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<br />002581 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />A"p~ <br />r~ <br /> <br />conservation plans addressing WIFL conservation (e.g., the LCR MSCP planning, Lake Roosevelt <br />HCP, etc.). The Board will also urge the USFWS to carefully consider and evaluate all of the recent <br />WIFl survey data that seems to indicate that the species is perhaps more numerous than originally <br />thought at the time of its listing as an endangered species. The Board intends to circulate the draft <br />letter for review and comment to Board members and Agency Managers prior to the comment <br />deadline of March 8, 2004. <br /> <br />Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program <br /> <br />Mr. Harris attended a two-day session of the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management <br />Program Technical Work Group (TWG) on February 2-3,2004, in Phoenix, Arizona. The meeting <br />focused on a review of the Glen Canyon Dam Multi-Attribute Trade-off Analysis (MAT A) <br />evaluation process. The MATA process was intended to review the science-based aspects of the <br />Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program (GCDAMP) and develop proposed <br />recommendations leading to adaptively changing program elements to better manage the natural <br />resources of the Glen and Grand Canyons. The significant recommendation coming out of the <br />MAT A process was that the preferred alternative, modified low-fluctuating flows, identified in the <br />1995 Final Operation of Glen Canyon Dam Environmental Impact Statement was, in fact, damaging <br />the downstream resources, particularly the endangered Humpback chub populations, as well as, the <br />sediment budget of the river. Information from the MATA process should help the GCDAMP's <br />Adaptive Management Work Group develop an alternative operational paradigm that better <br />addresses the needs of the species and habitats below Glen Canyon Dam. <br /> <br />The Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center (GCMRC) also provided an overview of <br />its proposed reorganization plan under the umbrella of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) <br />Southwest Science Center. The GCMRC, as you may recall, is the science center tasked with <br />providing the science and data management functions related to the GCDAMP. The proposed <br />GCMRC strategic plan would utilize a more robust decision-support modeling system and rely on <br />other available science resources within the USGS. Finally, with the proposed strategic plan and <br />annual work plan in mind, the GCMRC and the Adaptive Management Program are currently <br />requesting $11.3 million for FY-2005. <br /> <br />lower Colorado Water SUDDlv Proiect (lCWSP) <br /> <br />The City of Needles (Needles) is continuing to execute subcontracts with Lower Colorado <br />Water Supply Project (project) beneficiaries to receive Project water. As of February I", over 475 <br />subcontracts have been mailed to Project beneficiaries for execution. To date 317, or 67 percent of <br />the subcontracts have been executed and returned to the City of Needles. <br /> <br />With regard to the concept of Advanced Delivery, two alternatives were considered for the <br />Project. The first alternative was basically an exchange and forbearance arrangement, while the <br />second alternative is selling water at near market prices. Discussions with potential customers who <br />would receive this water have been held to determine their interest in pursuing each of these <br />alternatives. Through those discussions, it appears that the second option, selling the water at near <br />market prices is the preferred alternative. Also, discussions are being held with Needles and <br /> <br />7 <br />