Difference between revisions of "The HFE Page"

Spring and fall HFEs would be implemented when triggered, based on the estimated sand mass balance resulting from Paria River sediment inputs during the spring and fall accounting periods, to rebuild sandbars. These HFEs include sediment-triggered HFEs in spring or fall HFEs in May-Apr and Oct-Nov, proactive spring HFEs as triggered by high annual release volume (> 10 maf) in May-Jun, and extended duration (>96 hr) fall HFEs in Oct-Nov.

• Sediment-Triggered Spring HFEs after the first 2 years of LTEMP (beginning in spring of 2020)
• Proactive Spring HFEs in years with high annual water volume (i.e., ≥10 maf) in April, May, or June (the duration is limited to 24 hours) and like other Spring HFEs wouldn't begin until spring of 2020
• Sediment-Triggered Fall HFEs up to 96 hours
• Extended-Duration Fall HFEs up to 250 hours (the duration of the first implementation of an extended-duration HFE will be limited to no more than 192 hours and there will be no more than four extended-duration fall HFEs over the 20-year LTEMP period)

• HFE Protocol
• AMP HFE Page
• The Sediment Page
• Fall HFEs may be connected to the recent increase in brown trout at Lees Ferry.
• Spring HFEs increase productivity of the aquatic foodbase. Fall HFEs do not appear to affect the long-term composition of the aquatic foodbase and may scour the foodbase prior to the winter non-growing season.
• HFEs do not appear to directly affect humpback chub or the rainbow trout fishery but there may be indirect affects tied to foodbase and trout production.
• USBR HFE Page
• Sediment Mass Balance for HFE considerations- Model explanation
• Rapid Response HFE Page

• The 1965 Reservoir Equalization and Channel Cleaning Floods
• The 1983-86 Floods
• The 1990-91 Experimental Flows
• The 1996 Spring HFE
• The 1997 Experimental Flows
• The 2000 Low Steady Summer Flow Experiment (LSSF)
• The 2004 Fall HFE
• The 2008 Spring HFE
• The 2009-11 Fall Steady Flow Experiment
• The 2011 Equalization flows
• The 2012 Fall HFE
• The 2013 Fall HFE
• The 2014 Fall HFE
• The 2015 Fall HFE was canceled due to the discovery of green sunfish in Glen Canyon
• The 2016 Fall HFE
• The 2017 Fall HFE was not conducted for lack of sediment
• The 2018 Fall HFE

2018

• Geomorphic Changes to the River Channels and Flood Plains of the Colorado River System: The Planned and Unplanned Effects of Water Development
• High Flow Experiments PPT
• Discussion about the High Flow Experimental Design PPT
• GCWC LTEMP comments on springtime HFEs
• Evaluating the Frequency of Triggered Spring High Flow Experiments (HFEs) Assumed in the Long-Term Experimental and Management Plan PPT
• Considerations for Seasonal Scheduling of High Flow Experiments PPT
• Effects of HFEs on Growth and Population Dynamics of Rainbow Trout in Glen Canyon and Mable Canyon PPT
• Sandbars and Sediment Storage Marble and Grand Canyons: Response to Recent High-flow Experiments and Long-term Trends PPT
• Mueller et al., 2018, Variability in eddy sandbar dynamics during two decades of controlled flooding of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon: Sedimentary Geology, v. 363, p. 181-199

2017

• Sandbars and Sediment Storage in Marble and Grand Canyons: Response to Recent High-flow Experiments and Long-term Trends PPT
• Boom-and-Bust Cycles in the Population of Rainbow Trout in Glen Canyon and Effect of Fall High Flow Experiments PPT

2016

• The Grand Canyon Private Boater’s Association’s (GCPBA) comments regarding the recently concluded High Flow Experiment releases
• Science Behind High Flow Experiment Planning: From Chasing Storms in the Paria River to Serving Data on the Web
• Sand Trigger for High-flow Experimental Protocol
• Introduction of a Motion to TWG Regarding Clarification of the High Flows Protocol for Springtime HFEs: Draft for SCAHG Consideration and Review

2014

• Modeling Long Term Effects of HFEs on Trout and HBC
• Minute 319/Pulse Flow
• Update on High Flow Experiments Released from Glen Canyon Dam

2013

• Earth Magazine 2013 Releasing a flood of controversy on the Colorado River --This article sets the basis for the HFE, provides the history of past HFEs, and discusses the issues.
• HFE Protocol Decision Process
• Planning for a Fall HFE
• High Flow Experiment Update
• USGS Information and Results from HFE
• Lessons Learned from the First HFE Protocol
• Background on HFE Releases and Assessment of Success
• Background on High Flow Experimental Releases: Implementation Strategy and Assessment of Success

2012

• General Science Plan for Monitoring and Research of a High-Flow Experimental Protocol at Glen Canyon Dam White Paper Dated Dec. 22, 2011, and PPT
• Update on High Flow Experiment PPT
• News Release Dated May 23, 2012, Subj: Salazar Announces Improvements to Glen Canyon Dam Operations to Restore High Flows and Native Fish in Grand Canyon
• Creation of DOI Leadership Team to Implement Actions Outlined in the Two Environmental Assessments
• Implementation of the HFE Protocol with Emphasis on Fall 2012
• High Flow Experiment Modeling Process PPT
• AIF Two Environmental Assessments Updates
• High-Flow Protocol Environmental Assessment PPT
• Final Biological Opinion on the Operation of Glen Canyon Dam Including High Flow Experiments and Non-Native Fish Control Memo
• Executive Summaries from the High-Flow Experiment EA and the Non-Native Fish Control EA

2011

• Effects of Three High-Flow Experiments on the Colorado River Ecosystem Downstream from Glen Canyon Dam, Arizona
• AIF: Report on Two Environmental Assessments (EAs): Protocol for High-Flow Experimental Releases EA and Non-native Fish Control EA and PPTs
• Bureau of Reclamation Updates on Non-native Fish Control Environmental Assessment, High-Flow Protocol Environmental Assessment, and the Long-term Experimental and Management Plan PPT
• AIF: Report on Two Experimental Flow EAs: High-Flow Experimental Releases EA and Non-native Fish Control EA and PPTs
• Updates on USBR Environmental Documents PPT
• Briefing Memo, Subject: Summary of upcoming USGS circular on the results of three high-flow experiments released from Glen Canyon Dam, Arizona
• Circular 1366: Effects of Three High-Flow Experiments on the Colorado River Ecosystem Downstream from Glen Canyon Dam, Arizona
• USGS Fact Sheet: Three Experimental High-Flow Releases from Glen Canyon Dam, Arizona--Effects on Downstream Colorado River Ecosystem
• Bureau of Reclamation Updates PPT
• Sam's Questions: 1)Timing/Magnitude of Paria and LCR Floods?, and 2) Timing/Magnitude of Pre-Dam Colorado River Floods? PPT

2010

• High Flow Experimental Protocol Environmental Assessment Update
• The Effects of Three Glen Canyon Dam High-Flow Experiments (HFE) on the Grand Canyon Ecosystem (HFE Synthesis)
• AIF: High Flow Experiment
• 2008 High-Flow Experiment at Glen Canyon Dam Benefits Colorado River Resources in Grand Canyon National Park (USGS Fact Sheet 2010-3009)
• 2008 High Flow Experimental Results PPT
• Open File Report 2010-1022: Riparian Response to the March 2008 Short-Duration, High-Flow Experiment--Implications of Timing and Frequency of Flood Disturbance on Nonnative Plant Establishment Along the Colorado River Below Glen Canyon Dam (prepared by Barbara Ralston)
• AIF: High Flow Experiment Protocol Development and Initiation of Public Scoping, Federal Register Notice Announcing Scoping, and Process/Schedule;
• Evaluating Effects of a High-Flow Event on Rainbow Trout Movement in Glen and Marble Canyons, Arizona, by Using Acoustic Telemetry and Relative Abundance Measures
• Federal Register Notice on HFE Protocol published December 31, 2010

2009

• Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center Updates
• Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Updates: Update on Reporting Schedule for the March 2008 High Flow Experimental Results and corresponding PPT
• Update on Sediment Inputs and 2008 High Flow PPT
• AIF: Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center (GCMRC) Update
• Water Quality and Sediment, 2008 High Flow Experiment, and Integrated Flow, Temperature, and Sediment Modeling PPT
• Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center updates by Program Managers

1997

• The Colorado River in Grand Canyon: How Fast Does It Flow?

1996

• Controlled Flooding of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon: The Rationale and Data-Collection Planned

In lieu of the motion by Recreational Fishing representatives proposed for this meeting, GCMRC has agreed to:

(1) conduct a scientific assessment of the effects of past experimental high flows (including powerplant capacity flows) at Glen Canyon Dam on high valued resources of concern to the GCDAMP (i.e., recreational beaches, aquatic food base, rainbow trout fishery, hydropower, humpback chub and other native fish, and cultural resources); and

(2) present initial findings in a written summary at the 2019 Annual Reporting Meeting and the March 2019 AMWG meeting for review and discussion.

A next step would be for GCMRC to identify experimental flow options that would consider high valued resources of concern to the GCDAMP (defined above), fill critical data gaps, and reduce scientific uncertainties. [2]

• GCDAMP High Flow Experiment Work Shop Introduction
• Hydrology and Sediment Transport
• Status and Trends of Sand in Glen, Marble, and Grand Canyons
• Operations and Hydropower
• HFE Impacts on Hualapai Lands
• Sand Resources and Monitoring at Archaeological Sites in Glen and Grand Canyon
• Big Flood, Small Flood, Spring Flood, Fall Flood: HFE Timing affects foodbase response in Lees Ferry
• Native and Nonnative Fishes in Glen, Marble and Grand Canyons

• Sand Budget Modeling by Scott A. Wright
• Hydrologic Modeling by Katrina Grantz
• Biological Resources by Rich Valdez
• High Flows in Grand Canyon by Jack Schmidt
• Effects of the 2008 High Flow Experiment on Abundance, Growth, and Survival Rates of Early Life Stages of Rainbow Trout in the Lees Ferry Reach of the Colorado River by Josh Korman
• Glen Canyon Replacements and Maintendance by Max Spiker

• Appendix A: Federal Register Notice
• Appendix B: Science Plan
• Appendix C: Biological Assessment
• Appendix D: Hydrologic Data
• Appendix E: Sediment Analysis
• Appendix F: Methods for Estimating the Impacts on Hydropower at GCD
• Appendix G: SHPO Letter

Calculating the Cumulative Sand Load for an HFE

1. Determine the amount of sand that has come in from the Paria River during the HFE Accounting Period you are interested in. Go to the Paria River gage at Lees Ferry and check the Cumulative Sand Load box and enter the dates of the HFE Accounting Period.
2. Determine the amount of sand that has been transported out of Marble Canyon during the HFE accounting period by taking the lower bound value of the change in sand storage in Lower Marble Canyon and subtracting it from the lower bound value of the change in sand storage in Upper Marble Canyon.
3. Subtract the amount of sand that has been transported out of Marble Canyon from the amount of sand that has come in from the Paria River and you get the amount of sand Reclamation uses for planning the HFE.

Calculating Magnitude and Duration of an HFE

Reclamation takes the amount of sand calculated above and subtracts the amount of sand that will be transported out of Marble Canyon between the time of the model run and the HFE. Reclamation then calculates the largest possible volume and duration release from the dam using the Scott Wright sediment transport model that does not result in a negative sand balance between the 30-mile gage and the LCR by the end of the accounting period.

How much water can be released at Glen Canyon Dam?

• 8 generators = ~3,412 cfs each = 27,300 cfs
  (note that there is usually one or two generators down for maintenance at any given time and each generator has a unique volume passage)
• 4 bypass tubes = 3,250 - 3,750 cfs each = 13,000 - 15,000 cfs (depending on reservoir elevation)
• 2 spillways (require reservoir elevations above 3648') = up to 208,000 cfs

How often would an HFE be triggered? (LTEMP Appendix P)

• Proactive Spring HFEs: 10% of years
• Sediment-triggered Spring HFEs: 26% of years
• Sediment-triggered Fall HFEs: 77% of years
• Extended-Duration Fall HFEs: 25% of years