WSP05164

• File Number: 8200.300.20.F.1
• Description: Grand Canyon Trust
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 4/1/1997
• Author: Grand Canyon Trust
• Title: Colorado River Basin Management Study
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

COLORADO RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT STUDY: FINAL REPORT

ISSUE:S OF E:NVIRONMENTAL, REpREATION,
AND CULTURAL RESOURCE PRO..rE:CTION
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Large numbers of comments indicated that the resolution of these issues, linked to
population growth and shifting societal values, is critical to successful management of
Colorado River resources. The need for coordination between managers, states,
species recovery efforts, and even between n~tions was repeatedly mentioned.
Ecosystem approaches and creative partnerships ~ere often cited as part of the solu-
tion, There were several commenls describing t~e need to define and include better
science, to strike a balance, and to agree on goa1$ and objeclives,
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Many sub-issues involving endangered species re$toration and water quality concerns
were mentioned, The impact of critical habitat designation, the role of the federal gov-
ernment in listing species, and methods for implementing species recovery were all
discussed, Adequate funding for these program~ and agreement on recovery goals
were considered important. Several comments focused on concerns over how the
Endangered Species Act was interpreted and enfbrced and a few questioned the very
legitimacy of the Act. Wetland protection, lin~s between tributary and mainstem
management, coordination of land and water m~nagement, and riparian habitats on
both sides of the international border were incre~singly important. Water quality con-
cerns went beyond salinity levels dictated by treaty obligations to Mexico, extending
to eutrificalion, biocontaminants, agriculture runoff, heavy metals, municipal waste-
water, point and non-point sources, Resolution of federal reserved rights; sedimenta-
tion of reservoirs, watersheds, and the mainstem.: and the potential for construction
of new reclamation projects were all stakeholdet concerns.

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Conflicts between resources and uses were com1nonly cited. Environmental and cul-
tural resource protection impact both the qu~lity and cost of water and power
resources just as dam and reservoir reoperationl have impacted both the quality and
cost of hydropower. Many comments mention~d the link between power and con-
sumptive water uses and impacts to natural, cultural, and recreation resources; each
impacting the other. Protection of these resources affects the supply of water and
power. Likewise, recreation can have impa.cts dn environmental resource protection
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and the management of native and non-native ~pecies often conflict.
!

Despite these dire observations many comment}centered on solutions, The need for
coordination, flexibility, and ecosystem approac es was again a focus. The benefits of
a more basin-wide perspective, the protection 0 cullural resources and the challenges
,
of incorporating tribal cullures into management were identified, Scientific informa-
tion Was generally considered an important itool in managing non-consumptive
resources, but lack of information, incomplete ~ata and the need for mechanisms to
incorporate this information limit its effective ~se in management. The possibility of
a new scientific bureau was suggested, i