's natural runoff—has had severe ecological consequences in the Colorado River Delta and the Gulf of California.
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Southwestern United States [SEP] National parks, monuments and forests
Southern California parks and monuments include Death Valley and Joshua Tree national parks; the national monuments of Castle Mountains, Mojave Trails, Sand to Snow, and San Gabriel Mountains; and Mojave National Preserve. Colorado parks and monuments include Great Sand Dunes, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and Mesa Verde national parks; the national monuments of Browns Canyon, Canyons of the Ancients, Colorado, Hovenweep, and Yucca House. Other federal areas include Curecanti National Recreation Area and Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site; as well as the national forests of San Isabel, San Juan, and Uncompahgre. Nevada has one national park at Great Basin, and the national monuments of Basin and Range, Gold Butte, and Tule Springs Fossil Beds.