s promised, here is a schedule of Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center (gcmrc) science trips coming up this winter/spring. I asked each of the scientists to give me a one or two sentence “blurb” describing their projects. After spending up to a half-hour getting that sentence or two, I, well, learned a lot. Hopefully my interpretation helps communicate to you what's going on down there. If you want to know more, let me know, I'll try to help or get you in touch with folks who can. Once again I encourage feedback from everyone about how they think science can work to effectively monitor, manage and ultimately protect the Grand Canyon's natural environment and how the guiding community and science can be better working partners.
And just a note—be advised gcmrc does not hire boatmen per se. Boat operators are hired through our contractors. So it is useless to contact me if you are looking for work—sorry.
Write, call, whine,…I want to hear from you!

Fritz
520-556-7207
cfritz@flagmail.wr.usgs.gov

GCMRC Science Trips: January–April 2000

Trip Dates - Principal Investigator

Winter Avifauna 00–I January 8–20 Jennifer Holmes
The winter bird trips census the over wintering bird population along the river corridor. Censusing involves stopping at designated study “patches” and counting passing waterfowl, raptors and resident birds.

Winter Fish Studies January12–27 Dennis Stone
This is the last trip for the usfws contract to study native fish in the main stem and the Little Colorado. The winter fish trips survey overwintering survivorship of the previous year's native fish spawn. Study areas are at and around mile 30, the Little Colorado, “Randy's Rock” and tributary streams.

USGS Streamflow Monitoring 00–II February 9–18 Nancy Hornewer
The usgs trips perform measurements and maintenance at the Lees Ferry, Little Colorado, Grand Canyon (Phantom Ranch) and Diamond Creek gages. At each gage a manual discharge measurement is taken from the cableway. This measurement provides a way to verify the relationship with the automatically recorded stage and discharge rating established for the gage. Accurate flow readings can then be calculated and posted as real-time flow measurements to all of us on the web. Water quality information is also collected at each of these gages. On the trip, manual measurements are taken on temperature, specific conductivity, and turbidity to also insure accurate calibration of the automatically recorded measurements.

Winter Avifauna 00–II February 12–24 Jennifer Holmes
The second and final winter bird trip (see above).

Survey Control February 13–29 Mark Gonzales
Survey control trips are conducted by the gcmrc survey department. The crew uses gps receivers and conventional survey methodology to expand the Geodetic Control Network and georeference control points throughout the Canyon. The data base established by this work is used for all research study projects and also for gis (Geographic Information System) integration.

Terrestrial Biological Program PEP March 5–15 Barb Ralston
The Biological Protocol Evaluation Panel consists of experts in the areas of vegetation, avifauna, conservation biology, ethnobotany, and statistical analysis. The panel will be joined on the river by principal investigators of terrestrial biological study projects and other personnel from agencies representing stakeholders in the Adaptive Management planning process. While on the river they will get a first hand view of the terrestrial resources along the river corridor and will have a chance to review the data collection effort for the purpose of development and planning of a long-term monitoring program.

Cultural Resources PEP March 6–12 Ruth Lambert
The cultural Resources Protocol Evaluation Panel (pep) consists of four experts from each of four areas; Native American issues, archeology, geomorphology, and compliance and monitoring. The panel will be joined on this trip by representatives from the Hopi, Navajo, Southern Paiute, Hualapai, and Zuni tribes as well as other personnel from agencies representing stakeholders in the Adaptive Management planning process. Together they will have a first hand view of the cultural resources in the canyon and have a chance to discuss and plan issues involved in the long-term Adaptive Management process.

Hualapai Cultural Monitoring March 21–April 2 Loretta Jackson
Each year a trip is funded by the Bureau of Reclamation for each of five participating tribes (Hopi, Navajo, Southern Paiute, Hualapai, and Zuni) by an arrangement called the Programmatic Agreement. This trip will involve Hualapai elders, youth and tribal cultural resource personnel to monitor traditional Hualapai cultural resources along the river corridor.

Sandbar/Channel Margin Survey March 18–31 Matt Kaplinski
On this trip the “Namdors” will team up with the gcmrc Survey Department to analyze sediment storage in the channel margin bars using conventional survey methodology and multibeam translocation sonar equipment.

Breeding Avifauna 00–I April 1–14 Jennifer Holmes
As early as April each year a variety of breeding birds begin arriving in the Canyon. This is when the excitement begins for the “bird-nerds.” Their days start early when the newly arrived breeders greet the day with their songs. Each “patch” is surveyed for density and diversity of breeding species.

USGS Streamflow Monitoring 00–III April 12–21 Nancy Hornewer
In addition to stream gage maintenance (see above) this trip will include an annual survey of the Grand Canyon Gauge to verify accuracy of the gage control point. Work will also be done on the stream gage on Hermit Creek (above the hiker campground) in order to monitor discharge from springs and seeps in the Hermit drainage.

Kanab Ambersnail Monitoring 00–I April 13–26 Jeff Sorensen, Clay Nelson
Kanab ambersnail researchers can be found at Vaseys Paradise and other seeps/springs where they look for the elusive little snails, map vegetation area, measure various habitat characteristics, and document natural or man-made disturbance. If you are interested in learning more about these endangered creatures, ask Jeff or Clay to provide a science talk to your river trip.

Bird-Bug 00–I April 22–May 6 Helen Yard
Helen and her partner Neil Cobb have a new contract for 2000. The objective of this pilot study is to determine if there are multi-trophic links among plants, insects, and birds in the riparian system of the Grand Canyon that can explain the structure of avian communities. Assessing the strength of these trophic linkages and developing bird “breeding currency” bioassays are crucial for constructing models to predict avian community dynamics in the Canyon.