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<br />Cimarron Dred~in~ Environmental Assessment <br /> <br />Public ScoDin!! <br /> <br />Reclamation identified issues and concems with panicipation from individuals. agencies, and <br />organizations who may be affected by the project. The CimaITon Dredging Project was first <br />presented to the general public at the January 200 I Aspinall operations meeting. On January 25, <br />200 I, a public scoping letter was mailed to interested parties and was published in the Grand <br />Junction Daily Sentinel. Comments were requested to be received by March 2. 2001. <br /> <br />Each issue and concern described below is discussed in Chapter 3. More information on scoping <br />activities is included in Chapter 4. <br /> <br />Water Resources <br /> <br />The proposed action has the potential to negatively affect water quality downstream of Crystal <br />Reservoir. Concerns focused around total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS). <br />and dissolved oxygen (DO) levels below Crystal Reservoir. <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />The Gunnison Tunnel, operated by the Uncompahgre Valley Water Users Association <br />(UVWUA) below Crystal Reservoir. diverts water for irrigation and municipal use in the <br />Montrose and Delta areas. <br /> <br />Trout Fisheries <br /> <br />The proposed action has the potential to negatively affect the Gunnison River Gold Medal Trout <br />fisheries from Crystal Reservoir downstream to the confluence with the North Fork of the <br />Gunnison River. Concerns focused primarily around water quality issues as they affect trout <br />spawning and recruitment. Fall brown trout and spring rainbow trout spawning success could be <br />greatly reduced if suspended sediments travel downstream into trout spawning areas and smother <br />nests (redds). Reducing flows after spawning also has the potential to affect spawning success. <br /> <br />Recreation Resources <br /> <br />The Gunnison River is a valuable recreation resource. Rafting. floatfishing, walk-wade fishi,ng. <br />hiking. and sightseeing are all common uses on the Gunnison River in the Curecanti National <br />Recreation Area. the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, and the Gunnison Gorge. If <br />the Gunnison Ri ver below Crystal Reservoir becomes cloudy because of increased sediments; <br />fishing, rafting, and the overall aesthetics of the Gunnison River could be negatively affected. <br /> <br />\.- <br /> <br />Land and Facility Resources <br /> <br />The access road to Morrow Point is a narrow two-lane paved road. The road is used by <br />Reclamation to operate Morrow Point Dam and is also used by recreationists to access the upper <br />end of Crystal Reservoir. The road may need to be temporarily closed to the public during <br /> <br />4 <br />