Abstract
Glen Canyon Dam was originally constructed to meet water supply obligations under the Colorado River Compact and to generate hydropower. Construction and operation of the dam has created significant impacts to the natural flow regime of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. These impacts have negatively affected the downstream aquatic habitat and native species. In response to these effects, an adaptive management program was implemented to couple science and management objectives of the dam. As part of the program, several flow experiments have been completed with mixed results. Success of the flow experiments is often hindered by the geomorphic conditions in the Grand Canyon and the need to meet the dam’s original objectives, water supply and hydropower. Nonetheless, hope remains that the adaptive management program is producing strategies to improve habitat and ecosystem processes in the Grand Canyon.