MAYOR.PROVO.ORG

MAYOR’S OFFICE

TEL (801) 852-6105 

445 W CENTER ST

PROVO, UT 84601

March 13, 2024 

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

Attention: LTEMP SEIS Project Manager

125 South State Street, Suite 800 

Salt Lake City, UT 84138 

Subject: GLEN CANYON DAM LONG-TERM EXPERIMENTAL AND MANAGEMENT 

PLAN (LTEMP) DRAFT SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT 

STATEMENT (DSEIS) – 89 FR 28, February 9, 2024 

On behalf of the City of Provo, we appreciate the opportunity to provide comments on the 

DSEIS, issued February 9, 2024. In addition to our comments, we support and agree with the 

comments presented by Utah Municipal Power Agency (UMPA). Our City is one of the six 

member utilities of UMPA. We also agree with the comments and concerns submitted by the 

Colorado River Energy Distributors Association (CREDA). 

Provo City operates a not-for-profit municipal electric utility serving 40,000 residential and 

commercial customers. We aim at providing reliable, affordable, and sustainable electrical 

service to our citizens. Our electric utility is a critical driver in promoting the economic welfare 

of the community. 

By contract with Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), we receive over 20% of our 

power resources from these federal facilities. Any cost increases or power reductions have a 

significant impact on our community. This clean and renewable hydroelectric energy supports 

our efforts to meet our carbon-free and renewable goals in the community. Over the past years, 

we have been impacted by drought conditions in the upper Colorado basin leading to lower 

energy production and higher costs. 

The DSEIS acknowledges that power generated through Glen Canyon Dam would need to be 

replaced and lays that responsibility onto WAPA for solutions. However, it does not address and 

consider the scarcity in energy generation faced by utilities. We express serious concerns 

regarding the draft SEIS’s failure to sufficiently analyze the impact that the flow options will 

have on hydropower production and the risk that reduced hydropower production may have on 

the ability for utilities to provide power to the Utah region during the summer. Currently the 

energy market is being strained and a further reduction of hydroelectric generation will add to 

constraint energy market with scarcity and higher prices. The DSEIS fails to reflect impacts in 

our market area and only examines the Palo Verde trading hub. 
 

MAYOR.PROVO.ORG

MAYOR’S OFFICE

TEL (801) 852-6105 

445 W CENTER ST

PROVO, UT 84601

We acknowledge the importance of protected species and recognizes the risks associated with 

smallmouth bass (SMB) proliferation in the river reaches below Lees Ferry. Many years of good 

science and multi-millions of dollars have been invested in protecting endangered fish species 

and improving the habitat of the river. Although Reclamation has well intention in drafting the 

SEIS, it has been rushed and lacks a thorough and comprehensive examination of other 

alternatives other than use of the bypass tubes. Maintaining a higher elevation in Lake Powell 

should have been examined. 

We recognize the challenge for Reclamation in balancing the priorities and complex issues 

related to operating the dam. We do support these efforts to address the interests of protecting 

the hydropower resource in balance with other social, cultural, tribal, and environmental 

purposes. We strongly urge further studies to avoid reduction of hydropower generation and the 

impact to reliability and affordability in the region. In summary, we urge you to adopt the 

“None-Bypass Option” to avoid these significant risks to power supply. 

Sincerely,

Mayor Michelle Kaufusi

Cc: Layne Burningham, UMPA

 Kevin Garlick, UMPA