This came across my desk this morning as I'm a member of GCRG, thought it worthy of sharing with the Buzz.
Hello Grand Canyon Stewards and Advocates!
There will NOT be a High Flow Experiment this Fall to restore Grand Canyon beaches. First a few salient facts:
Fact: High Flow Experiments (HFE) are intended to occur frequently to maintain and improve beaches, sandbars, and associated habitats.
Fact: The last High Flow Experiment conducted in Grand Canyon was in 2018.
Fact: Beaches in Grand Canyon were further eroded by extreme monsoonal events in 2021.
Fact: This season, well over a million metric tons of sediment was deposited into the Colorado River by the Paria, a tributary downstream of Glen Canyon Dam, exceeding the trigger for a potential HFE. This is perhaps the second largest sediment contribution since they've been keeping records.
Fact: HFE's do not affect the total volume of water released in a given Water Year.
Fact: Yet, despite all this, The Glen Canyon Planning/Implementation Team made the decision to NOT conduct a HFE this fall.
Fact: GCRG and other key stakeholders (tribes, recreational, and environmental stakeholders) were shut out of the decision-making process.
How could this be? You can read more about it in these two articles:
The sand is there, but low water levels halt a controlled flood to restore Grand Canyon beaches. (Arizona Republic)
"Dangerous precedent": Feds say no to controlled flood on Colorado River (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
What are we doing about it? You can also read the joint letter (referenced in the first article above) that disenfranchised stakeholders recently sent to Mr. Wayne Pullan, Secretary's Designee for the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program, regarding our grave concerns about structural deficiencies in the program in regards to lack of inclusion, transparency, and flexibility.
The Grand Canyon Protection Act of 1992 states: The Secretary shall operate Glen Canyon Dam... in such a manner as to protect, mitigate adverse impacts to, and improve the values for which Grand Canyon National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area were established, including, but not limited to natural and cultural resources and visitor use." We care deeply about those values, and we know the American public does too. In this time of prolonged drought and climate crisis, it is more important than ever for ALL stakeholder voices to be heard, valued, and incorporated in the decision-making process.
Stay tuned as we push for these important structural changes and for a HFE this spring. What are the dam flows in the meantime? You can check out the most recent dam flow report here.
Thanks for caring about Grand Canyon and the Colorado River over the long term!
Time to get the cards and letters to your elected officials going.. Not sure that any of them really care, but with enough outcry they may actually do something.
Cheers..
Hello Grand Canyon Stewards and Advocates!
There will NOT be a High Flow Experiment this Fall to restore Grand Canyon beaches. First a few salient facts:
Fact: High Flow Experiments (HFE) are intended to occur frequently to maintain and improve beaches, sandbars, and associated habitats.
Fact: The last High Flow Experiment conducted in Grand Canyon was in 2018.
Fact: Beaches in Grand Canyon were further eroded by extreme monsoonal events in 2021.
Fact: This season, well over a million metric tons of sediment was deposited into the Colorado River by the Paria, a tributary downstream of Glen Canyon Dam, exceeding the trigger for a potential HFE. This is perhaps the second largest sediment contribution since they've been keeping records.
Fact: HFE's do not affect the total volume of water released in a given Water Year.
Fact: Yet, despite all this, The Glen Canyon Planning/Implementation Team made the decision to NOT conduct a HFE this fall.
Fact: GCRG and other key stakeholders (tribes, recreational, and environmental stakeholders) were shut out of the decision-making process.
How could this be? You can read more about it in these two articles:
The sand is there, but low water levels halt a controlled flood to restore Grand Canyon beaches. (Arizona Republic)
"Dangerous precedent": Feds say no to controlled flood on Colorado River (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
What are we doing about it? You can also read the joint letter (referenced in the first article above) that disenfranchised stakeholders recently sent to Mr. Wayne Pullan, Secretary's Designee for the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program, regarding our grave concerns about structural deficiencies in the program in regards to lack of inclusion, transparency, and flexibility.
The Grand Canyon Protection Act of 1992 states: The Secretary shall operate Glen Canyon Dam... in such a manner as to protect, mitigate adverse impacts to, and improve the values for which Grand Canyon National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area were established, including, but not limited to natural and cultural resources and visitor use." We care deeply about those values, and we know the American public does too. In this time of prolonged drought and climate crisis, it is more important than ever for ALL stakeholder voices to be heard, valued, and incorporated in the decision-making process.
Stay tuned as we push for these important structural changes and for a HFE this spring. What are the dam flows in the meantime? You can check out the most recent dam flow report here.
Thanks for caring about Grand Canyon and the Colorado River over the long term!
The Bureau of wreck the nation is at it again, this arbitrary crap needs to stop, apparently there's no reason for this not to happen other than an arbitrary and capricious decision not to have a HFE.. They care so little about anything other than their precious dam, and the cash register that is the hydroelectric aspect. Destroy an ecosystem they have, and seem not to be content until it's completely ruined.
Time to get the cards and letters to your elected officials going.. Not sure that any of them really care, but with enough outcry they may actually do something.
Cheers..