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 2017 Water Quality PEP 2017 Water Quality PEP Agenda 2017 Water Quality PEP Prospectus Reading List Adaptive Management Melis et al. 2015. Surprise and Opportunity for Learning in Grand Canyon: the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program. Ecology and Society 20(3):22. Calcite Coprecipitation Cohen et al. 2013. Diel phosphorus variation and the stoichiometry of ecosystem metabolism in a large spring-fed river. Ecological Monographs, Vol. 83, No. 2 (May 2013), pp. 155-176 Corman et al. 2015. Stoichiometric impact of calcium carbonate deposition on nitrogen and phosphorus supplies in three montane streams. Biogeochemistry. Corman et al. 2016. Calcium carbonate deposition drives nutrient cycling in a calcareous headwater stream. Ecological Monographs, 86(4), 2016, pp. 448–461 Hamilton et al. 2008. Biogenic calcite–phosphorus precipitation as a negative feedback to lake eutrophication. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 66: 343–350 Otsuki and Wtzel. 1972. Coprecipitation of phosphate with carbonates in a marl lake. Reynolds and Johnson. 1974. Major element geochemistry of Lake Powell. Lake Powell Research Project Bulletin #5. Reynolds. 1978. Polyphenol inhibition of calcite precipitation in Lake Powell. Limnol. Oceanogr., 23(4), 1978, 585-597. CE-QUAL Modeling ERM’s review of the Lake Powell CE-QUAL-W2 Model Williams, N.T., 2007, Modeling dissolved oxygen in Lake Powell using CE-QUAL-W2: Provo, Brigham Young University, thesis. Williams, N.T., 2007, Projecting Temperature in Lake Powell and the Glen Canyon Dam Tailrace. Proceedings of the Colorado River Basin Science and Resource Management Symposium Contaminants Hart et al. 2005. Physical and chemical characteristics of Knowles, Forgotten, and Moqui Canyons, and effects of recreational use on water quality, Lake Powell, Arizona and Utah: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2004–5120, 43 p. Schonauer. 2014. The presence and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and inorganic elements in water and lakebed materials and the potential for bioconcentration in biota at established sampling sites on Lake Powell, Utah and Arizona: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2013–1299, 28 p. Waddell and Wiens. 1993. Reconnaissance study of trace elements in water, sediment, and biota of Lake Powell. Walters. 2015. Mercury and selenium accumulation in the Colorado River food web, Grand Canyon, USA. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Vol. 34, No. 10, pp. 2385–2394, 2015 General Lake Powell Limnology Gloss. 1980. Advective control of nutrient dynamics in the epilimnion of a large reservoir. Limnol. Oceanogr., 25(2), 1980, 219-228 Johnson and Page. 1981. Oxygen depleted waters: Origin and distribution in Lake Powell, Utah - Arizona. Proceedings of the Symposium on surface water impediments. American Society of Civil Engineers, NY. Johnson and Merritt. 1979. Convective and Advective Circulation of Lake Powell, Utah-Arizona, During 1972-1975. Water Resources Research. 15:4 Stanford and Ward. 1990. Limnology of Lake Powell and the Chemistry of the Colorado River. Colorado River Ecology and Dam Management: Proceedings of a Symposium May 24-25, 1990 Santa Fe, New Mexico. Chap 5. Wildman and Vernieu. 2017. Turbid releases from Glen Canyon Dam, Arizona, following rainfall-runoff events of September 2013, Lake and Reservoir Management Long-term Water Quality Trends Kelly 2001. Influence of reservoirs on solute transport: A regional-scale approach. Hydrol. Process. 15, 1227–1249 Stets. 2014. Long-term trends in alkalinity in large rivers of the conterminous US in relation to acidification, agriculture, and hydrologic modification. Sci Total Environ. 2014 Aug 1;488-489:280-9 P Biogeochemistry Wildman et al. 2011. Physical, Chemical, and Mineralogical Characteristics of a Reservoir Sediment Delta (Lake Powell, USA) and Implications for Water Quality during Low Water Level. J Environ Qual. 2011 Mar-Apr;40(2):575-86. Bostrom et al. 1988. Exchange of phosphorus across the sediment-water interface. Hydrobiologia 170: 229-244 Hering and Wildman. A study of the dynamics of phosphorus associated with suspended and deposited sediments in the Colorado River delta, Lake Powell, Utah. Kinsman-Costello et al. 2014. Re-flooding a Historically Drained Wetland Leads to Rapid Sediment Phosphorus Release. Ecosystems 17: 641–656 Kinsman-Costello et al. 2016. Phosphorus release from the drying and reflooding of diverse shallow sediments Mayer and Gloss. 1980. Buffering of silica and phosphate in a turbid river. Limnol. Oceanogr., 25(l), 12-22 Wildman and Hering. 2011. Potential for release of sediment phosphorus to Lake Powell (Utah and Arizona) due to sediment resuspension during low water level. Lake and Reservoir Management, 27:4, 365-375 USGS Data Series, Circulars, and other Reports GCDAMP FY 2017 Knowledge Assessment: Final Report from the Executive Coordinator for the Science Advisors Program Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program Triennial Budget and Work Plan— Fiscal Years 2018–2020 USGS Workshop on Scientific Aspects of a Long-Term Experimental Plan for Glen Canyon Dam, April 10–11, 2007, Flagstaff, Arizona Final report of the 2001 Protocol Evaluation Panel for the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center Integrated Water Quality Program (IWQP) Historical Physical and Chemical Data for Water in Lake Powell and from Glen Canyon Dam Releases, Utah-Arizona, 1964–2013 The State of the Colorado River Ecosystem in Grand Canyon: A report of the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center 1991-2004 Biological Data for Water in Lake Powell and from Glen Canyon Dam Releases, Utah and Arizona, 1990–2009 Water Quality and Glen Canyon Dam Management Hueftle and Stevens. 2001. Experimental flood effects on the limnology of Lake Powell Reservoir, Southwestern USA. Ecological Applications, 11(3), pp. 644–656 Effects of the 2008 High-Flow Experiment on Water Quality in Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam Releases, Utah-Arizona Water Quality and Metabolism in the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam Water quality investigation of seventeen Grand Canyon tributaries: July 2004 - May 2005 Hall et al. 2015. Turbidity, light, temperature, and hydropeaking control primary productivity in the Colorado River, Grand Canyon. Limnol. Oceanogr. 60, 512–526 Hall et al. 2012. Air–water oxygen exchange in a large whitewater river. Limnology and Oceanography: Fluids and Environments Larned et al. 2004. Mass-transfer–limited nitrogen and phosphorus uptake by stream periphyton: A conceptual model and experimental evidence. Limnol. Oceanogr., 49(6), 1992–2000 Payn et al. 2017. A coupled metabolic-hydraulic model and calibration scheme for estimating whole-river metabolism during dynamic flow conditions. Limnol. Oceanogr.

Links and Information Nutrients Page 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 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 Water Quality PEP Reviews Final report of the 2001 Protocol Evaluation Panel for the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center Integrated Water Quality Program (IWQP) 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]