GCD Technical Work Group

Minutes of March 2-3, 2000 Meeting

Page 1

Technical Work Group

March 2, 2000

Phoenix, Arizona

FINAL 

Presiding: Rick Johnson, GCT (Chairperson)

Committee Members Present:

Clifford Barrett, CREDA Rick Johnson, GCT

Robert Begay, Navajo Nation Matt Kaplinski, GCRG

Andres Cheama, Pueblo of Zuni Robert King, UDWR

Kerry Christensen, Hualapai Tribe Phillip Lehr, Colo. River Comm./Nevada

Dave Cohen, Trout Unlimited Don Metz, FWS

Wayne Cook, UCRC S. Clayton Palmer, WAPA

Wm. Davis, EcoPlan Assoc/CREDA Bill Persons, AGFD

Kurt Dongoske, The Hopi Tribe Mindy Schlimgen-Wilson, Am. Rivers

Brenda Drye, So. Paiute Consortium Randy Seaholm, CWCB

Christopher Harris, ADWR Robert Winfree, NPS/GCNP

Norm Henderson, NPS/GCNRA Fred Worthley, CFBC

Amy Heuslein, BIA

Committee Members Absent:

Nancy Hornewer, USGS

John Shields, WY State Engr. Office

Alternates Present: Alternate for:

Bert Duet Nancy Hornewer, USGS

Dennis Kubly Randall Peterson, USBR

Wayne Cook John Shields, WY State Engr. Office

Other Interested Persons Present:

Timothy Begay, Navajo Nation Barry Gold, GCMRC

Gary Burton, WAPA Pam Hyde, Glen Canyon Institute

Shane Collins, WAPA Jerome Montague, NPS

Nancy Coulam, USBR Rob Smith, Sierra Club

Barry Gold, GCMRC

Recorder: Linda Whetton, USBR
GCD Technical Work Group

Minutes of March 2-3, 2000 Meeting

Page 2

Meeting Opening and Administrative Items

3/2/00: Convened: 9:30 a.m. Adjourned: 4:30 p.m.

Welcome and Introductions

The Chairperson welcomed the TWG members, alternates, and guests. All introduced themselves. The

Chairperson determined there was a quorum established.

Attendance: Attendance Sheets were distributed (Attachment 1 - List of Attendees)

Motion: Approve January 19 & 21, 2000 meeting minutes. Without objection, the minutes were

approved as written.

Motion: The TWG Operating Procedures be modified to allow members (or officially designated

alternates if the member cannot attend) to be reimbursed for air fare or personal vehicle mileage, and

hotel costs to attend TWG meetings. TWG members or alternates must have an approved travel

authorization prior to travel to receive reimbursement.

Rick said the reason for the motion was that there was some confusion as to what kind of travel

reimbursement was available to TWG members as opposed to AMWG members. Some TWG

members were utilizing the process and others weren=t so this was an attempt to clarify the policy. 

There was a brief discussion on how this would impact the program financially and whether all members

could claim reimbursement. It was decided more information was needed before the Operating

Procedures could be changed.

ACTION: Discuss at a future meeting. 

Action Items from last meeting. Rick referred the members to page 11 of the January 19 + 21,

2000 Draft Minutes. He provided updates on the items:

1. The KAWG has put out a series of clarification questions to the panel and they hope to get those

back by late March and have those available for the April AMWG meeting.

2. The Ad hoc group got together and decided that this needs to be delayed. They want to have the

MO=s fairly well completed before bringing to the AMWG.

3. Completed.

4. Completed.

5. On tomorrow=s agenda for discussion.
GCD Technical Work Group

Minutes of March 2-3, 2000 Meeting

Page 3

Management Objectives. Mary Orton said that at the last meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee on

Strategic Planning, they came up against the realization that there was no way they would be able to

complete the MO=s before the AMWG meeting. The comments will be recorded and the ad hoc

committee will meet and consider every one of the comments. She referred the members to the list

(Attachment 2) and informed them they would have one more time to provide comments before the

document goes to the AMWG.

The footnotes at the bottom of the document are tied to the old MO=s that went with that particular

goal. For example, (on page 2), the code ABRMO1” refers back to the June 10, 1998 document which

was the last approved document of the MO=s. The ABR” refers to Biological Resources. It is the first

MO in that section. If anyone needs to see that document, contact Mary. At end of chart (pgs. 30-32),

there is a list of information needs, management actions, and notes. This is not a comprehensive list but

was created as the committee went along. They provide a little bit more information on what that MO

means. The committee was not able to put a number with every target or current level but they

indicated the method they think should be used to get that number. It=s usually one of three things: 1)

obtained from literature, 2) information need - research needs to be done, or 3) decision process -

target would be developed within the range of operational flexibility of the dam, taking into account the

range in which the target resources thrive and the range of natural variability. They looked at those three

things and tried to determine the best target level for that particular element, attribute, and resource. If

there is a number in the target level, then that number will be validated through the monitoring program

over the years. In addition, the Definitions were also reviewed (Attachment 3).

Mary said that the specific things the ad hoc committee would like to hear from the members are the

first three items on the cover memo (a,b,c). If members have additional comments, they can send them

to her (maryorton@aol.com) or Randy Peterson (rpeterson@uc.usbr.gov).

Mary reviewed the handout on “Robert’s Rules of Order” and informed members that she would solicit

comments from the members first and then the public. Staff from Reclamation and GCMRC may

answer questions at any time.

Discussion of MO=s B> Flip Charts (Attachment 4).

ACTION: Have someone make a presentation on the Recovery Program at the next TWG meeting

(requested by Matt Kaplinski).

ACTION: Send MO BIN issues to everyone - Mary Orton

Pre-information on. Barry Gold passed out copies of a report entitled, AAn Outline and Schedule for

the Development of a Science Plan for WY 2000 Steady Flows,@ (Attachment 5) prepared by Barbara

Ralston and Mike Yard. This is an update on the science plan.
GCD Technical Work Group

Minutes of March 2-3, 2000 Meeting

Page 4

Adjourned: 4:30 p.m.
GCD Technical Work Group

Minutes of March 2-3, 2000 Meeting

Page 5

Technical Work Group

March 3, 2000

Phoenix, Arizona

Presiding: Rick Johnson, GCT (Chairperson)

Committee Members Present:

Clifford Barrett, CREDA Rick Johnson, GCT

Robert Begay, Navajo Nation Matt Kaplinski, GCRG

Andres Cheama, Pueblo of Zuni Robert King, UDWR

Kerry Christensen, Hualapai Tribe Phillip Lehr, Colo. River Comm./Nevada

Dave Cohen, Trout Unlimited Don Metz, FWS

Wayne Cook, UCRC Bill Persons, AGFD

Wm. Davis, EcoPlan Assoc/CREDA Mindy Schlimgen-Wilson, Am. Rivers

Kurt Dongoske, The Hopi Tribe Randy Seaholm, CWCB

Brenda Drye, So. Paiute Consortium Robert Winfree, NPS/GCNP

Christopher Harris, ADWR

Norm Henderson, NPS/GCNRA

Committee Members Absent:

Nancy Hornewer, USGS

S. Clayton Palmer, WAPA

John Shields, WY State Engr. Office

Alternates Present: Alternate for:

Gary Burton S. Clayton Palmer, WAPA

Dennis Kubly Randall Peterson, USBR

Wayne Cook John Shields, WY State Engr. Office

Other Interested Persons Present:

Timothy Begay, Navajo Nation Barry Gold, GCMRC

Debra Bills, FWS Pam Hyde, Glen Canyon Institute

Shane Collins, WAPA Jerome Montague, NPS

Nancy Coulam, USBR Tom Ryan, USBR

Greg Fisk, GCMRC
GCD Technical Work Group

Minutes of March 2-3, 2000 Meeting

Page 6

Recorder: Linda Whetton, USBR

3/3/00: Convened: 8:00 a.m. Adjourned: 12:30 p.m.

Presiding: Rick Johnson, GCT (Chairperson)

3/3/00: Convened: 8:00 a.m. Adjourned: 12:30 p.m.

Welcome and Introductions

The Chairperson welcomed the TWG members, alternates, and guests. All introduced themselves. The

Chairperson determined there was a quorum established.

Attendance: Attendance Sheets were distributed (Attachment 1 - List of Attendees)

Rick suggested that since Mary has to leave early today that the agenda be modified to allow her to

complete discussion on the MO=s. Members concurred. 

Continuation of MO=s Discussion: Mary reviewed the MO=s with the members. Refer to

Attachment 4.

ACTION: Re-draft language for MO=s 47, 48, and 49 and turn into ad hoc group - Bill Persons.

Announcements:

1. Barry said that at the last TWG meeting, they had talked about the need to look at the Automatic

Generation Control and one of the steps was to reinstall the gage at GCD. He said the gage was

reinstalled on Feb. 29, 2000, and the data should be on the web today.

2. There will be an organizational meeting of the Native Fish Work Group beginning at 1:15 today.

3. The TWG members are invited to attend an open session of the Cultural Resources Protocol

Review session on March 13-14 in Flagstaff at the GCMRC. The sessions are from 8:30 - 12:00

and the general public is also invited..

4. The dates for the Annual Operating Plan meetings are May 17, June 21, and August 16. They=re

scheduled to start at 9 a.m. at McCarran Airport.
GCD Technical Work Group

Minutes of March 2-3, 2000 Meeting

Page 7

5. Rick reminded the members of the AMWG meeting scheduled for April 4-5. The purpose was to

bring the MO=s to the AMWG. However, he doesn=t feel we are ready to do that and asked if the

dates should be kept open and use as a TWG meeting to bring the next iteration of MO=s or cancel

altogether and schedule some other meeting for the next iteration.

ACTION: Rick will talk with Randy and discuss meeting date options.

Filling of Environmental Position on the AMP. Mindy said that TWG members should=ve received

a copy of a letter from the president of American Rivers indicating that the Southwest Office was being

closed as of June 30, 2000. They are actively looking for a replacement and have been working with

the environmental community and have had a lot of discussions and there has been a lot of interest. If

there is an AMWG meeting in April, they will be presenting information at that time. They will be

submitting a name to the Secretary within a month or so. She hopes it will be a smooth transition by

June 30. Contrary to popular beliefs, American Rivers has not vacated their seat on the AMWG or

TWG and would like to be maintained on the roster and continue receiving information. 

Fall River Trip - Rick said there has been one launch date that has been given to the TWG as an

opportunity to launch in the fall. The date to launch is Sept. 2 and arrive at Diamond Creek on Sept. 9.

 There are two purposes being discussed for the river trip: 1) finalize the strategic plan or figure out how

to move forward, and 2) have discussions about cultural resource values in the canyon. Rick

questioned if the members were in agreement on the right purposes and if those dates work well with

their schedules. Barry said he needs a firm commitment from members as there are number of things he

needs to do to plan for the trip.

ACTION: Members will e-mail Barry by March 10, 2000 if they plan on going on the river trip.

Hydrology Update & LSSF - Tom Ryan reported that the snowpack in the Upper Colorado River

Basin is now up to 83% of average (Attachment 6a) and (Attachment 6b). On January 1, 2000, it was

only 43% of average. There have been storms moving into the central portions of the basin where the

gradient that was very pronounced early in January and has become more homogenous. There has also

been more snow in the Gunnison, San Rafael, Dolores, and those areas. Tom said the months of

October, November, and December were extremely dry months with very little precipitation prompting

 issuance of the 52% of average forecast in January. In January the precipitation in the Colorado River

Basin was about 130% and Tom anticipates that the figures for February will be pretty close to that as

well. The current forecast is 5.8 maf, which is 75% of average (Attachment 6c). A decision will need

to be made by the latter part of March on what is going to be done.
GCD Technical Work Group

Minutes of March 2-3, 2000 Meeting

Page 8

Due to a number of concerns raised by the TWG members, Barry felt it might be appropriate or him to

give a 5-minute presentation on the science plan and then go back to the above discussion. He referred

to the document he passed out yesterday (refer to Attachment 5). This is where they are in developing

the science plan. When the Bureau called the GCMRC on Feb. 4, 2000, indicating they were thinking

seriously about stopping the test, they sat down and created a process for developing a science plan. 

That report is still in draft but due be finalized this month. Barbara Ralston has been talking to the

various PI=s that work in the system about study plans to test the hypotheses. The study plans are due

back to her by COB today and Barry will consolidate them into an overall framework for testing and

develop a budget to modify existing work to do additional research. The science plan won=t be put

together for at least another week and then it will be brought forward to the Bureau and WAPA with a

cost number. A decision should be made shortly thereafter. 

Tom said there is still a chance of a BHBF. Reclamation is planning on a low flow year but with

hydrology changing, they=re different under the two flow regimes. With a test release, the chance of a

BHBF is about 7% which means you could get forced into a spill. Without the test, the chance is

actually higher about 12%. The reason the percentages is that you are going to start aggressively

moving water early under the test which lowers the probability of having a spill later. 

TWG Ad Hoc Group Report. Rick reported the group (Randy Peterson, Barry Gold, Bill Persons,

Clayton Palmer, and himself) looked at how TWG meetings have been scheduled around AMWG

meetings. He directed the members to the three items listed on the agenda and said no conclusions have

been made. They will continue to look at alternatives and hope to have something ready for the next

TWG meeting.

Long-term Fish Monitoring Plan. Barry said the Long-term Fish Monitoring Work Group met with

the NFWG on Feb. 8 and are developing a consolidated database, protocols for data sharing, and

farming out different assignments to each other for analyzing the database. GCMRC resources are

being utilized in terms of having their database developers focus on the native fish database and getting it

ready to be analyzed. The target for getting the first set of analyses is June or July 2000. 

Public Comment & Wrap UP. 

Members commented on having TWG meetings before/after AMWG meetings as well as the frequency

of meetings.

Debra Bills said that May 9-10, 2000 are the days scheduled for a joint Fish and Wildlife/BLM Section

7 workshop. It is designed specifically for people doing consultations and the workshop is only done

every couple of years.

Rick said some people have indicated they would like a presentation on power economics. He asked
GCD Technical Work Group

Minutes of March 2-3, 2000 Meeting

Page 9

Gary Burton and Cliff Barrett if something could be prepared for the next TWG meeting. Cliff said they

did something similar for the Aspinall group and could do for a meeting in May.

Several members commented on the mailing package and felt it was very well organized and would like

to see all meeting packages prepared in the same format.

Action Items:

1. Discussion of payment of travel expenses for TWG members/alternates at next meeting –

Reclamation.

2. Outline of Recovery Program Presentation at next TWG Meeting– requested by Matt

Kaplinski (deleted at TWG Meeting on 5/10/00)

3. Send MO BIN items to everyone – Mary Orton

4. Re-draft language for MO’s 47, 48, and 49 and turn into ad hoc group – Bill Persons

5. Upcoming TWG & AMWG meetings – Randy Peterson

6. Power economics presentation – Cliff Barrett could do in May 2000.

7. Barry needs a firm commitment from TWG members going on the TWG River Trip (Sept. 2-

9, 2000) by close of business March 10, 2000.

Adjourned: 12:30 p.m.

Next Meeting:

May 10 (9:30 – 4:00)

May 11 (8-noon)

Location:

Bureau of Indian Affairs Office

12th Floor, 400 N. 5th Street

Phoenix AZ