Glen Canyon Dam Long-Term Experimental and Management Plan Environmental Impact Statement
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Glen Canyon Dam Long-Term Experimental and Management Plan Environmental Impact Statement FINAL Volume 3—Appendices O–Q U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Region National Park Service, Intermountain Region October 2016 Cover photo credits: Title bar: Grand Canyon National Park Grand Canyon: Grand Canyon National Park Glen Canyon Dam: T.R. Reeve High-flow experimental release: T.R. Reeve Fisherman: T. Gunn Humpback chub: Arizona Game and Fish Department Rafters: Grand Canyon National Park Glen Canyon Dam Long-Term Experimental and Management Plan October 2016 Final Environmental Impact Statement GLEN CANYON DAM LONG-TERM EXPERIMENTAL AND MANAGEMENT PLAN FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT Joint-Lead Agencies Bureau of Reclamation National Park Service Cooperating Agencies Department of the Interior Havasupai Tribe Bureau of Indian Affairs Hopi Tribe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Hualapai Tribe U.S. Department of Energy Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians Western Area Power Administration Navajo Nation Arizona Game and Fish Department Pueblo of Zuni Colorado River Board of California Salt River Project Colorado River Commission of Nevada Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems Upper Colorado River Commission ABSTRACT The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), through the Bureau of Reclamation and National Park Service (NPS), proposes to develop and implement a Long-Term Experimental and Management Plan (LTEMP) for operations of Glen Canyon Dam. The LTEMP would provide a framework for adaptively managing Glen Canyon Dam operations over the next 20 years, consistent with the Grand Canyon Protection Act of 1992 (GCPA) and other provisions of applicable federal law. The LTEMP would determine specific options for dam operations, non-flow actions, and appropriate experimental and management actions that will meet the GCPA’s requirements and minimize impacts on resources within the area impacted by dam operations, including those of importance to American Indian Tribes. The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) was developed in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and followed the implementing regulations developed by the President’s Council on Environmental Quality in Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 1500 to 1508 and DOI regulations implementing NEPA in 43 CFR Part 46. The FEIS analysis draws on the scientific information that has been collected under the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program over the last 20 years to identify the potential environmental effects associated with taking no action, as well as a reasonable range of alternatives to no action for implementing the proposed federal action. Seven alternatives were considered and analyzed for the LTEMP EIS—a no action alternative (Alternative A), a hydropower-focused alternative (Alternative B), three condition- dependent alternatives (Alternatives C, D, and E), and two steady flow alternatives (Alternatives F and G). These alternatives incorporated a broad range of operations and experimental actions that together allowed for a full evaluation of possible impacts of the iii Glen Canyon Dam Long-Term Experimental and Management Plan October 2016 Final Environmental Impact Statement proposed action. Based on the impact analyses conducted, DOI has chosen Alternative D as both the preferred and the environmentally preferred alternative. Alternative D is expected to result in an improvement in conditions for humpback chub, trout, and the aquatic food base; have the least impact on vegetation, wetlands, and terrestrial wildlife; improve sandbar building potential and conserve sediment; sustain or improve conditions for reservoir and river recreation; improve preservation of cultural resources; respect and enhance Tribal resources and values; and have limited impacts on hydropower resources. For additional information, visit http://ltempeis.anl.gov or contact: Rob Billerbeck Katrina Grantz Colorado River Coordinator Chief, Adaptive Management Group National Park Service Bureau of Reclamation Intermountain Region Upper Colorado Region 12795 West Alameda Parkway 125 South State Street Lakewood, CO 80228 Salt Lake City, UT 84138-1147 Phone: 303-987-6789 Phone: 801-524-3635 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] iv Glen Canyon Dam Long-Term Experimental and Management Plan October 2016 Final Environmental Impact Statement CONTENTS ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................... iii ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS .............................................................................. lxiii 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Description of the Proposed Action ...................................................................... 1-4 1.2 Purpose of and Need for Action ............................................................................ 1-5 1.3 Lead and Cooperating Agencies and Consulting Tribes ....................................... 1-9 1.3.1 Lead Agencies .......................................................................................... 1-9 1.3.2 Cooperating Agencies and Consulting Tribes ......................................... 1-9 1.4 Objectives and Resource Goals of the LTEMP ..................................................... 1-10 1.5 Scope of the EIS .................................................................................................... 1-13 1.5.1 Affected Region and Resources ............................................................... 1-13 1.5.2 Impact Topics Selected for Detailed Analysis ......................................... 1-14 1.5.3 Impact Topics Dismissed from Detailed Analysis ................................... 1-15 1.6 Role of Adaptive Management.............................................................................. 1-16 1.6.1 History of the Existing Adaptive Management Program ......................... 1-16 1.6.2 Relationship of Adaptive Management to NEPA and Changes to Operations ............................................................................................ 1-17 1.7 Role of Decision Analysis in the EIS Process ....................................................... 1-17 1.8 History, Location, and Setting ............................................................................... 1-18 1.8.1 History and Purpose of Glen Canyon Dam.............................................. 1-18 1.8.2 Location of Glen Canyon Dam and LTEMP Affected Area ................... 1-19 1.8.3 Operation of the Glen Canyon Dam ........................................................ 1-20 1.8.4 History, Purpose, and Significance of the National Park System Units ......................................................................................................... 1-22 1.8.4.1 Grand Canyon National Park .................................................. 1-22 1.8.4.2 Glen Canyon National Recreation Area .................................. 1-24 1.8.4.3 Lake Mead National Recreation Area ..................................... 1-24 1.8.5 Tribal Lands ............................................................................................. 1-25 1.8.5.1 Fort Mojave Tribe ................................................................... 1-26 1.8.5.2 Havasupai Tribe ...................................................................... 1-26 1.8.5.3 Hopi Tribe ............................................................................... 1-27 1.8.5.4 Hualapai Tribe ......................................................................... 1-27 1.8.5.5 Navajo Nation.......................................................................... 1-27 1.8.5.6 Pueblo of Zuni ......................................................................... 1-28 1.8.5.7 Southern Paiute Tribes ............................................................ 1-28 1.9 Laws and Regulations Related to Operations of Glen Canyon Dam and Park Management .................................................................................................. 1-29 1.9.1 Environmental Laws and Executive Orders ............................................ 1-29 1.9.2 Cultural/Historical Laws and Executive Orders ...................................... 1-30 v Glen Canyon Dam Long-Term Experimental and Management Plan October 2016 Final Environmental Impact Statement CONTENTS (Cont.) 1.9.3 American Indian and Tribal Consultation Laws and Executive Orders ....................................................................................................... 1-31 1.9.4 Laws Establishing Criteria Related to Power Marketing ......................... 1-31 1.9.5 Law of the River ...................................................................................... 1-31 1.10 Related Actions ..................................................................................................... 1-31 1.10.1 Biological Opinions ................................................................................. 1-33 1.10.2 Environmental Impact Statements and Related Documents .................... 1-33 1.10.3 Environmental Assessments and Related Documents ............................. 1-35 1.10.4 Other Actions, Programs, Plans, and Projects ......................................... 1-36 2 DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVES .......................................................................... 2-1