About GCMRC
- Chief of GCMRC (Link will relocate you to the SBSC web site)
- Adaptive Management
- Contact GCMRC
- GCMRC Roles
- Organization Chart
- +-Program Summaries
- +-Information Office Program
- +-Integrated Science Program
- Integrated Quality-of-Water Program Upstream Component
- Downstream Component
- IQWP Downstream
- Evolving Geomorphic Framework
- Fine-Sediment Habitats
- Terrestrial Resources
- Aquatic Resources
- Foodbase Resources
- Fisheries Resources
- Experimental Flows
- Humpback Chub
- +-Data Acquisition, Storage and Analysis (DASA)
- +-Research Coordination and Support Program
- Socio-Cultural Resources Program
- Personnel List
The U.S. Geological Survey, Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center (GCMRC) is a key component of the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program. Established in 1995, GCMRC is located in Flagstaff, Arizona, and measures the effects of Glen Canyon Dam operations on natural and physical resources along the Colorado River from Glen Canyon Dam to Lake Mead. GCMRC's scientific activities contribute to meeting the statutory requirements placed on the Secretary of the Interior by Congress via the 1992 Grand Canyon Protection Act, the 1995 Glen Canyon Dam Environmental Impact Statement, and the 1996 Record of Decision.
The Grand Canyon Protection Act (GCPA) and Glen Canyon Dam Environmental Impact Statement (GCDEIS) direct the Secretary of the Interior, To establish and implement long-term monitoring programs and activities that will ensure that Glen Canyon Dam is operated in a manner consistent with that of Section 1802...
of the GCPA.
The goals of the GCMRC are to develop monitoring and research programs and related scientific activities that evaluate short-and long-term impacts of the Glen Canyon Dam on the biological, cultural, and physical resources of the Colorado River Ecosystem (CRE). The GCMRC also provides information concerning resources of the CRE specified annually by the Adaptive Management Work Group (AMWG) and the Secretary of the Interior.
GCMRC Activities
Long-term monitoring of all vital resources aids in detecting and quantifying changes related to dam operations. Research efforts focus on interpreting and explaining trends, determining causal relationships, and defining inter-relationships among physical, biological and cultural processes.
Scientific activities are performed by both internal and external researchers, who specialize in terrestrial, fisheries and aquatic biology; limnology; geomorphology; hydrology; and archeology, often in a collaborative effort. The GCMRC annually extends a formal Solicitation for Cooperative Agreement Proposals to solicit research. Research results are used to refine the Conceptual Model of the impacts of dam operations on the CRE. In addition to monitoring and research activities, the GCMRC develops information management programs to ensure information is properly archived and transferred to managers, stakeholders and science organizations.
Research results are used to refine the Conceptual Model of the impacts of differing dam operations on the Colorado riverine ecosystem. The GCMRC presents The State of Natural and Cultural Resources in the Colorado River Ecosystem Report (SCORE report) on a semi-annual basis. The evaluation, combined with information on predictions of future reservoir storage and weather, is used to discuss potential flow regimes to protect and/or enhance development of the CRE.
GCMRC's Position within the AMP
The role of the U.S. Geological Survey, Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center in the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program -- .pdf format (289 KB)
GCMRC's Position within USGS
Coming soon.
GCMRC Vision Statement
Coming soon.
GCMRC Mission Statement
To provide credible, objective scientific information to the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program on the effects of operating Glen Canyon Dam on the downstream resources of the Colorado River ecosystem, utilizing an ecosystem science approach.
GCMRC Study Area
Note: The study area boundary extends linearly from Glen Canyon Dam to Lake Mead and vertically from the bottom of the river channel to the old high-water vegetation zone, or approximately a stage of 120,000 cubic feet per second.