[Awclist] [Fwd: RRFW Riverwire - SPRING FLOOD VOTED DOWN]

[Thomas Robey]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	RRFW Riverwire - SPRING FLOOD VOTED DOWN
Date: 	Thu, 28 Dec 2006 21:37:35 -0700
From: 	Riverwire <riverwire at rrfw.org>
Organization: 	River Runners for Wilderness
To: 	<riverwire at rrfw.org>



RRFW Riverwire - SPRING FLOOD VOTED DOWN

December 28, 2006

At the December 6, 2006 meeting of the Adaptive Management Working Group 
(AMWG), a spring flood flow was considered for the Colorado River in 
Grand Canyon National Park below Glen Canyon Dam. The proposed 
experimental flood for sediment redistribution in Grand Canyon during 
the month of March 2007 was rejected after consideration. The Working 
Group’s purpose is to balance the competing interests of power, 
recreation and environmental concerns in the management of Glen Canyon 
Dam’s water releases to protect and enhance the natural resources of 
Grand Canyon National Park.

The intent of the flood is to transfer sand from the river bottom onto 
the shores of the river by releasing about 42,000 cfs (cubic feet per 
second) from Glen Canyon Dam. Since the operation of Glen Canyon Dam 
began in 1963, the sediment needed to naturally replenish beaches in 
Grand Canyon has been trapped behind the dam. The natural deposition of 
sandbars in the river’s eddies provided nursery habitat for spawning 
fish, now endangered. Additionally, wind blown beach sand enhanced dunes 
that can help protect cultural sites from degradation by natural 
erosion. Proponents of the flood hoped that it would mimic these natural 
processes.

During a presentation by the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center 
(GCMRC) at the meeting, it was estimated that severe rainstorms in the 
fall of 2006 placed 1.5 to 2.6 million tons of fine sediments into the 
Colorado River below the dam. The Center predicts that most of the 
existing sand in the Grand Canyon will eventually be transported and 
deposited into Lake Mead, the reservoir downstream of Grand Canyon.

Experiments proposed by the GCMRC would include evaluating how the flood 
would affect the aquatic food web of the river, and determining the 
success of moving sand to the lowest reaches of the canyon. Previously 
most of the sediment has been stored in the upper reaches near the 
mouths of the Paria and Little Colorado Rivers.

Since some of the flow in a simulated flood comes from the dam’s bypass 
tubes that do not spin generators to make electricity, the majority of 
AMWG representatives felt that the experimental flow would decrease 
hydropower revenues. Other Working Group members felt that the high 
flows would harm the non-native trout populations and the aquatic food 
web. Also, the short time frame for adequate planning and obtaining 
required environmental clearances caused concern within the group. 
Scheduled generator maintenance at the dam prevents an experimental 
flood after March of 2007.

Despite ten years of experimentation, all efforts of the Adaptive 
Management Program have so far failed to protect the dwindling resources 
of the Grand Canyon. “If Glen Canyon Dam continues to operate as in the 
past” notes John Weisheit, Conservation Director of Living Rivers, “the 
lack of adequate sediment combined with lack of substantial flood flows 
(over 65,000 cfs) doom the Working Group’s efforts to failure. The only 
alternative that will truly protect the Grand Canyon is the 
decommissioning of Glen Canyon Dam. Anything less is ‘fiddling while 
Rome burns’.”

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