WSP04106 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

. . Colorado River Environmental Activities Status of the Development of the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program The technical contractors responsible for development of the Lower Colorado River Multi- Species Conservation Program (MSCP) are continuing the preparation of the third draft conservation plan, The document is slated to be released for review and comment in late-July 2002, Additionally, several key subcommittees are preparing position papers related to long-term implementation and decision-making structure and adaptive management. Additionally, a small group is developing a draft "key terms of agreement" document, which will be circulated among MSCP Steering Committee principals and other interested stakeholders, The key terms document is intended to help focus the Steering Committee and technical contractors in developing the comprehensive MSCP conservation plan, and environmental review documentation, Utilizing the key terms and the third draft conservation plan, the MSCP Steering Committee anticipates preparing a comprehensive draft MSCP package that can be utilized in initiating negotiations among the participants during the Fall of2002, Status of the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Work Group As was mentioned at the last Board meeting, Dr. Barry Gold, Chief of the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center (GCMRC), resigned his position to take a new position with the California-based Packard Foundation, The U,S, Geological Survey (USGS) recently announced that Mr. Denny Fenn, a long-time USGS employee, will replace Dr. Gold as the GCMRC Chief Mr. Fenn will represent the GCMRC at meetings of the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Work Group and Technical Work Group meetings. The GCMRC is the federal agency charged with administering and implementing the adaptive management component associated with Glen Canyon Dam operations, WATER QUALITY Colorado River Basin Salinitv Control Forum Mr, Spencer and I attended the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum (Forum), June 5, 2002, in Silverthorne, Colorado, Included in the Board folder, for your information, is a copy of the agenda, Two significant issues were discussed at the meeting, First, the Forum approved issuance of the draft "2002 Review, Water Quality Standards for Salinity, Colorado River System" for public review and comment. The draft report recommends no change in the numeric criteria and proposes a Plan ofImplementation for controlling salinity, However, Appendix B of the Report,entitled "Policy for Implementation of Colorado River Salinity Standards through the NPDES Permit Program" has undergone extensive revision due to possible impacts to the River caused by water discharges from extracting coal-bed methane. It is anticipated that a minium of three information meetings will be held 8