By Scott Buffon | Arizona Daily Sun
Important research about the Colorado River ecosystem downstream of the Glen Canyon Dam and the jobs of the scientists who produce that work are at risk due to a federal budget decision set to go into effect in October.
According to a decision made by the Office of Management and Budget, $23 million, or a significant portion of the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund, will be diverted back to the United State Treasury.
The money went to fund programs including those that focus on endangered fish recovery in the Colorado River and the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program.
From there, it is not known where the funds would be directed. The change is set to go into effect the next fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.
The Office of Management and Budget did not respond to repeated attempts for comment and have released no reason for the budget change. Groups at the United States Geological Survey and their Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center have been told to reroute all comments through the Bureau of Reclamation.
Marlon Duke, Bureau of Reclamation spokesperson, has said the department is examining its options for supporting the projects until a permanent solution is found.
