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<br />Chapter 1.0 Purpose of and Need for Action 5 <br /> <br /> <br />01190 <br /> <br />Lake Mead Management Plan. The goal is to ensure the protection of recreation area <br />resources and values while offering recreational opportunities as provided in the <br />recreation area's enabling legislation, purpose, mission, and goals. A draft <br />environmental impact statement was issued on September 13, 2002. Concerns for effects <br />of personal watercraft use that are also evaluated in the proposed action below Glen <br />Canyon Dam include threatened and endangered species, wildlife and wildlife use, and <br />water quality. <br /> <br />1.2.7 Tamarisk Removal <br /> <br />Grand Canyon National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area are <br />engaging in attempts to suppress or eradicate tamarisk. Tamarisk is an exotic plant <br />species whose distribution and abundance have increased greatly since it was <br />introduced in the u.s. This increase has occurred at the expense of native riparian <br />vegetation and wildlife. Park actions are occurring in side canyons, tributaries, <br />developed areas, and springs above the pre-dam high water level. The tamarisk removal <br />action is occurring just below the boat launch at Lees Ferry. The purpose of these actions <br />is to restore more natural conditions and prevent any further loss or degradation of <br />existing native plants. <br /> <br />1.2.8 Brown Trout Removal <br /> <br />Grand Canyon National Park will initiate an evaluation of removing brown trout <br />from Bright Angel Creek in autumn 2002. Brown trout will be removed by placing a <br />weir in Bright Angel Creek to stop the upstream migration of spawning fish. If the effort <br />is successful, NPS will continue the effort for 4-5 years in an attempt to reduce the <br />brown trout population. Brown trout is an exotic species brought into the u.S. from <br />Europe and Asia early in the 20'h century. Purposeful stockings of the fish were made <br />during the 1920s and 1930s in Grand Canyon. Research and monitoring investigations in <br />Grand Canyon have demonstrated that brown trout prey on the endangered humpback <br />chub and other native fish species. <br /> <br />1.2.9 Interim Surplus Guidelines <br /> <br />In January 2001, the Secretary of the Interior released the Record of Decision (ROD), <br />regarding the preferred alternative for Colorado River Interim Surplus Guidelines. The <br />specific interim surplus guidelines are to be used annually for 15 years to determine the <br />conditions under which the Secretary would declare the availability of surplus Colorado <br />River water for use within the states of Arizona, California and Nevada. The selected <br />alternative was the Basin States Alternative. Reclamation determined that the proposed <br />project may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect, listed species in the Colorado <br />River corridor or their critical habitat from Glen Canyon Dam to the headwaters of Lake <br />Mead. The species of consideration include the endangered humpback chub with critical <br />