For folks with an interest in GC issues, courtesy of Grand Canyon River Guides.
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CALLING ALL COLORADO RIVER ADVOCATES!
SPEAK OUT ABOUT GLEN CANYON DAM AND ITS EFFECTS ON GRAND CANYON
12/27/06
The Bureau of Reclamation recently initiated an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) to develop a Long-Term Experimental Plan (LTEP) for
Glen Canyon Dam. The purpose of this EIS is to develop a comprehensive
scientific plan to improve and protect important downstream resources
which have been in decline. Public scoping until Feb. 28 will define
the breadth and depth of the alternatives. Written comments are
weighed the same as verbal comments. More information on this EIS can
be found on the Adaptive Management Program website at:
http://www.usbr.gov/uc/rm/gcdltep/index.html
Public scoping meetings have already been held. Written comments must
be sent by close of business on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 to:
Regional Director, Bureau of Reclamation
Upper Colorado Region
Attention: UC-402
125 South State Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84318-1147
or by fax to (801) 524-3858, or by email to GCDExpPlan@...
There are a few general points that GCRG asks you to include in your
personal comments.
* Focus this EIS on developing alternatives that meet the intent of
the Grand Canyon Protection Act to preserve and improve park values
downstream of the dam. Park values include native species and
ecosystems, sediment, cultural resources and visitor use -values that
mean so much to all of us and to future generations.
* The National Park Service (NPS) should serve as a joint lead agency
for this EIS process. National Park values and resources downstream of
Glen Canyon Dam are strongly influenced by dam operations.
* LTEP alternatives must be scientifically credible with well-defined
scientific hypotheses - don't just develop a plan and then try to fit
the science to it.
* The LTEP should be based on an ecosystem approach that builds on
what we already know.
* LTEP options should be in compliance with legal responsibilities for
protection of endangered species, as well as those for the
preservation of cultural resources in Grand Canyon.
* The LTEP options should incorporate broader socio-economic analyses.
In other words, the economic analyses should not be restricted to the
impacts to hydropower, but should also include the impacts to other
resources including recreation, local economies, and non-market
values. Give us the whole picture - not just a part of it.
* Conduct a Beach Habitat Building Flow in early 2007 in order to
provide urgently needed data to inform this Long Term Experimental Plan.
* Include BHBF's as a common element to all LTEP alternatives,
utilizing sediment triggers with specified frequency based on best
scientific data.
* Support the development of a Selective Withdrawal Device for
temperature control and improved water quality as a common element to
all alternatives.
The initial phase of this EIS is a critical time to define the scope
of what will be considered in this plan. People like you helped pass
the Grand Canyon Protection Act. Your voice will really make a difference!
GCRG
PO Box 1934
Flagstaff, AZ 86002
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For GCPBA
Rich Phillips
VP, GCPBA
Join Grand Canyon Private Boaters Association at
http://www.gcpba.org. click on "Join", and support active, ongoing private boater representation on Grand Canyon issues. And follow GC issues on
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gcpba/messages,
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