9377

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9377
• Author: Colorado Water Workshop.
• Title: 16th Annual Colorado Water Workshop.
• USFW Year: 1991.
• USFW - Doc Type: Western State College.
• Copyright Material: NO

Rick L. Gold
u.s. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Reclamation
Upper Colorado Region
July 23, 1991

SUMMARY

Environmental Protection
and the
Operation of the Colorado River System

New Thinking on The River--

Since the authorization and subsequent construction of the mainstem facilities
of the Colorado River Storage Project, the operation and managem2nt of those
features have been the task of the Bureau of Reclamation and the Basin States.
The rules governing that operation are contained in the Criteria for the
Coordinated Long-Range Operation of Colorado River Reservoirs first
promulgated in June 1970. During the period since 1970, the Long-Range
Operating Criteria has been reviewed three times (1975, 1980, and 1985) and,
in each case, no changes were made. The 1990 review has been broadened to
seek comments on the existing criteria from the public. About 45 individuals
and groups have provided comments and the review is now underway. Consistent
with the existing criteria, an Annual Operating Plan_is developed each year
for the individual reservoirs of the system. These Annual Operating Plans are
developed with the input and consultation of the States and the affected
Federal agencies. This year the Annual Operating Plan development process has
been expanded to include representatives from entities interested in the
criteria review as well as other recognized environmental, recreational, and
water user groups, and the affected Indian tribes.

Beginning in the early 1980's, more and more attention was being focused on
the operations of the system, particularly Glen Canyon Dam. Starting in 1982,
the Glen Canyon Environmental Studies set out to determine the effects of the
operation of Glen Canyon Dam on the downstream environmental resources. These
studies continued until 1988 when the first phase was completed.
Unfortunately during the time of the research and data collection, the
Colorado River experienced four of the highest runoff years on record (1983-
1986). The resulting decision was to continue studies under a more normal
operational regime and the Phase II studies were begun. In July of that year,
the Secretary of the Interior concluded that the time was right to begin the
preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the operation of
Glen Canyon Dam. Since that time, the focus of the Phase II studies has been
shifted to gathering data to prepare the EIS. The decisions which will come
from the EIS will be documented in the Record of Decision.

The Glen Canyon Dam EIS process is now well underway with the public scoping
process having been completed and the development of alternatives well
advanced. Over 17,000 comments were received on the public scoping process
and about 450 letters were received in response to our preliminary list of
alternatives. Reclamation has implemented an open and forthright process in
dealing with all the interested groups, individuals, and the general public.