Grand Canyon Protection Act (GCPA)

The GCPA was enacted on 30 October 1992. It states that the “…Secretary shall operate Glen Canyon Dam … and exercise other authorities under existing law in such a manner as to protect, mitigate adverse impacts to, and improve the values for which Grand Canyon National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area were established, including, but not lintited to, natural and cultural resources and visitor use.” The act, however, also states that: “The Secretary shall implement this section in a manner fully consistent with and subject to the Colorado River Compact, the Upper Colorado River Basin Compact, the Water Treaty of 1944 with Mexico, the decree of the Supreme Court in Arizona v. California, and the provisions of the Colorado River Storage Project Act of 1956 and the Colorado River Basin Project Act of 1968 that govern … the waters of the Colorado River Basin” (Grand Canyon Protection Act of 1992). Finally, the act required consultation among federal agencies, the Governors of the Basin States, Indian Tribes, and the general public, including representatives of academic and scientific communities, environmental organizations, the recreation industry, and contractors for the purchase of federal power produced at Glen Canyon Dam. (GCDAMP Strategic Plan of 2001) [Note: Jack Schmidt describes his recollection of the people responsible for shepherding the concept of legislative protections for Grand Canyon (Schmidt OH, minutes 27-30.)]