USBR begins experimental water releases to control smallmouth bass in Grand Canyon
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has begun water releases from Glen Canyon Dam to cool the temperature of the Colorado River and slow the reproduction of an unwanted fish. The exotic and predatory smallmouth bass poses a threat to native species like the threatened humpback chub. KNAU’s Melissa Sevigny spoke with Reclamation’s Bill Stewart about the experimental program. So how often do you anticipate having to do these cool water releases? We’re in the really early phases of the implementation…and we anticipate intermittently continuing flows are needed to maintain that daily average water temperature below that target of 15.5 degrees Celsius. We’re doing this at locations where we know or suspect smallmouth bass to reside below the dam.
Related invasive species articles:
- The Denver Post: Invasive species discovered in Colorado River is capable of wiping out ecosystems, causing costly damage
- Colorado Newsline: Zebra mussels, which pose ‘extreme risk,’ found in Colorado River near Grand Junction
- E&E News by Politico: Colorado confirms zebra mussel larvae in Colorado River