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<br />Environmental Studies, to examine the effects of dam <br />operations on downstream resources. Glen Canyon <br />Environmental Studies, the USGS Grand Canyon <br />Monitoring and Research Center's predecessor, issued <br />a final report in 1988 concluding that changes in dam <br />operations "could reduce the resource losses occur- <br />ring under current operations and, in some cases, even <br />improve the status of the resources" (U.S. Department <br />of the Interior, 1988, p. xvi). In 1989, in response to <br />these findings, Secretary of the Interior Manuel Lltian, <br />Jr., ordered the Bureau of Reclamation to complete an <br />environmental impact statement on the operation of <br />Glen Canyon Dam. To further ensure the protection of <br />downstream resources, Secretary Lujan adopted interim <br />operating criteria for the dam in 1991, which restricted <br />dam operations and remained in effect until the end of <br />the environmental impact statement process. <br />Congress passed the Grand Canyon Protection Act <br />of 1992 to provide guidance and legal support to the <br />Secretary of the Interior in his efforts to protect Grand <br />Canyon. In addition to directing the Secretary to operate <br />Glen Canyon Dam to protect and improve downstream <br />resources, the act also validated the interim operating <br />criteria, provided a deadline for the completion of the <br />environmental impact statement, required the creation <br />of a long-term monitoring and research program, and <br />allocated program costs. The act clearly stated that it <br />was to be implemented in accordance with existing laws, <br />treaties, and institutional agreements that govern alloca- <br />tion, appropriation, development, and exportation of the <br />waters of the Colorado River Basin (GCPA, sec. 1802(b)). <br /> <br />Overview 5 <br /> <br />The Operation of Glen Canyon Dam Final Envi- <br />ronmental Impact Statement (hereafter EIS) was filed in <br />March 1995, and the Record of Decision was signed by <br />Bruce Babbitt, Secretary of the Interior, in October 1996. <br />The Record of Decision noted that the goal "was not to <br />maximize benefits for the most resources, but rather to <br />find an alternative dam operating plan that would permit <br />recovery and long-term sustain ability of downstream <br />resources while limiting hydropower capacity and flex- <br />ibility only to the extent necessary to achieve recovery <br />and long-term sustainability" (U.S. Department of the <br />Interior, 1996, p. G-ll). Having established this goal, the <br />SecretalY's decision was to implement the modified low <br />fluctuating flow (MLFI~ alternative (the preferred alter- <br />native in the EIS) as described in the EIS but with minor <br />changes in the upramp rate, maximum release rate, and <br />the timing of beach/habitat-building flows (BHBF; see <br />below). The document also formally established the Glen <br />Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program. <br /> <br />Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive <br />Management Program <br /> <br />The creation of an adaptive management program <br />was a common element for all alternatives considered <br />in the EIS, and its implementation was subsequently <br />mandated by the Record of Decision. Adaptive man- <br />agement was selected to create a process whereby "the <br />effects of dam operations on downstream resources <br /> <br /> <br />1919 Grand Canyon <br />National Park created <br /> <br />1922 Colorado River Compact signed allocating the water of the <br />Colorado River between the upper and lower basins. Upper basin <br />States have the right to use 7.5 maf/yr only if that quantity is available <br />after meeting delivery requirements of 7.5 maf/yr to the lower basin <br />plus the amount required to satisfy anticipated claims by Mexico <br /> <br />1921-23 U.S. Geological Survey's <br />Birdseye Expedition surveys possible <br />dam sites along the Colorado River <br /> <br />1928 Boulder Canyon Project Act <br />passed authorizing Hoover Dam <br />