WSP09753 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

. . 2 lA - A Program of Experimental Flows Your November 27 letter correctly states that the Reasonable and Prudent Alternative recommended experimental flows to include high steady flows in the spring, which may include habitat building and habitat maintenance flows. The December 1994 Biological Opinion called for a program of experimental flows to include high steady flows in the spring and low steady flows in summer and fall. The purpose of the beach/habitat building flow as described in the Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact include ". ..rebuilding eroded sandbars, reforming backwater habitats for native fish and mimicking the natural processes that create a dynamic Grand Canyon ecosystem." Further it states "This test is needed to scientifically verify the predictions stated in the final EIS on Glen Canyon Dam operations. That is, to test the hypothesis that the dynamic nature of fluvial landforms and aquatic and terrestrial habitats can be restored by short-duration releases substantially greater than powerplant capacity." Although the Service supported the beach/habitat maintenance flow as a means of reforming backwater channel habitats which could be used by native fishes, the dismissal of the low steady flows in summer and fall indicates only partial progress toward meeting the intent of this element of the RPA. Your November 27 letter concludes the same (Page 2, first paragraph) referring to the delays associated with the signing of the Record of Decision, which as stated earlier, implemented the Adaptive Management Program and would coordinate experimental flows, Since the ROD had not been signed before the time designated to conduct the beach/habitat building flow, a separate Environmental Assessment and section 7 pursuant to the Endangered Species Act were conducted. The Service believes that low steady flows in the summer and fall could have been included with the beach/habitat building flow or undergone separate environmental compliance. At a minimum, low steady flows could have been designed for possible implementation following the high flows. The December 1994 Biological Opinion stated that design of the experimental flows was to begin as soon as possible and be completed by October 1996. The Biological Opinion stated that "Unless the Service determines information provided seriously questions the validity of experimental designs developed or contribution of the resulting data to remove jeopardy to the federally-listed aquatic fauna of the Grand Canyon, experimental flows will be initiated in April 1997." The Service is not aware of progress towards designing a program of experimental flows which will include high steady flows in the spring and low steady flows in the summer and fall. Your November 27 letter states that the Grand Canyon Research and Monitoring Center has conducted multiple meetings to formulate research needs. The December 1994 Biological Opinion also states that "If sufficient progress and good faith effort is occurring towards initiating experimental flows, implementation of experimental flows may occur later in 1997." Your November 27 letter states that due to high water releases predicted' for Glen Canyon Dam, implementation of the preferred alternative is to be implemented over the experimental flows. As high water releases are also expected for the next