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d. Recreational Use <br />The extensive recreational use of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, <br />which surrounds Lake Powell, is demonstrated by the visitation of 2,532,087'"~ <br />people during 1996 (latest figure available. The National Park Service has conces- <br />sion-operated facilities at Wahweap, Dangling Rope, Halls Crossing, Hite and <br />Bullfrog Basin on the reservoir and at Lees Ferry located 16 miles below the dam on <br />the Colorado River. The San Juan Marina, which was operated on Lake Powell by <br />the Navajo Nation, is now closed due to a tributary flood in 1989. <br />From 1909 through 1961, an estimated total of 20,972 people visited <br />Rainbow Bridge. When access to the bridge by water was made available by <br />completion of the dam in 1963, visitation rapidly increased. In 1966, 20,468 <br />people visited Rainbow Bridge, almost as many people as had visited the site during <br />the previous 53 years. In 1996, 325,562'"' people visited Rainbow Bridge (latest <br />figure available-. <br />2. Flaming Gorge Storage Unit <br />Flaming Gorge Dam and Powerplant were completed in 1963. Uprating of <br />the units in 1992 increased the plant nameplate capacity from 108 megawatts to <br />about 151 megawatts. Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, which surrounds <br />Flaming Gorge Dam and Reservoir, recorded approximately 2,383,500'"' visitors <br />during 1996 (latest figure availablel. The visitor center and dam tour areas have <br />recently been retrofitted to make the facilities fully accessible to persons with <br />disabilities. Fishing is an important recreational activity both on the reservoir and <br />in the Green River below the dam. <br />Flaming Gorge was operated in water year 1998 in accordance with the <br />1992 biological opinion which describes seasonal flow regimes for the benefit of <br />endangered fish. During water years 1992 through 1996, extensive research was <br />conducted to better understand the needs of endangered fish living in the Green <br />River below Flaming Gorge Dam. This research was conducted through the Upper <br />Colorado River Recovery Implementation Program (UCRIP}. An integrated research <br />report is currently being prepared which will form the basis of year-round flow <br />recommendations. The report is scheduled for completion in 1999. Reclamation <br />intends to conduct National Environmental Policy Act INEPA} compliance on the <br />permanent implementation of the flow recommendations. <br />A contract was awarded to repair the number 2 river outlet pipe that failed <br />on June 21, 1997. The repairs to the No. 2 river outlet pipe were completed in <br />August 1998. <br />*Reclamation's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) clearance to collect this data has <br />expired. The data collection form has been revised and is awaiting new OMB approval. <br />35 <br />