THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR 


WASHINGTON 


MAY _2 3 2012 

Memorandum 

To: Assistant Secretary for Water and Science 

Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks 

Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs 

Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs 

Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation 

Director, Fish and Wildlife Service 

Director, National Park Service 

From: 

Director, U.S. G~ological Survey 

Secretary ~ S 

Subject: Directive dn ernentation of~ arch to Improve Conditions in the Colorado 

River in Grand Canyon National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area 

Purpose. The purpose ofthis Directive is to ensure effective and coordinated implementation of 

important research that the Department of the Interior (DOl) is undertaking through the Glen Canyon 

Dam Adaptive Management Program (GCDAMP) established pursuant to the Grand Canyon 

Protection Act, specifically the High Flow Experimental Releases from Glen Canyon Dam, Arizona, 

through 2020 (High Flow Protocol) and the Non-Native Fish Control Downstream from Glen Canyon 

Darn (Non-Native Fish Control). 

Implementation of this Directive will ensure that important scientific information is available to inform 

the Long-Term Experimental and Management Plan currently being developed and to assist in 

assessing short and long-term approaches to protect resources downstream from Glen Canyon Dam for 

future generations. 

Background. Glen Canyon Dam was authorized by the Colorado River Storage Project Act of 1956 

and completed by the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) in 1963. Below Glen Canyon Darn, the 

Colorado River flows through the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Grand Canyon National 

Park, which are managed by the National Park Service (NPS). 

The DOl has multiple responsibilities on the Colorado River, including meeting water delivery 

obligations, protecting and improving downstream park resources for future generations, conserving 

fish and wildlife species, providing recreational opportunities, carrying out the trust responsibility to 

Indian Tribes and consulting with Indian Tribes on matters of importance to them, and ensuring the 

generation of clean hydropower. As part of the GCDAMP, Reclamation approved two research 

programs, the High Flow Protocol and the Non-Native Fish Control program, with the goal of 

exploring strategies for better operation of Glen Canyon Darn and related activities, consistent with 

these responsibilities. These programs contemplate that the DOl agencies identified below will 

undertake identified research, monitoring, visitor outreach, and other related actions. The High Flow 

Protocol approved on May 22, 2012, uses experimental high flow releases that are designed to evaluate 
the ability of these releases to rebuild and rejuvenate sandbars, beaches, and associated backwater 

habitats that provide key wildlife habitat, potentially reduce erosion of archaeological sites, enhance 

riparian vegetation, maintain or increase camping opportunities, and improve the wilderness 

experience along the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park and Glen Canyon National 

Recreation Area. The Non-Native Fish Control program, also approved on May 22, 2012, will 

implement actions and undertake research to refine methods to control non-native fish and to protect 

endangered native fish in the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam. 

Directive. 

Part 1: 	 Implementation ofthe High Flow Protocol and Non-Native Fish Control 

I direct the multiple DOl bureaus with responsibilities along the Colorado River, namely Reclamation, 

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), NPS, and the Bureau of 

Indian Affairs (BIA), to undertake coordinated implementation of the actions and commitments 

described and analyzed in the Environmental Assessments for the High Flow Protocol and Non-Native 

Fish Control (EAs), as approved on May 22, 2012. 

Part II: Establishment of the DOl Glen Canyon Leadership Team (Team) 

In order to ensure effective coordination of DOl efforts, I am establishing an interagency team that will 

be led by the Assistant Secretary for Water and Science and will be comprised of leadership from 

Reclamation, FWS, NPS, BIA, and USGS. An inter-agency working group of representatives selected 

by each Agency will provide technical support to the team. 

A. The Team will work together to ensure that coordination is undertaken to implement the 

commitments set forth in the EAs and associated Findings of No Significant Impact for external 

coordination, consultation, and information sharing. 

B. The Team will also ensure that appropriate external coordination is done with states and other 

stakeholders, and in consultation with appropriate tribes in accordance with DOl's Policy on 

Consultation with Indian Tribes issued on December 1, 2011 . 

C. By December 1, 2012, and as directed thereafter, the Team leader will update me on the status 

of implementation of the actions described in the EAs and plans for future implementation. 

Part III: Expiration Date 

This Directive is effective immediately and will remain in effect through the term of the High Flow 

Protocol (December 31 , 2020), unless amended, superseded, or revoked, whichever occurs first, by 

further action of the Secretary. 

Part IV: Implementation of Directive 

Implementation ofthis Directive will be in accordance with all applicable Federal laws and 

regulations, including any applicable environmental or planning requirements. 

cc: 	 Deputy Secretary 

Chief of Staff