U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation

May 2017 Upper Colorado Region

UC Region Big Picture Issues from the Front Office

Changing the Culture of a Government Agency Submitted by David “Gunny” Scott

Regional Learning Officer

Confucius was once asked what changes he would make if he were emperor. His answer: I would change the language. Confucius’ argument is that language is the most fundamental influence of all; what you think, how you think, how you feel, and ultimately, how you act, are all shaped by the liberties and constraints given you by your language. Measurement is the language of organizations. If you want to change organizational behavior, start with the language. Some have tried to blame inefficient government bureaucracies on the bureaucrats. They assume the reason service stinks at the DMV and is stellar at Nordstrom

is because of the people themselves. That’s baloney. We’ve done plenty of research in government agencies and found inspired, capable leaders as much in abundance as in many Fortune 500 companies. The primary obstacle to influence is that there is no external forcing function that demands accountability for results. Consequently, prioritization becomes political rather than natural. In a commercial enterprise, owners and customers create natural accountability. Organizations that don’t serve them well suffer—sooner or later. Hence, commercial enterprises are generally observant of measuring how they perform for owners and customers. In government agencies, there is no demand to measure service to owners and customers; it becomes the prerogative of leaders to measure what they will. For example, a new law can be passed demanding that having a paperless office is of higher priority than getting road projects done on time and on budget. Now I know I’m not telling you anything new here. But this background is important because my central recommendation is to focus your influence on this one key change. You’ll never change the fact that every four years or so you’ll get a new photograph on the wall to match the political appointee at the top. But what you can do is try to build support for an internally imposed measure that aligns with the needs of those you serve. A few years ago, I worked with a governor of a state in the US who was remarkably effective at driving change. Her primary influence was requiring senior civil service staff (and her appointees) to develop stakeholder aligned scorecards for their agencies. She didn’t have to reach down and micromanage much

U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation

of anything. Her mantra was, “If you don’t have data, you lead by anecdotes.” And she was right. By simply requiring every agency to identify mission-aligned metrics that they would track religiously, she created a sense of accountability and a motivation for change that had been lacking previously. You don’t have to be a governor to influence in this way. For example, Bill Patrick, from the State of Michigan’s Department of Human Services was able to influence a very important change. Bill worked in a state office in Fort Wayne, MI that offered financial services to low income residents. Customer service was pitiful—terrible wait times for counseling, inconvenient scheduling process, etc. Yet within a matter of months, customer satisfaction rose from 23 percent to 82 percent. The first influence key Patrick used was simple measurement. If you want to create awareness and motivation for change—change the language. Create credible measures that align with the fundamental mission of the organization and people will have a hard time resisting their effect. By simply documenting the degree of the problem, Patrick rallied support for his effort to influence change. And he succeeded spectacularly. The main thing commercial agencies have that you don’t, is a forcing function. But good leadership doesn’t wait for a forcing function. Introduce a new language (measure) that is inarguably mission-aligned, and you’ll open the possibility of dramatic change. For more helpful leadership blog entries, visit the Crucial Skills page.

Albuquerque Area Office Prepares for the Runoff

By Mary Carlson, Public Affairs Specialist

Water managers are preparing for the best runoff the Rio Grande has seen in nearly a decade, as the snowpack in the mountains that feeds the river and its tributaries melts. Flows through Albuquerque topped 3,500 cubic feet per second on April 19, 2017, as temperatures rose and the snowmelt continued. The flows are expected to increase further and continue for several months with sustained deliveries from Colorado on the main-stem and above-average runoff on the Rio Chama. This is a stark contrast from years when Reclamation and cooperating agencies struggled to keep the river connected to Elephant Butte through the spring months. “We are really pleased to finally see above-average snowpack and the potential to start the long process of rebuilding our water supplies,” said Albuquerque Area Manager Jennifer Faler. “We realize that dwindling supplies are the result of years of extended drought and it will take many years to completely recover. But this is a good step in the right direction.”

Water managers preparing for the runoff

U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation

For the first time in the last few years, it appears San Juan-Chama Project contractors could receive a full allocation of water stored in Heron Reservoir this summer. And irrigation districts are also expecting to replenish some of the water stored in reservoirs. The April forecast for inflow to El Vado Reservoir in northern New Mexico is 160 percent of average. That translates to a predicted inflow of approximately 360,000 acre-feet of water. It’s more than a 100 percent increase over last year’s inflow. The Rio Grande at Otowi gage, an important measuring point for the Rio Grande Compact, is

forecast to pass approximately 920,000 acre-feet of water this year, also a large increase from recent years. Elephant Butte is expected to have good inflow into June and could reach about 500,000 acre-feet in storage at the high point this summer. This is welcome news for Rio Grande Project beneficiaries including Elephant Butte Irrigation District, El Paso County Water Improvement District No. 1, and Mexico, as well as recreationists and boating enthusiasts. “We have not seen these kinds of natural flows on the Rio Chama and Rio Grande in New Mexico in many years,” Faler said. “Through many years of drought, some folks have become complacent and we’ve seen more encroachment on the river. It’s important to remember that rivers are active channels that can migrate and change in times of higher flows. We all need to be vigilant and aware as we live, work, and recreate near and in New Mexico’s rivers and reservoirs.” Reclamation is coordinating closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District to manage the higher flows through the Middle Rio Grande Valley. Reclamation has authority for river maintenance to protect Middle Rio Grande Project facilities and ensure the delivery of water. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has authority for flood control. To view the 2017 Rio Grande Annual Operating Plan, click here.

Experiencing the ECO Challenge

By Amee Andreason, Public Affairs Specialist

The Explore, Create and Observe (ECO) Challenge is a science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) program that invites high school students across the state to address real-world environmental challenges such as the loss of biodiversity or water quality. In the fall, students meet professionals working in science and engineering careers from state agencies, industry and non-profit organizations. They learn about

Looking upstream on the Rio Grande from Tingley Beach

U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation

the needs of these groups related to the challenge and spend the next several months designing and prototyping solutions to address the challenge in ways that make sense to them. From producing public service announcements to inventions in aid conservation efforts, students selected unique and authentic ways to contribute their ideas and solutions. On October 6, 2016, Reclamation presented the students with a real-world irrigation problem on a stream table and allowed them to find a solution by designing their own water delivery system that would satisfy the needs of the farmers to understand the importance of managing water.

In the spring, students present their prototype products to industry representatives and compete for prizes that help their schools provide real-world environmental science in the coming year. This is where Reclamation staff was able to participate as judges on April 20, 2017, at Thanksgiving Point.

The spring event is for high school students to improve the environment while helping their schools win money by competing in a group or individually in 11 different environmental themed categories. The challenge categories included citizen scientist, t-shirt design, performance, recycled fashion design and accessories, games to play, short films, invention for the environment, cooking with local foods, and photography and visual arts. Each of these categories are designed for students to explore environmental issues and take a creative action to address them. The average top scoring high school received the 2016-2017 ECO Challenge Award. Participating students and teachers also received ECO Challenge T-shirts (featuring the winning design of the T-shirt Design Challenge). The three top average scoring schools were awarded $1,000 (first), $500 (second), and $250 (third) to support environmental programs and initiatives at their school. There were roughly 100 high school students that participated in the event. The ECO Challenge is a great program and opportunity to reach out to the youth about Reclamation's mission and educate them on STEM opportunities.

Lake Powell Water Quality Sampling

By Robert Radtke, Water Quality Group Water quality sampling has been an important part of activities at Lake Powell since Glen Canyon Dam was first completed. Since 1965 the instrumentation and procedures have changed but water quality sampling continues to be an essential activity at Lake Powell. Water quality sampling is a monthly activity in front of the dam and a quarterly activity reservoir wide. One of the reasons water quality sampling is done at Lake Powell is because it is the upper basin catch point on the Colorado River and the

condition of the water being delivered from the Upper Colorado Region down the river can be assessed here. There is also a legal requirement for monitoring the quality of water in the Colorado River basin. So you may be wondering, what is being monitored and how is it done? The water constituents which are measured in the reservoir, at various locations, are the levels of dissolved oxygen, conductivity, pH, temperature, oxidization/reduction potential, chlorophyll concentration, and turbidity. The levels of these parameters gives a snapshot of what is going on within the reservoir; how mixed or stratified it is, the level of salinity, the Seabird CBD a water quality sonde unit

U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation

alkalinity of the water, how much plankton or algae there is and how much sediment may be mixed in the water. Enquiring minds might now ask how the data is acquired. A water quality sonde unit such as the Seabird CBD have sensors which measure the listed water quality parameters. As the instrument is lowered through the water it records sensor readings at a specific depth. Once the unit is brought back to the surface and on the boat the data is downloaded to a computer where it can then be presented in various formats. The following graph shows one way the recorded sensor data at a specific station may be presented. For this sampling site, near Glen Canyon Dam, the various parameters are shown in different colors, the depth scale is the left vertical axis and horizontal axes are elevations in the water column (surface, penstock, river outlet and bottom) as well as the levels of the measured water quality parameters. This graph shows that the temperature (red line) is fairly warm at the surface, 24 degree C, and changes down to the penstock elevation, about 10 degree C, and is fairly constant below the penstock to the reservoir bottom, 8 degree C. It also shows that there is a dissolved oxygen (dark blue line) maxima corresponding with a chlorophyll (grey line) and pH (light blue line) maxima at 10 meters. As you remember from biology as plants or in this case phytoplankton photosynthesize they produce oxygen hence the higher oxygen content at this depth corresponding with the higher level of chlorophyll or plankton. It also shows that there is more salinity in the bottom water of the reservoir than at the surface (green line), water containing more dissolved salts are heavier than those with less. Once the whole reservoir has been sampled other plots can be produced which show what is going on throughout the reservoir from the dam to the inflow for a specific parameter. The following plots show how the reservoir is beginning to change with the spring inflow in May of 2015 regarding the dissolved oxygen, temperature and conductivity. The left hand side of the charts represents the dam and the right side is the inflow area and the horizontal line the penstock elevation. The left axis is the elevation or depth and the bottom axis is kilometers from the dam. The bottom orange with wavy lines represents the bed rock below Lake Powell. In the temperature plot the red is warmer water and blue colder, the next plot shows the dissolved oxygen and the blue represents water with a high dissolved oxygen content and the brown containing lower dissolved oxygen. On the last or bottom plot the conductivity of the water is shown with the blue being water with lower dissolved salts and as the color becomes darker toward brown the concentration of dissolved salt in the water increases. So it can easily be seen during a given time of the year, when the reservoir has been sampled, what type of water is entering the reservoir and what is being discharged.

U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation

The data is also placed into a data base where it can be shown how the water quality at a given station has changed over time, as the following graphic shows. At the monitoring station in front of the dam we see how the salinity has changed over the last 52 years of sampling. The plot shows the salinity in the dam forebay water with the horizontal lines being surface water elevation, the penstock elevation and river outlet elevation, the depth on the y axis and time being the x axis. This plot shows that as the surface water elevation increases, from higher spring inflows, fresher water is found near the penstock and released from the dam, and as the surface water elevation goes down, with lower inflows, the salinity of the deeper water in front of the dam and that discharged increases, however not to the levels seen early on in Lake Powell’s younger years. This may be due to the salinity program in the upper basin lowering the salt load returning to the Colorado River. Water samples are also collected for laboratory analysis for parameters such as nutrients, major ions, metals and other unique constituents which may be required in specific projects. The depth where these samples are taken is determined from the results of the water quality profile sampling and a bottle is sent to the specified depth to collect a sample of the water. Some of this water is filtered and both the non-filtered and filtered water are then put into smaller bottles to be sent to a laboratory for analysis. So there you have it, the basic water quality sampling activity by Reclamation at Lake Powell.

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230

Collection for laboratory analysis

U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation

Measures to Protect Against Introduction of Aquatic Nuisance Species in Effect at Lemon Reservoir

From the U.S. Forest Service

Concerns raised by local irrigators and elected officials have prompted the U.S. Forest Service to enact an emergency order to close the Miller Creek Boat Ramp at Lemon Reservoir to all trailered motorized watercraft for one to three years. This action is necessary to prevent the introduction of aquatic nuisance species, which would threaten the dam and reservoir’s water-delivery infrastructure, recreational uses, and fish habitat. Costs to control an infestation, once established, would be very expensive. The communities that depend upon water from and recreation at Lemon Reservoir would suffer negative economic and ecological impacts over

the long term if the reservoir were to become infested. Motorized boats and trailers have been proven as the significant vector for introducing invasive species into uninfected waters. A barrier and informational signage are being installed at the boat ramp, and the closure will be enforced by U.S. Forest Service officers seven days a week. The Bureau of Reclamation, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, La Plata County Commissioners, and City of Durango have all expressed strong support for measures to protect the reservoir through closure to motorized watercraft because its waters are used both as a municipal water source and for irrigation. The Florida River, which passes through the reservoir, is the primary source of the municipal water supply for the City of Durango. The Florida Water Conservancy District supplies irrigation water from Lemon Reservoir to La Plata County landowners. The reservoir is also popular for fishing, boating, camping and picnicking. Invasive species can include zebra and quagga mussels, New Zealand mud snail, Asian carp, rusty crayfish, Eurasian watermilfoil, and other plants and animals. Many invaders, including young zebra and quagga mussels, are microscopic and can’t be seen with the naked eye. Zebra and quagga mussel populations can quickly grow into the billions, clogging reservoir infrastructure and endangering the food chain for fish. Aquatic nuisance species are spread inadvertently in the ballast of motorized boats containing water from infected reservoirs, as well as through adult mussels encrusted on external boat and trailer surfaces. Lake Powell, a destination popular with motorized boaters throughout the Four Corners, is already infested with quagga mussels. Hand-launched fishing and small boats – including canoes, skiffs, kayaks, paddle boards, other boards and inflatables – do not pose a significant danger and will not be restricted, per Colorado State Regulations. Lemon Dam is owned by the Bureau of Reclamation and managed under contract by the Florida Water Conservancy District. The U.S. Forest Service manages the land surrounding the reservoir and both onshore and offshore recreation. Colorado Parks and Wildlife regulates fishing. No involved entities have the resources at this time to fund and staff an aquatic nuisance species inspection station at Lemon Reservoir.

U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation

National Bike Month The Federal Transit Administration: Improving Public Transportation for America’s Communities

As part of the Federal Transit Administration, registration for the 2017 Fed Bike Challenge is open. It’s simple! Ride frequently (for commutes, errands and fun) and log your trips during Bike Month, May. And tell all your Fed buddies to sign up. Love to Ride has graciously built us a dedicated Fed Bike Challenge site for this year!

1. Instructions (read first this is very different from last year) – https://or.water.usgs.gov/bike/index.html

2. Registration and background -- https://www.lovetoride.net/fedbikechallenge (tip - use Chrome or Firefox as Explorer has formatting issues)

3. Questions – email FedBikeChallenge@gmail.com 4. To join the FedsOnBikes multi-agency listserv to receive colleagues’ communications on

bicycling issues of interest to the Federal workforce – email Bruce.Moody@dot.gov

DATES AND EVENTS National Bike Month includes an ever-expanding diversity of events in communities nationwide — but the biggest day of the month is Bike to Work Day. In 2017, Bike to Work Week will be May 15-19, with Bike to Work Day on May 19. Forty-percent of all trips in the U.S. are less than two miles, making bicycling a feasible and fun way to get to work. With increased interest in healthy, sustainable and economic transportation options, it’s not surprising that, from 2000 to 2013, the number of bicycle commuters in the U.S. grew by more than 62 percent. Hundreds of American communities have been successful in increasing bicycle commuting by providing Bike to Work Week and Bike to Work Day events.

U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation

What are Environmental Aspects and Impacts? Submitted by Sustainability & Environmental Management Systems Team

Definition of Environment: Surroundings in which an organization operates, including air, water, land, natural resources, flora, fauna, humans, and their interrelation. Definition of Environmental Aspects: Element of an organization’s activities or products or services that can interact with the environment. Definition of Environmental Impacts: Any change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from an organization’s environmental aspects. All the activities we do will affect the environment surrounding us such as:

• To photocopy a paper by using of photocopy machine is an activity, when performing this activity, we need to consume paper and electrical during operating the photocopy machine, then consume of paper and electrical are the environmental aspects of this activity, then environmental impact of this environmental aspect is resource depletion due to paper is made from tree and electrical is general from oil or gas.

Example of Environmental Aspects

• emission to air (smoke, dust, odor, fumes, etc.) • waste water discharge to water stream or land • waste discharge to land • use of material, energy and resources • noise generation • vibration • radiation

Example of Environmental Impacts

• air pollution • water pollution • land pollution • noise pollution • natural resources/conservation • nuisance • ozone depletion • global warming

The relationship between Environmental Aspects and Environmental Impacts can be best described as “CAUSE” and “EFFECT”. One “CAUSE” could have one or multiple “EFFECT”. To understand the environmental aspect and impact is key success factor of implementing EMS.

U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation

Safety Front and Center Using a Fire Extinguisher

Fire extinguishers - you may have them in your workplaces, schools, homes, vehicles, and many other places you find yourself. In an emergency fire situation you may have the need to use one. Do you know how? Fortunately, fire extinguishers are designed with simple instructions for use. And with just a little education you can be better prepared to effectively use one in the event of a fire.

From OSHA’s website for using a fire extinguisher: The following steps should be followed when responding to incipient stage fire:

• Sound the fire alarm and call the fire department, if appropriate. • Identify a safe evacuation path before approaching the fire. Do not allow the fire, heat, or smoke to

come between you and your evacuation path. • Select the appropriate type of fire extinguisher. • Discharge the extinguisher within its effective range using the P.A.S.S. technique (pull, aim,

squeeze and sweep). • Back away from an extinguished fire in case it flames up again. • Evacuate immediately if the extinguisher is empty and the fire is not out. • Evacuate immediately if the fire progresses beyond the incipient stage.

Most fire extinguishers operate using the following P.A.S.S. technique:

• PULL... Pull the pin. This will also break the tamper seal. • AIM... Aim low, pointing the extinguisher nozzle (or its horn or hose) at the base of the fire.

o NOTE: Do not touch the plastic discharge horn on CO2 extinguishers, it gets very cold and may damage skin.

• SQUEEZE... Squeeze the handle to release the extinguishing agent. • SWEEP... Sweep from side to side at the base of the fire until it appears to be out. Watch the area.

If the fire re-ignites, repeat steps 2 - 4.

If you have the slightest doubt about your ability to fight a fire....EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY! Reading these steps might incite a few questions such as:

• What is the “incipient stage” of a fire? • How do I know what the appropriate type of fire extinguisher is?

To answer these questions, visit OSHA’s website.

U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Submitted by Timmothy Coplin, EEO Office

The Ohio State University's Student Life Multicultural Center proudly presents APAHM! This year's theme is “KOA” meaning brave, bold and fearless. How do you step out of your comfort zone to do something bold? How do you conquer your fears? When do you feel brave? This month will be full of innovative speakers and relevant dialogues! Check out the video here.

Upper Colorado Region’s Employee Photo Contest

May 2017 Winner!

John Martinson – Mesa Verde National Park, Cliff Dwellings

U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation

John Martinson

Capital Reef National Park, Hickman Arch Robert Stump

Lake Nighthorse, Durango, Colorado

Reclamation Trivia Here's this week's set of questions:

1. Most fire extinguishers operate using what technique? What does it stand for? ________ _________________________

2. The _______________________ (ECO) Challenge is a __________________________ ______________ (STEM) program that invites high school students across the state to address real-world environmental challenges.

3. Flows through Albuquerque topped _____ cubic feet per second on April 19, 2017, as temperatures rose and the snowmelt continued.

Last week, We asked,

1. The Carl B. Hayden Visitor Center is located 700 feet above the Colorado River overlooking Glen Canyon Dam and Bridge. More than 600,000 visitors tour the facility each year.

2. The Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project (NGWSP) waterline will be approximately 300 miles long and is scheduled for completion in 2024.

3. Household leaks can waste more than 1 trillion gallons of water annually nationwide.

Last winner was – Edica Lopez Please use this link to send your answers. To be fair we will draw names from the winners and one person will receive a prize. We will reach into the prize bin for something suitable for the winner...as long as supplies last. Return to UC Today