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High spring flows - completed The BO also recommended: .... testing of low steady flows in summer and fall during low water years. Information from final GCES endangered fish reports, researchers who conducted those studies and other knowledgeable individuals are to be used to develop hypotheses and studies to accompany those flows. Design of the experimental flows and associated studies will begin as soon as possible and be targeted for completion by October 1996", The BO also recommended the experimental flows begin in April, 1997, or altematively, if sufficient progress was not being made in implementation of the RPA, they would begin April of 1998, The BO goes on to say that implementation of low steady flows would occur in 8,23 maf water years. Reclamation accepted the Service's recommended RPA in an April 6, 1995 response to the BO, This letter of response indicated how Reclamation would implement the RPA. In this response, Reclamation articulated that: 1) implementation of experimental flows are to be coordinated through the AMP; 2) the flow experiments will include scientifically based peer reviewed criteria to measure and evaluate their impacts on downstream resources; the research would be managed and administered through the GCMRC; and that appropriate staff and funding levels needed to be identified. This memorandum was distributed to all cooperating agencies and interested parties. To progress toward completion of this portion of this element of the RPA, the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center (GCMRC) has been established. Dr. David Garrett, as director of the research center, and the program managers on his staff, have conducted multiple meetings and formulated both a Long Term Research and Monitoring Plan (GCMRC, 1996) and an Annual Plan (GCMRC, 1996) in cooperation with the transition work group members. These plans are designed to evaluate the effects of the various flows regimes as called for in the biological opinion (BO). The description of the low steady flow in the BO was conceptual, based in part on the goal of restoring a natural hydrograph to the extent possible under current conditions. Prior to completing a plan for the research and monitoring of these flows, specific parameters must be developed and submitted to the TWG and AMWG. The final description of these flows will be subject to approval by the Service. It has been Reclamation's intent to have in hand a report which integrates the research to date on the fish in Grand and Glen Canyons. This work is underway through a competitive bid contract let by Reclamation. Administration of this contract was transferred to the GCMRC in keeping with Reclamation's plan to implement the RPA, as described above. However, the Service recommended work on defining the specific flows occur simultaneously. A meeting was held on October 29, 1997 to begin an informal discussion of the goals and conditions under which this flow would be beneficial to the endangered fish. During this meeting it was reported by a Reclamation hydrologist that 8.23 million acre foot years, which is one of the criteria for conducting the low steady flow experiment, would not occur approximately one half the time as reported in the EIS, but would actually occur much less frequently, Review of portions of the BO and discussion with the Service led the group to conclude that if water releases were going to be approximately 10,000 maf or less in any given water year, the goals of the low flow concept could still be tested, Rather than basing criteria on a specific flow, the group agreed to pursue the development of a general release pattem water years of 10,000 maf or less. The actual releases would then be determined by the hydrology. A summary of the main points of discussion from this meeting will be sent to the AMWG and TWG. During the week of December 8, 1997. Low steady flows will not be implemented in 1998 as called for in the opinion, because the forecast does not predict an 8.23 maf water year. The opinion allows for implementation of the preferred altemative (ROD) in high and medium water years,