Glen Canyon Dam Update
November 6th, 2007
Glen Canyon Dam Operations
Releases from Glen Canyon Dam in November 2007 will average 10,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) with a total of 600,000 acre-feet scheduled to be released for the month. On Mondays through Fridays in November, daily release fluctuations due to load following will likely vary between a low of 7,000 cfs (during late evening and early morning off-peak hours) to a high of 13,000 cfs (during daylight and early evening on-peak hours).
On Saturdays, release fluctuations will likely vary between a low of 7,000 cfs to a high of 12,500 cfs. On Sundays, release fluctuations will likely vary between a low of 7,000 cfs to a high of 12,000 cfs.
Releases in December 2007 are scheduled to be higher than November. The current schedule shows 800,000 acre-feet of release in December 2007, which corresponds to an average flow of 13,000 cfs.
RRFW Offers Holiday Specials and New Store Goodies
November 26th, 2007
Nonprofit River Runners for Wilderness supporters can take advantage of some great holiday offerings this season in our store at www.rrfw.org/store.
USFS Proposes Public Lands Give-Away
November 27th, 2007
The United States Forest Service (USFS) has proposed massive countrywide rulemaking changes to benefit outfitter and guiding access to all USFS lands. Your favorite campsite, hunting blind, fishing hole or boat ramp, and your access to it, are at risk!
Our longtime readers know that we at River Runners for Wilderness have followed and mounted opposition to various attempts to pass an Outfitters Policy Act that grants rights and privileges to public lands outfitters over the self-guided public.
Past long-term efforts by the outfitters’ lobby have failed, due in part to your vigilance. This most recent attempt is more sinister. The outfitters and guides have joined forces with non-profit groups that lead guided outdoor trips, and are now attempting to re-write the rules that govern the policies of the US Forest Service to win special access privileges.
Once again, you can counter these efforts through your comments, due no later than January 17, 2008. Now is the time to stand up and protect your right to use Forest Service lands equally with outfitters and their clients.
If you do nothing, these sweeping changes will impact all do-it-yourself (self-guided) recreationists, including hunters, fishermen, off-road enthusiasts, hikers, backpackers, canoeists, jet-boaters, paddlers, mountain-bikers and river runners. Once the rights to your favorite picnic area, boat ramp, or wilderness trailhead are sold, the change is permanent; the self-guided public enthusiast loses, and also loses the right to comment in the future.
Judge Issues Court Ruling in RRFW Case
November 30th, 2007
On Tuesday, November 27th, Judge David Campbell released his ruling on the case brought against Grand Canyon National Park’s Colorado River Management Plan (CRMP.) Judge Campbell’s opinion denied all counts brought before him.
“We're disappointed, but not discouraged by the judge's opinion,” said Tom Martin, Co-Director of the national grassroots organization River Runners for Wilderness (RRFW.) “We entered the case prepared to take it as far as necessary, and we'll be discussing the decision with our attorneys in the near future to decide our next steps.” There is a 60 day window to file an appeal.
RRFW joined with conservation groups Rock the Earth, Wilderness Watch and Living Rivers to bring the suit.
The plaintiff groups contend that the Park Service violated its own policies in how it treats the proposed Colorado River wilderness, allowing motorized tour boats and a preponderance of commercial activities versus noncommercial wilderness recreation.
