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r.~~ . Environmental Assesgment Dallas Creek Project - Colorado Addition of Hydroelectric Power Generation Outlet Works Design Change I. Purpose and Need for Action A. Introduction The purpose of this assesgment is to evaluate the environmental impacts that would occur under several combinations of outlet worka!J design changes and hydropower additions at Ridgway Dam, part of the Dallas Creek Project in west-central Colorado (Figure 1). The project is in the Uncompahgre River Basin of the Upper Colorado River Basin and will develop flows of the Uncompahgre River for municipal, industrial, and irrigation uses and also provide benefits for recreation, fisheries, and flood control. This assessment has been prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Public Law 91-190. The project was authorized by the Colorado River Basin Act of September 30, 1968 (Public Law 90-537), as a participant under the Colorado River Storage Project Act of April 11, 1956 (Public Law 84-485). The draft environ- mental statement was filed with the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) March 8, 1976, and a public hearing was held April 17, 1976. The final environmental statement (FES) was filed with CEQ September 28, 1976, and the definite plan report was approved December 28, 1976. Ridg~ay Reservoir, the principal feature of the Dallas Creek Project, will be formed by Ridgway Dam which is currently under construction. Completion is scheduled in 1985 and relocation of U.S. Highway 550 and utilities around the reservoir site have been completed. B. Need for Additional Hydroelectric Generating Capacity. The total electrical generating capacity requirement for the Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP) are~ is expected to increase by approximately 35,000 megawatts between 1980 and 2000 (Peaking Power Status Report, Water and Power Resources Service, 1978), and the addition of a hydroelectric powerp1ant to Ridgway Dam has been studied. The increase will be due in part to an estimated population growth of more than 4,500,000 (U.S. Census figures indicate population in this area will reach 13,490,000 by the year 2000). New energy and industrial development expected in the area also could contribute to the projected increase in power needs. 1/ An outlet works is the structure that releases water from the reservoir into the river channel downstream from the dam. The outlet works consist of one or more intake structures into which reservoir water enters and flows through a conduit to the river downstream. 2/ The CRSP area includes the states of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah,-and Wyoming in their entirety, all or portions of six counties in Nevada, and the State of California east of 115th degree of longitude.