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<br />~ <br /> <br />OO;J7J6 <br /> <br />CHAPTER 3 - AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND <br />ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES <br /> <br />General <br /> <br />This chapter discusses resources that may be affected by the proposed actions of drawing down <br />Morrow Point Reservoir to a watcr surface elevation of around 7.129 ft. and cleaning the power <br />plant trash racks, During the preparation of this Draft EA. information on issues and concerns <br />was received from affected water users. resource agencies. private interests. recreational interest <br />groups and citizens and other parties (see Chapter 4. Consultation and Coordination. for further <br />details). <br /> <br />For each resource. the potentially affected area. and/or interests are identified. existing <br />conditions are described. and impacts expected under the No Action and Proposed Action <br />Alternative are discussed, This chapter concludes with a summary comparison of the <br />alternatives and a list of mitigation measures, <br /> <br />The project area is located in Montrose County. Colorado along the Gunnison River within <br />Reclamation withdrawn lands of the Aspinall Unit (Federal lands withdrawn for project <br />purposes). Montrose County has a population of about 31.500 (U ,S, Census. 200 I), Montrose is <br />the largest city in the area with a population of about 12.000, The county is primarily rural in <br />nature with an agricultural base, The Unc.)mpahgre Project. constructed in the early 1900's. <br />provides irrigation water for about 86.000 acres by diverting water from the Gunnison River <br />primarily through the Gunnison Tunnel. and the Uncompaghre River. Tourism and recreation <br />are also a signiticant source of economic activity for the area with the Gunnison River. Black <br />Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Curecanti National Recrcation Area. and the San Juan <br />Range of the Rocky Mountains nearby, <br /> <br />Aspinall Unit and Morrow Point Reservoir <br /> <br />The Aspinall Unit of the Colorado River Storage Project consists of three reservoirs (Blue Mesa. <br />Morrow Point. and Crystal) along a 40-mile stretch of the Gunnison River (see Figure 2). <br /> <br />Morrow Point Dam was completed in 1968. In the fall of 200 I. about 11.000 cubic yards of <br />gravel and other material was removed from the river channel below Morrow Point Dam (USBR. <br />2001). <br /> <br />Blue Mesa and Morrow Point Dams are operated to provide peaking power. while Crystal Dam <br />is operated to re-regulate water releases in the Gunnison River. Under the proposed action. <br />releases from Blue Mesa would be adjusted to create a controlled draw down of the Morrow <br />Point Reservoir. When full (at elevation 7.160 ft.). Morrow Point Reservoir comprises 117.190 <br />surface acres, Lowering the reservoir water surface elevation to 7.129 ft. would reduce the <br />reservoir surface by about 20 percent. <br /> <br />8 <br />