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ill Ii I !! Glen Canyon Environmental Studies: What's Next? By: Dave Wegner Manager, Glen Canyon Environmental Studies As the first half of FY -1995 ends, the Glen Canyon Environmental Studies (GCES) staff is well along in its goal of completing: . Technical field work associated with the Phase II research and interim flow monitoring programs . Technical reports, data bases, and archival programs . GCES contracts and agreements that have supported the program (some since 1989) This endeavor will result in culmination <!f the work that many of us have been involved in for many years and will support the recommendations made in the Glen Canyon Dam environmental impact statement (EIS) and Record of Decision (ROD) and the needs of the Grand Canyon Protection A~t. It is anticipated that over 90 technical Phase II reports will be finalized by the end of FY-95. The results of the GCES program will form the basis for future activities, of which the most important are: the biological opinion associated with the EIS, transition monitoring, and the Long.term Monitoring Program. Biological Opinion - A major component of the EIS is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's biological opinion. Due to concerns for endangered species and their critical habitat, Reclamation has begun planning for the endangered fish studies, selective withdrawal structures, and critical habitat elements of the biological opinion. Transition Monitoring - To avoid losing criti- cal information and ensure that critical resources are monitored until long-term monitoring is implemented, transition monitoring will begin on October 1, 1995. At the request of the Transition Work Group (TWG), Dr. Duncan Patten, the GCES senior scientist, is chairing a committee to develop a draft of the transition monitoring plan. After approval by the TWG, the finaI plan will be in effect until the ROD is signed and the formal Adaptive Management Program (AMP) is in full swing. GCES will provide technical assistance during the transition until the research center begins operations. 6 Long-term Monitoring - Long-term moni. toring will be the keystone of the Glen Canyon Dam AMP. With adequate long-term information, we can continue to evaluate the effectiveness of the operational patterns, making changes when appropriate. A detailed monitoring plan will be developed once the research center (as outlined in the EIS) is operational. BeachlHabitat-Building Flow - Th~ preferred alternative contains, as a common element to alternatives, a beach/habitat -building flow. These high flows of short duration will be tested prior to long-term implementation. Dr. Patten and the GCES staff are preparing the research and monitoring plan for the experimental flow to evaluate the impacts of these controlled high releases on the downstream sediment and biological environments. New Direction at GeES - On December 17, 1994, the GCES program was administratively trans- ferred from Reclamation's Upper Colorado Region to its Denver Technical Service Center. This move was determined to be the most appropriate as Reclamation evolves and begins to apply the information learned from the GCES program to other riverine systems in the West. The big question that many have asked is, "What does this mean to the completion of the GCES program?" To our cooperators, the change will be transparent; but to the GCES staff, the change is substantial. Although this transfer has not affected the completion of the GCES, our future role is assisting in transition monitoring and as a consultant to Reclamation. Summary - GCES evolved from a short-term effort to qnickly collect independent studies to an integrative, ecosystem approach for examination of Glen Canyon Dam operational impacts. Over the course of the last 12 years, we have seen a lot of water and resources moving downstream. Today we have brought the infor- mation forward, integrated it into a world-class EIS, and have set the stage for the future management of opera- tions. We are on a threshold of establishing a new voice for the importance of the environment in the Grand Canyon.