THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR 

WASHINGTON 

JAN 1 5 2013 

MEMORANDUM 

To: 

From: 

Secretary's Designee, Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Work Group 

Assistant \ ec/ y- Water and Science 

Subject: 

Secretary ~ sa}_~ Report and Recommendations from tile Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Work Group 

Federal Advisory Committee Meeting, May 10,2012, and August 29-30,2012 

I have reviewed and considered the two recommendations forwarded to me from the Glen 

Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Work Group (AMWG). I first want to convey my sincere 

thanks to the AMWG for the dedication, passion, and wealth of knowledge they provide to help 

guide our efforts to appropriately manage the operations of Glen Canyon Dam. I commend those 

that took extra time from their schedules to participate in the associated field work session on 

August 31,2012. Without this important Federal Advisory Committee, we would not have the 

breadth of input that factors into the many complex decisions to be made and our overall 

resources management would be less effective. 

I appreciate the extensive work done by Dr. Jack Schmidt and the staff of the U.S. Geological 

Survey Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center in developing a biennial budget and 

work plan for Fiscal Years 2013-14 that uses the Desired Future Conditions as a basis for the 

monitoring and research activities in the Grand Canyon. The work plan includes clear 

explanations of the scientific rationale for research projects and shows outstanding critical 

thinking. This effort will increase the effectiveness of the program in the future. In these 

economic times when Federal budgets are severely constrained, I am very pleased to see the 

level of detail that has been provided. 

I approve the FY 2013-14 Biennial Budget and Work Plan and the 2013 Water Year Hydrograph 

as described in your memo on the AMWG recommendations. 

cc: Acting Assistant Secretary, Fish and Wildlife and Parks 

Assistant Secretary, Indian Affairs 

Director, U.S. Geological Survey 

Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

Director, National Park Services 

Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs 

Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation 
DECISION MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY 

January 9, 2013 

FROM: Anne J. Castle, Assistant Secretary- Water and Science 

SUBJECT: August 2012 Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Work Group 

(AMWG) Federal Advisory Committee Recommendations to the 

Secretary 

I. INTRODUCTION 

The following two items are included in this package: 

1) Transmittal from the Secretary's Designee (ASWS) to the Secretary of a memo 

with a summary of the most recent AMWG meetings held in Arizona (May and 

August 2012) and two Recommendations from the August 2012 AMWG meeting. 

2) Proposed response from the Secretary to the Assistant Secretary-Water and 

Science approving the two August 2012 Recommendations of the AMWG. 

Such a package is prepared after each F ACA meeting. 

II. BACKGROUND 

A major initiative of the AMWG is developing a set of desired future conditions for important 

resources within the Glen Canyon National Recreational Area and Grand Canyon National 

Park that will provide opportunities to balance the competing demands on dam operations. The 

AMWG makes recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior on dam operations and other 

management actions that will likely meet those objectives. AMWG convened for an 

in-person meeting on August 29-30, 2012, and reached consensus on two 

recommendations to the Secretary: 

1) Recommends approval of the biennial FY 2013-14 budget and work plan. 

2) Recommends approval ofthe DOl-DOE Proposed Hydrograph for Water Year 

2013. 

III. POSITION OF INTERESTED PARTIES 

The Recommendations were approved by consensus of the AMWG. Surnames of the 

Recommendations package have been received from BOR, BIA, NPS, FWS, USGS, 

OEIA, ASFWP, and SOL. 
IV. DECISION OPTIONS 

Approve or disapprove the August 2012 AMWG Recommendations. 

V. RECOMMENDATION 

Approve the August 2012 AMWG Recommendations. 

VI. SECRETARY'S DECISION 

_j._ APPROVE 

___ DISAPPROVE 

___ COMMENTS 

Ken Salazar 

2