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<br />Water from Blue Mesa Reservoir
<br />.;. through the BlackCanyon '
<br />'~.. arid the Gunnison. Gorge
<br />
<br />No, I
<br />
<br />March 1993
<br />
<br />. ' ..' .
<br />
<br />INITIAL SCOPING COMPLETED
<br />
<br />, '
<br />The public has an important role in tlie National
<br />Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process,
<br />During, scoping, they provide input on what issues
<br />should be addressed, Initial scoping has been
<br />completed for the proposal to dt;velop a contract to '
<br />deliver wilter from Blue Mesa Reservoir to the '
<br />Black Canyon of the, Gunnison National Monument
<br />(Black Canyon), Beginning with public meetings
<br />on May '19-21, 1992, we received'many oral,and
<br />written comments, This newsletter highlights the
<br />results of the initial scoping effort.
<br />
<br />The public asked that the scope of the proposed
<br />,contract expand to reSolve issues related to:
<br />
<br />. quantification of Fed~ral reserved wate~
<br />, right for the ,Black Canyon
<br />
<br />, '
<br />. operating the Aspinall Unit to assist in the
<br />, recovery of downstream endangered fish
<br />
<br />. determining the availability of water, stored
<br />in Blue, Mesa Reservoir for use, hy the'
<br />people of Colorado and the Gunnison Basin
<br />
<br />The contract should provide equitably for the
<br />long-term protection of:
<br />
<br />'. Aspinall Unit water storage purposes
<br />
<br />. purposes and resources of Black Canyon,
<br />Curecanti, and,Gunnison,Gorge
<br />
<br />. Colorado's ability to use its entitlement of
<br />
<br />Colorado River compact allocation and its share
<br />of Aspinall Unit storage
<br />
<br />. downstream endangered fish species
<br />, ' '
<br />, '
<br />
<br />. existing/future uses of Gunnison Basinwater
<br />, supplies under Colorado State water law
<br />
<br />The public was concerned about the effects of'
<br />the contract ,on the following resources:
<br />
<br />. Water - supply, uses, qualitY,
<br />and water rights administration
<br />
<br />. Sport Fisheries (Gold Medal trout,
<br />Blue. MeSa ReserVoir)
<br />
<br />. Recrelition, wilderness, wild and scenic river
<br />
<br />. Endangered fish,
<br />
<br />. Wildlife/Wildlife Habitat - including
<br />riparian'hilbitat and wetlilIids
<br />
<br />. Flooding - both upstream and dowl)stream
<br />
<br />'. Sedimeit~tion- and river channel
<br />maintenance,processes
<br />
<br />, '. Hydropower-generation, po\Ver
<br />- rates, revenues, ' ' , '
<br />
<br />it Regional economy (agriculture,
<br />, rilIi'ching, recreation, tourism),
<br />
<br />. Other projects and designations c existing
<br />:and proposed
<br />
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<br />, MarCh :1993
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