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<br />002558 <br /> <br />indeed benericiai trom a resource, point ot view or It high powernlanr releases should occur <br />without a BHBF, knowing that the risk ot an unavoidable spiit may be quite high in some years. <br /> <br />The timing of these decisions is also important from a resource perspective, In the past, the <br />period of late-March to early-April was identified as the most appropriate time tor a BHBF, <br />However. !Tom our analysis. it is clear that such a small decision window severely limits the <br />ability to identiry hydrologic conditions which meet the intent of the agreement contained in the <br />1996 AOP. Thus the two trigger mechanisms described above provide additional opportunity to <br />adjust operational releases in response to runoff forecasts while also scheduling BHBF's which <br />protect and enhance sediment conditions as well as other Grand Canyon resources. These <br />resource discussions should address the impacts of a BHBF and an uncontrolled spill later in the <br />same year. a BHBF prior to March If the January - July runoff forecast is greater than 13 MAF, a <br />pre-emptive BHBF after April if the forecast increases, and an unavoidable spill as Lake Powell <br />storage reaches its peak in July without first having a BHBF, <br /> <br />In order to implement these proposed BHBF trigger criteria. we also recommend to the TWG <br />that any required National Environmental Policy Act compliance or Endangered Species Act <br />compliance be initiated immediately. This will allow the AMWG to consider the <br />implementation of this criteria at the beginning of the 1998 runoff season, <br /> <br />- ~~ <br /> <br />~.... ' <br /> <br />9 <br />