Laserfiche WebLink
<br />e <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />MANAGEMENT PLAN <br />FOR PREPARATION OF GLEN CANYON DAM <br />ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT <br /> <br />PURPOSE <br /> <br />The purpDse of this management plan is to <br />guids the Bureau of ReclamatiDn <br />(Reclamation) and cooperating agencieB <br />through the process of carrying out the <br />preparation Df the Glen Canyon Dam <br />Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The <br />management plan will be used to communi- <br />cate the overall intent and respDnsibilities. <br />Since ths EIS process is dynamic and subject <br />to change, the document will be revised as <br />needed and circulated to all appropriate <br />entitieB and individualB. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br /> <br />Glen Canyon Dam waB completed in 1963, <br />prior to the passage of the National Environ- <br />mental Policy Aet (NEPAl. Consequently, nD <br />requirement existed for an EIS on the project. <br /> <br />In December 1982, Reclamation published an <br />environmental aBsessment on the impacts of a <br />propoBed uprate and rewind program for the <br />dam. ReclamatiDn proceeded with the uprate <br />and rewind project but agreed not to use the <br />increased powerplant capacity for flows above <br />31,500 cubic feet per second (fts/s) until <br />completiDn ofa more comprehensive study. <br /> <br />Beginning in December of 1982, Reclamation <br />initiated the multiagency Glen CanYDn <br />Environmental Studies (GOES) to address the <br />concerns of the public and other Federal and <br />State agencies about possible negative effects <br />of the operations of Glen Canyon Dam on the <br />existing downstream environmental and <br />recreational resources. Two previous <br />Reclamation studies focused attention on the <br />current operational effects and forwarded <br /> <br />proposals for future changes. Both the <br />Peaking Power Study and the Uprate and <br />Rewind Study suggested the possibility fDr <br />change in plant capacity and rates Dfwater <br />release. <br /> <br />Information currently availabls frDm GOES <br />has identified three known relationsbips: <br /> <br />1. Glen Canyon Dam has had an impact on <br />the downstream Glen CanYDn and Grand <br />Canyon resourceB. ChangeB have occurred <br />and cDntinue to occur to many of the sensitive <br />ecosystem resources. Some changes are <br />considered positive, and Bome are negative. <br /> <br />2. For negative impacts, operations and <br />management may be mDdified to minimize <br />losseB of some resources in the canyon and to <br />protect and enhance others. <br /> <br />3. The canyon is a dynamic reBource and, <br />with careful management, may be able to <br />gradually reestablish mDre harmoniDus <br />environmental relationsbipB. <br /> <br />The Department will use the EIS to comply <br />with statutory requirements to produce <br />hydropower, to protect tribal interests, and to <br />conserve the Park's and the Recreation Area's <br />resources for the enjoyment of future <br />generations. <br /> <br />OBJECTIVES OF THE GLEN <br />CANYON DAM EIS <br /> <br />The primary objective of the Glen Canyon <br />Dam EIS is to evaluate the impacts of current <br />and alternative dam operations on the <br />downstream environmental and ecological <br />resources of the Glen Canyon National <br />Recreational Area and Grand Canyon <br /> <br />1 <br />