GCDAMP TRIENNIAL BUDGET AND WORK PLAN PROCESS 

TWG REVIEW Draft June 15, 2016 

Comments due July 1, 2016 

On May 6, 2010, the Adaptive Management Work Group (AMWG) approved a biennial budget, work 

plan, and hydrograph process to replace the annual process previously employed. This process proved to 

be successful and was supported by the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program (GCDAMP). 

To further improve efficiency of the budgetary and planning efforts of the GCDAMP, the biennial process 

was extended to a triennial process for the FY 2015-2017 work plan as directed by Anne Castle in a 

memo dated May 7, 2014. The memo also instructed the GCDAMP to revise the work planning guidance 

to reflect the development of three year work plans. 

1.0 Triennial Work Plan Process 

The goal of the triennial work plan (TWP) process is to reduce the effort expended on the budgetary and 

planning process while improving the effectiveness of the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research 

Center (GCMRC), Technical Work Group (TWG), and AMWG. The GCDAMP will develop a triennial 

work plan (TWP) the first year of the budgetary and planning cycle. Then, in the second and third years, 

the GCDAMP would implement the TWP making relatively minor changes for CPI and budgetary needs 

at GCMRC and the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation). In the third year, the GCDAMP would also 

consider potential changes in projects or important new starts not envisioned during the initial 

development of the TWP (Table 1). 

The major components of the TWP process include: 

 Three-year budget spreadsheets and work plans; 

 Criteria for modifications of the budget work plan; 

 Fiscal reporting, including expenditures for the previous fiscal year (mid-year and end-of-year 

reports); 

 Annual project progress reports, including an annual reporting meeting in January; and 

 Utilization of the Budget Ad Hoc Group (BAHG) to interface with Reclamation and GCMRC in 

developing a draft TWP, and to help the TWG develop budget recommendations for AMWG 

consideration. 

2.0 Budget Process Components 

The following describes the specific elements of the TWP process and responsibilities of associated 

agencies and organizations. 

2.1 Budget Principles 

The TWP will: 

 Employ the adaptive environmental assessment and management approach to resources 

management that was developed by Holling (1978) and Walters (1986), and articulated in the 

Adaptive Management Program Strategic Plan (AMPSP) to include participation from the 

BAHG, TWG, and AMWG; 

 Be consistent with the GCDAMP Desired Future Conditions; 

 Use a collaborative science planning process as described in the MRP (Figure 1); and 

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 Address science needs contained within the LTEMP EIS (when completed), and GCDAMP 

priority questions and adaptive management needs. 

The TWP will describe the scientific and adaptive management needs that it will address in a chapter 

within each TWP, this will enable review of these science guiding principles every three years. 

2.2 Budget Ad Hoc Group (BAHG) 

TWG consideration of the budgets has been facilitated by the BAHG, a small ad hoc group which has 

worked with Reclamation and GCMRC for many years. TWG will continue to utilize the BAHG to 

review the TWP and to resolve difficult technical issues. The BAHG will work with Reclamation and 

GCMRC throughout the budget process. The BAHG will help Reclamation and GCMRC develop and 

bring to the TWG budgets that are prepared for full TWG discussion and recommendation to AMWG. 

Thus, technical issues and resolutions of major issues will be resolved to the extent possible before full 

TWG review. 

2.3 January Annual Reporting Meeting 

TWG, in coordination with GCMRC and Reclamation, will hold an annual reporting meeting in January 

to review progress on funded monitoring and research projects for the previous year. GCMRC and 

Reclamation will provide an annual report for each GCDAMP-funded activity in the work plan. TWG 

will use this time to review and evaluate the progress of projects and to give direction to the BAHG in the 

development or review of annual budget recommendations. 

2.4 Mid-year and End of Year Fiscal Reporting Including Carry Over 

Reclamation and GCRMC will provide mid-year and end of fiscal year reporting of expenditures and 

carry over to TWG and AMWG. 

2.5 Budget Spreadsheet and Work Plan 

Reclamation and GCMRC will coordinate to develop a budget spreadsheet and work plan according to 

dates described in Table 1. The TWP will be used by TWG to provide budget recommendations to 

AMWG. During the second and third year of the budget, TWG would consider potential changes to the 

specified work plan, and recommend appropriate changes to AMWG to consider and recommend to the 

SOI annually. 

2.6 Roles of GCDAMP Entities 

 TWG Chair: The TWG Chair will endeavor to provide appropriate time for full discussion of the 

TWP on the TWG agenda, and encourage Reclamation and GCMRC to provide budget 

documents to the TWG in advance of meetings to allow for sufficient review prior to TWG 

meetings. 

 GCMRC: Develop budget spreadsheets and work plans in a timely manner that is responsive to 

program direction (e.g., LTEMP EIS), and to TWG and AMWG requests and comments on draft 

documents. 

 Reclamation: Develop budget spreadsheets and work plans for their portion of the budget that is 

responsive to TWG and AMWG requests and comments on draft documents. 

 AMWG: Review the initial budget at its spring meeting and provide input to Reclamation, 

GCMRC, and TWG on priorities for general budget direction and development. Review the final 

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budget recommendation from TWG at its summer meeting and make a final budget 

recommendation to the Secretary of Interior (SOI). 

 TWG: Review the initial budget spreadsheet and initial BAHG budget recommendations. 

Formulate an initial budget recommendation to AMWG at its spring meeting. Review the draft 

final budget spreadsheet and work plan and make final budget recommendation at its summer 

meeting for AMWG review at its fall meeting. 

 BAHG: Review the initial budget spreadsheet and draft final budget spreadsheet, work plan, and 

hydrograph with GCMRC and Reclamation, and with input from the CRAHG and other ad hoc 

gropus, making modifications as necessary. Provide recommendations to TWG at its spring and 

summer meetings. 

 Science Advisors: Participate in TWG and AMWG deliberations on the budget in coordination 

with the Executive Coordinator. Review the final TWP proposal submitted to the TWG for 

review and provide written feedback to both GCMRC and the TWG. 

 Other Cooperators: Other agencies and cooperators that are conducting work relevant to the 

GCDAMP are invited to submit work plans for inclusion in the GCDAMP and report upon those 

work plans at the annual reporting meeting. 

2.7 Criteria for Review and Revisions of the Year-three Budget and Work Plan 

In order for the TWP process to be successful in reducing the administrative burden on the GCMRC, 

Reclamation, and the GCDAMP, it must have clear criteria for making changes to the year-three budget. 

The burden of an appropriate rationale for proposing a change falls upon the proposer to make a 

persuasive argument. The following criteria will be used by GCMRC, Reclamation, and TWG in making 

recommendations to AMWG on changes to the year-three budget and work plan: 

	 Scientific requirement or merit: New information gained during the implementation of 

monitoring and research projects may result in a need to alter methods, scope, or timelines in the 

work plan or substantially alter or eliminate a project. This is a science need based on the 

experience of implementing an already approved project. This does not represent a shifting 

priority, but a scientific learning process which results in needed modifications to carry out the 

goals of the Program. 

	 Administrative needs: Administrative or programmatic changes may occur within the time-frame 

of an approved TWP. Examples might include the mitigation of an impact resulting from ESA or 

tribal consultation, a change in the “overhead” charges of a federal or state agency, a significant 

reduction of the balance of the Colorado River Basin Fund, or a failure to secure NPS permits for 

work in the Grand Canyon. As soon as an administrative event occurs that affects the TWP, 

GCMRC (or relevant agency – such as DOI) will notify the TWG. 

	 New initiatives: New initiatives or modifications to projects that may or may not be based on a 

scientific merit must be vetted through DOI. DOI will consider whether to direct GCMRC/BOR 

to work on these new initiatives or whether to consider them during the next full budget cycle. 

Given that the budget will likely be fully accounted for, direction on where to locate the funds 

within the current budget will be requested from DOI. 

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Table 1. Approximate timelines for the development and implementation of the TWP. Dates shown are 

estimated targets. Dates are shown which implement the 2018-20 TWP for reference. 

Month Year-1 (2017) 

(development of TWP) 

Year-2 (2018) 

December 

(year prior) 

GCMRC produces annual project reports document. 

January 

Annual reporting meeting and information synthesis (2 

days) followed by 1-day TWG meeting to review 

budget and provide initial guidance to GCMRC and 

BOR. TWG reviews progress in addressing 

Information Needs and research accomplishments. 

Annual reporting meeting (1-2 days) 

followed by 1-day TWG meeting with a 

primary emphasis on reporting 

results/findings/scientific advances on 

previous work plan. 

February 

GCMRC meets with tribes and DOI agencies. GCMRC 

follow-up with BAHG on priorities and areas of 

emphasis on TWP. GCMRC meets with cooperators to 

develop projects. AMWG meeting to discuss initial 

priorities. DOI and Federal family input. 

March 

USGS and BOR will develop an initial TWP based on 

DOI priorities and input from scientists, the TWG, and 

DOI/DOE family. Initial TWP presented to DOI and 

Assistant Secretary of Water and Science. 

April 

GCMRC meets with tribes and DOI agencies. April 

TWG meeting to consider draft TWP. Unresolved 

issues or conflicting priorities will be resolved by DOI 

in consultation with the DOI Family. GCMRC begins 

development of second draft TWP. 

May 

GCMRC and BOR provide a second draft TWP to the 

TWG Budget Ad Hoc Group (BAHG), Science 

Advisors, DOI agencies, and tribes for their review and 

comment. GCMRC meets with tribes, BAHG, to get 

input on TWP. GCMRC develops third draft of TWP. 

June 

GCMRC and BOR finish third draft for review. TWG 

meets to provide input on the draft GCMRC and BOR 

TWP and provide a recommendation to the AMWG. 

TWG recommends Fiscal Year 2 (2019) 

of TWP to AMWG. 

July GCMRC and BOR provide a final draft TWP to the 

AMWG for their review. 

August 

AMWG meets to provide input on the GCMRC and 

BOR draft TWP and provide a recommendation to the 

SOI. 

AMWG recommends Fiscal Year 2 

(2019) of TWP to SOI. 

September SOI reviews the budget and work plan 

recommendation from AMWG. 

October 1 Fiscal Year 1 begins under the TWP guidance. Fiscal Year 2 begins under the TWP 

guidance. 

November 1 Consumer Price Index becomes available. 

Late 

November 

Science and management meeting with DOI and 

cooperators. 

December Budget is finalized. USGS produces GCMRC annual 

project reports document for prior year work. 

GCMRC produces annual project reports 

document. 

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Table 1 (continued). Approximate timelines for the development and implementation of the TWP. Dates 

shown are estimated targets. Dates are shown which implement the 2018-20 TWP for reference. 

Month Year-3 (2019) Year-4 (2020) 

January 

Annual reporting meeting and information synthesis (2 

days) followed by 1-day TWG meeting to review initial 

results and findings of TWP. Potential TWP changes 

may be identified. 

Process starts again under year 1. 

February 

March 

April TWG/agencies/tribes meetings to consider mid-course 

adjustments to TWP at TWG meeting. 

May 

June 

TWG considers and recommends mid-course 

adjustments to TWP and a recommendation for Fiscal 

Year 3 (2017) budget. 

July 

August 

AMWG meets and considers mid-course adjustments 

to TWP recommended by TWG and recommends 

Fiscal Year 3 (2020) budget to the SOI. 

September 

October 1 Fiscal Year 3 begins under the TWP guidance. 

November 1 Consumer Price Index becomes available. 

Late 

November 

Meet with DOI to outline new work plan; Science and 

management meeting with DOI and cooperators. 

December USGS produces GCMRC annual project reports 

document for prior year work. 

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