Development and Implementation of a Protocol
for High-flow Experimental Releases from
Glen Canyon Dam, Arizona, 2011 - 2020
The Department of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation, is proposing to develop and implement a protocol for high-flow experimental releases from Glen Canyon Dam to better determine whether and how sand conservation can be improved in the Colorado River corridor downstream of Glen Canyon Dam including areas within Grand Canyon National Park. Under the concept of high-flow experimental releases, sand stored in the river channel is suspended by high-volume dam releases and a portion of the sand is redeposited in downstream reaches as sandbars and beaches, while another portion is transported downstream by river flows. These sand features and associated backwater habitats provide key wildlife habitat, protect archaeological sites, enhance riparian vegetation, and provide camping opportunities along the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park.
This protocol for high-flow experimental releases from Glen Canyon Dam is part of the ongoing implementation of the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program. As part of the GCDAMP, the protocol is a component of Interior’s compliance with the Grand Canyon Protection Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-575).