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March 1 - April 30, 2004

1. Highlights of GCMRC activities:

Science in the Local Community: USGS scientist Helen Fairley gave a presentation to the Flagstaff Leadership Program entitled, The Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center: Managing Ecosystem Science in a Culturally Diverse Environment on April 15. The Flagstaff Leadership Program educates local community leaders on topics affecting the local community and the Northern Arizona region. Fairley discussed the multiplicity of values and stakeholder interests that are being addressed through the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program, and the role of the USGS in providing high quality scientific information to this nationally-recognized adaptive management effort. Contact: Helen Fairley, Flagstaff, AZ, 928-556-7285, hfairley@usgs.gov.

USGS, GCMRC Chief Jeff Lovich gave a presentation at the Grand Canyon Guide Training Seminar on March 27, 2004. Included was an overview of the recent reorganization and staffing at GCMRC. A summary of research and monitoring activities for fiscal year 2004 was also presented including an update on the mechanical removal project, sediment research and monitoring, planned remote sensing activities, and river warming predications resulting from the low lake levels at Lake Powell. Web-accessible GCMRC resources were also highlighted. Contact: Jeffrey Lovich, Flagstaff, AZ, 928-556-7358, jeffrey_lovich@usgs.gov.

Hands-On Science: USGS scientists provided logistical and scientific support for a group of senior Department of Interior officials, newspaper press reporters from major newspapers and news services, two water managers, a staffer from Arizona Senator Kyle's office, and a representative from the NGO Environmental Defense on a river trip down the Colorado River April 13-20. The purpose of the trip was to discuss the continuing drought and its impacts on water availability in the west, as well as other issues in the Colorado River Corridor while giving them hands-on experience with the science. Among the participants were the Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, Fish & Wildlife Service Regional Directors from the Albuquerque and California regions, the manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, and the manager of the Central Arizona Project. Contact: Denny Fenn, Flagstaff, AZ, 928-556-7094, denny_fenn@usgs.gov.

Water Quality in Lake Powell: USGS hydrologist Bill Vernieu spoke on the current status of water quality in Lake Powell at the Grand Canyon River Guides Training Seminar on March 27, 2004. Topics included the severe drawdown conditions on the reservoir, increased warming of Glen Canyon Dam releases, nutrient enrichment and oxygen demand from deltaic sediment re-suspension, and the possibility of a small waterfall forming on the Colorado River below the mouth of the Dirty Devil River. Contact: Bill Vernieu, Flagstaff, AZ, 928-556-7051, bvernieu@usgs.gov.

Monthly Outreach Summary: The Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center (GCMRC) published the first edition of its monthly outreach summary on March 2, 2004. The summary highlights GCMRC science activities, media events, and new publications in the GCMRC library. It is an electronic publication distributed through e-mail. If you would like to be included on the newsletter distribution list, contact Mike Liszewski at mjlisz@usgs.gov. Contact: Mike Liszewski, Flagstaff, AZ, 928-556-7458, mjlisz@usgs.gov.

2. GCMRC in the news:

Nothing to report.

3. New publications received by the GCMRC library:

  1. Kearsley, M.J.C., N. Cobb, H. Yard, D. Lightfoot, S. Brantley, G. Carpenter and J. Frey. 2003. Inventory and Monitoring of Terrestrial Riparian Resources in the Colorado River corridor of Grand Canyon: An Integrative Approach. Electronic Access: http://www.gcmrc.gov/library/reports/biological/terrestrial/Kearsley/01_WRAG044/Kearsley2003.pdf
  2. Speas, David W., William R. Persons, R. Scott Rogers, David L. Ward, Andrew S. Makinster, and Joe E. Slaughter, IV. 2004. Effects of low steady summer flows on rainbow trout in the Lee's Ferry tailwater, 2000. Electronic Access: http://www.gcmrc.gov/library/reports/biological/Fish_studies/AZGame&Fish/2004/Speas2004.pdf

The following publications were received in by the GCMRC library prior to March 1, 2004 but were inadvertently left out of earlier outreach summaries:

  1. Speas, David W., David L. Ward, R. Scott Rogers, and William R. Persons. 2003. Salmonid population size, relative density and distribution in the Colorado River in Grand Canyon during 2001 with reference to sampling designs for long term monitoring. Electronic Access: http://www.gcmrc.gov/library/reports/biological/Fish_studies/AZGame&Fish/2003/Speas2003.pdf
  2. Slebodnick, James. 2003. Cooperative Research Project: GCMRC Data Management System Database Design Report Pilot Phase I. By the Center for Data Insight at NAU with The Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center. Electronic Access: ftp://ftp.gcmrc.gov/data/database/PilotProject/GCMRC_DatabaseDesignReportFinal.doc
  3. Van Haverbeke, David R. 2003. Stock Assessment and Fisheries Monitoring Activities in the Little Colorado River within Grand Canyon During 2002. Final Report Submitted to the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center. Electronic Access: http://www.gcmrc.gov/library/reports/biological/Fish_studies/USFWS/vanhaverbeke2003a.pdf
  4. Wiele, Stephen and Margaret Torizzo. 2003. A Stage-Normalized Function for the Synthesis of Stage-Discharge Relations for the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, Arizona. Water-Resources Investigations Report 03-4037. Electronic Access: http://www.gcmrc.gov/library/reports/physical/hydrology/wiele2003.pdf

Contact Stephanie Wyse at the GCMRC library (928-556-7373) to obtain reprints of publications not available electronically.