Political Quotes

“I rise in support of my legislation, H.R. 1001, which requires the Bureau of Reclamation and the Western Area Power Administration, or WAPA, to enter into a memorandum of understanding to address the impacts that bypass flows at Glen Canyon Dam have had on the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund. It is worth taking a moment to highlight why we are here today. Under the Biden administration, the Bureau of Reclamation wanted to rush to implement bypass flows to prevent smallmouth bass and other warm water invasive nonnative fish from becoming established below the Glen Canyon Dam outlet works. This action, however, comes at significant costs as it would mean foregoing hydropower generation for the majority of these releases. The Bureau of Reclamation initiated its record of decision, or ROD, over Glen Canyon Dam's long-term experimental management plan supplemental EIS this past summer. It was signed on July 5, 2024, with implementation beginning just 3 days later on July 8. Pretty doggone quick. The ROD calls for higher flows at the dam to combat the presence of predatory smallmouth bass which threaten the federally protected humpback chub. These higher flows bypass hydropower generators in order to cool the river temperature below the dam in an attempt to disrupt smallmouth bass downstream. While this ROD was well-intentioned, it comes at a very serious cost to communities and power customers.”