WATER QUALITY

Desired Future Condition for Water Quality Water quality with regards to dissolved oxygen, nutrient concentrations and cycling, turbidity, temperature, etc., is sufficient to support natural ecosystem functions, visitor safety and visitor experience to the extent feasible and consistent with the life history requirements of focal aquatic species. • Ecosystem-sustaining nutrient distribution, flux, and cycling. • Hydro-physical conditions and characteristics of the CRE necessary to sustain aquatic biota. • Acceptable water quality for human health and visitor experience.

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Updates

Links and Information Nutrients Page Temperature Page Water Quality PEP Reviews 2017 Water Quality PEP Final report of the 2001 Protocol Evaluation Panel for the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center Integrated Water Quality Program (IWQP) Water Quality Gages Colorado River at Lees Ferry Colorado River at 30 mile Colorado River above LCR Bright Angel Creek Colorado River abv National Canyon Colorado River bl Diamond Creek Papers and presentations 2017 Payn et al., 2017, A coupled metabolic-hydraulic model and calibration scheme for estimating of whole-river metabolism during dynamic flow conditions: Limnology and Oceanography: Methods, v.15, no.10, p. 847-866 Bernhardt et al. 2017. The metabolic regimes of flowing waters: Limnology and Oceanography Water Quality in Lake Powell and Its Influence on the Colorado River Below Glen Canyon Dam PPT 2016 Voichick et al. 2016. Water clarity of the Colorado River—Implications for food webs and fish communities: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2016–3053, 4 p. Project 2: Streamflow, Water Quality, Sediment Transport, and Sand Budgets in the Colorado River Ecosystem 2015 Historical Physical and Chemical Data for Water in Lake Powell and from Glen Canyon Dam Releases, Utah-Arizona, 1964–2013 Water Quality in Lake Mead and Upstream Influences: Dissolved Oxygen during 2014 Streamflow, Water Quality, and Sediment Transport in the Colorado River Ecosystem Glen Canyon Physical Environment Update – Water Quality, Tributary Influences & Channel Analyses & Flows 2014 How the 2014 HFE affected water quality parameters such as dissolved oxygen (DO) and temperature below Glen Canyon Dam. 2012 Integrated Quality-of-Water Monitoring Flow Temp Turbidity 2010 Effects of Drought on Water Quality of Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam Releases Update on Water Quality and 2010 Sand Input 2009 AIF: Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center (GCMRC) Update 2006 Update on Water Quality of Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam Releases 2005 Reclamation to continue experimental operations at Glen Canyon Dam; Efforts address low dissolved oxygen levels below dam Modifying releases at Glen Canyon Dam to improve water quality in the Lees Ferry reach Rough operation of the turbines Increases the oxygenation of water going through the power plant Is damaging to the turbines Reclamation to continue experimental operations at Glen Canyon Dam to increase dissolved oxygen (2005) Oxygenation of the tailwater using the bypass tubes The Basin States have maintained that according to Sec 602a of the Colorado River Basin Project Act (1968), the bypass tubes at Glen Canyon Dam can only be used to avoid anticipated spills from Lake Powell. The Basin States have agreed to bypass at Glen Canyon Dam for HFEs on the condition that it be done as part of an experiment and not a management action or operational decision. Costs associated with any release that bypasses the powerplant for reasons other than to avoid a spill or for experimentation relating to HFEs would have to be borne by the GCDAMP (see DOI determination for costs of the 2004 BHBF). Adding power generation to the bypass tubes Allows for drawing water from deeper in Lake Powell where colder and more oxygenated water may be present. Generation at Outlet Glen Canyon Dam Plan of Study CRSP Power Peaking Capacity (March 1981) Other methods: Forebay diffusers Side stream super-saturation Aeration Turbine venting Surface water pumps (impellers) (Mobley Engineering: Hydropower Enhancement Technologies) Other Stuff Forebay temperature 2000-2016 [1] Forebay dissolved oxygen 2000-2016 [2]