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<br />" <br /> <br />Fish ladder at Redlands Diversion Dam <br /> <br />Biologists believe dams and water diversion structures in the river are one of the primary <br />reasons for the decline of the Colorado squawfish, razorback sucker, humpback chub and <br />bony tail. These barriers have fragmented migration routes of endangered fish, cutting their <br />historic range by 75 percent. The fish are no longer able to access preferred spawning, <br />feeding and winter habitats, Once they leave the area they cannot return. Upstream of such <br />barriers, these fIsh are nearly extinct. <br /> <br />Redlands Diversion Dam is a 12-foot structure on the Gunnison River three miles upstream <br />of the Colorado River confluence. Owned by the Redlands Water and Power Company, the <br />dam was constructed in 1918 for irrigation and power generation. Colorado squawfish, <br />razorback sucker and bony tail were once abundant in the Gunnison River above Redlands, <br />especially near Delta, Colo, Around 1950, these native fish began to decline dramatically in <br />this area. The dam now blocks the fish from accessing more than 50 miles of their historical <br />habitat. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists first proposed developing a fish ladder at <br />Redlands in 1982. <br /> <br />A final environmental assessment was completed for the fish ladder and is available through <br />lone Wright at the Bureau of Reclamation (970-248-0636). All city and county permits and <br />approvals have been obtained. Construction of the ladder began Nov. 20, 1995; the ladder <br />should be operational by May 1, 1996. <br /> <br />Action: <br /> <br />Automatic sensors to be installed above, below and within the fish ladder <br />to monitor movements and distribution of radio-tagged Colorado <br />squawfish. <br />April 26, 1996. <br /> <br />Date: <br /> <br />Action: <br /> <br />Fish ladder construction scheduled to be complete; operation and evaluation <br />to begin. <br />May 1, 1996. <br /> <br />Date: <br /> <br />Action: <br /> <br />Draft report to be available on refined minimum flow recommendations for <br />the Gunnison River downstream of Redlands Diversion Dam. <br />June 15, 1996. <br /> <br />Date: <br /> <br />Action: <br /> <br />Final report to be available on refmed minimum flow recommendations for <br />the Gunnison River downstream of Redlands Diversion Dam. <br />August 1996. <br /> <br />Date: <br /> <br />Action: <br />Date: <br /> <br />Minimum flow recommendations to be validated and refmed. <br />September 1996. <br /> <br />Questions? <br /> <br />Please call Pat Nelson at (303) 236.2985, ext. 226, <br />