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 Glen Canyon Dam Technical Work Group 

Agenda Item Information 

October 28-29, 2014 

Agenda Item 

Long-Term Experimental and Management Plan (LTEMP) EIS 

Action Requested 

Information item only 

Presenter 

Glen Knowles, Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) 

Previous Action Taken 

December 2009: Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that the development of a 

Long-Term Experimental and Management Plan (LTEMP) for Glen Canyon Dam was needed. The 

Secretary emphasized the inclusion of stakeholders, particularly those in the Glen Canyon Dam 

Adaptive Management Program (GDAMP), in the development of the LTEMP. 

November 2011: Public scoping meetings were held in Phoenix, Flagstaff, Page, Salt Lake City, Las 

Vegas, and Denver. A webcast was also held to capture participation from those that could not 

attend in person. 

April 4-5, 2012: A public workshop was held in Flagstaff, AZ to receive feedback on the preliminary 

alternative concepts. 

April 30, 2012: The Secretary of the Interior responded to a recommendation from the AMWG by 

stating, “With respect to the report of the Socioeconomic Ad Hoc Group, I appreciate the 

comprehensive nature of the program and plan proposed, and the support of the AMWG for the 

implementation of these socioeconomic impact assessment studies. I am directing the interagency 

team for the Department of the Interior to communicate to the AMWG the specific studies and 

activities that should be prioritized for utilization as part of the ongoing National Environmental 

Policy Act process to develop a Long Term Experimental and Management Plan (LTEMP) for Glen 

Canyon Dam. The Technical Work Group can then identify information needs and research 

priorities not addressed through the LTEMP process so that the [Grand] Canyon Monitoring and 

Research Center can refine and develop a work plan.” 

August 30, 2012: Motion (moved by Larry Stevens and seconded by Ted Rampton): AMWG 

requests that the February 2013 AMWG meeting agenda include a detailed description of the 

LTEMP alternatives; time for discussion and identification of issues, questions, and concerns; and 

possible development of a recommendation from non-DOI AMWG members. 

Relevant Science 

Science and research completed since the GCDMP was established will be used in the development 

of the EIS and assessment of impacts. 

Background Information 
LTEMP EIS, continued 

 Page 2 

The Department of the Interior (Department), through Reclamation and NPS, is preparing a draft 

EIS for adoption of the LTEMP for the operation of Glen Canyon Dam. The purpose of the 

proposed LTEMP is to utilize current, and develop additional, scientific information to better 

inform Departmental decisions and to operate the dam in such a manner as to improve and protect 

important downstream resources while maintaining compliance with the Grand Canyon Protection 

Act (GCPA), the Law of the River, and the Endangered Species Act, among others, and to fully 

evaluate dam operations and identify management actions and experimental options that will 

provide a framework for adaptively managing Glen Canyon Dam over the next 15 to 20 years, 

consistent with the GCPA and other provisions of applicable Federal law. 

The LTEMP EIS Team conducted stakeholder workshops August 5-7, 2013 and March 30-April 1, 

2014 where results of the analysis of alternatives using resource-specific performance metrics were 

presented and stakeholders had an opportunity to participate in the LTEMP structured-decision 

analysis process. The LTEMP Team has now completed modeling of the 6 alternatives with the 

exception of the power systems analysis which will be completed in November. The LTEMP Team 

is now in the process of completing a draft document that includes a hybrid alternative with the 

intention of developing the hybrid alternative into a consensus preferred alternative. The LTEMP 

Team is also working to incorporate tribal input, and completing the power systems analysis. A 

DEIS will be sent to cooperating agencies in calendar year 2014, with a public DEIS released in 

2015. The LTEMP EIS Team will review progress to date, upcoming planned meetings, and the 

current schedule for completion of the EIS. 
Glen Canyon 

LTEMP EI

TWG Meet

Oct. 29, 20
Glen Canyon Dam

Long‐Term Experimental and Management Plan EIS

Alternatives Carried Forward for Analysis in EIS1. No‐Action Alternative

2. Balanced Resource Alternative

3. Condition‐Dependent Adaptive Strategy4. Resource Targeted Condition‐Dependent Alternative

5. Seasonally Adjusted Steady Flows

6. Year‐Round Steady Flows

7. Hybrid Alternative
Natural

flow traces

CRSS

Monthly

release

volumes

GTMax

Lite

Daily and

hourly

flows

Sand

budget

model

GTMax

Lite

Months

with HFEs

and

adjusted

volumes 

Refined

daily and

hourly

flows

Humpback

chub/trout

model

Water

temperature

model

Monthly water

temperature

Riparian

vegetation

model

Recreation

(camping,

angling,

boating) metric

Archaeological

and cultural

resources

metric

Tribal resources

and values metric

Natural

processes

metric

Water delivery

metric

Sand

budget

model

Sediment

metrics

LTEMP Modeling

Hydropower

metrics

Phase I

Riparian

vegetation

metric

Other

native fish

metric

Invasive

aquatic

species

metric

Humpback

chub

metric

Humpback

chub

aggregation

model and

metric

Trout

metrics

TDD

model

Tributary

sand
Glen Canyon Dam

Long‐Term Experimental and Management Plan EIS

Characteristics of the Hybrid Alternative

Component Hybrid Alternative Other AlMonthly volumes Lower volume Aug‐Oct, relatively even rest of year following CROD Very close to RTCD. More 

flows than all but YRSF.

Daily fluctuations

10 x kaf in June‐Aug

9 x kaf in other months

Maximum daily range 8,000 cfs

Fluctuation comparable to 

Less than Balanced Resour

More daily fluctuation than 

Proactive spring HFEs Yes, not in first 2 years, but then possible in the rest of the 20 years Comparable to CDAS and Y

Not in others.

Spring HFEs Yes, not in first 2 years, but then possible in the rest of the 20 years Comparable to CDAS, SASF

More Spring HFEs than No

and RTCD.

Fall HFEs Yes, possible in all 20 years Same as CDAS, RTCD, SASF

More Fall HFEs than No‐Ac

Extended duration fall HFE Yes, up to 250 hr but implemented in phases and limited to 4 per 20 years Comparable to CDAS and Y

Not in others.

Load‐following curtailment Test before and after fall HFEs, limited from Sept‐Nov Comparable to CDAS (sprin

fall only). Not in others.

Trout management flows Test untriggered in first 2‐5 years and implement with triggers if successful Test and implement if succ

Test only in No‐Action. Not in SASF.

Low summer flows Test possible in years 11‐20

Same as RTCD.Test possible in all 20 years 

No test in others.

Mechanical removal of trout Yes, based on triggers Yes in all but SASF.

Preliminary Results—Do Not Cite or Distribute
Glen Canyon Dam

Long‐Term Experimental and Management Plan EIS

Benefits of Hybrid Alternative Relative to Original AlterConsidered• Blends two alternatives (CDAS and RTCD) that were weight

a wide variety of stakeholders in structured decision analys

• Uses a monthly volume pattern very close to RTCD that mo

matches power demand, maintains hydropower performan

improves sediment conservation and maintains annual wat

• Represents an improvement over CDAS and RTCD in terms 

sediment transport and conservation

• Proposes Trout Management Flows (TMFs) to manage for a 

trout population and manage risks related to humpback ch

• Tests a variety of condition‐dependent elements to improv

and humpback chub conservation

Preliminary Results—Do Not Cite or Distribute
Glen Canyon Dam

Long‐Term Experimental and Management Plan EIS

Sediment Restoration

Hybrid performs well for sediment restoration:• Frequent High Flow Events to redistribute sediment• Conservative interim flows (10/9/8) that maintains safe

recreation concerns as well as sediment conservation

• Good, middle of the road sand mass balance

• Tests GCMRC's ideas for proactive HFEs and extended H

• Retains variability in HFE magnitudes to mimic natural v

Preliminary Results—Do Not Cite or Distribute
Glen Canyon Dam

Long‐Term Experimental and Management Plan EIS

Vegetation Restoration Project

• Workshop with scientists and Tribes in 2014• Pilot project, and then on‐the‐ground, adaptive 

restoration in phases for up to 20 yrs

• Objectives:

– Clearing encroaching vegetation from camping ar– Invasive species (target around camping areas)– Targeted removal in wind‐driven sand source are

cultural resources

–Native restoration of Gooding’s willow, cottonwo

other native species.

Preliminary Results—Do Not Cite or Distribute
Glen Canyon Dam

Long‐Term Experimental and Management Plan EIS

Vegetation Restoration Project

• Partnership between:

–NPS, BOR, GCMRC and tribes

• Geographic Scope:

– River corridor from the dam down to Pearce Ferr

• Funding

–Upper Basin Fund, phases, apportioned between 

GLCA, Hualapai and GCMRC

Preliminary Results—Do Not Cite or Distribute
Glen Canyon Dam

Long‐Term Experimental and Management Plan EIS

Vegetation Restoration – Granite Camp exam

Preliminary Results—Do Not Cite or Distribute
Glen Canyon Dam

Long‐Term Experimental and Management Plan EIS

Vegetation Restoration

• NPS Granite Creek project – Good example of project o• Hualapai project in 2014• Zuni projects/interests – Future collaboration

• GCMRC Workshop in planning stages, will involve tribe

Preliminary Results—Do Not Cite or Distribute
Glen Canyon Dam

Long‐Term Experimental and Management Plan EIS

Cultural

• Draft Programmatic Agreement• Comments from tribes and other parties received and 

considered

• The PA will help define impact analysis in the EIS

• Will be developed to account for dam operations, fl

flow actions

• Will incorporate existing Section 106 agreements in

agreement document

Preliminary Results—Do Not Cite or Distribute
Glen Canyon Dam

Long‐Term Experimental and Management Plan EIS

Fish Management

• What we are trying to accomplish with fish manageme

– Keep trout population healthy – larger fish

– Keep trout migration from Lees Ferry to LCR low in o

restore native fisheries

– Would like to restore and get native system back in m

allow humpback chub and other native fish to thrive

Preliminary Results—Do Not Cite or Distribute
Glen Canyon Dam

Long‐Term Experimental and Management Plan EIS

Fish Management

Hybrid alternative elements and tools that affect trout:• Spring HFEs and equalization years increase trout

• Trout Management flows should decrease trout in Lees 

decrease migration but promote a healthier population 

• Mechanical removal decreases trout in LCR area• Temperature has effects, but low summer flows have n

desired effects for humpback chub in modeling thus fa

• Turbidity could potentially be a tool, but many question

that might work

• Tribal concerns about any element that kills any fish

Preliminary Results—Do Not Cite or Distribute
Glen Canyon Dam

Long‐Term Experimental and Management Plan EIS

• Modeling indicates TMFs may be potentially powerful to 

annual trout production in Glen Canyon reach and emig

Glen Canyon

• More healthy trout population and protection for hump

at the LCR

• TMFs proposed to be tested in the hybrid alternative in 

years and potentially in the first 5 years without a trigge

determine effectiveness

• If effective and not harmful to other resources, TMFs w

tested as an adaptive experimental treatment triggered 

recruitment

• Tribes have concerns

Preliminary Results—Do Not Cite or Distribute
Glen Canyon Dam

Long‐Term Experimental and Management Plan EIS

An example 2‐cycle TMF implemented from June 15 through July 20 with a 

fluctuations afterwards. As many as 3‐cycles/month for the 4‐month

Several days of high flow

1⁄2 day rapid drop to low flow

Preliminary Results—Do Not Cite or Distribute
Glen Canyon Dam

Long‐Term Experimental and Management Plan EIS

How to address tribal concerns on fish managem

• Consultation• PA changes

• Bright Angel practices for beneficial use

• Upcoming trips on mainstem or at Bright Angel (Dec‐Fe• Possibilities for further discussion/involvement in BA/B• Ideas

Preliminary Results—Do Not Cite or Distribute
Glen Canyon Dam

Long‐Term Experimental and Management Plan EIS

Current Schedule

Task DateInternal Administrative Draft EIS January 2015

Complete Hydropower Analysis December 2014

CA Draft Distributed January/February 2015Public Draft February/March 2015Draft Biological Assessment Review Spring 2015

Draft Biological Opinion Review Spring‐Summer 2015Final Draft Winter 2015/2016
Glen Canyon Dam

Long‐Term Experimental and Management Plan EIS

LTEMP WebsiteFor more information, visit the project website:

http://ltempeis.anl.gov

Anyone may sign up for the mailing list
Glen Canyon Dam

Long‐Term Experimental and Management Plan EIS