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<br />00079g <br /> <br />RECEIVED <br />S 1 <br /> <br /> <br />9(J1i -:-...,... . \o~ <br />EAU OF RECLl\.fol\l\.'"I <br /> <br />Curecanti Field Office <br />Montrose, Colorado <br />Donald Phillips (970) 240-6306 <br />For Release September 18,2001 <br /> <br />Bureau of Reclamation to Dredge Gravel from <br />Gunnison River just downstream of Morrow Point Reservoir <br /> <br />On October I, Bureau of Reclamation crews will begin removing approximately] ] ,000 cubic <br />yards of gravel deposited just below Morrow Point Dam at the confluence of the Gunnison and <br />Cimarron Rivers, near Montrose, Colorado. <br /> <br />Over the years, a series of high flow events in the Cimarron River, moved large quantities of <br />gravel and other materials from the Cimarron River and deposited it at the confluence with the <br />Gunnison River. The deposited material created a backwater pool in the Morrow Point <br />Powerplant tailrace resulting in losses in hydropower generating efficiencies at Morrow Point <br />Powerplant and the ability to dewater the spillway stilling basin. Removing the gravel will <br />restore the tailrace and river channel below Morrow Point Reservoir to its original elevation <br />when construction was completed. <br /> <br />Dredging activities, scheduled to begin October I and be finished by November 30, will be <br />restricted to a 6 hour period each day when no water will be released from Morrow Point Dam. <br />This will aid in dewatering the dredging site and reduce the potential for increased sediments in <br />the Gunnison River below Crystal Reservoir. Dwnp trucks will transport the dredged material <br />offsite to a Colorado Department of Transportation stockyard to be used for road maintenance. <br />Access to the project area will be on the existing road to Morrow Point Reservoir. When <br />equipment and loaded dwnp trucks are using the road, between 6:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., it will <br />be closed to the public. When hauling is not occurring, the road will be open to the public. <br /> <br />Impacts to fish and wildlife resources will be reduced by restricting the construction period <br />between October I and November 30 to avoid or reduce potential effects to rainbow and brown <br />trout spawning below Crystal Reservoir and recreational uses. If dredging is not finished this <br />fall, (i.e., because of inclement weather conditions) additional dredging may occur in October <br />and November 2002. <br /> <br />If you have questions or need more information, contact the Curecanti Field Office in Montrose, <br />Colorado, 970-240-6306. <br /> <br />### <br />