BOARD01164

• Board Meeting Date: 3/21/2006
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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Reclamation Awards $1.69 MUlion Contract to Biomar!t.lnc.: On Feb. 9, the Bureau of Reclamation
announced that it awarded a contract worth up to $1,69 million to Biomark, Inc., for purchase of Passive
Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags and readers that are used for tracking endangered fish in both the San
Juan and Upper Colorado River Basins. The Upper Colorado Recovery Implementation Program and San
Juan Basin Recovery ImI'1f~-mentatiQn Prngmm have been using PIT tugs to individually iliiuk cmiangc:reu
fish for over 10 years.

The recovery programs are engaged in the often difficult, day-to-day work of recovering endangered
species in the Upper Colorado River Basin while allowing water development to proceed. They provide
Endangered Species Act compliance for more than 800 water projects. The Upper Colorado program has
become a national model for recovering endangered species while addressing the demand for water
development to support growing westem communities.

Glen Canyon Adaptive Management Update: The Adaptive Management Workgroup (AMWG) met in
Phoenix on March 7-8, 2006. Items of note included the following:

Mark Limbaugh will replace Mike Gabaldon as the Secretary's representative.
Mike Gabaldon will transfer to Denver and become the Director of the Technical Services
Center, which was previously the USBR Engineering and Research Center.
Anne Kinsinger will take over the duties ofDenriy Fenn as the new director of the USGS
Southwest Biological Center, which over sees operations of the Grand Canyon Monitoring
and Research Center.
Energy Bill is moving forward.
AMWG approved the Stationary Display for the Glen Canyon Dam Visitor's Center
Low reservoir levels in Lake Powell have resuIted in warmer water releases from Glen
Canyon Dam, which are resulting in water temperatures in the river at the confluence with the
Little Colorado that are in the range desired for Humpback Chub spawning. Monitoring will
be required to see if there is any upstream migration by non-native warm water fish given the
increased water temperatures.
7. Temperature Control Device (TCD) discussions continue to be a subject of considerable
debate. The estimated cost of a TCD is $20 mil\ion per each power penstock and there are 8
penstocks. USBR would consider doing 2 penstocks, but believes that any more are not
worth the investment. Achieving 13 degrees C at the Dam is usually enough to get 16
degrees C at the LCR. A full TCD would allow operations from 3510 to 3700 in elevation.
NEPA compliance could be done by summer 2007. USBR has clearly stated that a cost share
of some kind would be required.
8. AMWG recommended moving forward with the development of the Genetics Management
Plan required to move forward with stocking. The plan would be done by September 30,
2007. USFWS Region 6 would need to approve the Plan.
9. A motion was made to establish an Ad Hoc to work with newly created DOl Policy Group
and the Colorado River Fish and Wildlife Council (an association state wildlife director's) to
develop a recommendation for the AMWG to consider sending to the Secretary to implement
a Recovery Program for the Humpback Chub in Grand Canyon.

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Colorado River Basin States Discussions: Representatives of the Colorado River Basin states met on
January 29th, 30th, and 31st to fmalize the states' input to Secretary Norton on the scope of
Reclamation's NEPA process to develop shortage guidelines for the Lower Basin and coordinated
management guidelines for the operation of Glen Canyon and Hoover Dams. After three days of intense
discussions, the Basin states prepared three documents: I) a transmittal letter to Secretary Norton, 2) a
Seven Basin states' Preliminary Proposal Regarding Colorado River Interim Operations, and 3) a draft

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