WSP12648

• File Number: 8220.101.10.A
• Description: Colorado River - Water Projects - Glen Canyon Dam-Lake Powell - Glen Canyon AMWG
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 12/1/2000
• Author: GCMRC Science Advisors
• Title: Operating Protocols - GCMRC Science Advisors - Final - 12-01-00
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

001529

Operating Protocols

GCMRC SCIENCE ADVISORS
FINAL
December 2000

INTRODUCTION

The final Environmental Impact Statement on the Operation of Glen Canyon Dam calls for the Secretary of

the Interior in consultation with the Adaptive Management Work Group to establish Independent Review Panel(s)

(IRPs) (pg. 37-38) to:

(1) annually review resource specific monitoring and research programs initiated by the science center
[Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center (GCMRC)];

(2) make recommendations to the Adaptive Management Work Group (AMWG) and the GCMRC on the
long-term monitoring and research program regarding priorities, integration, and management;

(3) conduct a five-year review of monitoring and research protocols; and

(4) provide other such scientific and technical advice as may be requested by the GCMRC, the AMWG, or
the Secretary.

The GCDEIS states that the IRPs should ,.... be comprised of qualified individuals not otherwise participating in the

[GCMRC] long-term monitoring and research studies."

GCMRC has responded to the GCDEIS call for IRPs by:

(1) Establishing an independent, external peer-review process for all proposals received by GCMRC and
scientific reports resulting from GCMRC activities.

(2) Initiating a contract with the National Research Council (NRC) for review of the GCMRC Long-term
Strategic Plan and GCMRC FY 98 and FY 99 Almual Plans that resulted in the 1999 NRC report,
"Downstream: Adaptive management of Glen Canyon Dam and the Colorado River Ecosystem."

(3) Developing Protocol Evaluation Program (PEP) for reviewing long-term monitoring protocols.

NEED

The current lRPs established by GCMRC do not fully address the responsibilities identified in the
GCDEIS. An IRP is still needed:
"... for periodically reviewing resource specific monitoring and research programs and for making
recommendations to the AMWG and the Center [GCMRC] regarding monitoring, priorities, integration, and

management."

PURPOSE
The group of Scientific Advisors is being established to increase the efficiency and quality ofthe science
being developed by GCMRC and used by the AMWG and the Secretary. The Scientific Advisors will provide

I