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1. Data that are available and practical for use in the GIS 2. Specific features to be monitored and the temporal increment at which they should be monitored 3. The agency responsible for data collection and analysis of each feature 4. Specific end products to be developed for each feature 5. Development of user-friendly software to access, query, display, and analyze the GCES/GIS The second objective of this report is to discuss the long-term monitoring pilot application study that has been conducted within 1 of the 17 GCES/GIS monitoring sites, site No. 5, and the protocols established through it. These program objectives have been established by the long-term monitoring pilot study. The strategy and tools developed in the pilot study is to be used for the remaining 16 monitoring sites. THE INITIAL GCES/GIS DATA BASE DEVELOPMENT Study Area The overall study area is located within Grand Canyon National Park (river mile 0 to 280), Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (Lake Powell and river mile 0 to -16), and Lake Mead National Recreation Area (Lake Mead). Limited funds and time constraints prevented the development of a GCES/GIS data base for the entire Colorado River corridor from Glen Canyon Dam to Lake Mead. A GCES/GIS work group, composed of researchers and resource managers representing Federal agencies, a State agency, Native Americans, and other groups, was formed to identify monitoring sites. The GCES/GIS work group selected long-term monitoring sites that represented the ecological and geomorphic diversity in the Grand Canyon as well as areas where special studies or critical resources were located. The work group originally selected 13 monitoring sites that comprise a total distance of 63 river miles. The GIS sites represented the specific geomorphic reaches throughout the canyon. The study area in each site extends from the top of the OHWZ ( old high water zone) river-right to the top of the old high water zone river-left (see fig. 1). Since the selection of initial monitoring sites, four special study sites that require monitoring of unique, endangered, cultural, or natural resource components have been added to the data base. These additional areas comprise a total distance of 37 miles. More special study sites may be added if appropriate. A location map of the long-term monitoring and special study sites can be seen on figure 2 as a fold out at the back of this report. The length of individual monitoring sites ranges from 2 to 13 river miles with an average length of 5 river miles. Monitoring site No. 5 was selected for the pilot study for the following reasons: 1. Data collection by multiple agencies 2. Extensive quantities of current and historical data 3. Cultural significance 4. Ecological diversity 5. Water quality assessment 6. Critical endangered species habitat 3