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<br />}?'\\ <br />">II <br />-'.> <br /> <br />'~'~ <br />*ifJ;'1 <br />" <br /> <br />Glen Canyon Dam Transition Monitoring <br /> <br />By: Dave Wegner. Manager <br />Glen Canyon Environmental Studies <br />Bureau of Reclamation <br /> <br />On October 1, 1995, the Glen Canyon Dam TIansition <br />Monitoring Program began. Transition monitoring is a <br />stepping stone to the Glen Canyon Dam Long-term <br />Monitoring Program which will be implemented when the <br />Secreta1y of the Interior sigm the Opemtion of Glen Canyon <br />Dam Final Environmental Impact Statement Record of <br />Decision. <br /> <br />The objective of transition monitoring is twofold: <br /> <br />Provide interim data on critical environmental and <br />cultural resources and ecosystem processes in Glen <br />and Grand Canyons in order to understand and <br />evaluate the impacts of interim flows from Glen <br />Canyon Dam. <br /> <br />Provide the transition from the intensive Glen Canyon <br />Environmental Studies (GeES). Phase II. research <br />program and Interim Operating Criteria Monitoring <br />Program to the Glen Canyon Dam Long-term <br />Monitoring and Research Program. <br /> <br />TIansition monitoring includes both technical and administrative <br />components and continues our commibnent to the Native <br />American Tn"bes. <br /> <br />Technical <br /> <br />Ecosystem monitoring n:quirements were determined through a <br />coopemtive approach involving technical experts from the <br />GCES research teams; Dr. Duncan Patten, GCES Senior <br />Scientist; Western Area Power Administration representatives; <br />and consultants from the Colomdo River Electrical Distribution <br />Association. Transition monitoring will focllS on ecosystem and <br />cultura1 elements, the processes that define the ecosystem, and <br />will build upon information collected throughout the GeES <br />research programs. <br /> <br />Amrual reports will be developed for each individual monitoring <br />project and will continue to be subjected to outside peer review. <br />Reports win be cataloged, distributed, and archived through the <br />GCES offICe and the National Technical Information Service. A <br />pilot program utilizing the Internet and World Wide Web for <br />transferring information win be completed this year to reduce <br />costs and increase efficiency. <br /> <br />Transition monitoring includes development of an integrated <br />technical report consolidating the results of GeES, Phase II, and <br /> <br />Interim Opemting Criteria monitoring. The integrated report, <br />being coordinated by Dr. Duncan Patten, GCES Senior Scientist, <br />will focus on the linkages of the physical and biological <br />resources, with independent reports docwnenting the cultura1 <br />and economic peISpeCtives. This integrated approach requires <br />intensive coordination among scientists, researchers, and the <br />various organizations involved, and will ultimately result in a <br />more cost effective and time efficient approach to monitoring <br />efforts. <br /> <br />The research data collected during transition monitoring will be <br />incoIpOmted into the existing Geographic Information System <br />data bases and archives by the GCES staff. This includes the <br />requirement to provide meta-data standards, electronic data files, <br />and geographic controls and linkages. The Museum ofNorthcm <br />Arizona is coordinating the archival design. <br /> <br />Although transition monitoring will be independent of the <br />beacblhabitat-building test flow studies, it win be integrally <br />coordinated to maximize personnel and minimize costs. <br /> <br />Administrative <br /> <br />The Transition Monitoring Program requires development of <br />new cooperative agreements, interagency acquisitions, and con- <br />tnlctS. Reclamation's GeES, Denver Technica1 Service Center, <br />and Upper Colorado Regional offices are coordinating the com- <br />pletion of new fiscal year 1996 conttacts. Due to uncertainties <br />as to when long-term monitoring will be initiated, transition <br />monitoring is being established as a I-year program, with an <br />optional I-year extension if the Long-term Monitoring and <br />Research Program is not established by October I, 1996. <br /> <br />Research permits are being coordinated with the National Padc <br />Service through the GeES office. Dr. Robert Winfree has been <br />added to the Grand Canyon National Pm staff to assist in the <br />timely completion of all permitting n:qnirements. Independent <br />peer reviews of the technical proposals are being acquired to <br />assist the Pm Service in detennining whether the proposed <br />monitoring programs are meeting their n:qnirements. It is antic- <br />ipated that by actively utilizing the review process, the quality of <br />reports and programs will contime to maintain high standards. <br /> <br />For more infonnation on the Transition Monitoring Program, <br />data management, or any other technical aspects of this process, <br />please contact the GeES office at 520-556-7363 or visit our web <br />site at: http://phantom.uc.usbr.gov. <br /> <br />9 <br />