WSP00615

• File Number: 8220.101.09
• Description: Glen Canyon Dam/Lake Powell
• State: AZ
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 10/25/1996
• Title: Record of Decision - Operation of Glen Canyon Dam Final Environmental Impact Statement
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Record of Decision

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CITY OF ENfERPRISE

P.O. Box 340
ENTERPRISE, UTAH 84725
[phone]
FAX [phone]

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MR. RICK GOLD
COLORADO RIVER STUDIES OFFICE
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
ATTN: UC1512
BOX 11568
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84147

DEAR MR. GOLD:

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APR 2 5 1995
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APRIL 12, 1995

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THE FINAL IMPACT STATEMENT (FEIS), WHICH WAS RELEASED ON MARCH
22, 1995, REFLECTS YEARS OF RESEARCH, STUDY AND DISCUSSION AMONG
DIVERSE GROUPS. POWER USERS HAVE BORNE SOME $100 MILLION IN STUDY
COSTS TO ASCERTAIN THE EFFECT OF POWER OPERATIONS ON THE
ENVIRONMENT IN THE GRAND CANYON. WE PLEDGED AT THE OUTSET TO ACCEPT
THE FINAL RECOMMENDATION, PROVIDED THAT IT COULD BE SUPPORTED BY
CREDIBLE, THOROUGH SCIENCE.

NOW THAT THE FEIS IS OUT, SOME GROUPS ARE CHALLENGING THE
RECOMMENDATION. IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE THAT NO PARTICULAR GROUP IS
FULLY SATISFIED WITH THE RESULT, INCLUDING POWER USERS. THE FEIS IS
TRULY A COMPROMISE, A RECOGNITION THAT THE BENEFITS OF THIS PUBLIC
RESOURCE MUST BE SHARED AMONG MANY--AND SOMETIME COMPETING--
INTERESTS. FOR US, IT MEANS THE LOSS OF VALUABLE PEAKING CAPACITY
FROM GLEN CANYON, WHICH WE MUST REPLACE AT HIGHER COST.

SCIENCE SUPPORTS THE RECOMMENDED WATER RELEASE PATTERNS
CONTAINED IN THE FEIS. ACCORDING TO INFORMATION RELEASED BY THE
BUREAU, "the GeES senior scientist and the advisory
group....determined there would be no significant impact to
downstream resources if the maximum flow was raised to 25,000 cfs
and the upramp to 4,000 cfs per hour."

I COMMEND THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION AND THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE
COOPERATING AGENCIES FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO SOUND SCIENTIFIC
METHODS AND CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE FINDINGS. THE GeEIS IS A
MODEL FOR RESOLVING COMPLEX ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AMONG DIVERGENT
INTERESTS. I URGE YOU TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE PROCESS AND
RESIST EFFORTS TO OVERTURN THE FEIS. ALLOW THE SCIENTISTS'
ASSESSMENT TO STAND, KNOWING THAT THE ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT PROCESS
WILL GIVE THE BUREAU AN OPPORTUNITY TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTS OF
OPERATIONAL CHANGES OVER TIME AND MAKE IFICATIONS ACCORDING TO
SCIENTIFIC FINDINGS.