GCDAMP Triennial Budget and Work 

Plan Process paper 

• The BAHG will help Reclamation and GCMRC develop and bring to the 

TWG budgets that are prepared for full TWG discussion and 

recommendation to AMWG. 

• Thus, technical issues and resolutions of major issues will be resolved to 

the extent possible before full TWG review. 

• Review and provide input on the initial budget spreadsheet and draft 

final budget spreadsheet and work plan to GCMRC and Reclamation, 

including input from the CRAHG and other ad hoc groups. 

• Provide recommendations to TWG at its spring and summer meetings. 

BAHG report for the FY21-23 TWP
BAHG Meetings

Guidance, priorities, and areas of emphasis: February 6, 11am-noon (AZ/MST)

First draft

• February 20, 1-4pm (AZ/MST): Humpback Chub, Nutrients, Water Quality, and Sediment.

• February 25, 1-4pm (AZ/MST): Foodbase, Rainbow Trout Fishery, Other Native Fish Species (other than HBC), and Nonnative 

Invasive Species

• February 28, 8am-noon (AZ/MST): Tribal and Cultural. Resources, Riparian Vegetation, Socioeconomics, Recreation, 

Hydropower, Overflight Remote Sensing and GIS.

Second draft

• April 17, 1-4 pm (AZ/PDT): GIS, Rainbow Trout Fishery, Other Native Fish Species (other than HBC), and Nonnative Invasive 

Species.

• April 20, 1-4 pm (AZ/PDT): Tribal and Cultural Resources, Riparian Vegetation, Socioeconomics, Recreation, Hydropower, 

Overflight Remote Sensing.

• April 21, 1-4 pm (AZ/PDT): Humpback Chub, Nutrients and Water Quality, Foodbase, and Sediment.

SA presentation: June 16, 12-3pm (AZ/PDT)

BAHG final meeting and report to TWG: June 17, 12-2pm (AZ/PDT)

Notes from these meetings can be found on the GCDAMP wiki on the BAHG page at 

http://gcdamp.com/index.php?title=GCDAMP_BAHG_Page. 

BAHG report for the FY21-23 TWP
Concerns raised during the last BAHG 

meeting 

• Removal of funding for the gage at the mouth of the LCR, the Kanab Creek gage, and the 

Havasu Creek gage;

• Funding sediment dynamics monitoring in the western Grand Canyon along the Hualapai 

Reservation through the experimental fund (B.6.5) but not providing any funding for analysis 

(B.4 is unfunded);

• The reduction in TRGD (trout monitoring sites) from 3 sites to 1 site and how this might affect our 

ability to assess effects of HFEs, TMFs, and brown trout control on the rainbow and brown trout 

populations in Lees Ferry;

• Identifying a study duration for the aeolian sand transport / vegetation removal experiment; 

• Whether the Cultural Program Administrative History (Project Element D.3) was of such 

importance to be prioritized over other projects receiving a reduction in funding;

• Desire to continue to develop better real-time monitoring of DO in the tailrace of the dam, 

better predictive modeling, and a mitigation or response plan in the event of a release of 

water with DO low enough to impact the rainbow trout fishery;

• Desire to increase emphasis in the workplan to assess the value of spring HFE-type releases 

according to the DOI guidance and AMWG motion;

• Elimination of JCM-West monitoring in 2023 and whether enough time has been allocated to 

identify factors that led to the expansion of humpback chub in that part of the canyon; 

BAHG report for the FY21-23 TWP
Written comments and one-on-one 

discussions

Many stakeholders have also submitted written comments and there 

have been many one-on-one discussions with Reclamation and 

GCMRC regarding changes to future drafts of the budget and 

workplan, many of which were not directly discussed during the BAHG 

meetings. These stakeholders also requested that these comments be 

considered by Reclamation and GCMRC in subsequent drafts of the 

budget and workplan. 

BAHG report for the FY21-23 TWP
Chair: Craig Ellsworth

Members: Jan Balsom, Cliff Barrett, Richard Begay, Charley Bulletts, 

Peter Bungart, Rob Billerbeck, Shane Capron, Winkie Crook, Kurt 

Dongoske, Craig Ellsworth, Michelle Garrison, Paul Harms, Brian Healy, 

Ken Hyde, Leslie James, John Jordan, Vineetha Kartha, Jakob Maase, 

Ryan Mann, Jessica Neuwerth, Theresa Pasqual, Craig McGinnis, Bill 

Persons, Ben Reeder, Peggy Roefer, Seth Shanahan, Larry Stevens, Jim 

Strogen, Steve Wolff, and Kirk Young.

Invited technical advisors: Helen Fairley, Mike Moran, Clayton Palmer, 

Dave Rogowski, and Scott VanderKooi.

BAHG report for the FY21-23 TWP