Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY - Revision history

Cellsworth at 20:00, 29 September 2026

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Cellsworth at 19:53, 29 September 2026

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Cellsworth at 16:31, 29 September 2026

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Cellsworth at 01:17, 29 September 2026

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Cellsworth at 01:16, 29 September 2026

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Cellsworth at 22:08, 28 September 2026

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Cellsworth at 19:37, 18 September 2026

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Cellsworth at 18:04, 18 September 2026

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Cellsworth at 17:15, 18 September 2026

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Cellsworth at 16:56, 9 December 2024

2024-12-09T16:56:52Z

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 ==AMWG Colorado River trip (1999)==
-As described in Mary Orton’s oral history interview, this trip through Grand Canyon helped soothe contention among AMWG stakeholders, who had not been working together for very long, and resulted in a Vision Statement for the group. Most oral history interviewees involved in GCDAMP at the time have shared a recollection of the trip or its impact on the program.
+As described in Mary Orton’s oral history interview, this trip through Grand Canyon helped soothe contention among AMWG stakeholders, who had not been working together for very long, and resulted in a Vision and Mission Statement for the group. Most oral history interviewees involved in GCDAMP at the time have shared a recollection of the trip or its impact on the program.
 ==Publication of first GCDAMP Strategic Plan (2001)==
@@ Line 187: / Line 193: @@
 “This strategic plan is a guidance document for the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program and was developed by program members. Elements of this plan include the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Work Group’s vision and mission statements, as well as principles, goals, and management objectives.” (From the Foreword to the Stategic Plan)
-==Experimental design initiated (2002)==
+==[http://www.riversimulator.org/Resources/Legal/GCD/ReclamationLTEPwebPage.pdf Long-Term Experimental Plan (LTEP) EIS (2006)] ==
-−
-Adaptive Management Work Group recommends implementation of the first 2 years of an experimental design proposed by the GCMRC.
-−
-==Experimental fish programs launched (2003)==
-−
-Experiment begun to remove nonnative fish from the Colorado River in Grand Canyon. Fluctuating nonnative fish suppression releases from January through March implemented and continued through 2005.
-−
-==[http://www.riversimulator.org/Resources/Legal/GCD/ReclamationLTEPwebPage.pdf Long-Term Experimental Plan Environmental Plan (2006)] ==
 The Long-Term Experimental Plan Environmental Impact Statement (LTEP
@@ Line 216: / Line 214: @@
 Protection Act.
-==[https://gcdamp.com/index.php/The_HFE_Page The High Flow Experiment Protocol (2012)]==
+==[https://gcdamp.com/index.php/The_HFE_Page The High Flow Experiment (HFE) Protocol (2012)]==
 An HFE Protocol was developed in 2012 and describes how these experimental releases are designed to achieve a better understanding of whether, how, and when to incorporate high releases into future dam operations in a manner that maintains or improves beaches, sandbars, and associated habitat. The LTEMP HFE Protocol establishes a decision-making framework consisting of three components: (1) planning and budgeting, (2) modeling, and (3) decision and implementation.
@@ Line 222: / Line 220: @@
 Under the 2016 LTEMP, HFE releases are restricted to limited periods of the year when the highest volumes of sediment are most likely available for building sandbars. Sediment-triggered HFEs may be made in spring (March to June) or fall (October to November; Figure 1). Fall extended-duration HFEs range from greater than 96 hr to 250 hr. Spring and fall HFEs that are not extended-duration range from less than 1 hr to 96 hr. Proactive HFEs may be implemented in spring or early summer (April, May or June), and have a duration range up to 24 hr. HFE magnitudes range from 31,500 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 45,000 cfs. The frequency of HFEs is determined by tributary sediment inputs, annual release volumes, resource conditions, and decisions of the Department. Extended-duration fall HFEs are limited to a frequency of 4 times total in the 20-year LTEMP period.
-==[https://gcdamp.com/index.php/Long-term_Experimental_and_Management_Plan_(LTEMP) LTEMP EIS (2016)]==
+==[https://gcdamp.com/index.php/Long-term_Experimental_and_Management_Plan_(LTEMP) The Long-term Experimental and Management Plan (LTEMP) EIS (2016)]==
 LTEMP “provides the basis for decisions that identify management actions and experimental options that will provide a framework for adaptively managing Glen Canyon Dam operations over the next 20 years.”

@@ Line 209: / Line 209: @@
 test that was completed in early March 2008.
-==The High Flow Experiment Protocol (2012)==
+==[https://gcdamp.com/index.php/Portal:Desired_Future_Conditions_-DFCs Desired Future Conditions (2012)]==
-“Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar triggered the first release under the experimental long-term protocol in November 2012. The protocol calls for conducting more frequent high-flow experimental releases and timing them to occur following sediment inputs to the Colorado River downstream from Glen Canyon Dam.”
+Desired Future Conditions were developed as statements of qualitative goals and objectives for the AMP,
-==LTEMP EIS (2016)==
+==[https://gcdamp.com/index.php/The_HFE_Page The High Flow Experiment Protocol (2012)]==
 LTEMP “provides the basis for decisions that identify management actions and experimental options that will provide a framework for adaptively managing Glen Canyon Dam operations over the next 20 years.”
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+! style="width=33%; background:#cedff2;" | [[GCDAMP History Time-Line -Years| Click here to see the Expanded GCDAMP History Timeline ]] <br>
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 ==Glen Canyon Environmental Studies - Phase I (1982-1988)==

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 Experiment begun to remove nonnative fish from the Colorado River in Grand Canyon. Fluctuating nonnative fish suppression releases from January through March implemented and continued through 2005.
-==http://www.riversimulator.org/Resources/Legal/GCD/ReclamationLTEPwebPage.pdf Long-Term Experimental Plan Environmental Plan (2006) ==
+==[http://www.riversimulator.org/Resources/Legal/GCD/ReclamationLTEPwebPage.pdf Long-Term Experimental Plan Environmental Plan (2006)] ==
 The Long-Term Experimental Plan Environmental Impact Statement (LTEP

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:16, 29 September 2026
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	==[[GCDAMP History Time-Line -Years\|=> Click here to see the Expanded GCDAMP History Timeline <=]]==		==[[GCDAMP History Time-Line -Years\|=> Click here to see the Expanded GCDAMP History Timeline <=]]==
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	==Glen Canyon Environmental Studies - Phase I (1982-1988)==		==Glen Canyon Environmental Studies - Phase I (1982-1988)==

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 ==Glen Canyon Environmental Studies - Phase I (1982-1988)==
-While the National Park Service, Native Americans, river runners, and scientists had noticed that some beaches were disappearing and that plant and animal life along the Colorado River were
-changing since Glen Canyon Dam was completed in 1963, the Glen Canyon Environmental Studies program of the Bureau of Reclamation was the first systematic effort to investigate the effects of dam operations on downstream resources. The program began in 1982 and lasted through 1996. The Glen Canyon Environmental Studies did identify a mix of positive and negative consequences of dam operations on the downstream environment. In response to
+Phase I of the Glen Canyon Environmental Studies (GCES), conducted from 1982 to 1988, was a major scientific research program launched by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to evaluate how dam operations affected the downstream ecosystem of the Colorado River.
-substantial public concern over the findings of the Glen Canyon Environmental Studies, in 1989 the Secretary of the Interior announced that an environmental impact statement would be completed to evaluate the operation of Glen Canyon Dam. With this announcement, the Glen Canyon Environmental Studies focused on providing specific data for use in the Glen Canyon Dam Environmental Impact Statement (Reclamation 1995). [http://www.riversimulator.org/Resources/GCDAMP/GCDAMPchronicle/StrategicPlanGCDamp2001.pdf]
 ==Glen Canyon Environmental Studies - Phase II (1988-1988)==
 ==National Research Council workshop on Colorado River (1989)==
 ==Formative discussions on the concept for HFEs (1990-1995)==

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-==Glen Canyon Environmental Studies==
+==Glen Canyon Environmental Studies - Phase I (1982-1988)==
 While the National Park Service, Native Americans, river runners, and scientists had noticed that some beaches were disappearing and that plant and animal life along the Colorado River were
 changing since Glen Canyon Dam was completed in 1963, the Glen Canyon Environmental Studies program of the Bureau of Reclamation was the first systematic effort to investigate the effects of dam operations on downstream resources. The program began in 1982 and lasted through 1996. The Glen Canyon Environmental Studies did identify a mix of positive and negative consequences of dam operations on the downstream environment. In response to
 substantial public concern over the findings of the Glen Canyon Environmental Studies, in 1989 the Secretary of the Interior announced that an environmental impact statement would be completed to evaluate the operation of Glen Canyon Dam. With this announcement, the Glen Canyon Environmental Studies focused on providing specific data for use in the Glen Canyon Dam Environmental Impact Statement (Reclamation 1995). [http://www.riversimulator.org/Resources/GCDAMP/GCDAMPchronicle/StrategicPlanGCDamp2001.pdf]
-==Grand Canyon Protection Act==
+==Glen Canyon Environmental Studies - Phase II (1988-1988)==
 The Grand Canyon Protection Act (Appendix A) was enacted on October 30, 1992. Section
 states:
@@ Line 61: / Line 71: @@
 The Secretary of the Interior was also directed to establish and implement long-term monitoring programs and activities to ensure that Glen Canyon Dam is operated in a manner consistent with the Grand Canyon Protection Act. These programs include necessary research and studies to determine the effect of management of the dam on the natural, recreational, and cultural downstream resources. These actions will also be undertaken in consultation with other federal agencies, the Governors of the Basin States, Indian Tribes, and the general public, including representatives of academic and scientific communities, environmental organizations, the recreation industry, and contractors for the purchase of federal power produced at Glen Canyon Dam. To accomplish these requirements, the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program was established. [http://www.riversimulator.org/Resources/GCDAMP/GCDAMPchronicle/StrategicPlanGCDamp2001.pdf]
-==Glen Canyon Dam Environmental Impact Statement==
+==Glen Canyon Dam Environmental Impact Statement (1995)==
 The Glen Canyon Dam Environmental Impact Statement (Reclamation 1995) was completed in
 March 1995. Its purpose was to “determine specific options that could be implemented to
@@ Line 71: / Line 81: @@
 preferred alternative was the Modified Low Fluctuating Flow Alternative.
-==Record of Decision on the Operation of Glen Canyon Dam==
+==Establishment of the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center (1995)==
 On October 9, 1996, the Secretary of the Interior signed the Record of Decision that presented
 the rationale for choosing the Modified Low Fluctuating Flow Alternative. As noted in the Record of Decision:
@@ Line 98: / Line 113: @@
 Group 1998) with Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act compliance.
-==Statutes, Policies, and Resolutions==
+==Strategic Planning Subcommittee (1997-2000)==
-The Colorado River is managed and operated under numerous compacts, federal and state laws,
+Formed at the behest of SOI Bruce Babbitt for the transition from GCES to GCDAMP/AMWG. There were seven members, representing recreation, environmental, tribal, hydropower and Department of the Interior interests. According to Andre Potochnik, it was this group that took the Colorado River trip described in detail by Mary Orton (see 1999, below).
-court decisions and decrees (including Native American water claim settlements), contracts,
-treaties, and regulatory guidelines collectively known as the Law of the River. This collection of
+==AMWG and TWG fully established (1997)==
-documents apportions the water among the seven Basin States and Mexico, and regulates and
+In 1997 Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbitt established the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Work Group (AMWG) as a formal Federal Advisory Committee, under the authority and guidelines of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972. The purpose of AMWG was to monitor implementation of the ROD, provide recommendations to the Secretary regarding its effectiveness, and recommend science-based adjustments to the operation of Glen Canyon Dam to better achieve restoration and maintenance of downstream resources. AMWG held its first meeting on September 10-11, 1997, and officially formed the Glen Canyon Technical Work Group (TWG) as a subgroup to work on tasks charged to them by the AMWG.
-manages the river flows of the Colorado River. Some of the statutes included within the Law of
-the River that have a major impact on dam operations are the Colorado River Compact of 1922,
+==AMWG Colorado River trip (1999)==
-the Upper Colorado River Basin Compact of 1948, the Colorado River Storage Project Act of
+As described in Mary Orton’s oral history interview, this trip through Grand Canyon helped soothe contention among AMWG stakeholders, who had not been working together for very long, and resulted in a Vision Statement for the group. Most oral history interviewees involved in GCDAMP at the time have shared a recollection of the trip or its impact on the program.
-, the Colorado River Basin Project Act of 1968, and the Grand Canyon Protection Act of
-. In addition to Colorado River specific legislation, the Endangered Species Act of 1973
+==Publication of first GCDAMP Strategic Plan (2001)==
-and court decrees including Arizona v. California affect the extent to which water developments
+“This strategic plan is a guidance document for the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program and was developed by program members. Elements of this plan include the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Work Group’s vision and mission statements, as well as principles, goals, and management objectives.” (From the Foreword to the Stategic Plan)
-and diversions can be utilized in the Colorado River Basin. The Law of the River and this
-additional legislation control and influence the Adaptive Management Program.
+==Experimental design initiated (2002)==
-Additional laws, Acts of Congress, executive orders, policies, tribal resolutions, etc., that control
+==Experimental fish programs launched (2003)==
-or influence the Adaptive Management Program include the National Park Service Organic Act,
+Experiment begun to remove nonnative fish from the Colorado River in Grand Canyon. Fluctuating nonnative fish suppression releases from January through March implemented and continued through 2005.
-enabling legislation for Grand Canyon National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation
-Area, and Executive Orders that established reservation boundaries for the Navajo Nation and
-the Hualapai Tribe. In addition, Section 204 of Title II of Public Law 106-377 controls the level
-of funding of Adaptive Management Program activities from Colorado River Storage Project
-power revenues. The Federal Advisory Committee Act controls operation of the Adaptive
-Management Work Group and the Technical Work Group.
-Environmental laws and regulations are important to the Adaptive Management Program. These
+==First High Flow Experiment under a new HFE Protocol (2012)==
-include, but are not limited to, the Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act
+“Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar triggered the first release under the experimental long-term protocol in November 2012. The protocol calls for conducting more frequent high-flow experimental releases and timing them to occur following sediment inputs to the Colorado River downstream from Glen Canyon Dam.”
-of 1966, and National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Adaptive Management Program
-compliance with these statutes, regulations, policies, directives, etc., is described in a later
-section.
-==Guidance Document for the Adaptive Management Program==
+==LTEMP EIS (2016)==
-Since the Adaptive Management Program became fully operational in 1997, questions and
+LTEMP “provides the basis for decisions that identify management actions and experimental options that will provide a framework for adaptively managing Glen Canyon Dam operations over the next 20 years.”
-uncertainties have arisen over the relationships of program elements, compliance priorities, and
-other legal matters. Answers were sought from a Department of the Interior Solicitor. The
-questions posed and answers received from the Department of the Interior’s Solicitor (Loveless
-) are called the “Guidance Document for the Adaptive Management Program.” This
-document is provided as [http://www.riversimulator.org/Resources/GCDAMP/GCDAMPchronicle/StrategicPlanGCDamp2001.pdf| '''Appendix B'''] in the '''[[GCDAMP Strategic Plan]]'''.
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 *[http://gcdamphistory.org GCDAMP Administrative History website]
 *[https://gcdamphistory.org/about/new-member-orientation/ New Member Orientation]
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 *[https://gcdamphistory.org/history/historical-timeline/ Historical Timeline]
 *[[GCDAMP AHAHG Page| Administrative History Ad-Hoc Group (AHAHG) page]]
 |-