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<br />Thus, it would appea~ that the extremely small change in TDS predicted <br /> <br />for the Gunnison and Colorado Rivers below the Dallas Creek Project area <br /> <br />would have no effect on the four species in question. <br /> <br />The cool water releases from the project should not measuredly affect <br /> <br />water temperature in the Gunnison or Colorado River due to the warming effect <br /> <br />of the extensive use and re-use of the water for irrigation in the Uncompahgre <br /> <br />Valley. There are six major diversion dams on the Uncompahgre River between <br /> <br />i <br />t <br /> <br />Colona and Delta and one major diversion dam on the Gunnison River between <br /> <br />"I <br />- <br />~ <br />~ <br /> <br />Delta and Grand Junction. <br /> <br />Water quality problems have been identified in the upper Uncompahgre <br /> <br />" <br />~ <br />~ <br />~ <br />% <br />~ <br /> <br />drainage. Heavy metals and toxic chemicals that originate from mining <br /> <br />activities and natural runoff include copper, iron, aluminum, zinc, manganese, <br /> <br />~ <br />~ <br /> <br />arsenic, selenium, silver, lead, chromium, and cyanide. However, the <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />diluting effects of cleaner tributaries above and below the project and the <br /> <br />~i <br /> <br />.~ <br /> <br />alkaline conditions which chemically tie up these heavy metals both tend to <br /> <br />K <br />~ <br />~ <br />~ <br />~ <br /> <br />decrease the overall heavy metal concentrations in the lower drainage. The <br /> <br />results from the ongoing water quality monitoring studies being conducted <br /> <br />k <br />~I <br />~I <br />~I <br /> <br />in cooperation with the EPA may indicate reservoir operation alternatives <br /> <br />~~ <br /> <br />~ <br />,~ <br /> <br />to improve water quality. <br /> <br />In conclusion, the 17,100 acre feet of water depletion from the Gunnison <br /> <br />~ <br />.' <br />~ <br />.~ <br />:;~ <br />, <br />,: <br />l~ <br /> <br />Thus, the water quality of the Gunnison and Colorado Rivers will show <br /> <br />little or no detectable change in heavy metals or toxic chemicals. <br /> <br />and Colorado Rivers annually (less than 1% of the total annual flow of <br /> <br />either river) due to the Dallas Creek Project (Bureau of Reclamation, 1976) <br /> <br />'"I <br />~I <br />~I <br />m, <br />~~' <br /> <br />22 <br />