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<br />Proposed Water Year 2005-2006 Experimental Actions <br /> <br />4 <br /> <br />The Proposed Action in water years 2005 and 2006 contains all aspects of the Proposed <br />Action that was implemented in water years 2003-2004, including sediment triggers for a <br />high experimental flow, non-native suppression flows, and mechanical removal of non- <br />native fish in the Colorado River above and below the mouth of the Little Colorado <br />River, Modifications in the Proposed Action for water years 2005-2006 include: (1) the <br />high experimental flow likely would be closer to 41,000 cfs than 42,000-45,000 cfs <br />because of the drought-induced reduction in the level of Lake Powell and because of <br />maintenance occurring at Glen Canyon Dam; (2) the timing of the high experimental <br />flow would be moved forward from January to November-December, specifically no <br />earlier than November 15; (3) non-native fish suppression flows with fluctuations of <br />5,000-20,000 cfs Monday through Saturday and Sunday fluctuations of 5,000.8,000 cfs <br />would be extended from the end of March to April 7; (4) regardless of achieving the <br />relevant sediment triggers, September and October releases in both calendar years 2005 <br />and 2006 will be sequential periods of steady (8,000 cfs) and low fluctuating <br />(approximately 6,500-9,000 cfs) flows, with duration and magnitude determined by <br />research requirements; and (5) mechanical removal of non-native fish in the Colorado <br />River would occur between River Miles 56,2 and 68,5, a slight reduction from previous <br />efforts. <br /> <br />Anticipated dam releases and periods of non-native mechanical removal for the No <br />Action and Proposed Action scenarios are shown in Figures 1 and 2, Both the No Action <br />and Proposed Action contain scenarios without and with sediment triggers being <br />attained that would lead to the release of a high experimental flolV from Glen Canyon <br />Dam, Non-native fish suppression flows during the period January 1 through the first <br />week of April and mechanical removal of non-native fish near the mouth of the Little <br />Colorado River would not occur under the No Action, A detailed hydrograph of the <br />high experimental flow is provided in Figure 3, <br /> <br />AffECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES <br /> <br />The affected environment for the No Action and Proposed Action allernatives is the <br />same as identified in the September 2002 EA and is hereby incorporated by reference, <br /> <br />Annual dam releases as determined by the Secretary's long-range operating criteria will <br />be the same under both the No Action and Proposed Action alternatives; however, <br />monthly release volumes would differ depending on if and when the high experimental <br />flow occurs, November-December or January (Table 1), These differences also would be <br />manifested in minor changes during the year in the elevation of Lake Powell. <br />