8138

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 8138
• Author: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Arizona Game and Fish Department and The National Park Service.
• Title: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Utah/Arizona\
• USFW Year: 1996.
• Copyright Material: NO

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b. Protect and restore native fish species within suitable habitats in
Glen Canyon NRA.
c. Promote and provide quality recreational fishing opportunities in
Glen Canyon NRA.
C. HISTORY OF GLEN CANYON NRA - Glen Canyon Dam was authorized by Congress in
1956 to provide water storage in the Upper Colorado River Basin. The result
was the creation of Lake Powell.
Preimpoundment investigations were conducted as early as 1959 by UDWR. UDWR
joined AGFD and cooperatively managed the fisheries in the new impoundment
until 1970 when Utah assumed lead responsibility for the reservoir. Since
1970, UDWR has acted as the primary fisheries management agency for Lake
Powell.
NPS presence occurred in 1972 when Glen Canyon,NRA was established as a unit
of the National Park Service by Public Law (92-593) "to provide for public
outdoor recreation use and enjoyment of Lake Powell and lands adjacent
thereto...and to preserve the scenic, scientific, and historic features
contributing to public enjoyment of the area...". This legislation
specifically mandates recreational fishing.
D. ISSUES AND CONCERNS RELATED TO FISH RESOURCES WITHIN GLEN CANYON NRA
The following issues have been identified as important to the long-term
protection and management of fish communities and sport fisheries within Glen
Canyon NRA.
1. The effects of dam operation on fisheries are not well understood within
Glen Canyon NRA. Alteration of flows, sediment transport, nutrients,
temperature, and lake elevation all affect fish, yet biological input into dam
operations has not always been considered in the decision making process.
a. Impacts to endangered fish below Glen Canyon Dam are a major
consideration of the Glen Canyon Dam Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS), and how preferred alternative flows from dam operations will
affect fish needs assessment.
b. Impacts from operation of Glen Canyon Dam on critics] habitat of
inflow reaches have not been assessed.
c. The effects of raising the spillway gates 4.5 feet as proposed in
the Glen Canyon Daa~ EIS have not been evaluated.
d. Operation of upstream dams including Flaming Gorge Dam and Navajo
Dam affect endangered fishes within Glen Canyon NRA as the receiving
system. Assessment of how the manipulation of those dam operations
impact fishery resources within Glen Canyon is needed.
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