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<br />.. ", r, <br />" '", __ oJ J 0 <br /> <br />Hydropower <br /> <br />The five generators at the three dams of the Unit are capable of generating up to 287.7 megawatts <br />of electricity. Morrow Point is the real powerhouse of the Unit-its generators produce twice as <br />much electricity as those at Blue Mesa. The Western Area Power Administration markets <br />'electricity generated by the Unit in conjunction with power from Glen Canyon and Flaming <br />Gorge Dams of the Colorado River Storage Project as part of an integrated system that provides <br />electricity to all states of the Colorado River Basin. Power revenues are used to repay project <br />costs, fund endangered species recovery activities, and to operate and maintain other Colorado <br />River Storage Project features. The upstream powerplants of the Unit (Blue Mesa and Morrow <br />Point) are unique in that they can be operated to provide peaking power without fluctuating river <br />levels. Crystal Reservoir then serves as a re-regulation reservoir to stabilize flows to the <br />Gunnison River. Peaking operations are critical to help meet moment to moment demands for <br />electricity. The flexibility offered by the three dams of the Unit is of increasing importance as <br />operations at Glen Canyon and Flaming Gorge are also being restricted to protect downstream <br />resources. <br /> <br />It is becoming increasingly difficult to meet the demands of the power system as electric loads <br />increase and power systems become stressed. Blackouts, as have recently occurred in Arizona <br />and California, pose serious risk to the general population in terms of human health and safety. <br />The recent increased frequency of blackouts can be attributed to factors such as the condition of <br />generators and transmission lines, loading of equipment, insufficient generation capability, and <br />weather. Hydropower facilities with peaking capabilities, i.e., Morrow Point and Blue Mesa <br />Powerplants, are essential to the power system because of their ability to respond immediately to <br />system emergencies and reduce the potential for blackouts. <br /> <br />Fish, Wildlife, and Recreation <br /> <br />Significant recreation uses and fisheries have developed around the Aspinall Unit and its current <br />operations. Public recreation use of Unit lands and water within Curecanti National Recreation <br />Area is managed by the National Park Service. Blue Mesa Reservoir supports over 1,000,000 <br />recreation visitor days per year. Fishing, boating, un.d camping are primary recreation uses. <br />Water levels at Blue Mesa are important elements in maintaining a quality fishery and recreation <br />area. <br /> <br />When operation of Blue Mesa Dam began in 1966, minimum downstream flows of 100 cfs in the <br />Gunnison River were called for, primarily to support a downstream fishery. With construction of <br />Crystal Dam in 1976, this minimum was increased to 200 cfs. In 1985, and based on results of <br />instream flow studies to protect the Gold Medal trout fishery that had developed, Reclamation, <br />the Colorado Division of Wildlife, and the Colorado Water Conservation Board increased <br />minimum flows to 300 cfs to protect the downstream trout fishery. Fishery flows have been <br />enhanced in the Gunnison and Taylor Rivers upstream from the Unit through storage exchange <br />agreements with the Unit. <br /> <br />8 <br />