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<br />Rick's Remarks <br /> <br />by Rick Gold <br />Assistant Regional Director <br /> <br />Much has been accomplished since the last <br />newsletter, As you will see from the articles in this <br />volume, a number of steps in our overall program <br />have been completed. <br /> <br />Briefly, we have completed research flows, <br />implemented and completed a test of the proposed <br />Interim Operating Criteria, completed the necessary <br />NEP A compliance forthe decision to implement, and <br />implemented the Interim Operating Criteria. The <br />analysis of the public input to the preliminary <br />alternatives has been completed, and the EIS team <br />has made its recommendations relative to the revised <br />alternatives for the EIS. These steps, although not <br />without controversy, have moved us steadily toward <br />the successful development of the EIS. <br /> <br />Through the development, testing, and <br />implementation of the Interim Operating Criteria, we <br /> <br />have provided the necessary protection of <br />downstream resources while the EIS is being <br />completed. The evaluation of public input on the <br />alternatives and the resulting team <br />recommendations bring us to the point where we can <br />begin the analysis of the impacts. Through all of <br />these activities, we have had much spirited and <br />purposeful discussion. Solutions have been difficult <br />and sometimes slow in coming; but on the whole, <br />progress has been steady. <br /> <br />I appreciate the continued efforts of the many <br />dedicated individuals who are involved in the <br />process and believe that this open, though often <br />difficult, process continues to provide the most <br />appropriate vehicle to move the issue towards <br />resolution. <br /> <br />o <br /> <br />Monitoring Programs <br /> <br />An important element of the Glen Canyon <br />Environmental Studies (GCES) effort is the <br />development and implementation of interim and <br />long-term monitoring programs for the Colorado <br />River and its natural, cultural, recreational, and <br />economic resources in the Glen and Grand Canyons. <br />These studies also include related resource <br />parameters from Lake Powell and Lake Mead. <br /> <br />The monitoring programs will provide a database <br />from which to measure changes relative to Glen <br />Canyon Dam operations. The components of the <br />monitoring programs are separated into three <br />specific areas: <br /> <br />. Data collection <br /> <br />. Database development and integration of the col- <br />lected information <br /> <br />. Reporting program <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br />o <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />The databases will initially focus on 13 sites within <br />the Grand and Glen Canyons and the Lake Mead <br />National Recreation Area. These sites, selected by a <br />group of scientists and the GCES Senior Scientist, are <br />either representative of specific Grand Canyon areas <br />or have been defined as critical to the management of <br />the river corridor resources. <br /> <br />All 13 sites have been surveyed and are in various <br />stages of mapping. A prototype database of the <br />Nankoweap monitoring site has been completed. All <br />information will be integrated through the GCES <br />Geographic Information System (GIS). <br /> <br />The teclmicalaspects of the GIS development are <br />being performed by Reclamation personnel in <br />Denver. The GCES office is coordinating the <br />development, integration, and evaluation of the data <br />jointly with personnel from the cooperating agencies. <br />