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<br />. Steady Flows, including the Existing Monthly Volume, <br />Seasonally Adjusted, and Year-Round Steady Flow alternatives. <br /> <br />These alternatives provide a full spectrum of analysis <br />ranging from flows that exceed historic peaking power operations <br />to flows that would essentially remain constant year-round. <br />Depending upon the alternative, peaking power production would <br />range from fully maximized to severely limited. <br /> <br />Under the preferred alternative, river flow fluctuations <br />from the historic range are narrowed. The ramping rate, which is <br />the rate of change in river flows, both up and down, is <br />restricted. Also, the daily volume of change is constrained from <br />the historic pattern. This serves to meet the needs of the <br />various riverine environments and to protect recreational uses of <br />the river, while providing for a limited amount of peaking power <br />capability. <br /> <br />The EIS team and cooperating agencies attempted to balance <br />benefits to all resources in identifying a preferred alternative. <br />Thus, as a result of comments received on the draft EIS and <br />discussions with the u.S. Fish and wildlife service, the <br />preferred alternative as described in the draft EIS is somewhat <br />different in the FEIS. <br /> <br />The flow modifications to the preferred alternative include <br />an increase from 20,000 to 25,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) <br />maximum flow and an upramp increase from 2,500 to 4,000 cfs per <br />hour. These changes were reviewed and agreed upon by the <br />cooperating agencies, other interested parties, and the Glen <br />Canyon Environmental Study senior scientist and his advisory <br />panel. <br /> <br />In addition to the operational changes in maximum flows and <br />upramp rates, the endangered fish research flows, as detailed in <br />the Fish and Wildlife Service biological opinion (Endangered <br />Species Act), were moved to the Adaptive Management Program. <br /> <br />Also identified in the biological opinion is the need for <br />temperature modification of the Colorado River as a critical <br />factor benefiting endangered fish in the Grand Canyon. <br />Reclamation will, be requesting funds to expeditiously complete <br />the needed studies to move forward with selective withdrawal <br />structures at the dam which will allow warmer water near the <br />surface of the reservoir to be released, thus raising the river <br />temperature. <br /> <br />The FEIS was prepared in accordance with the Grand Canyon <br />Protection Act, which required a reevaluation of dam operations <br />to minimize adverse impacts on the downstream environmental and <br />cultural resources and Native American interests in Glen and <br />Grand Canyons. Reclamation involved a number of Federal, state, <br />and Native American interests as cooperating agencies, including <br />the Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, <br />