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<br />" <br /> <br />RECORD OF DECISION <br /> <br />OPERATION OF GLEN CANYON DAM <br />FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT <br /> <br />I. INTRODUCTION <br /> <br />This record of decision (ROD) of the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation <br />(Reclamation), documents the selection of operating criteria for Glen Canyon Dam, as analyzed in <br />the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), dated March 21, 1995 (PES 95-8). The EIS on <br />the operation of Glen Canyon Dam was prepared with an unprecedented amount of scientific <br />research, public involvement, and stakeholder cooperation. <br /> <br />Scientific evidence gathered during Phase I of the Glen Canyon Environmental Studies (GeES) <br />indicated that significant impacts on downstream resources were occurring due to the operation <br />of Glen Canyon Dam. These findings led to a July 1989 decision by the Secretary of the Interior <br />for Reclamation to prepare an EIS to reevaluate dam operations. The purpose of the reevaluation <br />was to determine specific options that could be implemented to minimize, consistent with law, <br />adverse impacts on the downstream environment and cultural resources, as well as Native <br />American interests in Glen and Grand Canyons. Analysis of an array of reasonable alternatives <br />was needed to allow the Secretary to balance competing interests and to meet statutory <br />responsibilities for protecting downstream resources and producing hydropower, and to protect <br />affected Native American interests. <br /> <br />In addition, the Grand Canyon Protection Act of 1992 was enacted on October 30, 1992. Section <br />1802 (a) of the Act requires the Secretary to operate Glen Canyon Dam: <br /> <br />"...in such a manner as to protect, mitigate adverse impacts <br />to, and improve the values for which Grand Canyon National Park <br />and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area were established, <br />including, but not limited to natural and cultural resources and <br />visitor use. " <br /> <br />Alternatives considered include the No Action Alternative as well as eight operational alternatives <br />that provide various degrees of protection for downstream resources and hydropower production. <br />