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<br />THE SECRETA.RY OF THE INTERIOR
<br />WASHINGTON
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<br />MEMORANDUM
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<br />Subject:
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<br />Interested Parties ..-,- - ,.-- ;" ..)., '
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<br />Secretary ~~=_:t~.~,.:':---"-
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<br />Operating Criteria and 1997 Annual Plan of Operations for/Glen Canyon Dam,/ '
<br />Colorado River Storage Project ' --
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<br />To:
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<br />From:
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<br />The Bureau of Reclamation has established Operating Criteria and the 1997 Annual Plan of
<br />Operations (APO) for Glen Canyon Dam as required by the Grand Canyon Protection Act.
<br />Copies of these documents are enclosed. This action was taken after distributing draft. copies of
<br />the proposed Operating Criteria and the proposed 1997 Plan of Operations to representatives of
<br />the Governors of the Colorado River Basin States, the Upper Colorado River Commission,
<br />appropriate Federal agencies, tribal, academic, scientific and recreation representatives, and others
<br />interested in Colorado River operations, and after holding a consultation meeting on November
<br />21, 1996, with these same entities. The Operating Criteria and APO reflect the implementation of
<br />the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Glen Canyon Dam Environmental Impact Statement and
<br />meet the requirements of the 1992 Grand Canyon Protection Act.
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<br />The Operating Criteria specifY the requirements for an annual report of operations under the
<br />Grand Canyon Protection Act, a periodic review of the Operating Criteria, and details regarding
<br />operational constraints. These constraints include maximum, minimum, and daily fluctuation flow
<br />rates, maximum ramp rates, emergency exception criteria, flood frequency reduction measures,
<br />habitat maintenance flows, and beach/habitat building flows.
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<br />The recommended 1997 Plan of Operations reflects the operation of Glen Canyon Dam consistent
<br />with the Operating Criteria. Monthly releases are expected to vary between 600,000 acre-feet
<br />and 1,500,000 acre-feet with daily flow fluctuations likely between 6,000 cfslday and 8,000
<br />cfslday depending on monthly release volumes. The maximum daily flow rate of25,000 cfs and
<br />the maximum upramp rate of 4,000 cfsIhr during fluctuating flow conditions, as described in the
<br />Final Environmental Impact Statement and ROD, will be placed into effect.
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<br />During the preparation of the 1996 Annual Operating Plan prepared under the 1968 Colorado
<br />River Basin Project Act, operating guidelines were agreed to which attempts to accomplish the
<br />intent of the BeachlHabitat Building Flow of the Glen Canyon Dam Environmental Impact
<br />Statement was developed in cooperation with the Basin States. With this commitment from all
<br />parties, a test of this "spike flow" was conducted in Marchi April 1996. It is my intention that
<br />Glen Canyon Dam will continue to be operated in confonnance with the agreement in the 1996
<br />Annual Operating Plan regarding BeachlHabitat Building Flows,
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<br />NDTlCE. IF YOU DETACH
<br />ENCLOSURES, PLEASE INSERT
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