Contents
Boatman's Quarterly Review
Our acclaimed quarterly journal
Bookstore
Check out a title, buy a new book for the ammo can!
RealAudio from
Grand Canyon
Listen to Music inspired by the Canyon!
Adopt-a- Beach
Re-photographing critical beaches in Grand Canyon
Whale
Foundation
Ongoing support for an evolving community
Membership Info
You can, (and should) join us
Company Store
Various cool items you might be interested in. T-Shirts, hats,
posters, etc.
Grand Canyon Youth
River trips for youth
Links
People, Places, & Things
Protecting Grand Canyon
Setting the highest standards for the river profession
Celebrating the unique spirit of the river community
Providing the best possible river experience
Hey there- welcome aboard the
Grand Canyon River Guides Website. We want to tell you about ourselves,
what we do, and why you might care.
Who Are We? -- We're a group of folks who have fallen
under the spell of Grand Canyon and the Colorado River: a collection of
boatmen, crew and those who've joined us along the way-an association
of people who truly care about the River and her Canyon. We want to help
preserve, protect and defend the place and the magic it bestows on us
all.
In the late 1960's river running took off as a national pastime. Use levels
grew. River trips through Grand Canyon changed from a wild adventure to
a career path for many of us. At the same time, impacts from use and dam
operations became evident. As many of us watched, generations of bureaucrats,
environmentalists and outfitters came and went. We began to realize we
had a longer-term view of the place than many who managed it. It was time
to get off the boat and do something.
In 1988 a group of concerned boatmen, many with 15 to 20 years experience
on the River, came together to present a unified voice in defense of the
Canyon and the River experience. Grand Canyon River Guides, Inc. was born
as has since grown to around 1,800 members. Our goals, simply stated are:
- Protecting Grand Canyon
- Setting the highest standards for the river profession
- Celebrating the unique spirit of the river community
- Providing the best possible river experience
How Do You Fit In?-- About 800 of us are Guide Members,
having worked in the river business. The rest of us are General Members-folks
who have gone down the river with us or on their own, hiked, fished, researched
or generally fallen in love with the place. It's important for us to connect
with as many guides as possible, both commercial and private, so that
we may accurately
understand and represent the river industry's feelings. It's also important
for us to keep in touch with the river-running public. We want to keep
your memories and feelings for the Canyon alive. We need your help in
convincing the powers that be to act for the good of the Canyon. And,
of course, your financial support enables us to pursue ever greater goals
and challenges.
We are a 501(c)3, non-profit organization-your dues and contributions
may be tax deductible. We invite you to join us today. Could be the best
river trip you ever went on!
Glen Canyon Report - May 2009
Download steady flow schedule (pdf)
The purpose of this directive is to confirm that the release volume from Glen Canyon Dam for May 2009 will be 600,000 acre-feet. Hourly and daily average releases from Glen Canyon Dam for May 2009 will be scheduled through Western Area Power Administration to be consistent with the Glen Canyon Dam Operating Criteria (Federal Register, Volume 62, No. 41, March 3, 1997) and to also achieve, as nearly as is practicable, this monthly volume.
We anticipate the release volume for June 2009 will be 625,000 acre-feet. This will be confirmed in a subsequent directive toward the end of May.
Over the Memorial Day weekend, contractors working for the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center (GCMRC) will be collecting airborne data (LIDAR and digital image data) to support the long-term monitoring of the Grand Canyon and to evaluate the effects of the March 2008 high flow experiment. Steady flows of 8,000 cfs will be needed for this effort.
Airborne data collection will begin on Friday May 22, 2009. However, in order for flows to be stabilized in the Grand Canyon, the 8,000 cfs release will need to begin on Thursday May 21, 2009. Releases from Glen Canyon Dam will be reduced to 8,000 cfs by 1800 hours on Thursday May 21, 2009. The normal down ramp rate of 1,500 cfs per hour will be used to reach this 8,000 cfs release. Releases will then be held at 8,000 cfs until Wednesday May 27, 2009 at 0600 hours when a load-following pattern consistent with the Glen Canyon Dam Operating Criteria (Federal Register, Volume 62, No. 41, March 3, 1997) will be reestablished. Attached to this notification is a pdf file showing the average hourly releases scheduled for each hour of the steady flow period.
GCMRC has indicated that depending upon weather conditions and other factors, the data collection may be completed in less time, or possibly may require more time than in the schedule outlined above. It may be possible to return to a load following pattern as soon as Monday May 25, 2009. Additionally, weather conditions may require an extension of the steady 8,000 cfs releases. The steady 8,000 cfs releases could be extended up to three additional days to complete the data collection mission. I will be in communication with Phil Davis from GCMRC over the Memorial Day weekend. I will relay specific information to Western and the Glen Canyon Control Room on any required modifications to the duration of the 8,000 cfs steady release.
While scheduled releases will be steady at 8,000 cfs, load control (AGC) will be maintained at Glen Canyon Dam for the duration of this special release.
This directive supersedes all previously issued directives and is current until a new directive is issued. All times identified in this directive are local time (Mountain Standard Time) and not hour ending. If there are any concerns or questions regarding these operations, I can be reached at 801-524-3710 (Work).
Rick Clayton
Hydraulic Engineer/Glen Canyon Dam Upper Colorado Region Bureau of Reclamation
(801)524-3710