Glen Canyon Dam Technical Work Group WebEx Meeting 

November 6, 2013

Conducting: Shane Capron, Vice-Chair Convened: 10 a.m. (MST) 

Committee Members/Alternates Present: 

Cliff Barrett, UAMPS 

Kerry Christensen, Hualapai Tribe 

Bill Davis, CREDA 

Paul Harms, State of New Mexico 

Vineetha Kartha, State of Arizona 

Glen Knowles, Bureau of Reclamation 

Ted Kowalski, State of Colorado 

Chip Lewis, Bureau of Indian Affairs 

Gerald Myers, Federation of Fly Fishers 

Dave Rogowski, AGFD 

John Shields, State of Wyoming 

Larry Stevens, GCWC 

Jason Thiriot, State of Nevada 

Mark Van Vlack, State of California 

Mike Yeatts, Hopi Tribe 

Kirk Young, USFWS 

Committee Members Absent: 

Jan Balsom, NPS/GRCA 

Todd Chaudhry, NPS 

Jerry Lee Cox, Grand Canyon River Guides 

Kurt Dongoske, Pueblo of Zuni 

Chris Hughes, NPS/GLCA 

Tony Joe, Jr., Navajo Nation 

Robert King, State of Utah 

John Shields, State of Wyoming 

Larry Stevens, GCWC 

Bill Stewart, AGFD 

Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center: 

Lucas Bair, Economist 

Jack Schmidt, Center Director 

Scott Vanderkooi, Acting Deputy Chief 

Interested Persons: 

Marianne Crawford, Bureau of Reclamation 

Craig Ellsworth, WAPA 

Dr. Dave Garrett, M3

Research/Science Advisors 

Leslie James, CREDA 

Lisa Meyer, WAPA 

Don Ostler, UCRC 

Clayton Palmer, WAPA 

Sarah Rinkevich, FWS/Federal Tribal Liaison 

Meeting Recorder: Linda Whetton 

1. Welcome and Administrative. Mr. Knowles explained that due to the two-week government 

shutdown, Reclamation wasn’t able to execute the TWG Chair contract for John Jordan. Mr. Jordan 

can’t conduct meetings until the contract is in place, so today’s meeting will be conducted by TWG 

Vice-Chair Shane Capron. Today’s webex is being conducted in lieu of the October 1 webex that 

was cancelled due to the government shutdown. 

2. Approval of June 26, 2013, Meeting Minutes. Approval will be sought at the next meeting. 

3. Review of Action Items. (Attachment 1). Note that Item #2012-10-24(6) will be addressed at the Jan. 

30, 2014 TWG meeting. Three new items were added to the list and were e-mailed to the TWG on 

Nov. 8, 2013. 

High Flow Experiment in fall 2013. 

Sediment Update (Attachment 2a). Dr. Schmidt; large sediment inputs from the Paria River and the low 

fall flows are responsible for the current conditions. Immediately before the 2012 HFE, sandbars in 

Marble Canyon were as small as they had been since monitoring began in 1990 and were larger in 

Grand Canyon. The 2012 HFE came at an appropriate time because the resource was in a diminished 

state. Although the median trend in Marble Canyon is negative, there are sites that have increased since 

1990. Immediately after the 2012 HFE there was substantial gain in 18 sandbars, no substantial change 

in 12 and substantial loss in 3 sandbars. Most sandbars constructed by the 2012 HFE eroded by May; 8 

sites were still somewhat larger, 14 sites about the same and 7 sites were smaller than they had been 
Glen Canyon Dam Technical Work Group Meeting 

Draft Minutes of November 6, 2013, WebEx Meeting Page 2 

before the HFE. Dr. Schmidt directed the members to visit GCMRC’s website (http://www.gcmrc.gov) as 

two new sites were added: (1) Discharge, Sediment, and Water Quality Monitoring Data, and (2) Photos: 

Sandbar Changes Caused by 2012 HFE. He provided the following updates: 

 The amount of sand delivered in late summer and fall 2013 was large in relation to the long-term 

median sand delivery. 

 As sand comes into the system it is also leaving. Total dam releases were decreased in the fall 

shoulder months which lessened this. At river mile 30, 1.9 million tons (mt) of sand came in and 

0.13 mt went out. 

 Between 1,500,000 mt and 2,400,000 mt accumulated in upper Marble Canyon since July 1. This 

amount provides for the largest HFE that can be implemented under the HFE Protocol. Dave 

Topping’s group didn’t revise these numbers and they won’t change. 

Fisheries Update. Dr. VanderKooi reported that rainbow trout populations were very high in the upstream 

third of Marble Canyon but very low where HBC live. However, they did see a lot of YOY trout this 

summer with about one-third of RBT <100 mm suggesting emigration from Lees Ferry or production in 

Marble Canyon. They haven’t had time to analyze the fall data which was delayed due to the government 

shutdown. He provided the following updates: 

 No difference in midgefly concentrations in the drift pre- and post-HFE 

 Increase in blackfly concentrations in the drift in Glen Canyon post-HFE 

 Spring abundance estimates of HBC in the LCR remain well above the Biological Opinion trigger, 

and total catches of juvenile HBC in the mainstem were lower than 2012 but higher than those 

observed during the NSE project. 

HFE Protocol Decision Process. (Attachment 2b) Mr. Knowles reviewed the steps involved in the HFE 

Protocol decision-making process, and the reporting commitments. He encouraged the members to read 

USGS Circular 1366, “Effects of Three High-Flow Experiments on the Colorado River Ecosystem 

Downstream from Glen Canyon Dam, Arizona” (Attachment 2c) as it gives a synthesis of the 1996, 

2004, and 2008 HFEs that forms the basis for evaluating decision to conduct future HFEs in concert with 

the latest resource modeling results. The modeling component in the protocol indicated the maximum 

magnitude and duration HFE should be conducted. The Technical Team provided a recommendation to 

the Glen Canyon Leadership Team on October 23, 2013, to conduct a HFE in November 2013 as a 

result of the very high sediment inputs available in the system and the fact that no major concerns had 

been identified on the effects of a 2013 HFE on downstream resources. Assistant Secretary Anne Castle 

transmitted the Glen Canyon Leadership Teams decision to conduct a fall 2013 HFE to Larry Walkoviak 

on November 4, 2013. The quantity of sand available is huge, and to put it in perspective, there will be 

more sand after this HFE (about 800,000 mt) than before last year’s HFE (about 650,000 mt). Two units 

are down at the dam for maintenance which will limit the release to 34,100 cfs and the duration will be 

the maximum under the protocol of 96 hours. Additional details are as follows: 

Schedule and Duration 

 Nov 11 10 a.m. begin upramp to power plant capacity (~19,100 cfs) [6 generation units] 

 Nov 11 1 p.m. open bypass tubes, reach full bypass at 8 p.m. 

 Nov 16 5 a.m. end of bypass 

 Total duration: 5 days and 3 hours; 4 days at peak release 

Ramp Rates 

 Ramp up: 4,000 cfs/hr from 8,000 – 19,000 cfs, then 1,875 cfs/hr to peak (34,100 cfs) 

 Ramp down: 1,500 cfs/hr 

HFE Release Details 

 Maximum total release: 34,100 cfs 

o Powerplant capacity: 19,100 cfs 

o River outlet tubes: 15,000 cfs 
Glen Canyon Dam Technical Work Group Meeting 

Draft Minutes of November 6, 2013, WebEx Meeting Page 3 

Hydropower generation units available: 6 (one unit off-line for replacement; one for repairs) 

River outlet tubes: 4 

Anne Castle will offer a few remarks around 11 a.m. next Monday at the Glen Canyon Dam rotunda, and 

then attendees will be allowed to go down to the base of the dam and view the opening of the jet tubes. 

All GCDAMP members are invited to attend. 

Comments: 

 It’s important the public be made aware that the water released will be recaptured in Lake Mead 

and not lost, and that the total annual release in water year 2014 will be the same as without the 

HFE, 7.48 maf.

 Reclamation’s report to FWS in January 2014 should also be provided to the AMWG. 

 Contact Brandon Lewis (AZ Republic) to make sure he has accurate information on the HFE. Mr. 

Lewis recently completed a series of articles on the 50th anniversary of the last bucket of concrete 

poured at Glen Canyon Dam.

Wrap-Up and Next Steps. 

FY 2015-16 Budget Development (Attachment 3a). Mr. Capron reminded the members to review the 

following documents in preparation for the next TWG meeting: 

 Attachment 3b: GCDAMP Budget Process Paper dated May 6, 2010 

 Attachment 3c: Budget Process Paper amended 3/20/11 (Table 1). 

 Attachment 3d: GCDAMP Biennial Budget and Work Plan—Fiscal Years 2013-14 

 Attachment 3e: Budget and Work Plan Science Questions 

Action Item: The CRAHG is requested to meet and provide any budget issues/concerns for the January 

28-29, 2014, Annual Reporting Meeting, to Linda Whetton (lwhetton@usbr.gov) by Friday, November 22, 

2013, including the need for tribal participation at the meeting, and tribal and cultural values topics that 

should be covered. 

Next Steps: 

 Initial budget interests/concerns/synthesis items to Linda Whetton & SCAHG by 11/23/13. 

o Use Science Questions document to help you, prompt you with important issues, which is 

important to you? 

o Which management objectives questions will you ask? 

 SCAHG will consider all input and provide to GCMRC/BOR in November. 

 SCAHG/GCMRC/BOR coordinate Jan. 28-29 Annual Reporting Meeting Agenda 

 TWG homework: develop your budget ideas/concerns for AR Meeting, last year’s items? 

 January objective: budget ideas/concerns to GCMRC/BOR (maybe via BAHG) 

Action Item: TWG should provide input to Linda Whetton (lwhetton@usbr.gov) (who will forward to 

SCAHG) on topics of interest for the January 28-29, 2014, Annual Reporting Meeting, including tribal 

participation, by Friday, November 22, 2013. 

Action Item: TWG members should provide concerns about holding webinars versus in-person 

meetings (what’s working, not working, limit on how many webinars to hold) and provide to Linda 

Whetton (lwhetton@usbr.gov) by November 22, 2013. 

 

Upcoming Meetings: 
Glen Canyon Dam Technical Work Group Meeting 

Draft Minutes of November 6, 2013, WebEx Meeting Page 4 

Date Times Meeting Location

(Tue) Jan., 28, 2014

(Wed) Jan. 29, 2014

9:30a – 5:30p

8:15a – 5p

Annual Reporting Meeting Arizona Department of Water Resources

Verde Conference Room, 2nd Floor

3550 N. Central Avenue

Phoenix, AZ 85012

Hotel Room Block :

The Wyndham Garden Hotel

3600 N. 2nd Avenue

Phoenix AZ  85013

T:  602‐604‐4900

Rate:  $105 (includes breakfast) ‐‐> lower

than $133 govt rate.

Phoenix Place Hotel

Thu., Jan. 30, 2014 8:15a – 3:00p Technical Work Group Meeting

Adjourned: 12:03 p.m. 

Respectfully submitted, 

 

Linda Whetton 

Upper Colorado Regional Office 

Bureau of Reclamation 

 
Glen Canyon Dam Technical Work Group Meeting 

Draft Minutes of November 6, 2013, WebEx Meeting Page 5 

Key to Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program Acronyms 

ADWR – Arizona Dept. of Water Resources 

AF – Acre Feet 

AGFD – Arizona Game and Fish Department 

AIF – Agenda Information Form 

AMP – Adaptive Management Program 

AMWG – Adaptive Management Work Group 

AOP – Annual Operating Plan 

ASMR – Age-Structure Mark Recapture 

BA – Biological Assessment 

BAHG – Budget Ad Hoc Group 

BCOM – Biological Conservation Measure 

BE – Biological Evaluation 

BHBF – Beach/Habitat-Building Flow 

BHMF – Beach/Habitat Maintenance Flow 

BHTF – Beach/Habitat Test Flow 

BIA – Bureau of Indian Affairs 

BO – Biological Opinion 

BOR – Bureau of Reclamation 

BWP – Budget and Work Plan 

CAHG – Charter Ad Hoc Group 

CAP – Central Arizona Project 

GCT – Grand Canyon Trust 

CESU – Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit 

cfs – cubic feet per second 

CMINS – Core Monitoring Information Needs 

CMP – Core Monitoring Plan 

CPI – Consumer Price Index 

CRBC – Colorado River Board of California 

CRAHG – Cultural Resources Ad Hoc Group 

CRCN – Colorado River Commission of Nevada 

CRE – Colorado River Ecosystem 

CREDA – Colorado River Energy Distributors Assn. 

CRSP – Colorado River Storage Project 

CWCB – Colorado Water Conservation Board 

DAHG – Desired Future Conditions Ad Hoc Group 

DASA – Data Acquisition, Storage, and Analysis 

DBMS – Data Base Management System 

DOE – Department of Energy 

DOI – Department of the Interior 

DOIFF – Department of the Interior Federal Family 

EA – Environmental Assessment 

EIS – Environmental Impact Statement 

ESA – Endangered Species Act 

FACA – Federal Advisory Committee Act 

FEIS – Final Environmental Impact Statement 

FRN – Federal Register Notice 

FWS – United States Fish & Wildlife Service 

FY – Fiscal Year (October 1 – September 30) 

GCD – Glen Canyon Dam 

GCES – Glen Canyon Environmental Studies 

GCT – Grand Canyon Trust 

GCMRC – Grand Canyon Monitoring & Research Center 

GCNP – Grand Canyon National Park 

GCNRA – Glen Canyon Nat’l Recreation Area 

GCPA – Grand Canyon Protection Act 

GLCA – Glen Canyon Nat’l Recreation Area 

GRCA – Grand Canyon National Park 

GCRG – Grand Canyon River Guides 

GCWC – Grand Canyon Wildlands Council 

HBC – Humpback Chub (endangered native fish) 

HFE – High Flow Experiment 

HMF – Habitat Maintenance Flow 

HPP – Historic Preservation Plan 

INs – Information Needs 

KA – Knowledge Assessment (workshop) 

KAS – Kanab Ambersnail (endangered native snail) 

LCR – Little Colorado River 

LCRMCP – Lower Colorado River Multi-Species 

Conservation 

 Program 

LTEMP – Long-Term Experimental and Management Plan 

LTEP – Long Term Experimental Plan 

MAF – Million Acre Feet 

MA – Management Action 

MATA – Multi-Attribute Trade-Off Analysis 

MLFF – Modified Low Fluctuating Flow 

MO – Management Objective 

MRP – Monitoring and Research Plan 

NAU – Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff, AZ) 

NEPA – National Environmental Policy Act 

NHPA – National Historic Preservation Act 

NNFC – Non-native Fish Control 

NOI – Notice of Intent 

NPS – National Park Service 

NRC – National Research Council 

O&M – Operations & Maintenance (USBR Funding) 

PA – Programmatic Agreement 

PBR – Paria to Badger Creek Reach 

PEP – Protocol Evaluation Panel 

POAHG – Public Outreach Ad Hoc Group 

Powerplant Capacity = 31,000 cfs 

R&D – Research and Development 

RBT – Rainbow Trout 

RFP – Request for Proposal 

RINs – Research Information Needs 

ROD Flows – Record of Decision Flows 

RPA – Reasonable and Prudent Alternative 

SA – Science Advisors 

Secretary – Secretary of the Interior 

SCORE – State of the Colorado River Ecosystem 

SHPO – State Historic Preservation Office 

SNARRC - Southwest Native Aquatic Resources and 

Recovery Center 

SOW – Statement of Work 

SPAHG – Strategic Plan Ad Hoc Group 

SPG – Science Planning Group 

SSQs – Strategic Science Questions 

SWCA – Steven W. Carothers Associates 

TCD – Temperature Control Device 

TCP – Traditional Cultural Property 

TEK – Traditional Ecological Knowledge 

TES – Threatened and Endangered Species 

TMC – Taxa of Management Concern 

TWG – Technical Work Group 

UCRC – Upper Colorado River Commission 

UDWR – Utah Division of Water Resources 

USBR – United States Bureau of Reclamation 

USFWS – United States Fish & Wildlife Service 

USGS – United States Geological Survey 

WAPA – Western Area Power Administration 

WY – Water Year 

(Updated: 2/5/2013)