WSP06185

• File Number: 8220.101.09B
• Description: Glen Canyon Dam/Lake Powell
• State: AZ
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 1/1/1994
• Title: Comments re: Operation of Glen Canyon Dam Draft Environmental Impact Statement
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: EIS

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conditions favorable to endangered fish which are exclusive of
other variables.

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* Alternatives designed to create use of favorable tributary
environments also will have to be assessed.

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ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED AND ELIMINATED FROM DETAILED STUDY

Sand Pumpina

One alternative method to redeposit sand is sand pumping yet this
was discarded. The draft EIS does not compare risks, costs and
impacts of sand pumping and high water releases which are intended
to accomplish the same goal.

* Sand pumping costs are estimated at $30,000 to $150,000 per
year compared with power purchase cost of about $2,000,000 per
year for additional purchase power to support a single high
release.

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* The Draft EIS discards sand pumping as a viable alternative
to replenish beach sand because it is "not compatible with NPS
management policies for reasons of visitor use and potential
wilderness designation (page 48) but retains releases of
45,000 cfs water volumes to replenish beach sand in all
alternatives even though it violates existing laws.

* The experiment to test how high flows will move and
redeposit sand, which is common to all alternatives, will cost
an estimated $10- to $15,000,000 according to WAPA.

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Beach Protection

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Beach protection measures should be retained as a concept common to
all alternatives. To do otherwise ignores the very practical use
of this method to stabilize and protect cultural resources, protect
banks and beaches in select areas, and protect the limited amount
of infrastructure (bridges, water lines, trails, etc.) needed by
the National Park Service.

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