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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />A scientific review panel has reviewed the proposed Glen Canyon Dam temperature control <br />device (TCD), as well as operation and potential impaets to downstream resourees. The peer review <br />panel prepared a preliminary "risk assessment" of the TCD associated with biologieal, physical, and <br />economic resources related to Glen Canyon Dam operations and Grand Canyon National Park. The <br />primary pwpose of the proposed TCD is to provide wanner water below the dam and through the Glen <br />and Grand Canyon reaches of the mainstream for the benefit of native fish species (e.g., humpback <br />chub, flanneImouth and bluehead suckers, etc.). Some of the risks identified by the panel include the <br />following: (I) wanner water below Glen Canyon Darn may induce more non-native wann water fishes <br />to move into this reach ofthe mainstream; (2) other aquatic parasites, injurious to native fish species, <br />may become more prevalent; (3) increased water temperatures my increase habitat suitability for non- <br />native rainbow and brown trout in the Glen Canyon reach; (4) warm water releases eould reduce the <br />efficiency of the turbines in the Glen Canyon power-plant; (5) lost hydtopower revenues associated <br />with downtime of the TCD; and (6) warm water releases will alter the physical water chemistry of the <br />mainstream below Glen Canyon Dam (e.g., pH, dissolved oxygen, and nutrient loads, etc.). <br /> <br />The panel concluded that the benefits to the native endangered fishes outweighs the potential <br />risks associated with construction and operation of the TCD. The panel recommends that the AMWG <br />and Reclamation consider moving the proposed project fOIWard in an expeditious fashion as the <br />humpback chub is considered to be in perilous condition in the Glen and Grand Canyon reaches of the <br />mainstream. The panel also reeognized that construction and operation of the TCD over a ten-year <br />period is likely to cost approximately $200,000,000. The panel also recommended that the TCD, if <br />constructed, should be operated in the context of adaptive management; with the development of <br />rigorous scientifically-based experiments and hypothesis testing events. Based upon the results of <br />these experiments over time, the TCD and Glen Canyon Dam would be operated to optimize habitat <br />quality for the native fish assemblage below Glen Canyon Dam. <br /> <br />Lower Colorado Water Suoolv Proiect (LCWSP) <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Blythe Energy Project - Representatives of the Blythe Energy Project (BEP) still have not <br />responded to our invitation to be a participant in the LCWSP. In reading the newspaper you <br />may have noticed that many of these merchant plants have fallen into bankruptcy. I have <br />included in the Board folder, as an information item, a letter from Reclamation to BEP <br />representatives informing them that absent an approved water supply offset plan, it may want <br />to consider applying for water from the LCWSP. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Needles' Subcontract - On July 30", Reclamation approved the Subcontract for LCWSP <br />water prepared by the City of Needles. Additionally, Reclamation has sent Needles a list of <br />proposed subcontractors and authorized Needles to contact those applicants, approximately <br />234 potential subeontractors, for LCWSP water. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Operation of the well field - On August 1 st, the lID began operational pumping the LCWSP <br />well field for the first time. The goal is to pump 910 acre-feet of exchange water to meet the <br />City of Needles and BLM's requirements for 2003. <br /> <br />10 <br />