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<br />22 <br /> <br />517 GEOGRAPillC SCOPE OF THE AMP <br />518 AND GCMRC MONITORING AND RESEARCH PROGRAMS <br />519 The scope of the AMP is described as the Colorado River ecosystem within Glen <br />520 Canyon National Recreation Area and Grand Canyon National Park (Figure 2.2). The <br />521 Colorado River ecosystem is defined as the Colorado River mainstem corridor and <br />522 interacting resources in associated riparian and terrace zones, located primarily from the <br />523 forebay of Glen Canyon Dam to the western boundary of Grand Canyon National Park, a <br />524 distance of approximately 300 river miles. The scope of AMP and GCMRC activitie~o'<r <br />525 includ~ limited investigations into some tributaries (e.g., the Little Colorado and Paria <br />526 Rivers). The effects of Glen Canyon Dam operations on the Colorado River ecosystem <br />527 below Separation Rapids, such as those seen during the 1996 BHBF test, might result in an <br />528 extension of the geographical scope of the long-term monitoring program. The long-term <br />529 monitoring program will also include, pending review by the TWG, the monitoring of <br />530 selected water quality attributes in Lake Powell,that may be affected by dam operations and <br />531 have the potential to affect downstream resources. <br />532 The lateral extent of the monitoring effort is defined by the extent of processes and <br />533 conditions influenced by dam discharges and river flows associated with operating criteria in <br />534 the ROD. The relevant lateral study zone area is the maximum regulated discharge and the <br />535 inundated area for annual pre-dam peak flows. Arroyo head cutting caused by current low .(1..- <br />536 flow operations may extend above this level. Thus, i~prudent in some areas of the '. ~ <br />537 Colorado River ecosystem to include elevations above the stage associated with flows of ' <br />538 100,000 cfs. <br />539 The AMP is constrained by design. For this reason upstream monitoring by GCMRC <br />540 in Lake Powell, and downstream in tributaries, (i.e. Little Colorado River), is constrained to <br />541 those probable effects on downstream resources associated with dam operations. AMP <br />542 participants realize these to be constraints that inhibit understanding of the entire system and <br />543 therefore accept that scientific information from programs outside the AMP may be needed <br />544 as a means of strengthening understanding of the entire Colorado River ecosystem. In this <br />545 regard, scientific review by GCMRC and the application of GCMRC protocols to programs <br /> <br />November S, 1998 <br />SecoDd Draft - Do Not Cite, Pbotocopy, or Distribute <br />