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Re: dam-l Reflooding
Hi Eduardo.
I believe you are referring to the controlled flood release from Glen
Canyon dam (Powell Reservoir) in the spring of 1996. There may be new
floods planned, but as far as I know it was the first. Glen Canyon dam
is located upstream of the Grand Canyon and regulated flows have had a
big impact on the downstream ecosystem within Grand Canyon National
Park.
You're right, the flood was designed to simulate 'natural' conditions,
but not the 100-year flood which was almost ten times greater than the
controlled flood release from Glen Canyon dam in 1996. The flood was
intended to replicate the annual spring floods which flowed through the
Grand Canyon prior to the completion of Glen Canyon dam in 1963 (the
controlled flood was almost half as big as the pre-dam annual floods).
The primary goals of the flood were to rebuild spawning habitat for
endangered fish native to the Colorado River, and sandbars (camping
beaches) along the river in Grand Canyon National Park.
If you're interested, more information on the goals and results of the
flood can be found at the Northern Arizona University Sandbar Studies
website: http://vishnu.glg.nau.edu/gces/newintro.html
They also provide links to other sites with additional information.
You might also be interested in visiting the Glen Canyon Institute
website at: http://www.glencanyon.org/
Their mission is to provide leadership in reestablishing the free flow
of the Colorado River through a restored Glen Canyon. After all, the
downstream impacts of Glen Canyon dam pale in comparison to the complete
destruction of almost 200 river miles and countless spectacular side
canyons upstream in Glen Canyon. Their pictures say it all.
Hope this helps.
Darius.
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Darius J. Semmens
131 Kona Tr.
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
(520) 523-9403 work
(520) 525-2594 home
http://vishnu.glg.nau.edu/djs/
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