The House of Representatives recently approved by voice vote H.R. 1001, legislation providing for a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to address diminishing hydropower production at the Glen Canyon Dam in Arizona.
The American Public Power Association supports the legislation and sent a letter of support to Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY) on February 10, along with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
The bill would require the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), in consultation with the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Work Group, to enter into an MOU to address the impact the “Supplement to the 2016 Glen Canyon Dam Long-Term Experimental and Management Plan Record of Decision” has on the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund.
The record of decision requires water flows to bypass generators at the Glen Canyon Dam to cool water temperatures down river to combat predatory smallmouth bass that threaten the federally protected humpback chub. Through the MOU, Reclamation and WAPA will address the use of the fund and the record of decision’s impact on diminishing hydropower capacity along the river.
H.R. 1001 now goes to the Senate for consideration. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Senate companion, S. 887, on March 6.
