Proposed Use of the Surplus Funds Resulting 

from the 

FY 2006 Adjustment in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) 

January 17, 2006 

Background: 

The Adaptive Management Program power revenues budget was previously capped by 

Congressional action to be increased annually by a standardized Consumer Price Index (CPI) 

determined by the Department of Labor and applied by the Bureau of Reclamation. In 

calculating the FY 2006 budget, a CPI of 2.5% was used as a conservative estimate, as it had 

been for several years previously. The CPI for FY 2006, however, was finalized at 4.7% – an 

increase of 2.2% over the original estimate – resulting in a budget increase of approximately 

$188,000 for the Adaptive Management Work Group (AMWG) recommended budget for FY 

2006. The increase represents approximately 2.1% of the total recommended budget. 

Because of the minor total dollars and the late date in the fiscal year, several projects that had 

been cut to finance the experimental fund and two existing opportunities were looked at as 

potential funding recipients. 

On January 11, 2006, Dennis Kubly, John Hamill and Ted Melis met to discuss what options 

existed for use of the increased CPI funding. John D. Kite, Linda Whetton, and Christine Beard 

were also in attendance at that meeting. After several hours of consideration, a consensus was 

reached that the following projects were important to a successful management and research 

program for the Grand Canyon. Because it is the second quarter of the fiscal year, it was 

determined that action needed to be taken immediately. All participants agreed to the 

expeditious allocation of funds to these projects following an expedited review by the 

TWG/BAHWG. 

Proposed Allocation: 

1. Continued operation of the Lower LCR stream gage ($30.0). The LCR gage was 

reestablished in FY 2003, using newer and more effective technologies for measuring river 

stage (acoustics). Operation of the gage record by the Integrated Downstream Quality of 

Water Program (DIQWP) is aimed at establishing a continuous stage and discharge record 

to support ongoing fisheries monitoring and research in the lower 13 km of the Little 

Colorado River. The gage will also support future monitoring efforts for targeted QW 

parameters associated with flows in the LCR related to Blue Spring and other sources 

upstream. FY 06 funding for the gage was cut because of uncertainty about how the data 

would be used in an ongoing monitoring or research projects, and the reductions required in 

the DIQWP to achieve the objective of building an experimental fund. Restoration of funding 

will allow for continued operation of the gage while the Science Planning Group and the 

Humpback Chub Comprehensive ad hoc group address the long-term, ongoing need for 

these flow data, or other quality-of-water data in the Lower LCR. First quarter’s obligations 

associated with operation of the gage is estimated to be about $8,000. 

2. Continued Operation of the HWY 89 Paria River gage ($41.0) The Paria River gage was 

established in FY 2003 to provide advance notice of sediment inputs into the Colorado River 

Ecosystem in advance of BHBF testing. These data are also being collected to develop a 

model for predicting the travel time for flood peaks in this river system between the mid-point 

of the river drainage and it confluence near Lees Ferry. The estimated ongoing cost for 

operation of this station in FY 2006 (Utah District of WRD, USGS, is approximately $41,000. 

The GCMRC recommends funding be provided for continued operation of the stream gage 
until a determination is made through the Science Planning Group’s Long-Term 

Experimental Planning process as to whether or not flow, sediment and travel time data 

from this station are needed for future sediment experimentation. Current annual level of 

obligation for the first quarter’s operation is estimated at $12,000. 

3. Sediment Augmentation Feasibility Study ($25.0) – The Denver Technical Center 

(BuRec) was awarded $175,000 by the GCMRC between FY 2004-2005 to conduct a 

feasibility assessment for fine-sediment augmentation to the Colorado River Ecosystem 

below Glen Canyon Dam for management of downstream turbidity and sand bar habitats. 

The study team has identified that an additional $25,000 is needed to complete the 

appraisal level cost estimate for the design options identified by the study. Without 

additional funding, the feasibility study would be limited to engineering discussions without a 

meaningful assessment of costs. The GCMRC believes that the cost overrun on the project 

is justified and that completing the study without a comprehensively prepared cost estimate 

for designs limits the usefulness of the final report to the AMWG. 

4. Experimental Trout Suppression Research ($13.0) – Following AMWG’s approval of the 

FY 2006 budget and workplan, the GCMRC identified that an additional $13.0 K was 

needed to provide logical support for this experimental field study.

5. Improvement in STARS Stage Modeling ($29.0)– Over the last three years, various 

cooperators and cooperating science providers have identified the need to further develop 

and refine the channel geometry (hundreds of cross sections throughout the CRE) used to 

predict river stage elevations using the STARS model developed during Phase I, GCES. 

Chris Magirl, USGS Tucson, advanced this revision by using GCMRC LiDAR data collected 

in FY 2000, for use in his doctoral research at the University of Arizona. The revised model 

geometry and function has many potential useful applications for the GCD-AMP, such as 

refinement of stage estimates associated with the Area of Potential Influence associated 

with archeological preservation sites. However Chris was never funded to prepare a 

scientific report documenting the process and methods incorporated into this effort. Chris 

has estimated that $29.0K would be needed to prepare a USGS report on the work. 

GCMRC believes a foral USGS report on will support future use of the upgraded STARS 

model and increase the credibility of new outputs generated by the model 

6. Effects of Natural Warming and Warm Water Non Native Fish start up – ($50.0 

placeholder). Native fishes of the Colorado River Ecosystem appear to have been 

negatively impacted by flows, cold water nonnative fishes, and perhaps other factors in the 

Colorado River main stem in the Grand Canyon. Recent natural warming of the CRE as a 

result of drought conditions appears to have allowed for expansion of the distribution of 

humpback chub and other native fishes, but the presence of warm water nonnative species, 

including fishes, crayfish, and parasites, is of concern to native fish managers. If natural 

warming should continue, or if a Selective Withdrawal Device is added to the Glen Canyon 

Dam, or both, then warm water nonnative species threats to natives will need to be 

aggressively addressed if they are to be controlled at levels that allow for the persistence, 

conservation, and recovery of native fishes. The GCMRC has drafted a warm water 

nonnative species management plan, with assistance from AMP and other cooperators and 

advisors, for review by the TWG. This plan includes aquatic habitat management elements 

that need to be addressed, including risk analysis, water quality monitoring, fishes 

monitoring, and nonnative control. A preliminary work plan and budget for implementing the 

warm water nonnative species management plan will be presented to the TWG on January 
25-26, 2006. The GCMRC recommends that $50.0 of the CPI funds be set aside to 

implement priority element of this plan in FY 06 as determined through consultation with the 

TWG and AMWG. Additional funding sources may need to be considered depending on the 

scope of the work effort that will be implemented in FY 06.