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March 1 to March 31, 2005

1. Highlights of GCMRC activities:

Integrating traditional Native American perspectives into science programs: On February 16, 2005, Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center (GCMRC) staff met with representatives from several Native American tribes who are stakeholders in the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program (GCDAMP) to consult on issues of mutual interest. Representatives from the Navajo Nation, Hualapai Tribe, Kaibab Band of Southern Paiute Indians, the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, and the Pueblo of Zuni attended the meeting. Representatives from the Hopi Tribe were unable to participate due to a scheduling conflict. This meeting provided a venue to open communication between the tribes and the GCMRC researchers for improving integration of traditional Native American perspectives in GCDAMP science programs. The meeting concluded with GCMRC in collaboration with Dr. Gary Nabhan, from Northern Arizona University's Center for Sustainable Environments, the scheduling of a multi-day workshop, tentatively scheduled for April 5-7, 2005, to further discuss integrating traditional perspectives into science programs. For more information, contact Helen Fairley, GCMRC Cultural Program Manager, at 928-556-7285, hfairley@usgs.gov.

Holocene deposits preserve archaeological record along the Colorado River: Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center hosted an interdisciplinary symposium Feb. 8-10, 2005, in Flagstaff, AZ, focused on the Holocene geomorphology of the Colorado River in lower Glen and Grand Canyons. The symposium explored the landscape scale geomorphic implications of Glen Canyon Dam on downstream Holocene deposits, with particular emphasis on the archaeological record preserved within terraces bordering the Colorado River. The National Park Service, Bureau of Reclamation, and Western Area Power Authority were co-sponsors of the two-and-a-half day event, while the Southwest Biological Science Center's Colorado Plateau Research Station, Northern Arizona University, and the Museum of Northern Arizona provided technical assistance and facility support. The symposium was beneficial for assessing the status of our understanding of the processes affecting Holocene deposits for future program planning. For more information, contact Helen Fairley, GCMRC Cultural Program Manager at 928-556-7285, hfairley@usgs.gov.

Sediment in the Colorado River Ecosystem: USGS scientists, in collaboration with Utah State University scientists, examined sedimentary deposits along the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon National Park following the November 2004 High Flow Test which was intended to move sediment from the channel bottom to the channel banks. The stratigraphy of sandbar deposits in the river eddy systems was studied in March to aid in determining the best management practices for dam operations in order to maximize the amount of sediment retained in the river eddy system. Preliminary results indicate that sandbars had a fine-grained base layer that coarsened upward. Large cutbanks, up to 2 meters in height, were also observed which indicate erosion since the high flow, other sandbars exhibited stratigraphy recording the daily flow fluctuations indicating deposition since the high flow. Analysis continues to develop a more coherent story of sandbar response to the high flow and subsequent flows. Ample sedimentary resources are considered to be a critical element of maintaining a healthy environment for several fragile components of the Colorado River ecosystem such as archeology sites, camping beaches, wildlife habitat, as well as aquatic habitat. (Scott Wright, David Topping and Ted Melis, Flagstaff, AZ, (928) 556-7069 or 7445)

Federal Interagency Sediment Project (FISP): David Topping (National Research Program) and Ted Melis (Grand Canyon Monitoring & Research Center), both made invited technical presentations to the technical work group of the Subcommittee on Sedimentation, an organizational element of the FISP, in Reno Nevada, on April 14th. The presentations were made at the request of the technical committee in order to learn more about recent progress made in testing the laser/acoustic system for sediment monitoring. This new system is currently used in the Colorado River of Grand Canyon to make high-resolution measurements of the suspended-sediment flux in this large, remote river segment. A demonstration of the two-way, satellite telemetry system developed in conjunction with the laser/acoustic system was also conducted for the committee members. (David Topping and Ted Melis, Flagstaff, AZ, (928) 556-7094 or 7445).

River Guides Training: Jeff Lovich, Assistant Director of the Southwest Biological Science Center, and David Topping, WRD visiting scientist, both attended the annual Guides Training Seminar of the Grand Canyon River Guides at Cliffdwellers, AZ, to give updates on research and monitoring efforts in the Grand Canyon following the November, 2004 High Flow experimental release from Glen Canyon Dam. The Guides Training Seminar provides an important opportunity to share information with the professionals who take visitors through the canyon every year on raft trips. (Jeff Lovich and David Topping, Flagstaff, AZ, (928) 556-7358 or 7445)

Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Outreach: Mike Liszewski participated in the Glen Canyon Adaptive Management Work Group (AMWG) Outreach ad-hoc meeting in Page, AZ, on March 17 and 18. The meeting was chaired by Andre Potochnik of the Grand Canyon River Guides. The purpose of the meeting was to develop concepts for the wall display being prepared for the Carl Hayden Visitor Center. Other business included finalizing fact sheets recently provided to the AMWG for comment. The ad-hoc was honored to have Michael Gabaldon, Secretary's Designee, and Scott Harris, USGS Public Affairs Officer, in attendance. Contact: Mike Liszewski, USGS Southwest Biological Science Center, Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center, Flagstaff, AZ; telephone: 928-556-7458; e-mail: mjlisz@usgs.gov.

Lake Powell Water Quality: Bill Vernieu gave an oral presentation on Status and Trends of Water Quality in Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam Releases at the Grand Canyon River Guides Training Seminar on March 26, 2005, and then again at the Lake Powell Cooperators Group Meeting on Wednesday, April 6, 2005. Lake Powell's water level is currently at an elevation of 3,555.61, the lowest level since May 1969 when the lake was being filled. Lake Powell provides water storage for the upper Colorado River basin states, and Glen Canyon Dam is a significant contributor to the western regions power resources. Lake Powell is expected to rise when the current Glen Canyon Dam experimental flows cease on April 8. (More info about the experimental flows is at www.usbr.gov/uc/water/crsp/gcd.html) (William Vernieu, Flagstaff, AZ, (928) 556-7051)

Grand Canyon Data on Web: USGS librarian Stephanie Wyse presented a talk titled "Digitizing Legacy Library Content for Distribution on the World Wide Web: The Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center Library Scanning Project" at The George Wright Society Biennial Conference on Parks, Protected Areas, and Cultural Sites during the week of March 14th in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The talk was part of a session that detailed digital strategies for museum curators, historians and librarians to increase education, appreciation and accessibility of their collections by visitors to the National Parks as well as the general public. (Stephanie Wyse, Flagstaff, AZ, swyse@usgs.gov, (928) 556-7373)

Science Matters: USGS archaeologist, Helen Fairly, along with the USGS, Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center, USBR, and the Grand Canyon Trust Organization were cited on the Science Matters page in the Arizona Daily Star on Wed., March 2nd. The article titled "Deep trouble in Grand Canyon" describes and explains how the Colorado River's ecosystem has been altered since the 1963 construction of Glen Canyon Dam. Helen Fairley, hfairley@usgs.gov, 928-556-7285

2. GCMRC in the news:

Nothing to report.

3. New publications received by the GCMRC library:

  1. Korman, J., S.M. Wiele, M. Torizzo. 2004. Modelling Effects of Discharge on Habitat Quality and Dispersal of Juvenile Humpback Chub (Gila Cypha) in the Colorado River, Grand Canyon. River Research and Applications 20: 379-400.
  2. Ward, D.L. 2003. Effects of Marking Techniques and Handling on Swimming Ability of Bonytail Chub. Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science 36 (1):34-36.
  3. Ward, D.L. and S.A. Bonar. 2003. Effects of Cold Water on Susceptibility of Age-0 Flannelmouth Sucker to Predation by Rainbow Trout. The Southwestern Naturalist 48(1):43-46.
  4. Ward, D.L., O.E. Maughan and S.A. Bonar. 2003. A Variable-Speed Swim Tunnel for Testing the Swimming Ability of Age-0 Fish. North American Journal of Aquaculture 64:228-231.

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