here are some new and continuing developments in Adaptive Management Land: 1999 Beach Habitat Building Flow‹It¹s still possible that a beach habitat building flow could happen sometime during the runoff season, February to June (probably actually March to April because of resource criteria). But, given the lack of snowfall in the Rockies so far, reaching the ³hydrologic trigger² for making one happen is looking unlikely. The trigger requires that Reclamation needs to release 1.5 million acre feet or more for any month during the runoff season. Any spike flow, as of now, would likely be less than 45,000 cfs and would last for about two days. The cap on a spike flow reflects concern about loss of habitat for the endangered Kanab Ambersnail at Vasey¹s Paradise. Scope of Adaptive Management ‹The scope of what should be funded by the Adaptive Management Program is presently under intense discussion. Upper Basin water and power interests are doing all they can to squeeze the river ecosystem into as small a box as possible. Why? They want to provide as little funding and water as possible to preserve or enhance the river ecosystem. We in the recreational community would be very concerned if the scope of this program becomes excessive, but we are more deeply concerned that it not receive the necessary funding and efforts to adequately understand and predict any beneficial or detrimental effects of Glen Canyon Dam on the river ecosystem in Grand Canyon. Water temperature control device‹The idea from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is that endangered native fishes in Grand Canyon will do better if water temperatures are warmer in Grand Canyon, more like the pre-dam era. A selective withdrawal device will be installed on Glen Canyon Dam by Reclamation over the next two years. It will cost about 15 million dollars, a real bargain compared to the original proposal. An Environmental Assessment on this project should be available soon. They expect to have it operational by 2002. There is some concern that warming temperatures may also favor non-natives that compete with or prey on natives. My appointment to these panels is to represent the concerns of you 20,000 or so recreational river-runners who float the Canyon each year. Please, keep me informed on your thoughts and concerns. E-mail or write gcrg. I will do my best to get back to you as my time allows. Otherwise, look for updates in your copy of the bqr. Thanks.

Andre