News release: Reclamation finalizes environmental process to combat nonnative fish below Glen Canyon Dam
The Bureau of Reclamation today finalized its process to protect the humpback chub and other federally protected fish species with the signing of the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the 2016 Long-Term Experimental and Management Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement Record of Decision. Reclamation initiated the environmental review process in response to the increasing numbers of smallmouth bass in the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam. As Lake Powell’s elevation has declined and water released from Glen Canyon Dam has warmed in recent years, warmwater invasive fish such as smallmouth bass residing in the upper layer of Lake Powell can pass through the dam and successfully spawn downstream in the Grand Canyon. These warmwater predatory fish can prey on Federally protected native fish species in the Grand Canyon. With the completion of the environmental process, Reclamation can now use water releases from the dam to disrupt smallmouth bass spawning.