Laserfiche WebLink
<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />3 <br /> <br />year or two, experimental flows must be delayed until suitable water conditions are met. This <br />delay may provide an excellent opportunity to design the experimental flows, <br /> <br />There have been no efforts to develop/design experimental low steady flows by Reclamation or <br />the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center. However, we understand that the SWCA <br />Integration Workshop held on February 27 and 28 discussed the issue. It is our understanding <br />that the researchers expressed a consensus that experimental steady low flows were needed to <br />better understand the potential for edge/backwater warming, system productivity, response of <br />non-native fish, and to assess the relative effect of warmed water from a multi-level intake <br />structure. <br /> <br />We believe further discussion should occur between our two agencies on when the experimental <br />flows might occur. Although the ROD states that beach/habitat building flows will occur during <br />high water years, the Service believes this does not preclude any experimental high steady flows <br />in the spring and low steady flows in the summer and fall. The Service's Biological Opinion <br />requested that these experimental flows occur during low water years because the beach/habitat <br />building flows were scheduled for low water years during the Draft Environmental Impact <br />Statement. Your November 27 letter states that the experimental flows are not occurring in 1997 <br />because it is not a 8.23 million acre feet water year. If Reclamation intends to implement the <br />experimental flows as stated in the Biological Opinion, the Service believes that Reclamation <br />needs to commit to a minimum of conducting habitat maintenance flows (33,200 cfs) during a <br />low water year. <br /> <br />IB - Selective Withdrawal Program for Lake Powell <br /> <br />Your November 27 letter states that a report will be completed in 1997. It would seem that a <br />judgment on the progress of this element would best be deferred until we received the document. <br />It is our understanding that a temperature control workshop was completed. An environmental <br />assessment is scheduled to begin in FY 98, and Reclamation has assigned Dave Trueman to <br />coordinate these activities. We are pleased with Reclamation's perseverance to this process and <br />look forward to receiving the mentioned report. <br /> <br />Ie . Determine responses of native fIsh to various temperature regimes and river flows <br />(future research program) <br /> <br />Your November 27 letter states that contracts for certain fish studies have been renewed and that <br />future research and long-term monitoring will be conducted through the Center. In order to <br />fulfill this requirement, the Center should specifically outline the studies. If the research and <br />long-term monitoring programs include evaluating temperature and flows similar to the program <br />of experimental flows recommended in item lA, the Service would agree that sufficient progress <br />is being made. <br />