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<br />G81 <br /> <br />Reclamation will notifY the public when the written report summarizing the test is available. In <br />particular, resource specialists observing the test will summarize their monitoring activities in <br />conjunction with the impacts the low flows have on summer water temperature, water supplies <br />(diversion structures), fish habitat, and recreation. A news release will announce the test and <br />Reclamation officials will be available to provide information to members of the media during <br />and after the test. <br /> <br />The No Action alternative to the proposed test would be to maintain normal reservoir releases at <br />500 cfs during the proposed test period, Under this alternative, Reclamation would still continue <br />preparing the EIS on long-term operations and would rely on existing information and modeling <br />to evaluate low summer releases, <br /> <br />Coordination on the test has included public meetings, news releases, and contacts with state, <br />federal and local governmental agencies, non-profit organizations, area businesses, water users, <br />and Indian Tribes, There are concerns that a long-term operation change that would frequently <br />reduce releases to 250 cfs could have significant impacts on several resources, including <br />recreation, fisheries, and water use for irrigation, drinking, and industrial uses, Therefore, many <br />people see the value in the test flows for better predicting impacts in the EIS, <br /> <br />The environmental assessment did not reveal any significant impacts on resources including <br />socio-economic resources, cultural resources, fish and wildlife, water uses, wetlands, Indian <br />Trust Assets, or recreation, Short term impacts are expected to occur to recreation users, <br />fisheries, and perhaps water users, <br /> <br />The provisions included in the final EA to terminate the test if significant impacts are beginning <br />to occur should provide adequate resource protection. In addition, a fish stocking plan program <br />as described in the final EA will be implemented, Overall the test should not have a significant <br />effect on the quality of the human environment because of its short duration, The test has been <br />reviewed with the SJRBRIP and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), The <br />Service will alert Reclamation to any adverse effects to endangered species, <br /> <br />Concur: <br /> <br />~/{m~ <br /> <br />Environmental Specialist <br />Western Colorado Area Office <br /> <br />7/~(}( <br /> <br />Date <br /> <br />~~~: J. M~ <br /> <br />Area Manager, Bureau ~Iamation <br />Western Colorado Area Office <br /> <br />1/;;( 0 I <br /> <br />Date <br /> <br />if <br /> <br />4 <br />