Why the DFCs are Important
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These CRE DFCs address the natural resource values for which the GCNP and the GCNRA were established. The DFCs aim to comply with the Grand Canyon Protection Act of 1992 (GCPA) and describe the individual resource objectives sought with the realization that they may not be achievable in the process of finding the most desirable mix of resources in the CRE and the natural habitats, and natural ecosystem processes. Native and non-native species are to be managed in accord with Federal regulations, policies, and guidelines. The CRE described herein includes most of the native natural resources found in the Colorado River. Those resources are managed, consistent with the "The Law of the River" (described in part in Section 1802(b) of the GCPA, under the National Park Service (NPS) Organic Act, the Redwoods Amendment, NPS 2006 Management Policies, the Wilderness Act, the Antiquities Act, the Endangered Species Act, the GCPA, the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, and other Federal legislation. The health of the river ecosystem and the protection of the resource values of GCNP and GCNRA are important to the nation, many Native American Tribes, the economy of the Southwest, and the millions of visitors to the parks and the region.
The CRE DFCs will provide a foundation for and help define the components of the Core Monitoring Program under development by the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center (GCMRC). The Core Monitoring Program will be essential to ultimately quantifying, measuring, and reporting the status of the natural resources, allowing the Secretary and the AMP to track progress toward desired outcomes. DFCs will also provide foundation support in the development of other planning and management assignments associated with the GCDAMP.
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Colorado River Ecosystem (CRE) DFCs
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These DFCs are intended to guide the gathering and analysis of data pertinent to the CRE in Grand Canyon National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The CRE DFCs and the related documents will be used to provide direction towards development of the core monitoring program under development by the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center (GCMRC). Through diligent and consistent monitoring, GCMRC may inform the Secretary as to whether as to what degree these DFCs are being achieved.
• Percentage of critical habitat lost or gained
• Condition of species variability (native population, abundance, distribution)
• Carrying capacity thresholds
• Population estimates
High elevation open riparian sediment deposits along the Colorado River in sufficient volume, area, and distribution so as to provide habitat to sustain native biota and desired ecosystem processes.
• Nearshore habitats for native fish
• Marsh and riparian habitat for fish (food chain maintenance)
• Cultural resource preservation
• Maintenance of camping beaches
Water quality with regards to dissolved oxygen, nutrient concentrations and cycling, turbidity, temperature, etc., is sufficient to support natural ecosystem functions, visitor safety and visitor experience to the extent feasible and consistent with the life history requirements of focal aquatic species.
• Ecosystem-sustaining nutrient distribution, flux, and cycling.
• Hydro-physical conditions and characteristics of the CRE necessary to sustain aquatic biota.
• Acceptable water quality for human health and visitor experience.
CRE Aquatic Domain
Aquatic Food Base:
The aquatic food base will sustainably support viable populations of desired species at all trophic levels. Assure that an adequate, diverse, productive aquatic foodbase exists for fish and other aquatic and terrestrial species that depend on those food resources.
Native Species:
Native fish species and their habitats (including critical habitats) sustainably maintained throughout in each species’ natural ranges in the CRE.
• A healthy, self-sustaining populations of other remaining native fish with appropriate distribution (flannelmouth sucker, bluehead sucker, speckled dace, so that listing under the ESA is not needed.
Humpback chub (HBC):
• Achieve HBC recovery in accord with the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the HBC comprehensive management plan, and with the assistance of collaborators within and external to the AMP.
• A self-sustaining HBC population in its natural range in the CRE.
• An ecologically appropriate habitat for the HBC in the mainstem.
• Spawning habitat for HBC in the Lower Little Colorado.
• Establish additional HBC spawning habitat and spawning aggregations within the CRE, where feasible.
• Adequate survival of young-of-year or juvenile HBC that enter the mainstem to maintain reproductive potential of the population and achieve population sizes consistent with recovery goals.
Rainbow trout:
A high quality trout fishery in GCNRA, as further described in the Recreation DFC that does not adversely affect the native aquatic community in GCNP.
• Minimize emigration of non-native fish from the Lees Ferry reach in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area to downstream locations.
• Minimize emigration of non-native warm water fish to the mainstem Colorado River.
Extirpated Species:
Re-establish fishes extirpated from Grand Canyon, where feasible and consistent with recovery goals for HBC and the recovery goals of those extirpated fishes. See the linkages that follow for further information.
Nonfish Biotic Communities:
Native non-fish aquatic biota and their habitats are sustainably maintained with ecologically appropriate distributions.
• Populations of native non-fish species (invertebrates and vertebrates, including Northern Leopard Frog).
- AMP support, actions and funding are limited to incorporation of dam operations which are conducive to restoration of extirpated species.
• Minimize the abundance and distribution of non-native species in the CRE.
• Sustainable dam-influenced aquatic, wetland, and springs plant communities and associated biological processes, including those supporting threatened and endangered species and their habitats.
Native riparian systems, in various stages of maturity, are diverse, healthy, productive, self-sustaining, and ecologically appropriate.
• Native, self-sustaining riverine wetlands, and riparian vegetation and habitat, with appropriate mixture of age classes.
• Healthy, self-sustaining populations of native riparian fauna (both resident and migratory).
• Habitat for sensitive species within the CRE
• Encourage the resolution of the taxonomic status of the Kanab ambersnail (e.g., completely describe the taxa and subspecies).
• Habitat for neotropical migratory birds, waterfowl, and other appropriate native bird species.
• Ecological functions of tributary mouths and riverside springs, including habitat for native species.
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- Glen Canyon Dam capacity and energy generation is maintained and increased, so as to produce the greatest practicable amount of power and energy, consistent with the other DFCs.
- Ensure continued delivery of Glen Canyon Dam hydropower to the existing customers who have entered into long-term firm power contracts with WAPA.
- Ensure sufficient and efficient production of Glen Canyon Dam hydropower in order to provide the revenues to support the CRSP facilities and purposes.
- Maintain the operational flexibility (including but not limited to load following capability, ramp rates, and emergency operations allowances) that enable Reclamation and WAPA to meet the system operating and other regulatory requirements of WECC, North American Electric Reliability Corporation and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, as well as emergency operating criteria for safety and human health situations.
- Maximize the environmental benefits of hydropower generation at Glen Canyon Dam.
- Minimize carbon emissions through hydropower generation at Glen Canyon Dam.
Why the Power DFC is Important
- Hydropower is an authorized purpose of Glen Canyon Dam.
- Hydropower produced by Glen Canyon Dam is under long-term contract to not-for-profit entities and 57 tribal entities.
- Power revenues are a significant funding source (est. $20 million/year) for the AMP, Upper Colorado River and San Juan River Endangered Fish Recovery Programs, and the Colorado River Salinity Control Program.
- Hydropower is a renewable resource that is an important component in the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC). Hydropower production is a national objective to help meet the Nation’s needs for reliable, affordable, and environmentally sustainable electricity.
- Glen Canyon generation has the ability to “ramp up” to meet system reliability obligations that are important when regional power shortages or power/transmission system disruptions occur.
DFC Goals and Objectives
- Glen Canyon Dam capacity and energy generation is maintained and increased, so as to produce the greatest practicable amount of power and energy, consistent with the other DFCs.
- Ensure continued delivery of Glen Canyon Dam hydropower to the existing customers who have entered into long-term firm power contracts with WAPA.
- Ensure sufficient and efficient production of Glen Canyon Dam hydropower in order to provide the revenues to support the CRSP facilities and purposes.
- Maintain the operational flexibility (including but not limited to load following capability, ramp rates, and emergency operations allowances) that enable Reclamation and WAPA to meet the system operating and other regulatory requirements of WECC, North American Electric Reliability Corporation and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, as well as emergency operating criteria for safety and human health situations.
- Maximize the environmental benefits of hydropower generation at Glen Canyon Dam.
- Minimize carbon emissions through hydropower generation at Glen Canyon Dam.
Additional Information
Linkages
- Operational changes, including experimentation and management actions, which include changes to volumes, release limitations (minimum and maximum), ramp rates, hourly, daily, monthly and seasonal variability, all potentially impact this resource.
- The above-identified parameters could have impacts to the CRE resources as well as recreational and cultural resources, depending on the operational design.
Metrics
Valuation: Measurement characterization for an average year
- Electric generating capacity (MW)
- Electric generating energy (MWH)
- Load following capability (MW/hr)
- Ramp rate capability (MW/hr)
- CO2, SO2 and NOX emissions (tons)
- Power plant water consumption (acre-feet)
- Costs ($ millions)
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Prehistoric Archaeological Sites and Historic Sites:
To the extent feasible, maintain significance and integrity through preservation in place.
• If preservation in place is not feasible or reasonable, then implementation of appropriate preservation treatments will be implemented to ensure reduction or elimination of threats consistent with NPS management policies, tribal traditional values and historic preservation law.
• Public access to historic properties on tribal lands is managed by the respective tribes. On lands administered by the NPS, access to some sites for users of the river corridor is maintained as long as integrity of the sites in not compromised.
• Attributes are maintained such as National Register eligibility is not compromised. These attributes will be specific to the traditionally associated peoples and will need to be identified by the federal agencies in consultation with those groups. Attributes may include aspects of location or physical integrity, as well as be intangible elements that link the resource to ongoing traditional cultural practices.
• The ability of traditionally associated people to maintain access to and use of the resources is preserved, in accordance with applicable law.
Culturally appropriate conditions of resources are maintained based on traditional ecological knowledge; integration of the desired condition is included in relevant monitoring and management programs.
• Maintain ongoing consultation with the groups for whom the resource has traditional value. Because the desired condition of a TCP needs to be determined by the group for whom it has the traditional value, ongoing consultation is necessary to assess the condition of the resource.
• Mitigate impacts that affect the integrity of the TCPs. How and if effects can be mitigated will need to be developed in conjunction with the traditionally associated peoples for whom the resource holds value.
Preservation and appropriate management of cultural resources are vital at many levels. At the most basic level, cultural resources are our history; they define and reaffirm us, and provide a tangible record of who we are and where we have been. Their importance may be to the nation as a whole, to a local community, or to a group traditionally associated with the area. This includes resources within the Grand Canyon region, including resources along the river corridor in Glen and Grand Canyons.
Resources of Traditional Cultural Significance but not NRHP Eligible:
These are resources of cultural significance to traditional peoples, often Native American Tribes which do not meet some aspect for eligibility for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. A common reason that a resource does not meet National Register eligibility is that the resource lacks a clearly defined boundary or does not remain in a fixed location.
Resources that have the potential to be considered of traditional cultural significance in the Grand Canyon include:
• Animal resources
• Geologic materials
• Landscapes
• Plant resources
• Soundscapes
• Viewscapes
• Water
Objectives
• Maintain the ability of traditionally associated peoples to access and use the resource in accordance with applicable law.
• Maintain culturally appropriate resource conditions based on traditional ecological knowledge, and integrate this desired condition into monitoring and management programs.
• Maintain effective consultation with the groups for whom the resource has traditional cultural significance.
Metrics
Because culture defines the roles that resources play in that culture, only members of that culture can assess the status or health of the resources. Therefore, measures for resource status or health and appropriate management will need to be determined individually by the federal agencies in consultation with the traditionally associated peoples.
Why the Cultural Resources DFC is Important
The cultural resources of the Grand Canyon provide a record of human history in the area. They also encompass the traditional cultural use and significance of the Grand Canyon. Maintaining these resources is important to the nation as a whole so we can better understand the long history of the people who came before us and to the traditional groups that consider this area to have traditional significance to them. A number of Native American groups believe the Grand Canyon is their place of origin. These DFCS will help: maintain compliance with relevant cultural resource laws; maintain traditional cultural linkage with the Grand Canyon; and maintain traditional cultural access to and use of resources in the Grand Canyon in accordance with applicable law.
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River Recreation in Grand Canyon National Park
• Stewardship worthy of the Grand Canyon so that it can be passed from generation to generation in as natural condition as possible.
• Provide maximum opportunity to experience the wilderness character of the canyon.
• Wilderness experiences and benefits available in the canyon include solitude, connection to nature, personal contemplation, joy, excitement, the natural sounds and quiet of the desert
and river, and extended time periods in a unique environment outside the trappings of civilization.
• A river corridor landscape that matches natural conditions as closely as possible, including extensive beaches and abundant driftwood.
• A river corridor ecosystem that matches the natural conditions as closely as possible, including a biotic community dominated in most instances by native species.
• A dynamic river ecosystem characterized by ecological patterns and processes within their range of natural variability.
• Numerous campable sand bars distributed throughout the canyon.
• Recreational and wilderness experiences minimally affected by research and management activities.
• River flows that continue to be within a range that is reasonably safe, given the inherent risks involved in river recreation.
River Recreation in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
• A quality recreation experience in Glen Canyon.
• Camping beaches suitable for recreational use.
• A setting and ecosystem that is as close to natural conditions as possible.
• Quality river running and angling recreation opportunities.
Blue Ribbon Trout Fishery in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
• A high-quality sustainable recreational trout fishery in the river corridor in GCNRA, while minimizing emigration of non-native fishes.
• Operate Glen Canyon Dam to achieve the greatest benefit to the trout fishery in GCNRA without causing excessive detriment to other resources.
River Corridor Stewardship
• Management of Glen Canyon Dam that is significantly driven by concern for the cultural values and ecological integrity of the river corridor through the Grand Canyon, with preservation and protection considered over the long term (multiple generations).
• A well-informed public, confident that high quality scientific information is being used for best stewardship practices in the CRE.
The Recreation DFCs are meant to describe goals and objectives for human use of the Colorado River Ecosystem (CRE) through GCNRA and the GCNP. They are intended to include not only traditional recreational activities such as whitewater rafting, camping, and fishing, but also such things as educational activities, spiritual engagement, and other appropriate activities and values. Grand Canyon and Glen Canyon offer many ways for people to experience, appreciate, and learn from them, even to those who never visit in person.
Why the Recreation DFC is Important
Grand Canyon National Park: The Grand Canyon is a unique place in this world. Its natural beauty, challenging environment, fascinating history, wilderness character, biodiversity and sheer size offer a rare and valuable experience. The river corridor is at the heart of the Grand Canyon. The river corridor and the canyon are worthy of the greatest possible respect, treatment, and protection that we can afford them. They must be kept vital and intact for future generations.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area: The river corridor through the GCNRA provides opportunity to enjoy outdoor beauty with relatively easy access. It supports a valuable and high quality trout fishery and offers excellent outdoor opportunities that are more accessible and less demanding than those of the Grand Canyon. It is deserving of our respect and protection, while also providing the recreational opportunities for which it was established.
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Documents and Resources
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List of DFC Goals
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- Protect or improve the aquatic food base so that it supports viable populations of desired species at higher trophic levels.
- Maintain or attain viable populations of existing native fish, and prevent adverse modification to their habitat (including critical habitat).
- Restore viable populations of extirpated species.
- Maintain a self-sustaining recreational trout fishery in the Lees Ferry reach.
- Maintain or attain viable populations of the Kanab ambersnail.
- Protect or improve the biotic riparian, wetland, spring and old high water zone plant communities and their associated biological processes within the Colorado River ecosystem (including threatened and endangered species and their habitat).
- Maintain or attain levels of sediment storage within the main channel and along shorelines to achieve ecosystem goals.
- Maintain or improve the quality of recreational experiences for users of the Colorado River ecosystem, within the framework of ecosystem goals.
- Maintain power production capacity and energy generation, and increase where feasible and advisable, within the framework of the Adaptive Management ecosystem goals.
- Preserve, protect, manage and treat cultural resources for the inspiration and benefit of past, present, and future generations.
- Tribal Resource Condition Objectives
- Recommended that the agencies consult with the Tribes to insure these objectives are consistent with Tribal perspectives.
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Presentations
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2011
2010
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