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<br />Update on Adaptive Management <br /> <br />By: fan Balsom, EIS Team Member <br />Grand Canyon National Park <br /> <br />The Adaptive Management Program (AMP) is a very <br />important component of the preferred alternative for the <br />Operation of Glen Canyon Dam Environmental Impact <br />Statement (EIS). It is being designed to meet the <br />requirements of the Grand Canyon Protection Act <br />(GCPA) to ensure that Glen Canyon Dam is operated in <br />a manner which is beneficial to doWnstream resources. <br /> <br />After over a year of <br />discussions at the <br />cooperating agencies <br />meetings, Reclama- <br />tion and the National <br />Park Service (NPS) <br />provided a joint draft <br />of the proposed <br />AMP at the June 28, <br />1994, meeting in <br />Phoenix. The plan, <br />an outgrowth of both <br />agencies' attempts at <br />outlining a mecha- <br />nism for long-term <br />monitoring and <br />research, was met <br />with cautious <br />optimism by all <br />agencies. <br /> <br />Federal Advisory Committee. The Secretary of the <br />Interior or his designate would chair the AMWG and be <br />responsible for ensuring compliance with the GCP A. <br /> <br />A Technical Work Group (TWG) is identified to translate <br />AMWG policy concerns and goals into resource manage- <br />ment objectives and questions. This group would have <br />technical repre- <br />sentatives from the <br />entities represented <br />in the AMWG. <br /> <br />ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM <br /> <br />G;) <br /> <br />Adaptive Management <br />Work Group <br /> <br />/ <br /> <br />: <br /> <br />The AMWG would . <br />provide direction and <br />the framework for <br />adaptive manage- <br />ment. Recommenda- <br />tions would be <br />submitted to the <br />Secretary or his <br />designate. Develop- <br />ment of monitoring <br />and research would <br />be the responsibility <br />of the research <br />center, under the <br />administration of a <br />research director <br />who would ensure <br />that monitoring and <br />research programs <br />are scientifically credible and meet the needs of the <br />AMWG. The research center director would be responsi- <br />ble for preparing reports and recommendations required <br />by the GCP A. <br /> <br /> <br />+-+- <br /> <br /> <br />- <br /> <br /> <br />A key concept in <br />AMP is separation of <br />research and monitoring from management with the <br />establishment of an independent monitoring and research <br />center. This research center, proposed for Flagstaff, <br />Arizona, would be jointly administered by the United <br />States Geological Survey (USGS) and National Biological <br />Survey (NBS), the Interior Department's premier bureau <br />for research on sediment, hydrology, and biology. <br /> <br />The research center would coordinate monitoring and <br />research programs in response to the resource needs. A <br />transition from the current Glen Canyon Environmental <br />Studies into the long-term monitoring and research <br />program would take place over the next 2 years. <br /> <br />Another key component is the establishment of the <br />Adaptive Management Work Group (AMWG). This <br />group, similar to but broader in scope than the current <br />cooperating agencies, is proposed under a charter as a <br /> <br />10 <br /> <br />Another draft of the AMP was provided to the cooperating <br />agencies on A~t 9, 1994, reflecting comments received <br />from the agencies and interested parties on the previous <br />draft. NPS, Reclamation, and a representative from the <br />Tribes met in Salt Lake City on August 25 to incorporate <br />additional comments and suggestions. <br /> <br />The final EIS will incorporate the updated AMP descrip- <br />tion. Implementation of the AMP and associated organiza- <br />tion will not occur until mid-1995 when the Secretary is <br />expected to issue a Record of Decision on the long-term <br />operations of Glen Canyon Dam and compliance with <br />remaining provisions of the GCPA. <br />