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<br />.--.- <br /> <br /> <br />- /!/UI1 -:- ~ ~ \O~ <br />cAU OF RECLj\.tAj\.~ <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />salt Lake City, utah <br />Barry D. wirth (801) 524-5403 <br />For Release January 3, 1995 <br /> <br />RECLAMATION ANNOUNCES PLANS TO DELAY <br />GLEN CANYON DAM SPECIAL BEACH/HABITAT BUILDING FLOWS <br /> <br />The Bureau of Reclamation announced today that it will delay <br />the Beach/Habitat Building Flow experiment from Glen Canyon Dam <br />proposed for the spring of 1995, according to Upper Colorado <br /> <br />Regional Director Charles A. Calhoun. Those flows were to be <br /> <br />42,000 cubic feet per second, the highest seen since the floods <br /> <br />of 1983-1985. The proposal for the experiment came from the <br /> <br />scientists who have been conducting the Glen Canyon Environmental <br /> <br />Studies in support of the Glen Canyon Dam Environmental Impact <br /> <br />Statement (ElS), now nearing completion. <br /> <br />Reclamation believes that an experimental flow through Grand <br />Canyon would rearrange stored sediments in the river by moving <br />them from the channels and eddies and placing them on elevated <br />deposits or beaches. These flows would also potentially <br />rejuvenate backwaters to enhance aquatic habitat for larval and <br />young native fish; scour marshes to enhance maintenance of high <br />value, biologically diverse habitats; and provide stability to <br />areas of cultural concern. <br /> <br />"While there are projected resource benefits with the flows, <br />there are also significant issues to overcome prior to conducting <br />such an experiment," said Calhoun. First, he states, the flows <br />would have to be analyzed under the auspices of the National <br />Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA. Conducting such a review in <br />time for a spring 1995 flow would actually deter Reclamation's <br />ability to complete the Glen Canyon Dam ElS in the same time <br />frame. "Completion of the ElS is our main focus," said Calhoun. <br />He went on to say, "By completing the ElS, we will be able to <br />include the Beach/Habitat Building Flows as part of our preferred <br />alternative and take care of NEPA for a future experiment." The <br />