Portal:GCDAMP DOI Direction

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Latest direction from DOI:

Guidance from Dr. Tim Petty for the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program dated August 14, 2019

LTEMP Implementation

Priorities:

  • Management and Experimental Actions
  • Mitigation and Environmental Commitments
  • Research and Monitoring

In addition, the Department of Interior has recently prioritized the responsible development and production of renewable energy on federal lands. The GCDAMP is encouraged to work within the LTEMP framework to seek ways to improve the value of the hydropower resource.

Update Guidance Documents

Reclamation, USGS, and other Interior agencies are directed to work with the AMWG to update the GCDAMP guiding documents to reflect and be fully consistent with the priorities outlined in the LTEMP FEIS Section 1.4 and emphasized in Section 6.1(c) of the LTEMP ROD.

TWP and budget should focus on compliance priorities including:

  • Maintaining dam releases consistent with applicable laws
  • Activities associated with the Endangered Species Act
  • Actions necessary for compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act
  • Research and monitoring as required by the Grand Canyon Protection Act

The GCDAMP and AMWG guidance should consider any implications brought on by the:

  • Drought Contingency Planning
  • New negotiations of the Colorado River Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Shortages and Coordinated Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead

LTEMP Scientific Monitoring Plan

  • Will continue to provide a framework for the scientific support needed to comlete the monitoring and experimentation specified in the LTEMP FEIS and ROD
  • Will be reviewed every three years with the start of each TWP and updated as needed

Develop and implement monitoring metrics for the resource goals and objectives defined in the LTEMP ROD

  • Interior directs AMWG to develop recommendations for the monitoring metrics to assist Interior in their development

Future research:

Operating Criteria and Operational Flexibility

  • Continue to utilize operational flexibility in response to varying hydrological and other resource-related conditions
  • Explore the feasibility of conducting a spring HFE, along with modeling for improvements and efficiencies that benefit natural, cultural, recreational, and hydropower resources
  • Starting point: consider opportunities to conduct higher spring releases within power plant capacity, along with spring HFEs that may be triggered under the current LTEMP Protocol

Memos and Presentations

2019

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1999