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<br />STATEMENT OF JUSTIFICATION
<br />Glen Canyon Darn Adaptive Management Work Group
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<br />Since Glen Canyon Darn was completed in 1963, prior to passage of the National Environmental ?~;'
<br />Policy Act (NEP A) of 1969, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was not required for
<br />construction, Increasing concern was expressed by the public and Federal and State agencies
<br />regarding how Glen Canyon Darn operations may be adversely affecting downstream resources.
<br />To begin addressing these concerns, in December 1982 the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation)
<br />initiat~d the multi agency, interdisciplinary Glen Canyon Dam Environmental Studies at the
<br />direction of the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary). In November 1989, the Secretary directed
<br />an EIS to be prepared on the Operation of Glen Canyon Dam. The Secretary designated
<br />Reclamation as lead agency. Subsequently, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, National Parle Service,
<br />U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Energy's Western Area Power Administration,
<br />Arizona Game and Fish Department, Hopi Tribe, Hualapai Tribe, Navajo Nation, Pueblo of Zuni,
<br />San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, and Southern Paiute Consortium were designated as cooperating
<br />agencies. This EIS, completed in March 1995, received broad interest from water and power
<br />users, environmental and conservation groups, Federal and State agencies, Indian tribes, and
<br />private citizens across the country,
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<br />The Grand Canyon Protection Act (Act) of October 30, 1992, (public Law 102-575) directs the
<br />Secretary to establish and implement long-term monitoring programs and activities that wiD
<br />ensure that Glen Canyon Dam is operated in a manner consistent with that of section 1802 of the
<br />Act. The monitoring programs and activities will be established and implemented in consultation
<br />with the Secretary of Energy; the Governors of the States of Arizona, California, Colorado,
<br />Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming; Indian tribes; and the general public, including
<br />representatives of academic and scientific communities, environmental organizations, the
<br />recreation industry, and contractors for the purchase of Federal power produced at Glen Canyon
<br />Dam. In order to comply with the consultation requirement of the Act, the Operations of Glen
<br />Canyon Dam EIS recommended formation of a Federal Advisory Committee.
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<br />Findings from the EIS indicate that many uncertainties still exist regarding the downstream impact
<br />of water releases from Glen Canyon Dam. In compliance with the Act, the EIS proposed a
<br />process of "adaptive management" whereby the effects of darn operations on downstream
<br />resources will be monitored and assessed. The results of those resource assessments wiD form the
<br />basis for modifying dam operations to protect downstream resources. The Glen Canyon Dam
<br />Adaptive Management Program (AMP) includes an Adaptive Management Work Group
<br />(AMWG). This broad-based group will consist of members from Federal, State, and tribal
<br />governments; contractors who purchase power from Glen Canyon Dam; and environmental and
<br />recreational organizations having interest in the operation of Glen Canyon Dam and protection of
<br />the resources within the Glen, Marble, and Grand Canyons. This group will serve to facilitate the
<br />AMP and make recommendations to the Secretary on cooperative integration of dam operations,
<br />resource protection and management, and monitoring and research for use in the decisionmaking
<br />process,
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<br />The Colorado River is the most highly regulated river in the United States and possibly the world.
<br />Ofp~icular concern are the environmental impacts to the crown jewel of the national parle '
<br />system which is located immediately downstream of the dam, The Grand Canyon National Parle is
<br />one of the most highly visited natural resources in the United States. It is a World Heritage Site
<br />and one of the seven natural wonders of the world, attracting visitors from around the globe.
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<br />This highly regulated river serves many people with respect to agriculture, municipal and
<br />industrial water, hydropower, recreational and environmental interests, These river resources
<br />serve much of the southwestern United States including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada,
<br />New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming with water and power generation, Stakeholders served and
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