GCDAMP- Questions and Answers Page

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Research Questions and Information Needs Identified in the 2013-14 Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program Biennial Budget and Work Plan

Revision Date_140212

Project, Elements, and Sub-elements	Project/Element summary (from 2012-2013 BWP)	Research Questions, Uncertainties, & Information Needs identified in the 2012-13 BWP	Relevant Research Questions & Information Needs identified from:
Project A. Sandbars and Sediment Storage Dynamics: Long-term Monitoring and Research at the Site, Reach, and Ecosystem Scales	Project will evaluate the geomorphology of fine sediment deposits in and near the Colorado River. Supports the direct measurements of the volume of fine sediment, especially sand, that is stored on the bed of the Colorado River, in its eddies, or at higher elevation along the river's banks. Supports the direct measurement of the volume of fine sediment, especially sand, that is stored on the bed of the Colorado River, in its eddies, or at higher elevation along the river’s banks for the HFE protocol. Monitoring will include daily and annual observations of long-term sandbar monitoring sites by remote camera and conventional topographic survey, respectively. Also includes the analysis of system-wide airborne remote-sensing data to monitor a much larger set of sandbars every four years to assess sandbar size and abundance	"Project will address the broad questions of: (1) Will multiple high flows conducted over a period of years result in net increases in sandbar area and volume?; (2) With the available sand supply (i.e. tributary inputs), is the approach of using repeated floods to build sandbars sustainable?;and, (3) Will multiple high flows conducted over a period of 10 years result in net increases in campable area along the Colorado River?"	"How can erosion of sandbars after an HFE be minimized or offset? (IV: Dept. of Interior 2011a) Do sandbars deposited by HFEs contribute to preservation of archaeological sites in the river corridor? (II: Mellis et al. 2007) Is sediment conservation more effective when an HFE is held in rapid response to sediment input from the Paria River? (IV: Dept. of Interior 2011a) What are the effects of ramping rates on sediment transport and sandbar stability? (USGS 2007b; SSQ RIN 4) What is the desired range of seasonal and annual flow dynamics associated with powerplant operations, BHBFs, and habitat maintenance flows, or other flows that meet GCDAMP goals and objectives? (USGS 2007b; RIN 7.4.1) What is the desired pattern of seasonal and annual flow dynamics associated with powerplant operations, BHBFs, HMFs, or other flows to meet GCDAMP Goals and Objectives? (USGS 2007b; RIN 7.4.2) What elements of ROD operations (upramp, downramp, maximum and minimum flow, modified low fluctuating flow (MLFF), habitat maintenance flow (HMF), and BHBF) are most/least critical to conserving new fine-sediment inputs, and stabilizing sediment deposits above the 25,000 cfs stage? (USGS 2007b; RIN 8.5.1) How do sandbar textures influence biological processes? (USGS 2007b; SIN 8.5.) What is the relationship between the fine-sediment budget and turbidity? (USGS 2007b; SIN 8.5.2) How can the ongoing fine sediment supply be managed to achieve sustainable habitats? (USGS 2007b; SIN 8.5.5)"
Project Element A.1. Sandbar and Camping Beach Monitoring ($269,000)	Track trends in the status of sandbars throughout Marble and Grand Canyons that are emergent above the water surface at 8,000 ft3/s.
Project Element A.1.1. Monitoring sandbars using topographic surveys and remote cameras	Sandbar monitoring is conducted at a daily (using remote cameras) and annual (by conventional survey) interval in order to track local response to individual events in the context of a long-term record. Monitor selected high-elevation sandbars (~50) with conventional topographic surveys (volume and area; “long term sandbar time series”) yearly for annual status check on sandbar and camping beach condition. In addition, campable area is measured at a subset of 37 of these sites. Monitor selected high-elevation sandbars (~30) with remotely deployed digital camera (approximate size) for daily status check on sandbar condition at ~6-month intervals.	"(1) What is the long-term net effect of dam operations, including high flows, on changes in high-elevation sandbar area and sand storage (i.e. the sand above the 8,000 ft3/s stage)? These changes are relevant to camping beaches, riparian vegetation, backwater habitat, and control the supply of bare sand that is redistributed by wind."	"Given that sandbars are naturally dynamic and go through cycles of building and eroding, can a protocol of frequent high flows under sediment-enriched conditions be effective in sustaining these dynamic habitat features? (IV: Dept. of Interior 2011a) Will multiple high flows conducted over a period of 10 years result in net increases in sandbar area and volume? (V: Dept. of Interior 2011b) What is the minimum duration for HFEs needed to build and maintain sandbars under sand enrichment? (II: Mellis et al. 2007) How do post HFE flows affect the persistence of sandbars and related backwater habitats? (II: Mellis et al. 2007) Is there a “flow-only” operation (i.e., a strategy for dam releases, including managing tributary inputs with BHBFs, without sediment augmentation) that will restore and maintain sandbar habitats over decadal time scales? (USGS 2007b; SSQ 3.1 / 4.1)"
Project Element A.1.2. Monitoring sandbars by remote sensing	A larger collection of high-elevation sandbars (>1000 sites) are also monitored every four years using remote sensing (2002, 2005, 2009, and 2012 over-flights), in order to provide a synoptic view of the entire Colorado River for long-term trend of sandbar condition.	Since 2002, how has the area of vegetation and sand coverage changed at the 1000+ eddy sandbars larger than about 250 m2 (inclusive of nearly every location that has had a camping beach in any campsite inventory since 1975).
Project Element A.1.3. Geomorphic attributes of camping beaches	Track trends in specific camping beach attributes (i.e. spatial distribution of sand and other geomorphic units, the slope of the sandbar, and the distribution and density of vegetation) over time and in response to changes in flow regime.	(7) How have changes in sandbar size, sandbar characteristics (e.g., slope, roughness), and vegetation cover affected the Marble and Grand Canyon camping beach resource? This builds on sandbar monitoring (Question 1) to address the recreation resource.	"Will multiple high flows conducted over a period of 10 years result in net increases in campable area along the Colorado River? (V: Dept. of Interior 2011b) How do varying flows positively or negatively affect campsite attributes that are important to visitor experience? (USGS 2007b; SSQ 3.9) How are sandbar textures related to recreational site stability? (USGS 2007b; SIN 8.5.10)"
Project Element A.1.4. Analysis of historical images at selected monitoring sites	Extend the length of the monitoring record back in time for the long-term sandbar monitoring sites (Project A.1.1.) by incorporating data from air photos taken before 1990. Produce digital elevation models using digitally scanned 1984 stereo photographs. Many perceptions regarding the current condition of sandbars is based on limited observations of sandbars following the floods of 1983-86 (Schmidt and Grams, 2011). However, those observations are based largely on imprecise photo comparisons and are not quantitatively tied to the current sandbar monitoring program.
Project Element A.2. Sediment Storage Monitoring ($609,000)
Project Element A.2.1. Bathymetric and topographic mapping	Track longterm trends in sand storage to provide a robust measure of whether or not management objectives for fine sediment conservation (HFEs) are being met. Track the location of changes in sand storage between the channel and eddies and between high- and low-elevation deposits. Monitor low-elevation fine sediment storage in 30 to 80-mile segments with combined bathymetric and topographic surveys (area and volume) every 3 to 10 years, depending on reach for long-term trend in fine sediment storage.	"(2) What is the long-term net effect of dam operations, including high flows, on changes in low-elevation sand storage and bed sediment texture (the sand below the 8,000 ft3/s stage)? These changes are relevant to backwaters and other aquatic habitat, the foundation of eddy sandbars, and as the source of sediment that fuels transport and determines whether the use of high flows is sustainable."	"When are there optimal times to conduct high flows in regard to sediment building, humpback chub survivability, and ecosystem response? (IV: Dept. of Interior 2011a) Is sediment conservation more effective following a sediment enrichment period in the context of multi-year, multi-event experiments? (IV: Dept. of Interior 2011a) With the available sand supply that comes from tributary inputs, is the approach of using repeated floods to build sandbars sustainable? (V: Dept. of Interior 2011b) Can the decline in sediment resources since 1990 be reversed using “flow” options with remaining downstream sand supplies from tributaries (Paria and Little Colorado Rivers and lesser tributaries)? (III: USGS 2007a) What is the rate of change in eddy storage (erosion) during time intervals between BHBFs? (USGS 2007b; SSQ RIN 5) What is the longitudinal variability of fine-sediment inputs, by reach? (USGS 2007b; RIN 8.1.1) What is the temporal variability of fine-sediment inputs, by reach? (USGS 2007b; RIN 8.1.2) What fine sediment abundance and distribution, by reach, is desirable to support GCDAMP ecosystem goals? (Note: Definition of “desirable” will be derived from targets for other resources and managers goals. (USGS 2007b; RIN 8.1.3, 8.2.1, 8.3.1, 8.4.1, 8.5.6) What is the reach-scale variability of fine-sediment storage throughout the main channel? (USGS 2007b; RIN 8.5.2) What are the historic and ongoing longitudinal trends of fine-sediment storage, above 25,000 cfs? (USGS 2007b; RIN 8.5.5)"
Project Element A.2.2. Bed-material characterization	Improve the method used to characterize bed texture using the backscattering data from the multibeam sonar surveys used to identify and map bed material by calibrating and validating with observations of bed material characteristics made by underwater video camera.	"(5) What is the spatial distribution of bed sediment texture, and how does it affect primary production, fish habitat, and sediment transport modeling? This builds on low elevation sand monitoring (Question 2) to support sediment transport and biological prediction."	"What are the limiting factors that regulate substrate availability and its distribution? (USGS 2007b; SIN 8.5.7) What is the total area of different aquatic habitat types (cobble, gravel, sand, talus, etc,) in the CRE? (USGS 2007b; SIN 8.5.8)"
Project Element A.3. Investigating Eddy Sandbar Variability and the Interactions among Flow, Vegetation, and Geomorphology ($104,000)	Even when there is a large supply of sand on the river bed, as was the case in 2008, sandbar response is highly variable. Investigate the dynamics of eddy sandbar deposition by coupling a large existing dataset of eddy sandbar behavior with metrics that describe site geometric and hydrodynamic characteristics. Look for statistical relations between observed eddy behavior and site characteristics. Develop a tool for predicting sandbar response to given flow events.	"4) What are the causes of variability in sandbar response to controlled floods and other dam operations (i.e. why do sandbars respond differently from place to place to the same flow and sediment supply conditions?), and how does vegetation affect sandbar response? This builds on sandbar monitoring (Question 1) to support prediction of sandbar response."
Project Element A.4. Quantifying the correlation between bed and transport grain size ($244,000)	Use both field measurements and modeling to partition the effects of bed grain size, areal sand coverage, and the spatial distribution of bed shear stress in order to provide a more reliable link between bed and transport grain size. This work will improve our understanding of the linkages between suspended-sediment observations and bed-sediment texture, which will provide greater understanding of the upstream extent of river that determines concentration and grain size at sediment gaging stations. Findings from this work will be used to improve models for suspended sediment transport and may provide improved methods for tracking the abundance of sand on the river bed using the suspended sediment monitoring network. Better understanding of temporal changes in bed texture will also be used to improve our ability to model and predict aquatic primary productivity.	"(6) Can we relate changes in the spatial distribution of bed sediment texture to observed changes in suspended sand concentrations and grain size? This would enable use of the continuous record of suspended sediment to infer changes in bed sediment composition for use in modeling of sediment transport and primary production."	"How do ongoing inputs of coarse-sediment from tributaries influence storage of fine sediment within pools, runs, and eddies throughout the CRE? (USGS 2007b; RIN 8.6.1)"
Project Element A.5. Geochemical Signatures of Pre-Dam Sediment ($56,000)	Provide an additional measure to evaluate long-term trends of sediment abundance in Marble Canyon and the ability to detect mined pre-dam sediment in future high flows.	"(3) What are the relative proportions of pre-dam sediment (sediment that entered the Colorado River before dam completion) and post-dam sediment (sediment from tributaries that has entered the Colorado River following dam completion) present in deposits formed by dam operations, including HFEs? Do the proportions of pre- and post dam fine sediment indicate depletion of non-renewable pre-dam fine sediment from storage or accumulation of tributary-derived post-dam fine sediment? This question is relevant to determining whether the use of HFEs is sustainable."	"How do flows impact old high water zone terraces in the CRE (where the majority of archaeological sites occur), and what kinds of important information about the historical ecology and human history of the CRE are being lost due to ongoing erosion of the Holocene sedimentary deposits? (USGS 2007b; SSQ 2.2) What is the pre- and post-dam range of grain-size in fine-sediment deposits, by reach? (USGS 2007b; RIN 8.5.3)"
Project Element A.6. Control Network and Survey Support ($37,000)	An accurate geodetic control network is required to support nearly every aspect of this project as well as other GCMRC monitoring projects. The control network is the set of monumented and documented reference points (benchmarks) that exist along the river corridor and on the rim together with the collection of observations that determine the relative and absolute positions of those points. Those points serve as the basis for referencing all ground- and air-based monitoring observations. The purpose of the control network is to ensure that spatial data acquired on all projects are collected with accurate and repeatable spatial reference. This effort is nearing completion, and most segments of the river corridor now have a sufficient number of control points to support monitoring activities. In 2013 and 2014, field work will be required to complete this task in Glen Canyon (between the dam and Lees Ferry), RM 81 to RM 91, RM 98 to RM 119, RM 144 to RM 166, and RM 225 to 277.
Project B. Streamflow, Water Quality, and Sediment Transport in the Colorado River Ecosystem ($1,287,000)	Ongoing measurement and interpretation of stage, discharge, water quality (water temperature, specific conductance, turbidity, and dissolved oxygen), suspended sediment, and bed sediment data at gaging stations in the Colorado River ecosystem (CRe) downstream from Glen Canyon Dam in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Grand Canyon National Park. These parameters are measured at USGS stream-flow gaging stations located on the Colorado River in Marble and Grand Canyons at river miles 0, 30, 61, 87, 166, and 225. The data collected by this project provide the fundamental stream flow, sediment transport, temperature, and water quality data that are used by other physical, ecological, and socio-cultural resource studies. One of the major products of this project has been the mass-balance sand budgets (e.g., Topping and others, 2010) used to trigger controlled floods and to evaluate the effects of all dam operations on the CRe. It is also proposed to continue the development and application of a one-dimensional sand routing model (Wright and others, 2010a). One task for this modeling component will be to extend the existing model, whose downstream boundary is river mile 87, through the central and western part of Grand Canyon to river mile 225.	This is the measurement program for the HFE Protocol that describes the fate of new fine sediment once it enters the Colorado River.	How do dam release temperatures, flows (average and fluctuating component), meteorology, canyon orientation and geometry, and reach morphology interact to determine mainstem and nearshore water temperatures throughout the CRe? (USGS 2007b; SSQ 5-1)
Project C. Water-Quality Monitoring of Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam Releases ($236,000)	Describe the current quality of Glen Canyon Dam releases to the downstream ecosystem, as well as describe the current water-quality conditions and hydrologic processes in Lake Powell, which can be used to predict the quality of future releases from the dam. The water-quality monitoring program consists of monthly surveys of the reservoir forebay and tailwater, as well as quarterly surveys of the entire reservoir, including the Colorado, San Juan, and Escalante arms. The entire funding for this project is provided directly by the Bureau of Reclamation (no AMP funds).
Project Element C.1. Revisions to Existing Program	Evaluations will be made of current chlorophyll preservations methods. One or more inflow monitoring stations will be reestablished to provide input data on inflow temperature and salinity. One or more weather stations will be established at remote pumpout stations in the upper part of the reservoir. Construct historical longitudinal profiles of the sediment deltas of the three major tributaries to evaluate rates and patterns of deposition under varying hydrologic regimes and reservoir levels.
Project Element C.2. Details of Current Program	Monthly water quality surveys of the reservoir forebay and tailwater and quarterly surveys of the entire reservoir, including the Colorado, San Juan, and Escalante arms of the reservoir to the inflow areas. depth profile of temperature, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, pH, redox potential, turbidity, and chlorophyll florescence. Major ionic constituents and nutrient concentrations are collected in the major strata. Dissolved organic carbon samples are collected at the forebay, tailwater, and tributary inflow sites. Biological samples for chlorophyll concentration, phytoplankton, and zooplankton are also collected at selected sites.		"Which major ions should be measured? Where and how often? (USGS 2007b; RIN 7.2.1) Which nutrients should be measured? Where and how often? (USGS 2007b; RIN 7.2.2) Which metals should be measured? Where and how often? (USGS 2007b; RIN 7.2.3) What are the waterborne pathogens that are a threat to human health? How should they be monitored? Where and how often? (USGS 2007b; RIN 7.2.4) Determine the status and trends of chemical and biological components of water quality in Lake Powell as a function of regional hydrologic conditions and their relation to downstream releases. (USGS 2007b; RIN 7.3.1.a) Determine stratification, convective mixing patterns, and behavior of advective currents in Lake Powell and their relation to GCD operations to predict seasonal patterns and trends in downstream releases. (USGS 2007b; RIN 7.3.1.b) How do the hydrodynamics and stratification of Lake Powell influence the food base or fisheries downstream? (USGS 2007b; SIN 7.2.1) Which water quality variables influence food base and fisheries in the CRE? (USGS 2007b; SIN 7.2.2)"
Project Element C.3. Reservoir Modeling	The CE-QUAL-W2 model is used to synthesize data for periods in which regular monitoring was not conducted and to simulate the effects of various hypothetical operational, hydrological, and climatological scenarios on historical patterns. It is also used to provide predictions of future temperature and dissolved oxygen patterns in GCD releases.		"How do dam release temperatures, flows (average and fluctuating component), meteorology, canyon orientation and geometry, and reach morphology interact to determine mainstem and nearshore water temperatures throughout the Colorado River ecosystem (CRE)? (I: Melis et al. 2006) Will HFEs affect the water quality released from Glen Canyon Dam? (III: USGS 2007a) Develop simulation models for Lake Powell and the Colorado River to predict water quality conditions under various operating scenarios, supplant monitoring efforts, and elucidate understanding of the effects of dam operations, climate, and basin hydrology on Colorado River water quality. (USGS 2007b; RIN 7.3.1) How accurately can modeling predict reservoir dynamics and operational scenarios? (USGS 2007b; RIN 7.3.2) How do dam operations affect reservoir limnology? (USGS 2007b; RIN 7.3.3) Measure appropriate water quality parameters to determine the influence of these parameters on biological resources in the CRE. (USGS 2007b; SIN 7.3.1)"
Project D. Mainstem Humpback Chub Aggregation Studies and Metapopulation Dynamics	Research projects intended to resolve critical uncertainties about humpback chub, their distirbution in the Colorado River (CRe), and their life history in the Little Colorado River and elsewhere. Sampling mainstem humpback chub (Gila cypha) aggregations has been conducted periodically over the last decade including in 2002 through 2004, 2006, 2010, and 2011. These monitoring efforts provided catch per unit effort indices, but abundance estimates were infrequently made. This project proposes to increase sampling during FY13-14, following on the results of a pilot study in FY12. The purpose of this work is to improve monitoring techniques and provide estimates of humpback chub abundance in several mainstem aggregations. Additionally, this project will improve our understanding of the impact of translocation efforts in humpback chub metapopulation dynamics. Collectively, the proposed research will yield a more rigorous aggregation monitoring program and will increase our understanding of the ecology of aggregations, including whether downstream reaches in Grand Canyon are capable of supporting self-sustaining populations of humpback chub. We also propose research on otolith microchemistry of juvenile humpback chub captured at aggregations or of areas such as during backwater seining to assess whether these aggregations are supported by emigration of juvenile fish from the LCR or local spawning and recruitment.	Resolve key uncertainties regarding the dynamics and ecology of the mainstem population segments of humpback chub known as ‘aggregations." These surveys provide critical information on the relative abundance of humpback chub populations and also provide data used in generating survival estimates as well as abundance estimates with the Age-Structured Mark Recapture model.
"Project Element D.1. Improve aggregation sampling to develop more rigorous approaches to monitor aggregations (includes ongoing monitoring) ($225,000)"	An addition of a second sampling trip during late spring or early summer. Because of concerns about potential impacts of increased sampling on aggregations, we propose sampling different aggregations in FY13 than in FY14. Thus, all aggregations will be sampled during the two year budget period. Investigate use of mark-recapture methods during FY12 at the Shinumo Inflow aggregation. A stratified random sampling design will be used for the second sampling trips in FY13 and FY14 to assess humpback chub relative abundance in other areas of the river (table 3).		"What is the relationship between the “aggregations"" in the mainstem and LCR? Are mainstem aggregations ”sinks” of the LCR? Are aggregations real or due to sampling bias? (USGS 2007b; RIN 2.2.4) What are the criteria for establishment of spawning aggregations (i.e., how does one determine if it is “established”)? (USGS 2007b; RIN 2.2.6) What is the appropriate role of HBC augmentation as a management strategy to establish mainstem spawning aggregations? (USGS 2007b; RIN 2.2.9)"
Project Element D.2.1. Natal origins of Humpback Chub, adult condition and reproductive potential	Evaluate if existing mainstem water temperatures are warm enough for successful gamete development. Humpback chub have been reported to initiate spawning at about 16° C (Hamman, 1982). However, the ability of humpback chub females to produce viable gametes in the mainstem Colorado River at mainstem aggregations is unknown.	Can the mainstem Colorado River, under current dam operations, support self-sustaining populations of humpback chub?	"What are the factors limiting humpback chub (HBC) reproduction and rearing in the main channel of the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam? (III: USGS 2007a) To what extent do temperature and fluctuations in flow limit spawning and incubation success for native fish? (USGS 2007b; SSQ 5.3) What is the relative importance of increased water temperature, shoreline stability, and food availability on the survival and growth of YoY and juvenile native fish? (USGS 2007b; SSQ 5.4) Do the potential benefits of improved rearing habitat (warmer, more stable, more backwater and vegetated shorelines, more food) outweigh negative impacts due to increases in nonnative fish abundance? (USGS 2007b; SSQ 5.6) What are the appropriate habitat conditions for HBC spawning? Where are these found? Can they be created in the mainstem? (USGS 2007b; RIN 2.2.5) Determine if implementation and operation of the TCD and/or steady flows represent a technically feasible, ecologically sustainable, and practical option for establishing mainstem spawning. (USGS 2007b; RIN 2.2.7)"
Project Element D.2.2. Egg maturation studies using Ultrasonic Imaging and Ovaprim®	We will collect ultrasound images of captive reared fish at fish hatcheries and wild fish captured in the LCR to refine methods and techniques for using ultrasonic imagery to solve questions about stage of maturity of adult humpback chub in mainstem aggregations. Ultrasound images will then be collected from a small sample of adult fish from mainstem aggregations (<30) to evaluate the ability of female humpback chub to produce viable gametes in three mainstem aggregations. Fish will be non-lethally scanned with ultrasound to evaluate the status of gamete development . If females with developed eggs are encountered, a subset of these individuals (<10 fish) will be injected with Ovaprim®, a synthetic hormone used to artificially induce spawning in fish. Ultrasound and Ovaprim® methods will be developed and tested in the LCR in FY13, and if proven useful, will be used on humpback chub from mainstem aggregations in FY14.
Project E. Humpback Chub Early Life History in and Around the Little Colorado River	"In FY13-14, we will: (a) estimate growth, survival, and movement of juvenile humpback chub in the Little Colorado River (LCR) by marking young-of-year humpback chub (Gila cypha) each year in the LCR in July, (b) describe food web structure and assess the potential for food limitation within the LCR (above and below Chute Falls), and (c) conduct data analysis and modeling that will integrate findings from the above efforts and ongoing standardized monitoring to determine the relative roles of LCR hydrology, intraspecific and interspecific interactions, and mainstem conditions in humpback chub juvenile life history and adult recruitment."	"Resolve the key uncertainty regarding variability in survival, growth, and emigration rates of early life history stages of humpback chub in the Little Colorado River as well as the physical and biological drivers of this variation. To what extent do survival and growth in the LCR aggregation vary annually and spatially (i.e., mainstem vs. LCR downstream of Chute Falls vs. LCR upstream of Chute Falls)? What are the drivers of observed variation in survival and growth? Specifically, to what extent are endogenous (e.g., intraspecific predation and competition for food) versus exogenous factors (e.g., interspecific competition and predation, mainstem conditions— including dam operations—and variation in LCR hydrology, etc.) responsible for temporal and spatial variation in survival and growth? To what extent does outmigration of humpback chub from the LCR vary over time?"
Project Element E.1. July Little Colorado Marking ($122,000)	Determine the extent of juvenile humpback chub outmigration and the role that summer monsoon floods play in augmented outmigration. The additional marking trip in July is primarily motivated by a trend emerging from the NSE study. A proportion of the small number of fish marked in the LCR by NSE researchers during July show up in the Colorado River in later sampling periods. However, relatively few of the fish marked by the USFWS in the fall are subsequently found in the Colorado River. This suggests that large numbers of juveniles may be moving out of the LCR between July and the fall, consistent with H3.	"To what extent do survival and growth in the LCR aggregation vary temporally (i.e., among years) and spatially (i.e., mainstem vs. LCR upstream of Chute Falls vs. LCR downstream of Chute Falls)? What are the drivers of observed variation in survival and growth? Specifically, to what extent are endogenous (e.g., intraspecific predation and competition for food) versus exogenous factors (e.g., interspecific competition and predation, dam operations, variation in LCR hydrology, etc.) responsible for temporal and spatial variation in juvenile survival and growth? To what extent does outmigration of humpback chub from the LCR vary from year to year?"	"Understand the role of the Little Colorado River and the mainstem Colorado River in juvenile humpback chub survival rates and recruitment to the adult humpback chub population (VII: Dept. of Interior 2011d) Determine the timing and quantity of YoY HBC dispersal (passive and active) from the LCR. (USGS 2007b; RIN 2.1.5)"
"Project Element E.2. Describing food web structure and the potential for food limitation within the LCR ($250,000)"	Develop quantitative food webs for two segments of the LCR— the reach upstream of Chute Falls and the reach downstream of Chute Falls using quantitative gut content analysis and stable isotope analysis. Developing quantitative food webs requires estimates of production (or supply) for each trophic level (i.e., algae production, detritus inputs during floods, invertebrate production, fish production), and also information on feeding habitats of higher trophic levels (that is, invertebrates and fish). In FY13, we will assess contaminant levels in food web compartments including common native fish other than humpback chub (i.e., suckers and speckled dace). If contaminant levels in these fish are elevated, we will submit an amendment to our USFWS permit and seek permission to take muscle plugs from humpback chub in FY14 to assess contaminant levels.	Is the available foodbase or metals/other toxins limiting the humpback chub population in the LCR (see H2 and H6 below)?
Project Element E.3. Population modeling ($86,000)	Develop integrated statistical models to estimate survival, growth and movement in the LCR and Colorado River portions of the LCR complex. This project will also develop models to test the roles of intraspecific interactions and hydrology in explaining observed juveniles abundance trends over the last decade. Use a multistate mark-recapture models to estimate survival, growth, and movement within the LCR complex. Develop deterministic models to evaluate the degree to which variation in juvenile abundances and sizes in the LCR can be attributed to LCR hydrology versus intraspecific or interspecific interactions.	"Hypotheses for HBC at the LCR: (H1) Survival of humpback chub eggs in the LCR is limited in years when snowmelt flooding is negligible or small because of poor spawning substrate conditions. (H2) Large snowmelt floods in the LCR stimulate production of the prey base through improvements in both the quantity and quality of food resources consumed by humpback chub, which leads to high juvenile humpback chub survival and low outmigration. (H3a) In years without large LCR snowmelt floods, more yearlings remain in the system and there are higher levels of cannibalism and competition than in years with large LCR snowmelt flood. (H3b)The lack of yearlings in the LCR in the following spawning season (2003 and 2007) led to especially large cohorts of young-of-year in those birth years because of reduced cannibalism and competition. (H4) Outmigration rates of juvenile humpback chub from the LCR are directly linked to the intensity of monsoon flooding in the summer and fall. (H5) The observed variation in humpback chub growth rates among locations and times is that growth rates are mainly driven by concomitant changes in water temperature. (H6) Humpback chub growth among locations and times is mainly driven by differences in the quantity and quality of prey available to juvenile humpback chub. The quality of food resources could be related to the nutritional quality of the organic matter and invertebrates eaten by chub (e.g., the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus they contain). Alternatively, concentrations of metals and other toxins in food resources could be a more important determinant of resource quality for chub than nutrient content. (H7) Interspecific and intraspecific competition for food resources is the main driver of humpback chub growth rates among locations and times."	To what extent are adult populations of native fish controlled by production of young fish from tributaries, spawning and incubation in the mainstem, survival of young-of-year (YoY) and juvenile stages in the mainstem, or by changes in growth and maturation in the adult population as influenced by mainstem conditions? (USGS 2007b; SSQ 1.1)
Project F. Monitoring of Native and Nonnative Fishes in the Mainstem Colorado River and the lower Little Colorado River	Includes all of the long-term monitoring projects funded by the GCDAMP during the past few years. Two recent Environmental Assessments and an associated Biological Opinion, as well as the GCDAMP 2011-2012 Work plan and Budget, mandate monitoring the status and trends of adult humpback chub in the Little Colorado River (LCR) near the confluence, in the mainstem Colorado River (see Mainstem Humpback Chub Aggregation, Project D), and at areas where humpback chub have been translocated. The Biological Opinion defines triggers to determine when nonnative fish control will take place near the LCR. Triggers are related to the abundance of adult and juvenile humpback chub, survival rates of juvenile humpback chub, abundance of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and brown trout (Salmo trutta), and river temperature. The following monitoring projects contribute data and information required by the Environmental Assessments and Biological Opinion to determine if elements and conditions of the trigger are met.	Generate data that can be used to provide a baseline for observing status and trends in resources of interest, to assess the effectiveness of various management actions, and to inform managers as to the need to conduct management actions or the attainment of identified goals. These surveys provide critical information on the relative abundance of humpback chub populations and also provide data used in generating survival estimates as well as abundance estimates with the Age-Structured Mark Recapture model. Understanding the aquatic food base and its dynamics is essential to understanding the distribution, condition and abundance of fish populations in the CRe.	"What are the measurable criteria that need to be met in order to remove jeopardy for HBC in the Colorado River ecosystem (CRE)? (USGS 2007b; RIN 2.2.3 ) What are the impacts of current recreational activities on mortality, recruitment and the population size of HBC? (USGS 2007b; RIN 2.2.11) What are the impacts of research activities on mortality, recruitment, and the population size of HBC? (USGS 2007b; RIN 2.2.12) What are the physical and biological characteristics of habitats that enhance recruitment of FMS, BS, and SD populations in the CRE? (USGS 2007b; RIN 2.6.3) What is the age structure, including relationship between age and size of FMS, BS, and SD in the CRE? (USGS 2007b; RIN 2.6.4) How are movement patterns for FMS, BS, and SD in the CRE affected by age, natal stream, and dam operations? (USGS 2007b; RIN 2.6.5) How is the rate of mortality for FMS, BS, and SD in the CRE related to individual body size? What are the sources of mortality for FMS, BS, and SD in the CRE? (USGS 2007b; RIN 2.6.6) How does temperature modification in the mainstem affect recruitment and mortality for FMS, BS, and SD originating from tributary spawning? (USGS 2007b; RIN 2.6.7)"
Project element F.1. System Wide Electrofishing ($217,000)	Uses catch per unit effort indices to track relative status and trends of most common native and nonnative fish including sampling downstream from Diamond Creek. Provides trout relative abundance estimates which, in turn, may be used as part of the suite of triggers identifying when to implement mechanical removal of nonnative fish to protect humpback chub.	"What are the population dynamics and trends of native and nonnative fish in the CRE?"	"What are the population dynamics of those nonnative fish that are the major predators and competitors of native fish? (USGS 2007b; RIN 2.4.6)"
Project Element F.2. Glen Canyon Monitoring ($285,000)	Inclusion of the following projects listed below:
Project Element F.2.1. Rainbow Trout Monitoring in Glen Canyon	Monitor of basic fish population elements, including relative abundance, size composition, distribution, condition, and recruitment of native and nonnative fish in Glen Canyon. Conduct three trips in FY12 that each sample 36 random sites stratified longitudinally by river mile and by shoreline type. Sample 15 sites for warm water nonnative invasive fish where nonnative fish are most likely to be captured, including the slough at RM -12, warm spring inputs, and immediately downstream of the dam.	How is the Lees Ferry rainbow trout population affected by GCD operations?	"What Glen Canyon Dam operations (ramping rates, daily flow range, etc.) maximize trout fishing opportunities and catchability? (USGS 2007b; SSQ 3.6) To what extent is there overlap in the Lees Ferry reach of RBT habitat and native fish habitat? (USGS 2007b; RIN 4.1.3)"
Project Element F.2.2. Rainbow Trout Early Life Stage Studies (RTELSS)	Winter and early spring redd surveys provide information on the magnitude of spawn and the effects of flows on incubation mortality. Electrofishing of nearshore habitat in the summer and fall provides information on recruitment, survival, and growth of juvenile fish. Whereas the Rainbow Trout Monitoring in Glen Canyon Project (Project Element F.2.1.) monitors relative abundance of young-of-the-year rainbow trout in the fall, this project provides “initial response” information about survival rates of age-0 rainbow trout, and provides insight into how early rainbow trout life stages are affected by their density.	How are early rainbow trout life stages are affected by their own density?
"Project Element F.3. Mainstem Monitoring of Native and Nonnative Fishes Near the LCR Confluence; Juvenile Chub Monitoring (JCM) ($432,000)"	Estimate juvenile humpback chub survival rates, and rainbow trout and brown trout abundance near the confluence of the mainstem Colorado River and the LCR.	Identify when to implement mechanical removal of nonnative fish to protect humpback chub as described in the 2011 Environmental Assessment for Non-Native Fish Control Downstream from Glen Canyon Dam and associated Biological Opinion.	"What is the effect of HFEs on humpback chub and native fish populations located downstream from Glen Canyon Dam? (IV: Dept. of Interior 2011a) What is the relative importance of increased water temperature, shoreline stability, and food availability on the survival and growth of YoY and juvenile native fish? (I: Melis et al. 2006) How important are backwaters and vegetated shoreline habitats to the overall growth and survival of YoY and juvenile native fish? Does the long-term benefit of increasing these habitats outweigh short-term potential costs (displacement and possibly mortality) associated with high flows? (I: Melis et al. 2006) Will increased water temperatures increase the incidence of Asian Tapeworm in humpback chub or the magnitude of infestation, and if so, what is the impact on survival and growth rates? (I: Melis et al. 2006) What is the importance of mainstem habitats to humpback chub recruitment relative to the LCR? (VI: Dept. of Interior 2011c) Do HFEs result in creation of nearshore habitats (i.e. backwaters) that can offer physical benefits to humpback chub and other native fishes? (II: Mellis et al. 2007) What are the effects of HFEs on aquatic food production? How do these effects impact native fishes? (II: Mellis et al. 2007) What effect do power plant releases (ramp rates, fluctuating and steady) have on listed or special status species (including HBC) in the Colorado River ecosystem? (III: USGS 2007a) How important are backwaters and vegetated shoreline habitats to the overall growth and survival of YoY and juvenile native fish? Does the long-term benefit of increasing these habitats outweigh short-term potential costs (displacement and possibly mortality of young humpback chub) associated with high flows? (USGS 2007b; SSQ 4.2) Will increased water temperatures increase the incidence of Asian tapeworm in humpback chub or the magnitude of infestation, and if so, what is the impact on survival and growth rates? (USGS 2007b; SSQ 5.5) What habitats and habitat characteristics, if any, will enhance survival, growth, and reproduction of native Grand Canyon fishes, especially HBC, in the mainstem Colorado River? (USGS 2007b; SSQ RIN 1)" "Quantify sources of mortality for humpback chub (HBC) 51 mm in rearing habitats in the Little Colorado River (LCR) and mainstem, and determine how these sources of mortality are related to dam operations. (USGS 2007b; RIN 2.1.2) What is the relationship between size of HBC and mortality in the LCR and the mainstem? What are the sources of mortality (i.e., predation, cannibalism, other) in the LCR and the mainstem? (USGS 2007b; RIN 2.1.3) How does flow rate and fluctuation affect habitat availability and utilization by fish and other organisms? (USGS 2007b; RIN 7.4.4) What are the desired ranges of spatial and temporal patterns of water temperatures for the CRE? (USGS 2007b; RIN 7.1.1) What are the most likely downstream temperature responses to a variety of scenarios involving a TCD on GCD? (USGS 2007b; RIN 7.1.2) What are the potential ecological effects of increasing mainstem water temperatures? (USGS 2007b; RIN 7.1.3)"
Project Element F.4. Little Colorado River Monitoring ($606,000)	Provides data for use in the Age-Structured-Mark-Recapture Model (ASMR) as well as information required in the 2011 Biological Opinion.	Required in the 2011 Biological Opinion.
Project Element F.4.1 Annual Spring and Fall Humpback Chub Abundance Estimates in the Lower 13.6 km of the Little Colorado River	Ongoing project since 2000 provides annual estimates of abundance of adult humpback chub (> 150 mm and > 200 mm total length(TL)), and during some years provides abundance estimates of other native fishes.	Identify when to implement mechanical removal of nonnative fish to protect humpback chub as described in the 2011 Environmental Assessment for Non-Native Fish Control Downstream from Glen Canyon Dam and associated Biological Opinion.
Project Element F.4.2. Monitoring Native and Nonnative Fishes in the Lower 1.2 km of the Little Colorado River	Started by the Arizona Game and Fish Department in 1987, has operated continuously (except in 2000 and 2001). Produces annual assessments of the relative abundance (catch-per-unit effort) of all size classes of humpback chub, flannelmouth suckers, bluehead suckers, speckled dace, and a host of nonnative fish in the lower 1,200 m of the LCR. Provides independent comparisons to humpback chub abundance trends generated by the ASMR model.	Same as above but provides a longer-term data set for humpback chub in the LCR. The statistical power of this portion of the monitoring program has not yet been assessed, but statistically significant differences in relative abundance are apparent in current data when compared to data collected in Project F.4.1.
Project Element F.4.3. Translocation and Monitoring above Chute Falls	Efforts to translocate humpback chub upstream of Chute Falls on the Little Colorado River and to monitor their status have been ongoing annually since 2003. Beginning in 2006, two-pass mark recapture population estimates of humpback chub were conducted upstream of Chute Falls and Lower Atomizer Falls at 13.57 km.	"Can humpback chub sustain a viable population upstream of Chute Falls? There is also a need to continue coordinating the various translocation efforts and to conduct an independent peer-review of results to guide future management activities."	"Can the decline of HBC be reversed by expanding the current range of HBC into suitable unused historic habitat within GRCA/GLCA (tributaries/mainstem)? (III: USGS 2007a)"
Project Element F.4.4. PIT Tag antenna monitoring	"In FY12 and FY13: 1. Assemble all available capture, recapture, and remote PIT tag detections, and integrate them to estimate abundance, survival, and movement probabilities by life stage. 2. Estimate abundance, survival, and movement probabilities by life stage, ignoring detection data from the PIT tag arrays, and compare precision with the integrated data. 3. Estimate survival and movement probabilities by life stage, using just initial capture data with remote detections of tagged fish from the PIT tag arrays (i.e., ignoring physical recaptures), and compare precision and estimability of parameters with the integrated analysis. 4. Use simulation, based on the parameter estimates from the previous analyses, as well as cost information for capturing fish, to identify an optimal allocation of capture effort combined with PIT tag array detections. 5. Empirically evaluate detection probabilities of PIT tags in the LCR."	Can estimates of abundance, survival, and movement probabilities by life stage be determined with remote PIT tag arrays with as much precision as manual catch data?	How can native and nonnative fishes best be monitored while minimizing impacts from capture and handling or sampling? (USGS 2007b; SSQ 1.8)
"Project Element F.5. Stock Assessment and Age Structured Mark Recapture Model humpback chub abundance estimates ($21,000)"	Provide essential updates of population size composition and capture rates of humpback chub and other Grand Canyon fish. Provide periodic (every 3 years) updates on the status and trends of populations of humpack chub and other native fishes in Grand Canyon and retrospective time series of native fish populations to allow for comparison with previous years’ data.	Required in the Environmental Assessment for Non-Native Fish Control Downstream from Glen Canyon Dam and associated Biological Opinion.	"Have humpback chub population estimates stabilized or increased recently, and if so, why (warm water, non-native control, other factors)? (III: USGS 2007a) What is the minimum population size of HBC that should be sustained in the LCR, to ensure a viable spawning population of HBC in the LCR? (USGS 2007b; RIN 2.1.1) What is a viable population and what is the appropriate method to assess population viability of native fish in the CRE? What is an acceptable probability of extinction over what management time period for HBC throughout the CRE? (USGS 2007b; RIN 2.2.1) Determine if a population dynamics model can effectively predict response of native fish under different flow regimes and environmental conditions. (USGS 2007b; RIN 2.2.2) What is a viable population? (USGS 2007b; RIN 2.6.1)"
"Project Element F.6. Detection of Rainbow Trout Movement from the Upper Reaches of the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam/Natal Origins ($295,000)"	"Determine if Glen Canyon is the natal source of trout emigrating into the downstream reaches of Marble and Grand Canyons. (1) determine the natal origins of rainbow trout in the Marble Canyon/LCR confluence area via a large-scale mark and recovery effort, (2) to evaluate the linkage between trout populations in the Lees Ferry reach and Marble Canyon, and (3) assess the efficacy of Paria to Badger Reach removal efforts."	"Is Glen Canyon the natal source of trout emigrating into the downstream reaches of Marble and Grand Canyons? If so, how do trout move from Lees Ferry to the LCR? Is PBR trout removal feasible?"	"Will a limited number of years of mechanical removal of rainbow trout in Marble and eastern Grand Canyons result in a long-term decrease in abundance or will recolonization from tributaries and from below and above the removal reach require that mechanical removal be an ongoing management action? (I: Melis et al. 2006) Can removal efforts focused in the PBR reach (e.g., interception fishery) be effective in reducing downstream movement of trout such that trout levels in the LCR reach remain low? Will recolonization from tributaries, from downstream and upstream of the removal reach, or local production require that removal be an ongoing management action in the LCR reach? (VI: Dept. of Interior 2011c) Can non-native fish control offset any increases in rainbow trout from multiple HFEs? (VI: Dept. of Interior 2011c) Determine the natal origins of rainbow trout found in Marble Canyon and the LCR reach. (VII: Dept. of Interior 2011d) Assess the efficacy of nonnative fish removal in the PBR reach for rainbow trout and Upper Granite Gorge for brown trout. This objective will be addressed through two projects described below. 1. The Paria River to Badger Rapid Sampling and Removal Project. 2. The Brown Trout Sampling and Removal Project. (VII: Dept. of Interior 2011d) Are individual rainbow trout displaced from the Lees Ferry reach as a result of a HFE? If so, do displaced rainbow trout return to the reach, or do they establish residence elsewhere? (II: Mellis et al. 2007) Do HFEs affect the distribution and movement of nonnative fishes? (II: Mellis et al. 2007) Do rainbow trout immigrate from Glen to Marble and eastern Grand Canyons, and, if so, during what life stages? To what extent do Glen Canyon immigrants support the population in Marble and eastern Grand Canyons? (USGS 2007b; SSQ 1.3) Can long-term decreases in the abundance of rainbow trout in Marble and eastern Grand Canyons be sustained with a reduced level of effort of mechanical removal or will recolonization from tributaries and from downstream and upstream of the removal reach require that mechanical removal be an ongoing management action? This question also applies to future removal programs targeting other nonnative species. (USGS 2007b; SSQ 1.4) What life stage(s) of RBT pose the greatest threat to HBC and other native fishes in Grand Canyon? Are the RBT that threaten native fishes in Grand Canyon produced above or below the mouth of the Paria River? (USGS 2007b; SSQ RIN 3) What are the sources (natal stream) of nonnative predators and competitors? (USGS 2007b; RIN 2.4.5)" "What is the most effective method to detect emigration of RBT from the Lees Ferry reach? (USGS 2007b; RIN 4.2.2) How is the rate of emigration of RBT from the Lees Ferry reach to below the Paria River affected by abundance, hydrology, temperature, and other ecosystem processes? (USGS 2007b; RIN 4.2.3) What is the target population size of RBT appropriate for the Lees Ferry reach that limits downstream emigration? (USGS 2007b; RIN 4.2.4) What is the rate of emigration of RBT from the Lees Ferry reach? (USGS 2007b; RIN 4.2.6)"
Project Element F.7. Foodbase Monitoring ($256,000)	Estimate algae production, algae and organic matter biomass, invertebrate production, and invertebrate and organic drift at two sites: Lees Ferry and Diamond Creek.
Project Element F.7.1. Linking Invertebrate Drift with Fish Feeding Habits	Characterize spatial and temporal variation in invertebrate drift at Glen Canyon and Diamond Creek. Collections will occur in the thalweg. Drift nets will be vertically integrated throughout the water column for 5 minutes. Monitoring will focus on midday collections because drift rates tend to be more variable, but higher, during nighttime hours. Seven samples will be collected every six weeks from each location.	How does spatial and temporal variation in drift rates affect food availability for rainbow trout and humpback chub?	"What are the important pathways, and the rate of flux among them, that link lower trophic levels with fish and how will they link to dam operations? (USGS 2007b; SSQ 1.5) Are trends in the abundance of fish populations, or indicators from fish such as growth, condition, and body composition (e.g., lipids), correlated with patterns in invertebrate flux? (USGS 2007b; SSQ 1.6) How do top-down effects (grazing and predation) affect the abundance and composition of drift? (USGS 2007b; RIN 1.5.2) How has the value and availability of drift as a food source for HBC changed with the implementation of ROD operations? (USGS 2007b; RIN 1.5.3) How is the abundance of vertebrate consumers affected by seasonal shifts in food base abundance in the CRE? (USGS 2007b; IN 6.3)"
Project Element F.7.2. Citizen Science Monitoring of Emergent Aquatic Insects	Track the flux of emergent insects as a surrogate for traditional benthic invertebrate monitoring programs. Equip up to 10 guides with light traps to collect samples of flying insects from April through October. Deploy one light trap near the day’s high water line and the second trap will be deployed near the 45,000 cfs stage elevation. Also sample emergent insects with sticky traps in Glen Canyon and Diamond Creek in association with regular monitoring trips to these accessible sites.	Can tracking the flux of emergent insects be a useful surrogate for traditional benthic invertebrate monitoring programs?
Project Element F.7.3. Primary Production Monitoring	Monitor algae primary production at 5 locations: Glen Canyon, river mile 30, river mile 61, river mile 87, and river mile 225. Continuous estimates of primary production at these five sites will be used to evaluate the prediction that a large variation in algae growth exists among reaches because of differences in canyon orientation, channel depth, and turbidity. Data will also be used to parameterize a mechanistic model of primary production that can be used to make predictions about algae growth response to dam operations.	Is algae growth different among reaches, especially due to differences in canyon orientation, channel depth, and turbidity?	"What is the estimated productivity for the reach between GCD and the Paria River? (Note: If the cost of obtaining these data, relative to the benefit of the information suggests the information is not worth the expense, this RIN will not be pursued.) (USGS 2007b; RIN 1.1.2) How do top-down effects (grazing and predation) on primary producers affect food base productivity? (USGS 2007b; RIN 1.1.3) What is the estimated primary productivity in the CRE below the Paria River? (Note: If the cost of obtaining these data, relative to the benefit of the information suggests the information is not worth the expense, this RIN will not be pursued.) (USGS 2007b; RIN 1.3.2)"
Project Element F.7.4. Benthic Algae and Invertebrate Biomass	Conduct traditional benthic sampling once per year. Traditional benthic sampling is an important part of foodbase monitoring because it provides information on the non-insect taxa that tend to dominate production budgets, but do not emerge or drift, and would therefore be missed using just drift and emergence measurements. Provides a comprehensive snapshot of the benthic environment in Grand Canyon that can be repeated annually and will allow for detection of major trends such as the arrival of new invertebrate taxa, or changes in the diversity or richness of the invertebrate assemblage.		"What is the estimated productivity of benthic invertebrates for the reach between GCD and the Paria River? (Note: If the cost of obtaining these data, relative to the benefit suggests the information is not worth the expense, this RIN will not be pursued.) (USGS 2007b; RIN 1.2.2) How do top-down effects (grazing and predation) affect the abundance and composition of benthic invertebrates? (USGS 2007b; RIN 1.2.3) What are the habitat characteristics between GCD and the Paria River that most affect benthic invertebrates? How are these characteristics affected by GCD operations? ((USGS 2007b; RIN 1.2.4) How are the composition and biomass of benthic invertebrates in the CRE below the Paria River affected by flow, water quality (including nutrients, temperature, light regime, toxins, dissolved oxygen), new invasive species, waterborne diseases, or other factors? (Note: If the cost of obtaining these data, relative to the benefit suggests the information is not worth the expense, this RIN will not be pursued.) (USGS 2007b; RIN 1.4.1) What is the estimated productivity of benthic invertebrates in the CRE below the Paria River? (Note: If the cost of obtaining these data, relative to the benefit of the information suggests the information is not worth the expense, this RIN will not be pursued.) (USGS 2007b; RIN 1.4.2) How do ongoing inputs of coarse-sediment from tributaries alter the distribution of main channel habitats needed by benthic organisms within pools, runs, and eddies throughout the CRE? (USGS 2007b; RIN 8.6.2)"
Project G. Interactions between Native Fish and Nonnative Trout	Study to understand the competitive and predatory relationships between trout and native fish. Isolate confounding variables and quantify relative competition and predation impacts of rainbow and brown trout on humpback chub under varying environmental conditions. Model population level impacts of trout on humpback chub. Remove brown trout by electrofishing in and around Bright Angel Creek and subsequently evaluate impacts of brown trout removal on native fish populations.	"Resolve a key uncertainty regarding the predation and competition effects of nonnative fish on native species and to determine to what extent these interactions are affected by environmental conditions. Why are humpback chub not thriving? (AMWG priority Question 1) What are the most limiting factors to successful humpback chub adult recruitment in the mainstem? (Science Activity #1) What habitats and habitat characteristics, if any, will enhance survival, growth, and reproduction of native Grand Canyon fishes, especially humpback chub, in the mainstem Colorado River? (SSQ RIN 1) What are the most effective strategies and control methods to limit nonnative fish predation on, and competition with, native fishes? (SSQ RIN 2) What life stage(s) of rainbow trout pose the greatest threat to humpback chub and other native fishes in Grand Canyon? (SSQ RIN 3)"	"Can a decrease in the abundance of rainbow trout and other cold- and warm- water non-natives in Marble and eastern Grand canyons be linked to a higher recruitment rate of juvenile humpback chub in the adult population relative to other potential sources of mortality? Or conversely, can an increase in numbers of non-native fish predators be linked to a decrease in adult humpback chub? (V: Dept. of Interior 2011b) Does a decrease in the abundance of rainbow trout and other coldwater and warmwater nonnatives in Marble and eastern Grand Canyons result in an improvement in the recruitment rate of juvenile humpback chub to the adult population? (USGS 2007b; SSQ 1.2)"
"Project Element G.1. Laboratory Studies to Assess the Effects of Trout Predation and Competition on Humpback Chub ($90,000)"	Evaluate the effects of water temperature and turbidity on predation vulnerability of juvenile humpback chub. Determine if rainbow and brown trout present more or less of a predation threat to juvenile chub than cannibalism by adult chub. Evaluate the effects that rainbow and brown trout competition have on condition and growth of similar sized humpback chub.	"What are the mechanisms by which nonnative trout impact humpback chub? What is the relative predation risk for humpback chub to rainbow trout and brown trout under varying temperature, flow, and turbidity conditions? Do rainbow and brown trout present more or less of a predation threat to juvenile chub than predation by adult chub? What management strategies should to be employed to maintain a high quality rainbow trout fishery in Glen Canyon while protecting, and potentially recovering, the endangered humpback fish community in Marble and Grand Canyons?"	"Do the potential benefits of improved rearing habitat (warmer, more stable, more backwater and vegetated shorelines, more food) outweigh negative impacts due to increases in nonnative fish abundance? To what extent could predation impacts by nonnative fish be mitigated by higher turbidities? (I: Melis et al. 2006) Determine the linkage between nonnative fish abundance and juvenile humpback chub abundance and survival rates in the LCR reach and elsewhere in Grand Canyon. (VII: Dept. of Interior (2011d) Will warming dam releases positively affect listed or special status species in the Colorado River ecosystem (including HBC and effects of non-native species)? (III: USGS 2007a) To what extent could predation impacts by nonnative fish be mitigated by higher turbidity or dam-controlled high-flow releases? (USGS 2007b; SSQ 3.2) What are the most effective strategies and control methods to limit nonnative fish predation on, and competition with, native fishes? (USGS 2007b; SSQ RIN 2) What life stage(s) of RBT pose the greatest threat to HBC and other native fishes in Grand Canyon? Are the RBT that threaten native fishes in Grand Canyon produced above or below the mouth of the Paria River? (USGS 2007b; SSQ RIN 3) What are the most effective strategies and control methods to limit nonnative fish predation and competition on native fish? (USGS 2007b; RIN 2.4.1) To what degree, which species, and where in the system are exotic fish a detriment to the existence of native fish through predation or competition? (USGS 2007b; RIN 2.4.3) What are the target population levels, body size, and age structure for nonnative fish in the CRE that limit their levels to those commensurate with the viability of native fish populations? (USGS 2007b; RIN 2.4.4) To what extent are RBT below the Paria River predators of native fish, primarily HBC? At what size do they become predators of native fish, especially HBC, i.e., how do the trophic interactions between RBT and native fish change with size of fish? (USGS 2007b; RIN 4.2.6)" "What is the relationship between turbidity and biological processes? (USGS 2007b; SIN 8.5.3) What is the role of turbidity and how can it be managed to achieve biological objectives? (USGS 2007b; SIN 8.5.4)"
"Project Element G.2. Efficacy and Ecological Impacts of Brown Trout Removal at Bright Angel Creek ($193,000)"	Removal in the Colorado River mainstem will occur in a 8.45 km (5.25 mile) reach of Upper Granite Gorge (river miles 85 to 90) in September and in April and will compliment ongoing NPS operation of a weir within Bright Angel Creek (October to March). Mechanical removal efforts in the Bright Angel Reach will be conducted simultaneously with additional native fish hoop net monitoring in the same area to assess whether or not a decrease in abundance of brown trout in the Bright Angel Reach is correlated with increased presence and abundance of native fish. This effort will be conducted in collaboration with the NPS’s ongoing removal efforts (fish weir and electrofishing) in Bright Angel Creek and potential future efforts such as expanded electrofishing, chemical treatments, a rotary screw trap designed for capturing migrating juvenile fish, or other methods yet to be determined. Primary productivity and invertebrate production will be monitored in Bright Angel Creek and the mainstem near its confluence to quantify any changes in availability of food for native fish.	"What is the efficacy and feasibility of using electrofishing to control brown trout populations through a coordinated mainstem and tributary removal effort in and around Bright Angel Creek? Does brown trout removal have a measurable positive effect on native fish abundance and distribution in the mainstem near Bright Angel Creek or within Bright Angel Creek?"	"Assess the efficacy of nonnative fish removal in the PBR reach for rainbow trout and Upper Granite Gorge for brown trout. This objective will be addressed through two projects described below. 1. The Paria River to Badger Rapid Sampling and Removal Project. 2. The Brown Trout Sampling and Removal Project. (VII: Dept. of Interior 2011d) Determine if suppression of nonnative predators and competitors increases native fish populations? (USGS 2007b; RIN 2.4.2)"
Project H. Understanding the Factors Limiting the Growth of Large Rainbow Trout in Glen and Marble Canyons	"Research project studying the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fishery of Glen Canyon. This project involves: (a) a simple laboratory experiment to determine if the strain of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in Lees Ferry is capable of growing to large size; (b) data collection and model development to better understand factors controlling primary production and invertebrate drift; (c) collecting hydrodynamic and fish diet data, which will be used to develop a bioenergetics model of trout foraging; and (d) undertaking a synthesis of other tailwaters to better understand how dam operations affect the size distribution of salmonids in other settings."	"Clarify the drivers of rainbow trout population status and trends, size composition, and downstream migration, thus allowing for more effective management of this important fishery. Hypotheses to be explored are: (H1) The strain of rainbow trout present in Glen Canyon is incapable of growing to large sizes (i.e., >20 inches). (H2) The current prey base, composed chiefly of midges and black flies, can support the growth of smaller rainbow trout, but doesn't provide enough energy to allow for growth in large rainbow trout. (H3) The growth of large rainbow trout is limited by exploitative competition for limited prey items. (H4) Operational constraints that occurred in 1990's limit the growth of large rainbow trout."	"How can the Lees Ferry trout fishery be improved? (III: USGS 2007a) Assess the efficacy of experimental flow manipulations (through dam operations) to manage trout populations in the mainstem Colorado River from Lees Ferry to the LCR reach. (VII: Dept. of Interior 2011d)"
Project Element H.1. Laboratory Feeding Studies ($35,000)	Evaluate growth potential of Glen Canyon rainbow trout by rearing fish in captivity and feeding them ad libitum with high quality trout food for two years to address H1. Fish will be measured and PIT tagged when stocked, and will be measured throughout the study to estimate growth and condition.	Do Lees Ferry trout grow to a large size if fed ad libitum? (H1)	"How does the genetics or “strain"" of RBT in the Lees Ferry reach influence the average size of fish creeled by anglers? (USGS 2007b; RIN 4.1.4)"
"Project Element H.2. Understanding the Links among Dam Operations, Environmental Conditions, and the Foodbase ($248,000)"
Project Element H.2.1. Developing a Mechanistic Model of Primary Productivity	Develop a mechanistic model of primary production that can be used to make predictions about the effects of dam operations (including HFEs) and environmental conditions (i.e., turbidity, water quality from Lake Powell) on a key food web component—algae. Predicting algae growth response to novel flow regimes that are outside of the set of observed conditions will be an important component of ongoing adaptive management experimentation. To address this need, we propose additional data collection and development of a mechanistic model of algae growth that can be used to predict algae response to dam operations and changing environmental conditions (i.e., turbidity and nutrient loading).	Because there is a strong interaction between turbidity and discharge, we are unable to completely separate the effects of turbidity from discharge on algal grown and predict with confidence algae growth rates for dam operations that are outside of the set of observed conditions (i.e., Modified Low Fluctuating Flows). Needed to answer H2.	"How is invertebrate flux affected by water quality (e.g., temperature, nutrient concentrations, turbidity) and dam operations? (I: Melis et al. 2006) What is the effect of a fall HFE on the foodbase at Lees Ferry? (IV: Dept. of Interior 2011a) What is the relationship of high-release magnitude and duration on the extent of foodbase scouring in the Lees Ferry reach? (IV: Dept. of Interior 2011a) Will high flow experiments promote conservation of high priority AMP biological resources (e.g., native fishes, native riparian vegetation, aquatic food base, rainbow trout)? (III: USGS 2007a) How is invertebrate flux affected by water quality (e.g., temperature, nutrient concentrations, turbidity) and dam operations? (USGS 2007b; SSQ 3.5 / 5.2) How are the composition and biomass of primary producers between GCD and the Paria River affected by flow and water quality (including nutrients, temperature, light regime, toxins, dissolved oxygen), waterborne diseases, or other factors? (USGS 2007b; RIN 1.1.1/1.1.2) What are the habitat characteristics between GCD and the Paria River that most affect primary productivity? How are these characteristics affected by GCD operations? (USGS 2007b; RIN 1.1.4) How are the composition and biomass of primary producers in the CRE below the Paria River affected by flow and water quality (including nutrients, temperature, light regime, toxins, dissolved oxygen), and waterborne diseases, or other factors? (USGS 2007b; RIN 1.3.1) How do top-down effects on primary producers (grazing and predation) affect food base productivity? (USGS 2007b; RIN 1.3.3) What are the habitat characteristics in the CRE below the Paria River that most affect primary productivity? How are these characteristics affected by GCD operations? (USGS 2007b; RIN 1.3.4)" "How do top-down effects (grazing and predation) affect the abundance and composition of benthic invertebrates? (USGS 2007b; RIN 1.4.3) What are the habitat characteristics in the CRE below the Paria River that most affect benthic invertebrates? How are these characteristics affected by GCD operations? (USGS 2007b; RIN 1.4.4) How do changes in flow volume and rate of change affect food base and energy productivity in the CRE? (USGS 2007b; RIN 7.4.3) What are the fundamental trophic interactions in the aquatic ecosystem? (USGS 2007b; IN 1.1) How are the production, composition, density, and biomass of the benthic invertebrate community affected by primary productivity vs. allochthonous inputs? (USGS 2007b; IN 1.2) What food base criteria do other agencies use to assess aquatic ecosystem health? (USGS 2007b; IN 1.3) What is the current carbon budget for the CRE? (USGS 2007b; IN 1.4)"
Project Element H.2.2. Characterizing Invertebrate Drift	Characterize spatial and temporal variation in the quantity and size distribution of invertebrate drift throughout Glen and Marble Canyon. We will undertake additional sampling during the Natal Origins of Humpback Chub at Aggregations by Otolith Microchemistry Project (Project Element D.2.1.) river trips to characterize spatial variation in drift throughout Glen and Marble Canyons.	Data on spatial and temporal variation in drift from both long-term monitoring and the research proposed here will be analyzed using standard statistical techniques and results will inform H2 and H3.	"How are the composition and biomass of drift in the CRE affected by flow and water quality (including nutrients, temperature, light regime, toxins, dissolved oxygen), and waterborne diseases, or other factors? (USGS 2007b; RIN 1.5.1)"
Project Element H.3. Developing a Bioenergetics Model for Large Rainbow Trout ($138,000)	Develop a bioenergetics model that allows us to quantify the effects of prey size, water velocity, and intra-specific competition on growth potential for rainbow trout. Quantify how rainbow trout energy intake varies between small and large rainbow trout by analyzing stomach contents seasonally at the four Natal Origins project sample sites. Develop a bioenergetics model for rainbow trout that includes information on invertebrate drift rates, water velocities, and water temperatures.	The bioenergetics model will be used to evaluate both H2 and H3 by allowing us to determine how energy gains and losses vary at different discharge and prey density levels, and the degree to which intra-specific competition (by lowering prey densities) lowers the growth potential of large rainbow trout.	"What dam release patterns most effectively maintain the Lees Ferry RBT trophy fishery while limiting RBT survival below the Paria River? (USGS 2007b; RIN 4.2.7) What is the target proportional stock density (i.e., tradeoff between numbers and size) for RBT in the Lees Ferry reach? (USGS 2007b; RIN 4.1.1)"
"Project Element H.4. Learning from other Tailwaters—a Synthesis of Tailwaters in the United States ($150,000)"	Develop a broader understanding of the links between dam operations and salmonid population dynamics, including novel flow regimes that might be evaluated on Glen Canyon Dam, by synthesizing data from tailwaters throughout the nation.	While it is not possible to evaluate H4 without major changes in Glen Canyon Dam operations, it is possible to evaluate H4 by synthesizing data from other tailwaters that experience different flow regimes than Glen Canyon Dam.	What is the minimum quantity and quality of spawning substrate necessary for maintaining a wild reproducing RBT population in the Lees Ferry reach? (USGS 2007b; RIN 4.1.2)
"Project Element H.5. Contingency Planning for High Experimental Flows and Subsequent Rainbow Trout Population Management ($65,000)"	Determine the effects of Fall HFEs and other potential management actions on rainbow trout populations in Glen Canyon. Launch an additional Natal Origins marking trip shortly after a Fall HFE to monitor trout responses.	Do fall HFEs lead to further population fluctuations and dispersal downstream thereby necessitating a management response?	"What is the effect of a fall HFE on the trout population at Lees Ferry? (IV: Dept. of Interior 2011a) What effect would consecutive HFEs (spring followed by fall, or fall followed by spring) have on the foodbase and trout population at Lees Ferry? (IV: Dept. of Interior 2011a) Is it possible to manage the Lees Ferry trout population with a spring HFE held at slightly different times than previous spring HFEs? (IV: Dept. of Interior 2011a)"
Project I. Riparian Vegetation Studies: Response Guilds as a Monitoring Approach, and Describing the Effects of Tamarisk Defoliation on the Riparian Community Downstream of Glen Canyon Dam	Make the CRe work complementary to that underway in the Upper Colorado River Basin, as conducted by the National Park Service’s Northern Colorado Plateau Information and Monitoring Network.	"The effort here is to develop data sets that can be compared across larger spatial scale in different geomorphic settings and different dam operation scenarios. What are the implications to riparian bird and pollinator composition of tamarisk beetle expansion? For example, declines in tamarisk leaf material may result in reduced abundance of the leaf hopper (Opsius stactogalis) commonly found on tamarisk, that is a primary food source for some riparian birds (Yard and others, 2004): Will this food source be replaced by some other arthropod, or will there be a shift in bird composition? Reduced tamarisk flowers may also affect the abundance of pollen and nectar collectors, including bees and hummingbirds (Brown 1992): Since tamarisk flowers from April to September, will the reduction in flower availability resulting from herbivory reduce total pollinator richness and abundance, and will pollinators become more typical than was found in the predam riparian zone?"	"How much allochthonous material (e.g., leaf litter) is exchanged between the terrestrial and aquatic systems? (USGS 2007b; IN 6.4)"
Project Element I.1. Monitor Vegetation and Channel Response using Response Guilds and Landscape Scale Vegetation Change Analysis ($278,000)	Guilds can be used to indicate a directional response of the riparian community and the river channel to an implemented flow regime. Identify contracting or expanding areas of riparian vegetation, simplification of the riparian community, and simplification or narrowing of the river channel. Because guilds have a probabilistic response to flows, we can project their trajectory and model faunal species responses to riparian changes.		"How do processes occurring at a variety of spatial scales (i.e., population level to community to landscape scales) interface to influence riparian habitat? (I: Melis et al. 2006) What is the nature and timing of terrestrial — aquatic linkages and what is their influence on the recipient habitat? (I: Melis et al. 2006) How do terrestrial habitat and cultural/recreation resources interface? i. What are the rates of vegetation encroachment (trees vs. shrubs) on camp sites? (I: Melis et al. 2006) How do flows, including the absence of flows (e.g., predam high water zone), affect productivity and decomposition rates of riparian vegetation? (I: Melis et al. 2006) To what extent and in what respects can BHBF’s (magnitude and frequency) achieve reduction of exotic species? (I: Melis et al. 2006) How could monthly volumes be changed to beneficially affect riparian habitat? (I: Melis et al. 2006) How do warmer releases affect viability and productivity of native/nonnative vegetation? (USGS 2007b; SSQ 5.7) Develop or adopt an existing ecological community classification system. The system should describe the composition and frequency of vascular plants, vertebrates, arthropods, and mollusks to an appropriate taxonomic level. (USGS 2007b; IN 6.2)" "What dam operations (Category A), or other management actions (Category B), have the potential to maintain the Old High Water Zone (OHWZ) community at the current stage elevation, or establish the community at a lower stage elevation? (USGS 2007b; RIN 6.3.2) What dam operations (Category A), or other management actions (Category B), have the potential to increase or decrease the distribution and abundance of nonnative species? (USGS 2007b; RIN 6.5.2) How is seep and spring habitat affected by variation in dam operations, variation in seep or spring flow, and variation in water quality? How do flow rates and water quality parameters at seeps and springs compare with historic measurements? (USGS 2007b; RIN 6.6.1) What are the grain-size characteristics of sandbars associated with designated riparian vegetation zones? (USGS 2007b; SIN 8.5.6)"
Project Element I.1.1. Periodic Landscape Scale Vegetation Mapping and Change Analysis using Remotely Sensed Data	Complete a total vegetation database and vegetation class database for the 2009 imagery, and to conduct change detection analysis of vegetation between 2002 and 2009.		"Develop GIS coverages of natural communities in the CRE to use in identification of status and trends.IN 6.1 - Determine if nonnative species are expanding or contracting at a local scale (patch or reach). (USGS 2007b; RIN 6.5.1) How have the abundance, composition, and distribution of the sand beach community changed since dam closure (1963), high flows (1984), interim flows (1991), and the implementation of ROD operations (1996)? (USGS 2007b; RIN 6.4.1) How has the abundance, composition, distribution, and area of the marsh community changed since dam closure (1963), high flows (1984), interim flows (1991) and the implementation of ROD operations (1996)? (USGS 2007b; RIN 6.1.1) How has the patch number, patch distribution, composition, and area of the New High Water Zone (NHWZ) community changed since dam closure (1963), high flows (1984), interim flows (1991) and the implementation of ROD operations (1996)? (USGS 2007b; RIN 6.2.1) How has the abundance, composition, and distribution of the Old High Water Zone (OHWZ) community changed since dam closure (1963), high flows (1984), interim flows (1991), and the implementation of ROD operations (1996)? (USGS 2007b; RIN 6.3.1) How has the abundance and distribution of nonnative species changed since dam closure (1963), high flows (1984), interim flows (1991) and the implementation of ROD operations (1996)? (USGS 2007b; RIN 6.5.3) How has the composition, abundance and distribution of seep and spring communities changed since dam closure (1963), high flows (1984), interim flows (1991) and the implementation of ROD operations (1996)? (USGS 2007b; RIN 6.6.3) What is the distribution, patch size, total area, and composition of seep and spring communities and the flow rate and water quality of all seeps and springs within the CRE? (USGS 2007b; RIN 6.6.4)"
Project Element I.2. Riparian vegetation dynamics and trophic level linkages related to tamarisk defoliation ($47,000)	Determine the response of ground dwelling arthropods and pollinators to tamarisk beetle defoliation. Surveys for beetle presence and defoliation will be used to identify initial high and low susceptibility sites within Glen Canyon. Sample for understory plants, arthropod and pollinator studies in four tamarisk defoliation sites. The Glen Canyon site may be one of three sites in the Southwest evaluating the effect of the tamarisk beetle on pollinator abundance and richness.	"(H1) The reduction in continuous sources of pollen throughout the summer months associated with tamarisk flowers will result in reduced seasonal pollinator abundance. Pollinator abundance and diversity may be similar to the pre-dam riparian zone. (H2) Reductions in ground litter and soil moisture associated with decreased cover will reduce ground-dwelling arthropod richness and abundance. Arthropod abundance and richness may become similar to the predam riparian zone. (H3) Increased light availability as a result of mid-summer defoliation will favor understory plants that germinate late in the summer and fall, following monsoons."	"What is the function of the CRE as a migratory corridor for southwestern willow flycatcher (SWWF)? (USGS 2007b; RIN 6.7.1) What is the food base that supports SWWF and other terrestrial vertebrates? (USGS 2007b; RIN 6.7.2) What constitutes suitable SWWF habitat? (USGS 2007b; RIN 6.7.3) How has the abundance, distribution and reproductive success of SWWF changed since dam closure (1963), high flows (1984), interim flows (1991) and the implementation of ROD operations (1996)? (USGS 2007b; RIN 6.7.4) What is the need, feasibility, and priority of maintaining habitat suitability for southwestern willow flycatcher in the CRE? (USGS 2007b; RIN 6.7.5)"
Project J. Monitoring of Cultural Resources at a Small Scale and Defining the Large-Scale Geomorphic Context of those Processes	The project work in FY13/14 is divided into a monitoring phase and a research phase. The monitoring phase will partly take place in Glen Canyon where new airborne LiDaR protocols will be evaluated. In Glen, Marble, and Grand Canyons, existing ground-based LiDaR protocols will be applied at a range of sites dominated by different styles of geomorphic processes. A new applied research program will be initiated in FY13/14 that focuses on placing the various site-scale measurements into a larger context.	"Are cultural sites eroding or changing faster or in a significantly different manner than they would if the dam were not present or was operated differently than it has been up until now? What is the geographic extent of the influence of Glen Canyon Dam on those geomorphic processes that affect archaeological resources? Is gully erosion progressive in the CRe and under what conditions does windblown sand reverse gullying? Do changes in sand bar area result in significant changes in erosional processes that threaten archaeological resources?"	"What are the TCPs in the CRE, and where are they located? (USGS 2007b; SSQ 2.5) How can tribal values/data/analyses be appropriately incorporated into a western science-driven adaptive management process in order to evaluate the effects of flow operations and management actions on TCPs? (USGS 2007b; SSQ 2.6)"
Project Element J.1. Cultural Site Monitoring in Glen Canyon ($152,000)	Measure surface changes, track trends in condition, and measure weather data at four sites on fine-grained alluvial terraces adjacent to the Colorado River where sediment inputs to the system are minimal, and where on-going erosion of cultural deposits is evident.	What are the erosion rates that might be expected to be at their maximum for the river corridor? (thereby bracketing expectation at other sites further downriver)
Project Element J.2. Monitoring of Select Cultural Sites in Grand Canyon ($206,000)	Outline and evaluate a monitoring strategy consisting of extensive and precise topographic, site condition, and weather data collection at four archaeological sites in Grand Canyon (pilot project). The four sites in Grand Canyon have been selected for long-term monitoring based on their geomorphic settings, surface characteristics, and specific locations in the river corridor landscape which place them in positions that are potentially conducive for aeolian deposition.	"Is the magnitude of aeolian transport to and deposition at sites from river sand bars sufficient to protect archaeological resources? Test the hypothesis that over time, sites situated near sand sources that are situated predominantly downwind from these sources, will be less prone to gullying and ultimately more stable than sites located in areas where sediment resupply via aeolian deposition does not routinely occur. Is the magnitude of aeolian deposition at appropriately situated archaeological sites in Grand Canyon sufficient to outpace erosion caused by high-intensity precipitation and gullying events? In areas with active aeolian deposition, do sites that are subjected to significant gullying(i.e., >30 cm down cutting) undergo net topographic lowering such that archaeological resources are impacted?"	"Will multiple HFEs conducted over a period of 10 years improve archaeological site condition as reflected in increased sand deposition, increased site stability, and reduction in rates of erosion? (VI: Dept. of Interior 2011c) How does the abundance and distribution of native and nonnative riparian species important to Native American tribes change in response to a HFE? (II: Mellis et al. 2007) Are dam controlled flows affecting TCPs and other tribally-valued resources in the CRE, and if so, in what respects are they being affected, and are those effects considered positive or negative by the tribes who value these resources? (USGS 2007b; SSQ 2.7) Which seeps and springs are culturally important or occupied by rare and endemic species? (USGS 2007b; RIN 6.6.2) What are the sources of impacts to historic properties? (USGS 2007b; RIN 11.1.1) What are the potential threats to historic properties relative to integrity and significance? (USGS 2007b; RIN 11.1.1.d) What are the historic properties within the area of potential effects? (USGS 2007b; RIN 11.1.2) For each tribe and living community, what are the register eligible TCPs? (USGS 2007b; RIN 11.1.2.a) How do specific sites meet National Register Criteria for Evaluation? (USGS 2007b; RIN 11.1.2.b)" "Identify GCDAMP activities that affect National Register eligible sites? (USGS 2007b; RIN 11.1.2.c) Identify NPS permitted activities that affect National Register eligible sites. (USGS 2007b; RIN 11.1.2.d) What are the thresholds triggering management actions? (USGS 2007b; RIN 11.1.3) Determine the necessary information to assess resource integrity. (USGS 2007b; RIN 11.1.3.a) How should adverse effects to historic properties be mitigated? (USGS 2007b; RIN 11.1.3.b) What are appropriate strategies to preserve resource integrity? (USGS 2007b; RIN 11.1.5) What are traditionally important resources and locations for each tribe and other groups? (USGS 2007b; RIN 11.2.1) What is the baseline measure for resource integrity? (USGS 2007b; RIN 11.2.2) Determine acceptable methods to preserve or treat traditionally important resources within the CRE. (USGS 2007b; RIN 11.2.3) What changes are occurring in cultural resource sites, and what are the causes of those changes? (USGS 2007b; RIN 11.2.4)"
"Project Element J.3. Defining the Extent and Relative Importance of Gully Formation and Annealing Processes in the Geomorphic Context of the Colorado River Ecosystem ($162,000)"	Develop and refine quantitative and conceptual understanding of gully development and annealing in order to evaluate the effectiveness of management actions on a large scale (such as controlled flooding) and smaller scale (such as check dams and other site-scale erosion control measures) in reducing gully erosion of sediment deposits and associated archaeological sites.	"How does the relative abundance of active and inactive aeolian sediment vary in different regions of the Colorado River corridor? Hypothesis: The proportion of active aeolian sand will be less in wide reaches of the river corridor and greater in narrower reaches of the river corridor. How does the degree of gully incision differ in sediment deposits that are active vs. inactive (with respect to aeolian sand transport)? Hypothesis: Gullies will be larger and longer-lived in inactive aeolian sand deposits than in active aeolian sand deposits. To what extent does aeolian sediment transport counteract gully erosion in Marble and Grand Canyon? Hypothesis: Aeolian sediment substantially limits gully incision of river-corridor sediment deposits in Marble–Grand Canyon such that the modeled extent of gully development will be greater than the actual extent."	"Do sandbars deposited by HFEs contribute to preservation of archaeological sites in the river corridor? (II: Mellis et al. 2007) Do HFEs contribute to added stability or erosion of archaeological sites located in close proximity to the river? (II: Mellis et al. 2007) Do dam controlled flows affect (increase or decrease) rates of erosion and vegetation growth at arch sites and Traditional Cultural Property (TCP) sites, and if so, how? (USGS 2007b; SSQ 2.1) How do flows impact the sedimentary matrix of the higher terrace deposits, and what kinds of important historical/legacy information about the CRE ecosystem is being lost due to ongoing erosion of these older Holocene sedimentary deposits? (USGS 2007b; SSQ 2.2) If dam controlled flows are contributing to (influencing rates of) arch site/TCP erosion, what are the optimal flows for minimizing future impacts to historic properties? (USGS 2007b; SSQ 2.3) How effective are various treatments (e.g., experimental flows, check dams, vegetation management, etc.) in slowing rates of erosion at archaeological sites over the long term? (USGS 2007b; SSQ 2-4) What is the significance of aeolian processes in terrestrial sandbar reworking? (USGS 2007b; RIN 8.5.4) What and where are the geomorphic processes that link loss of site integrity with dam operations as opposed to dam existence or natural processes? (USGS 2007b; RIN 11.1.1.a) What are the terrace formation processes and how do dam operations affect current terrace formations processes? (USGS 2007b; RIN 11.1.1.b) Determine if and where dam operations cause accelerated erosion to historic properties? (USGS 2007b; RIN 11.1.1.c) How are sandbar textures related to cultural site stability? (USGS 2007b; SIN 8.5.9)"
Project K. GCMRC Economist and Support ($200,000)	The program of study that will be undertaken by this individual has not yet been comprehensively described.		"1. What are the hydropower replacements costs of the MLFF (annually, since 1996)? (USGS 2007b; SSQ 3.3) 2. What are the projected costs associated with the various alternative flow regimes being discussed for future experimental science (as defined in the next phase experimental design)? (USGS 2007b; SSQ 3.4) Determine and track the impacts to power users from implementation of ROD dam operations and segregate those effects from other causes such as changes in the power market. (USGS 2007b; IN 10.1) Develop information that can be used by the Technical Work Group (TWG), in collaboration with GCMRC, to establish current and target levels for all resources within the GCDAMP as called for in the GCDAMP strategic plan. (USGS 2007b; IN 12.1) What would be the effects on the CRE and marketable capacity and energy of increasing the daily fluctuation limit? (USGS 2007b; RIN 10.1.1) What would be the effects on the CRE and marketable capacity and energy of increasing the upramp and downramp limit? (USGS 2007b; RIN 10.1.2) What would be the effects on the CRE and marketable capacity and energy of raising the maximum power plant flow limit above 25,000 cfs? (USGS 2007b; RIN 10.1.3) What would be the effects on the CRE and marketable capacity and energy of lowering the minimum flow limit below 5,000 cfs? (USGS 2007b; RIN 10.1.4) How do power-marketing contract provisions affect GCD releases? (USGS 2007b; RIN 10.1.5) What are the effects of providing financial exception criteria? (USGS 2007b; RIN 10.3.1) What are the effects on the CRE and marketable power and energy of increasing Automatic Generation Control at GCD? (USGS 2007b; RIN 10.4.1)" "What is the economic value of the recreational use of the CRE downstream from GCD? (USGS 2007b; RIN 12.1.1) What are the use (e.g., hydropower, trout fishing, rafting) and nonuse (e.g., option, vicarious, quasi-option, bequest and existence) values of the CRE? (USGS 2007b; RIN 12.1.2) How does use (e.g., hydropower, trout fishing, rafting) and nonuse (e.g., option, vicarious, quasi-option, bequest and existence) values change in response to an experiment performed under the ROD, unanticipated event, or other management action? (USGS 2007b; RIN 12.1.3)"
Project L. Independent Reviews and Science Advisors ($153,000)	Independent review of the work of the GCMRC, the work of GCMRC’s associated scientists in sister agencies, consulting firms, and universities, and the decisions and programs of the AMWG and TWG are critical aspects of the GCDAMP. The primary activity is the convening of Protocol Evaluation Panels (PEP) to review the state-of-the-science in critical areas of science and management and to consider development of formal protocols for monitoring different aspects of the CRe.		"If sediment cannot be preserved in the system using available management actions, what is the feasibility (including technical, legal, economic, and policy issues) of sediment augmentation as a means of achieving this goal? (USGS 2007b; IN 8.1) Determine what information is necessary and sufficient to make recommendations at an acceptable level of risk. (USGS 2007b; IN 12.2) As necessary, investigate the most effective methods to integrate and synthesize resource data. (USGS 2007b; RIN 12.3.1) What are the differences between western science and tribal processes for design of studies and for gathering, analyzing, and interpreting data used in the adaptive management program? How well do research designs and work plans incorporate tribal perspectives and values into the standard western science paradigm? Is it more beneficial to keep the perspective separated? (USGS 2007b; RIN 12.3.2) How effective is the GCDAMP in addressing the EIS statement “Long-term monitoring and research are … implemented to measure how well the selected alternative meets resource management objectives”? (USGS 2007b; RIN 12.3.3) What are the most effective means to build GCDAMP public support through effective public outreach? (USGS 2007b; RIN 12.5.1) What are the most effective means to attain and maintain effective communication and coordination with other resource management programs in the Colorado River basin to ensure consideration of their values and perspectives into the GCDAMP and vice versa? (USGS 2007b; RIN 12.5.2) To what extent does the public understand and support the GCDAMP? (USGS 2007b; RIN 12.5.3) What is the most effective way to distribute information to our stakeholders and the public in a secure and accessible fashion? (USGS 2007b; RIN 12.5.4) Identify the desired level of information, education, and outreach provided for Glen and Grand Canyon river users and the general public. (USGS 2007b; RIN 12.5.5) How effective are the current strategies to achieve tribal consultation? (USGS 2007b; RIN 12.7.1)" "How well do the current strategies to achieve tribal consultation meet legal and GCDAMP protocols? (USGS 2007b; RIN 12.7.2) How well does current tribal participation in the GCDAMP research and long-term monitoring programs meet tribal needs and desires? (USGS 2007b; RIN 12.8.1) What is the impact on downstream resources of short-term increases to maximum flow, daily fluctuations, and downramp limits? (USGS 2007b; RIN 12.9.1) What is the best combination of dam operations and other management actions to achieve the vision, mission, goals, and objectives of the GCDAMP? (USGS 2007b; RIN 12.9.2) What are the relationships between dam operations and other management actions in their effects on resources addressed by GCDAMP management objectives? (USGS 2007b; RIN 12.9.3) What are the most effective methods to maintain or attain the participation of externally-funded investigators? (USGS 2007b; RIN 12.11.1)"
Project M. USGS Administration	The USGS Administration budget covers salaries for the communications coordinator, the librarian, and the budget analyst for GCMRC, in addition to monetary awards for all GCMRC personnel. The vehicle section covers GSA vehicle costs including monthly lease fee, mileage costs, and any costs for accidents and damage. DOI vehicles are also included in this section of the budget to pay for vehicle gas, maintenance, and replacements costs. Leadership personnel covers salary and some of the travel and training costs for the GCMRC Chief, Deputy Chief, and two program managers. AMWG/TWG travel covers the cost of GCMRC personnel to travel to the AMWG and TWG meetings. SBSC Information Technology (IT) overhead covers GCMRCs IT equipment costs.. Logistics base costs covers salaries and travel/training. These base costs also include a $35,000 contribution to the equipment and vehicles working capital fund.
Project N. Incremental Allocations in Support of Quadrennial Overflights	Overflights, during which digital aerial photographs and remotely-sensed data are acquired, occur every 4 years as part of the regular monitoring program of he GCDAMP. These data are used by most of the projects described in the BWP. The estimated average cost of each quadrennial overflight is approximately $565,000, and this amount is accrued during a 4-yr period. Thus, the amount listed in the FY 13 and FY 14 budgets represents the required amounts so that overflight data acquisition will occur in 2013 and 2017.
Other GCDAMP topics currently not being addressed in the BWP:	Angler preference		"Assuming a trade-off between trout density and size, what is the preferred combination for anglers? (I: Melis et al. 2006) What GCD flow constraints (ramping rates, daily flow range, etc.) maximize fishing opportunities and catchability? (I: Melis et al. 2006)"
TBD	Recreation		"Can changes in quality of recreational experience be quantified for single event opportunities (e.g., white water rafting, angling, and camping) vs. multi-opportunity experiences (e.g. white water rafting with overnight camping)? (I: Melis et al. 2006) How do dam-controlled flows affect visitors’ recreational experiences, and what is/are the optimal flows for maintaining a high-quality recreational experience in the CRE? (USGS 2007b; SSQ 3.7) What are the drivers for recreational experiences in the CRE, and how important are flows relative to other drivers in shaping recreational experience outcomes? (USGS 2007b; SSQ 3.8)"
TBD	Visitor experience		"How do varying flows regimes positively or negatively affect group encounter rates, campsite competition, and other social parameters that are known to be important variables of visitor experience? (USGS 2007b; SSQ 3.12) What are the attributes of a quality river experience? (How do you define a quality river experience?) (USGS 2007b; RIN 9.1.1) Determine the appropriate carrying capacity for recreational activities within the CRE. (USGS 2007b; RIN 9.1.2) How do varying flows positively or negatively affect campsite attributes that are important to visitor experience? (I: Melis et al. 2006) What are the minimum size, quantity, distribution and quality of campsites to meet NPS goals for visitor experience? (I: Melis et al. 2006) Can visitor experience (boating, camping, sightseeing, safety) be enhanced through alteration of the MLFF flow regime? (III: USGS 2007a) What is the desired target level of camping beaches by reach? (USGS 2007b; RIN 9.3.1) Identify the elements of wilderness experience specific to the CRE. (USGS 2007b; RIN 9.4.1) What effects do administrative trips, including research and monitoring activities have on recreational users? (USGS 2007b; RIN 9.5.1)"
TBD	Safety and navigation		"How can safety and navigability be reliably measured relative to flows? (USGS 2007b; SSQ 3.10) How do varying flows positively or negatively affect visitor safety, health, and navigability of the rapids? (USGS 2007b; SSQ 3.11) How do ongoing inputs of coarse-sediment from tributaries diminish or enhance navigability of rapids throughout the CRE? (USGS 2007b; RIN 9.1.3)"
TBD	GCDAMP Goal 3: Restore populations of extirpated species, as feasible and advisable.		"Will dam operations, including temperature changes, diel fluctuations, and high experimental flows affect razorback sucker in Lake Mead and Grand Canyon? (III: USGS 2007a) If razorback sucker (RBS) were stocked into the CRE, what is the risk that hybridization with FMS would compromise the genetic integrity of either species? (USGS 2007b; RIN 2.5.1) How do existing RBS and FMS affect the genetic integrity of either species? What are the factors contributing to this ongoing hybridization? (USGS 2007b; RIN 2.5.2) What characteristics define suitable habitat for razorback sucker (RBS)? Does suitable habitat for RBS occur in the CRE? (USGS 2007b; RIN 2.5.3) What is the feasibility and advisability of augmenting RBS in the CRE to attain a viable population including technical/legal/policy constraints? (USGS 2007b; RIN 2.5.4) What are the genetic and ecological criteria for reintroducing RBS into the CRE? (USGS 2007b; RIN 2.5.5) What are the measurable criteria that would need to be met to remove jeopardy for RBS in the CRE? (USGS 2007b; RIN 2.5.6) What information (including technical, legal, economic, and policy issues) should be considered in determining the feasibility and advisability of restoring pikeminnow, bonytail, roundtail chub, river otter, or other extirpated species? (USGS 2007b; RIN 3.1.1)"
TBD	GCDAMP Goal 5: Maintain or attain viable populations of Kanab ambersnail.		"What constitutes population viability for KAS at Vaseys Paradise? (USGS 2007b; RIN 5.1.1) What parameters have the greatest influence on population viability of KAS at Vaseys Paradise (e.g., parasites, predation, discharges, habitat size, quality, and human use/visitation)? (USGS 2007b; RIN 5.1.2) Develop a population dynamic model to predict KAS viability under different flows and environmental conditions. (USGS 2007b; RIN 5.1.3) Identify and evaluate alternative Management Actions to ensure viability of KAS at Vaseys Paradise where (1) the population dynamic model predicts loss of population viability, or (2) monitoring discovers substantial habitat or KAS population declines. (USGS 2007b; RIN 5.1.4) What is the taxonomic identity of the Oxyloma snails at Vaseys Paradise? Is a change to the existing taxonomic status warranted? (USGS 2007b; RIN 5.1.5) What is the range of occurrence of the ambersnail taxon found at Vaseys Paradise? (NOTE: Intended to address the issue of whether this is an endemic population or a relict population or part of a metapopulation.) (USGS 2007b; RIN 5.1.6) What is the historic range of Oxyloma haydeni? Can this range be determined from subfossil or fossil evidence? (NOTE: This is intended to determine if this is a relict species and the initial work would be done at Vaseys Paradise, South Canyon and other probable sites within the CRE.) (USGS 2007b; RIN 5.1.7) What are the measurable criteria that need to be met to remove jeopardy for KAS at Vaseys Paradise? (USGS 2007b; RIN 5.1.8 - How can incidental take for KAS at Vaseys Paradise be minimized? (USGS 2007b; RIN 5.1.9) How does the size, quality, and recovery time of KAS habitat change following natural scours or other events? (USGS 2007b; RIN 5.2.1) How does the size and quality of the habitat used by Kanab ambersnail (KAS) change in response to an experiment performed under the Record of Decision (ROD), unanticipated event, or other management action? (USGS 2007b; RIN 5.2.2)" "How can remote sensing technologies be used to less intrusively and more cost effectively characterize and monitor KAS habitat at Vaseys Paradise (vegetation type and distribution)? (USGS 2007b; RIN 5.2.3)"

UNDER CONSTRUCTION:

To be added: From Knowledge Assessment_"Assessing what we know and don't know_8-22-2011"- USGS

The food web on which fish depend is very simple
Availablitity of high-quality food resources limits fish populations- Black Flies and midges are the most important parts of the present food web.
The mainstem Colorado River water temperature is typically well velow the termal optimum for native fishes, but recently has been warmer.
Warming increases growth/ production of algae and invertebrates.
Warming increases the growth rate of humpback chub.
We don't understand the decline in RBT between 2001 and 2007.
Rainbow and brown trout disproportionately prey on native fish.

WHAT WE DON'T KNOW--

Will warmer mainstem temperatures alone allow for increased survival of humpback chub?
Do trout have substantial population-level effects on humpback chub?
What ages of HBC are most impacted, and by what mechanisms? Competition, predation...

RAFTING RELATED

Do rafting groups get told not to cave-in sandbars?

SEDIMENT RELATED

Sediment Retention:

Q: How do intervening flows effect retention of sand bars? A
Q: In order to retain sandbar life following an HFE, has riprap been considered as a possible action against erosion in the Grand Canyon?

A: The park system was created to conserve unimpaired the resources and values that the park was set aside to protect. Natural landscapes disturbed by natural phenomena will be allowed to recover naturally (where possible). Landscape and vegetation conditions altered by human activity may be manipulated where the park management plan provides for restoring the lands to a natural condition. This usually entails removing the man-made objects (like a fence, structure, or even a dam) to bring the area back to a natural state. If the use of man-made objects or non-native species proves worthy in restoring a landscape, it can be used to a limited degree, and as long as it is done on a temporary basis and does not impair the resources.

In addition, one needs to factor in wilderness management (which applies to the lands along the river). Because the beaches are within NPS proposed wilderness recommendation, They are required to manage the area as Wilderness; including the values of naturalness, primitive and unconfined recreation, solitude, and special values. No action can be taken that would diminish the area's wilderness eligibility until after Congress and the President have taken action. This aspect takes us back to the "as natural as possible" discussion and would be a prohibitive factor for such actions as rip-wrapping and other such man-made structures.

>>Also consider-- the cost of doing such work in the Grand Canyon may even exceed that of sediment augmentation. ---Riprap, HFE, Sandbars erosion

FISH RELATED

How often do native fish get handled?

DAM- General Overview

What resources have been improved because of the dam?
Was there more or less vegetation along the river after GC Dam was built?

Monitoring

How far back does the readings of the gauges go? Pre-dam?

Flow Regimes

Do steady flows produce more trout?
Do steady flows lead to increases in vegetation encroachment?

GCDAMP- Questions and Answers Page

Contents

RAFTING RELATED

SEDIMENT RELATED

FISH RELATED

DAM- General Overview

Monitoring

Flow Regimes

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