River resource management in the Grand Canyon / Committee to Review the Glen Canyon Environmental Studies, Water Science and Technology Board, Commission on Geosciences, Environment, and Resources, National Research Council.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee to Review the Glen Canyon Environmental Studies.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Dams--Environmental aspects--Arizona--Grand Canyon.

Dams.

Rivers--Regulation--Arizona--Grand Canyon.

Rivers.

Glen Canyon Dam (Ariz.).

Colorado River (Colo.-Mexico)--Regulation.

Colorado River (Colo.-Mexico).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xvi, 226 pages) : illustrations, maps, charts

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academy Press, 1996.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Federal management of water is undergoing a change that involves a drastic reduction in the number of new water projects and an increase in emphasis on the quality of water management. This book summarizes and analyzes environmental research conducted in the lower Colorado River below the Glen Canyon Dam under the leadership of the Bureau of Reclamation. It reviews alternative dam operations to mitigate impacts in the lower Colorado riverine environment and the strengths and weaknesses of large federal agencies dealing with broad environmental issues and hydropower production. While many problems remain to be solved, the Bureau of Reclamation through the Glen Canyon area. The lessons of GCES are transferable to other locations and could be the basis for a new era in the management of western waters.

Contents:

River Resource Management in the GRAND CANYON

Copyright

Preface

Contents

Executive Summary

WORK OF THE NRC COMMITTEE

OBJECTIVES AND DESIGN OF THE GCES

RESULTS OF THE GCES

Operations of Glen Canyon Dam

Sediment and Hydrology

Biological Resources

Recreation

Hydropower Economics

Cultural Resources

Institutional Influences on the GCES

Nonuse Values

ACHIEVEMENTS OF GCES

LIST OF NRC REPORTS

1 Introduction and Background

ROLE OF THE NRC

REFERENCES

2 Scope and Organization of the Glen Canyon Environmental Studies

INTRODUCTION

SCOPE AS DEFINED BY MANAGEMENT OPTIONS, RESOURCES, AND THE ECOSYSTEM CONCEPT

Management Options

Resources

The Ecosystem Perspective

OTHER INFLUENCES ON THE SCOPE OF GCES

Administrative Policy

Law and Politics

ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY GROUP

CONCLUSIONS

3 Historical Context for Long-Term Management of Glen Canyon Dam

HISTORY OF GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK

Introduction

Predesignation History

Designation as a Park

Role of the Colorado River in the Park: Conduit Between Upper and Lower Basins

FUTURE BASIS FOR MANAGEMENT OF GRAND CANYON RESOURCES

Intergenerational Equity

Simulated Naturalness

4 Operation of Glen Canyon Dam

HYDROLOGY THROUGH THE GRAND CANYON

Hydrology Prior to Construction of Glen Canyon Dam

Hydrology Following Closure of the Dam

Tributary Inflows Below the Dam

Hydrological Regimes During the GCES Research Periods

Travel Time Through Grand Canyon

OPERATING RULES FOR GLEN CANYON DAM

Seasonal and Annual Operations

Formal Description of Operating Rules

Monthly and Annual Releases

Daily and Hourly Operations

Daily Operations

Experience with Interim Flows and Exception Criteria

EIS Preferred Alternative.

Beach/Habitat-Building Flows

Operational Constraints on Experimental Floods

WATER SUPPLY ABOVE THE DAM

Water Balance In Lake Powell

Upper-Basin Depletions

Evaporation Loss

Storage in Lake Powell

Flood Control

Current Rules Related to Floods

Flood Control Changes Recommended in EIS

Reregulating Dam

Summary

RECOMMENDATIONS

5 Sediment and Geomorphology

WHY SEDIMENT AND GEOMORPHOLOGY ARE IMPORTANT

Amount of Sediment Is Not a Problem in the Grand Canyon

Management of Sediment

Rapids

Sand as Substrate

SEDIMENT STUDIES OF GCES PHASE I

Bureau of Reclamation Model

Early Assumptions Concerning Sediment Movement

Coordination and Communication

Leadership for GCES

NRC Committee Recommendations After GCES I

WHAT IS NEEDED CONCERNING SEDIMENT AND GEOMORPHOLOGY

Sediment Budget

Sediment Budget by Reach

Sand Distribution Between Main Channel and Beaches

Flood Waves

U.S. Geological Survey Effort on Sediment Modeling

USGS Effort on Eddy Modeling

Linking of Sediment Modeling and Eddy Modeling

NAU Beach and Bar Studies

WHERE WE STAND NOW

6 Organisms and Biological Processes

LAKE POWELL

Characteristics of Lake Powell

Influence of Dam Operations on the Lake

Overview of Lake Studies

Changes in the River Caused by the Dam

THE COLORADO RIVER BETWEEN GLEN CANYON DAM AND THE PARIA RIVER

Primary Producers and Their Metabolism

THE COLORADO RIVER FROM THE PARIA RIVER TO LAKE MEAD

Physical Characteristics

Overview of Communities

Aquatic Habitats

Humpback Chub

Other Fishes

Tributaries

Biotic Interactions

Overview of Biotic Studies on the Main Stem

THE RIPARIAN ZONE

OUTCOMES OF BIOLOGICAL STUDIES

7 Recreation and Nonuse Values.

THE ROLE OF ECONOMIC VALUES IN GCES AND THE EIS

Use and Nonuse Values Defined

Measurement of Nonuse Values

OVERVIEW OF RECREATIONAL USES

Fishing in Glen Canyon

Fishing in Grand Canyon

Day Rafting

White-Water Boating

Recreation at Lakes Powell and Mead

Recreation and Native American Tribes

ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF DAM OPERATION ON RECREATION

Background on Economic Methods Used

Economic Effects of Dam Operations on Anglers

Economic Effects of Dam Operations on Day Rafting

Economic Effects of Dam Operations on White-Water Boating

Economic Impacts of Dam Operations on Native American Tribes

SUMMARY OF EFFECTS OF DAM OPERATIONS ON RECREATION

STUDIES OF NONUSE VALUE

SUMMARY

8 Cultural Resources

NATIVE AMERICANS IN THE GRAND CANYON REGION

Overview of Present Residents

Historical Perspective

Background Information on the Six Tribes

Hualapai

Havasupais

Southern Paiute Consortium

Hopis

Navajos

Zunis

ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDIES

ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDIES

Perspectives on Ethnography

Sacred Sites

The Hualapai Tribe

Southern Paiute

Hopi

Navajo

Zuni

Perspective on Tribal Studies

9 Power Economics

FLOWS AFFECT ELECTRICAL OUTPUT AND COSTS

THE INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT

COST ESTIMATES FOR ALTERED FLOW REGIMES

10 Institutional Influences on the Glen Canyon Environmental Studies

INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE OF GCES

INTERAGENCY CONFLICT IN THE EVOLUTION OF GCES

GOAL SUBSTITUTION BY AGENCIES WORKING FOR GCES

EXTERNAL REVIEW - GCES AND THE NRC

THE ROLE OF FUNDING IN GCES

TIME CONSTRAINTS IN GCES RESEARCH

FUTURE INSTITUTIONS

11 Lessons of the Glen Canyon Environmental Studies

INTRODUCTION.

ELEMENTS OF A USEFUL ECOSYSTEM ANALYSIS

The Planning Sequence

Review of Existing Information

Definition of Scope

Using What Is Already Known

Implementation of the Plan

Formation of the Study Group

Contracting and Project Leadership

Outside Advice

Achievements and Dissemination of Information

Reference to Final Objectives

Budgetary Continuity

COMPLETION AND ANTICIPATION OF FUTURE NEEDS

Synthesis

Archiving for the Future

Continuity into the Future

Important Discoveries of GCES

Recognition of the Need for Comprehensive Environmental Studies

Adaptive Management and Long-Term Monitoring

External Expertise and Review

A HOPEFUL VIEW OF THE FUTURE

Appendix A Biographical Sketches of Committee Members

NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL STAFF.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9786610192267

9780309175722

0309175720

9781280192265

1280192267

9780309589024

0309589029

9780585099309

0585099308

OCLC:

42331047