Scott VanderKoo

Possible LTEMP Experiment:Fall 2018 HFETechnical Work Group WebinarOctober 10, 2018 

Katrina Grantz

Bureau of Reclamation Southwest Biological Scien

Upper Colorado Region Grand Canyon Monitori

Research Center
LTEMP Process for Experimen

• LTEMP ROD outlines a specific process for p

for and implementing experiments

– GCDAMP Annual Reporting meeting (March – TWG meeting to discuss possible upcomi

experiments (Jan, Mar, Jun, Oct 2018)

– Tribal consultation (initial letters sent on Sep 6, 2018– Implementation / planning group- strive to 

consensus recommendation to DOI (Aug-Oct

– DOI decision (week of Oct 15, 2018) and possible 

implementation (week of Nov 5, 2018)
LTEMP HFE Protocol Process

1. Planning and Budgeting Component

 Annual resource status assessment

 Annual Agency Reporting

 GCDAMP Budget and Work Plan Process

2. Modeling Component3. Decision and Implementation Component

 Review Modeling Component

 Review Status of Resources Consultation with agencies and tribes, TWG / AM Staff recommendation / GCD Leadership Team 

Recommendation

 DOI Decision
2018 Possible Experiment

High Flow Experiment (HFE

Why?
Paria R

Review of Problem: Sediment budget aff

at Lees Ferry 

Paria River 

.. Little :orado Rive r 

Colorado River 

near Grand Canyon 

C

a

Paria Ri:'\ 

......., 

' 

Colorado River 

near Grand Canyon 

pre-dam post-dam

disruption of sand supply and change in flo
Sandbars and the sand mass ba

on the Colorado River in Grand C

Sand accumulathe bed and in during low flow
Sandbars and the sand mass ba

on the Colorado River in Grand C

Floods build saand export sandownstream
Floods build 

sandbars and esand downstre

Sandbars and the sand mass ba

on the Colorado River in Grand C
Following floods, 

erode, and the cyrepeat...... as long as theenough sand. 

Sandbars and the sand mass ba

on the Colorado River in Grand C

In order for the cycle to be sustainable, there must be an approximate balance between what comes in and what go
5

LTEMP HFE Protocol Parame

Timing• Fall: October-November • Spring (beginning in 2020)

• March-April (sediment) • Apr-Jun (proactive)

Duration• 1 hr – 96 hrs

• Fall extended duration: up to 192 hrs (first test), up to 250 

(thereafter)

• Spring proactive: 24 hrs (first test), up to 24 hrs (thereafteMagnitude

• 31,500 cfs – 45,000 cfs (depends on maintenance)

Ramp rates

• 4,000 cfs up and 2,500 cfs down (2016 LTEMP ROD)
3,000.00 

2,500.00 + 2,000.00 

1,500.00 

1,000.00 + 

500.00 

0.00 Ll J 

I 

. Ju_ . \. 

2018°08-01 2

".! .

-

2018J08-01 2

Discharge

Paria River at Lees Ferry Current conditions (Jul 1 – Oct 9, 2018)

from the GCMRC web page as of Oct 9, 2018 

http://cida.usgs.gov/gcmrc/discharge_qw_sediment/station/GCDAMP/ Preliminary Data – D

Cumulative Sand Load

Paria River at Lees Ferry

(Jul 1 – Oct 9, 2018)

09382000
Actu a I flow asof 9/ 23/ 2018 2 3:00 

Actua I Sed imentdata asof 9/ 24/ 20184:00 

Graph updated 9/ 24/2018 7:.30 

Sand Budget M odel Results, Jul 2018-Nov 30 2018 

GCM RC's m ost rec.ent Lab Results.of Sus pe nd ed 

Sedime nt asof 8/2.5/ 2008 I d I I d d• d , I d 

Re ease an Ca cu ate Se ,ment Loa In Co ora O R

800 --------------------~------------

"' C 

0 

j.: As of 9/ 25/ 2018 

"' 600 -1----------------------+----------H I

"' ltl 

2 

"C 

400 l ____________ J~--=::::=±=::=::::::::-:~===L

0 

> C 

ltl 

u 

QI 

. .. II' 111-----.-.-.-J

· 

I 

-200 -!-------~--------------'--~-------~-

': ': 

Dat es 

--Marble Canyon Avg Da ily Sand Mass, Lower Bound •• -!-•- 

RECLAMA

Sand Budget Model Results09-24-2018 

As of 09/24/18, sufficient sediment to support a 60-hr HFE. Minimal inputs over the past few weeks. Final model runs later today 

Preliminary Data – Do 
----

Glen Canyon Dam Possible HFE Release Pattern 

45000 -----------..... Provision a I H FE Pattern t--+----+--r ..........................................................

November Volume 

I 

N664 kaf total release 

max release= - 38,700 ds 

40000 ~=i===i====i==F==i==~-+----+-l--+--+--+----+-1--+---+--+-

(N39 kafto be realloacted from later mon

{N31 kaf bypass) 

I 

60-hr HFE / 38,700 cfs max release 

4,000 cfs up-ramp, then 1 bypass tub

35000 -------------+---+----+----<>--+---+---+---+----+----<>--l 1/2 bypass down, then 2,500 cfs down-r

6,500 cfs/ 9,000 cfs pre & post-HFE ---------

30000 ---+----+----+---+-->--+-----++--+---+----+----<>--+---+---+---+----+----<>--+---+---+---+----+------1-+---+--+---+----

:§, 25000 +--+-t--+------t--t-+--+-++~ ..................... _ ............. _ .......... r---t-+--+-t--+------tt--+---+-+--+-t---+--

Q) 

en 

poweplantcapadty =- 23,700 ds 

20000 +--+-------it---+---+- t---t----++-t---+---+-+---+---+-+--+-------i--+---+------it---t----+-t---+---+-+---+--

Q) 

0::: 

15000 +--+---+------<r---.-.--+---+------<1-9--+--+---+------<r--+--+---+------<r--+--+---+------<r--+--+---+------<r--+--+---+-----

0 -+--+--f--+----+--+--+---+---<>--+---+--+--+--1--+--.--+--+--+---+---<>--+---+--+--+--I--+--

::::i m C C Q) "O ::::i m C C Q) "O ::::i m C C Q) "O ::::i m C C Q) "O 

.c (/) ::::i 0 ::::i Q) .c (/) ::::i 0 ::::i Q) .c (/) ::::i 0 ::::i Q) .c (/) ::::i 0 ::::i Q

f- ' (/) 2 f- 3: f- ' (/) 2 f- 3: f- ' (/) 2 f- 3: f- (/) 2 f- 3

' N ' ' ' Q) ' ' ' (!) ' ' ' (Y) ' ' 

(Y) ' 0 ,-.. ST ST 

"' (!) a, N (Y) "' :::: a, Q) 0 N {::! "' (!) ,-.. 

Q Q Q Q ,-.. -- :::: ST :::: :::: :::: {::! {::! {::! {::! {::! {::! a

-- :::: 

--

:::: {::! {:

Date-Hour 

- - - Powerplant capacity - 60 hr HFE 

RECLAMA

November 2018 GCD possible relea
Resource Status Assessment

• Archaeological and cultural resources• Natural processes (e.g., aquatic food base)• Humpback chub• Hydropower and energy• Other native fish• Recreational experience• Sediment • Tribal resources• Rainbow trout fishery• Nonnative invasive species• Riparian vegetation
SEPTEMBER 201

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri 

26 27 29 30 31 

2 3 4 5 6 7 

9 10 11 12 13 14 

16 17 18 19 20 21 

23 24 25 26 27 28 

30 1 4 5 

Tech call

Tech call Tribes / PA 

parties notified via letter 

Tech call 

Tech call

Subgroupcall 

Tech call Subgroup AMP 

call Webinar 

Proposed / Tentative Planning Timeline
OCTOBER 2018 

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri 

30 1 2 3 4 

7 8 10 11 

14 15 16 17 

21 22 23 24 

28 29 30 31 1 

Final sediment inputs, lab samples, modeli

TWG mtg

HFE Tecreport –d

Final modeling

to DOI 

Final HFE 

HFE Leadership Team 

mtg, DOI decision

Notify AM

Tech partners, recommend. public 

Proposed / Tentative Planning Timeline
Sun 

NOVEMBER 201

Mon 

28 

4 

11 

18 

25 

I"\ 

L. 

5 

12 19 

26 

Tue Wed 

30 

6 

13 

20 27 

Thu Fri 

31 1 

7 

14 15 

21 22 

28 29 

Possible HFE Start

HFE – 60 hr

Proposed / Tentative Planning Timeline
Coordination / Monitoring Du

Implementation

• If DOI decides to do an HFE:

– Implementation / planning group will continue to m

regularly (monthly operations coordination calls) 

• Report back on field data, adjust operations accordin

event of unexpected impacts

– GCMRC HFE monitoring trip– Operational flexibility and emergency exception criter

maintained. 
Next Steps

• Discussion / Feedback with Technical Work G

October 10

• Implementation / Planning Team written 

recommendation and presentation to DOI: O16

• DOI Decision 

– Memo from DOI– Notification to Tribes and parties to the PA– Notification to AMP partners– Public Affairs outreach

• Possible Implementation: November 5-8, 201• Ongoing coordination during implementation
Questions?