[Awclist] [Fwd: RRFW Riverwire - COMMENTS ON GLEN CANYON DAM OPERATIONS NEEDED]

[Thomas Robey]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	RRFW Riverwire - COMMENTS ON GLEN CANYON DAM OPERATIONS NEEDED
Date: 	Tue, 16 Aug 2005 16:02:59 -0600
From: 	Riverwire-RRFW <riverwire at rrfw.org>
Reply-To: 	<riverwire at rrfw.org>
Organization: 	River Runners for Wilderness
To: 	Riverwire-RRFW <riverwire at rrfw.org>



*RRFW Riverwire - COMMENTS ON GLEN CANYON DAM OPERATIONS NEEDED*

Release date: August 16, 2005

On behalf of Living Rivers, www.livingrivers.org 
<http://www.livingrivers.org/>

* *

*Comments needed to halt the operation of Glen Canyon Dam*

Submit comments by: Wednesday, August 31, 2005

The Bureau of Reclamation is accepting public comments on the 
reoperation of the nation's two largest reservoirs, Lake Powell and Lake 
Mead. Your voice is needed to demand that they examine the viability of 
permanently ceasing operations at Lake Powell and employing just one 
reservoir to capture and manage the bulk of Colorado River flows.

Join in calling for the The One-Dam Solution as outlined in Living 
Rivers' new report prepared for the reoperation public scoping process. 
Review our press release and download the document by visiting:
http://www.livingrivers.org/archives/article.cfm?NewsID=675

Let the Bureau of Reclamation know that:

* No longer a need for a single-use dam at Glen Canyon

It was not until the fall of 2004, more than 40 years after Glen Canyon 
Dam began impounding Lake Powell that Lake Powell water storage actually 
augmented water storage downstream. But with climate change already 
causing long-term flow reductions, and water consumption levels near the 
river's historic average flow and rising, it's unlikely that Lake Powell 
will fill again. The surplus water that filled it during 17 years the 
first time is no longer there to build a storage cushion. Even should 
surplus water accumulate, Lake Mead on its own could accommodate it.

* It's time for more efficient storage

With Lake Powell and Lake Mead losing to evaporation upwards of 17 
percent of the water that flows into them, it's time that more efficient 
means be explored for storing this precious water. Vacant space in 
underground aquifers on, or accessible to, existing Colorado River 
infrastructure could accommodate more water than these two reservoirs 
combined-and with far greater efficiency. Upwards of 810,000 acre-feet 
of water annually-enough water for 1.6 million households of four people 
each-could be saved by eliminating Lake Powell and operating Lake Mead 
principally for distribution to groundwater recharge facilities.

* Revive Grand Canyon

Between Lake Powell and Lake Mead lies one of the world's most famous 
and geologically and ecologically unique river canyons, Grand Canyon 
National Park. The operation of both these reservoirs has impacted the 
Canyon, but Glen Canyon Dam has been far more devastating. Since its 
completion four of eight native fish have gone extinct and the dam has 
trapped the sediment necessary to maintain habitat and beaches for 
wildlife and recreation, as well as the stabilization of archeological 
sites.

* Manage the sediment

Sediment is a major unresolved problem threatening the long-term 
operations of Lake Powell and Lake Mead. Ultimately, sediment will have 
to be removed from one or both of these reservoirs. Removing sediment 
from Lake Mead rather than Lake Powell is the most feasible and least 
expensive likely alternative. While original estimates projected that 
sediment would not effect the safe operations of Glen Canyon Dam for 
another 60 years, scientists now warn that major problems could occur 
sooner.


* Revise the Colorado River Compact

The Colorado River Compact of 1922, which largely governs the discharge 
of flows from Lake Powell to Lake Mead, cannot meet its intended purpose 
of sharing Colorado River water equitably between the Upper and Lower 
Basin states. The Compact allocated 11 percent more water than the river 
has to give, and affords the Lower Basin 20 percent more water than the 
upper basin. With river flows expected to decline 18 percent by 2040, 
this inequity will worsen as the Upper Basin is required to deliver to 
the Lower Basin its full share regardless of declines in river flow.

###


While the Bureau of Reclamation will state that its present focus is 
developing strategies solely for low reservoir conditions, stress that 
given the growing challenges and looming shortages facing Colorado River 
water users as a result of these dams, that a far more comprehensive 
assessment addressing the issues above is fully warranted, and should be 
done through an Environmental Impact Statement.



All comments must be received by close of business (4:00 p.m. Mountain 
Daylight or Pacific Daylight Time) on Wednesday, August 31, 2005.

Comments can be mailed, faxed, or e-mailed to:

Mr. Bob Johnson, Regional Director

Bureau of Reclamation, Lower Colorado Region

Attention: BCOO-1000
P.O. Box 61470
Boulder City, NV 89006-1470
Fax (702) 293-8156
strategies at lc.usbr.gov

Mr. Rick Gold, Regional Director

Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Region
Attention: UC-402
125 South State Street
Salt Lake City, Utah 84318-1147
Fax (801) 524-3858
strategies at uc.usbr.gov

For Additional Information:

http://www.livingrivers.org/pdfs/TheOne-DamSolution.pdf
The One Dam Solution: Preliminary report by Living Rivers to the Bureau 
of Reclamation on proposed reoperation strategies for Glen Canyon and 
Hoover Dam under low water conditions.

http://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/newsrelease/detail.cfm?RecordID=6061

Reclamation Seeks Public Comment on Development of Management Strategies 
for Lake Powell and Lake Mead Under Low Reservoir Conditions</a>

http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g4000/docs/strategies.pdf

Federal Registry Notice announcing public comment period on reoperation 
of the reservoirs

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