The Bugflow Experiment
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What is the “bug flow experiment? The authors of this paper propose experimental releases at Glen Canyon Dam to see if short-duration steady flows might increase the diversity and production of aquatic insects below Glen Canyon Dam. This experiment is included in the Preferred Alternative of the LTEMP DEIS. These “bug flows” would occur from May to August and would maintain releases on the weekends to a level equal to the minimum release made during the week. This would allow aquatic insects two days a week throughout the river corridor to be able to lay their eggs at a stage where they would not be at risk of being dewatered or desiccated. The experiment would include monitoring to evaluate if the flows did increase the diversity and production of aquatic insects. The experiment was designed to test the hypothesis put forward in the paper as well as minimize impacts to the hydropower resource at Glen Canyon Dam by having the steady flows on the weekend when power is less valuable. Stakeholders identified issues with several assumptions for this experiment that were used in the hydropower modeling done for the LTEMP draft EIS. These issues will be corrected in the final EIS. However, Western believes that this experiment will result in only a small decrease in the energy value, but a modest increase in the capacity value of hydropower produced at Glen Canyon Dam.
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