Laserfiche WebLink
<br />0112 <br /> <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Salt Lake city, utah <br />Barry D. wirth (801) 524-5403 <br />For Release January 3, 1995 <br /> <br />RECLAMATION ANNOUNCES PLANS TO DELAY <br />GLEN CANYON DAK SPECIAL BEAeH/HABITAT BUILDING FLOWS <br /> <br />The Bureau of Reclamation announced today that it will delay <br />the Beach/Habitat Building Flow experiment from Glen eanyon Dam <br /> <br />proposed for the spring of 1995, according to Upper eolorado <br /> <br />Regional Director Charles A. Calhoun. Those flows were to be <br /> <br />42,000 cubic feet per .second, the highest seen since the floods <br /> <br />of 1983-1985. The proposal for the experiment came from the <br /> <br />scientists who have been conducting the Glen Canyon Environmental <br /> <br />studies in support of the Glen eanyon Dam Environmental Impact <br /> <br />Statement (EIS), now nearing completion. <br /> <br />Reclamation believes that an experimental flow through Grand <br />eanyon would rearrange stored sediments in the river by moving <br />them from the channels and eddies and placing them on elevated <br />deposits or beaches. These flows would also potentially <br />rejuvenate backwaters to enhance aquatic habitat for larval and <br />young native fish; scour marshes to enhance maintenance of high <br />value, biologically diverse habitats; and provide stability to <br />areas of cultural concern. <br /> <br />"While there are projected resource benefits with the flows, <br />there are also significant issues to overcome prior to conducting <br />such an experiment," said ealhoun. First, he states, the flows <br />would have to be analyzed under the auspices of 'the National <br />Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA. eonducting such a review in <br />time for a spring 1995 flow would actually deter Reclamation's <br />ability to complete the Glen Canyon Dam EIS in the same time <br />frame. "eompletion of the EIS.is our main focus," said Calhoun. <br />He went on to say, "By completing the EIS, we will be able to <br />include the Beach/Habitat Building Flows as part of our preferred <br />alternative and take care of NEPA for a future experiment." The <br />