WSPC112

• File Number: 8240.200.49.J
• Description: Colorado River Threatened-Endangered - RIPRAP - Price-Stubb Fish Passage - Environmental Studies
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 4/19/2004
• Author: DOI-BOR
• Title: Revised Supplemental Draft Environmental Assessment and Notice of Public Meeting - RE- Providing Endangered Fish Passage at the Price-Stubb Diversion Dam on the Colorado River - 04-19-04
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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Revised Supplemental Draft Environmental Assessment-Chapter 2-Alternatives

No Action

Under the No Action alternative, Reclamation would not take action to provide for
endangered fish passage at or around the Price-Stubb Diversion Dam. The dam would
remain in place and continue to be a barrier to upstream passage for endangered fish
specIes.

The No Action alternative assumes development and operation of the Jacobson Hydro
No.1 Project, as licensed on September 13,2001, would not occur (FERC, 2001). This
40-year license was originally issued to E.R. Jacobson for the construction, operation,
and maintenance of the project by FERC on June 19, 1990 (FERC, 1990).

In 1994, FERC granted a 'stay" on development of the hydropower project for several
reasons. These included the need to reinitiate consultation with the Service on the effects
of the project on the newly listed razorback sucker and recently designated critical habitat
upstream from the project. On June 27, 1996, the licensee filed an application for
amendment of the license. Major provisions of the amendment included moving the
hydroplant upstream to the toe ofthe dam and decreasing the hydroplant flow from 2,000
cubic feet per second (cfs) to 1,000 cf~.

FERC (2002a) issued a letter dated January 4, 2002 to E.R. Jacobson that stated since
deadlines had passed to commence project construction, Mr. Jacobson should refrain
from any land-disturbing or land-clearing activities at the project site. On June 3, 2002,
FERC (2002b) issued a notice, pursuant to Section 375.308(f) of the Commissions
regulations, of probable termination of the license for Jacobson Hydro No.1 Project after
30 days from the date of the letter. An order terminating the license was issued by FERC
(2002c) on July 15, 2002. Additional details about the Jacobson Hydro No. 1 Project are
included in the 1999 Draft EA (Reclamation, 1999). E.R. Jacobson has not abandoned
plans for hydropower development at the site.

Conventional Fish Ladder

Under this alternative, Reclamation would construct a ladder around the dam, similar to
the U-shaped ladder (see Figure 2) constructed in 1996 at the Redlands Diversion Dam
on the Gunnison River (Reclamation, 1995). Fish passage use by Colorado pikeminnow
and razorback sucker has been documented at the Redlands Fish Ladder by the Service.
This alternative would be compatible with private development ofthe Jacobson Hydro
No.1 Project, as licensed in the 2001 FERC License Amendment (FERC, 2001) if
independently constructed. This license was terminated by FERC (2002c) in July 2002.

If independently constructed, it could complicate construction of both the hydropower
plant and fish ladder. For instance, if the fish passage is constructed first, it would need
to incorporate attraction flows. If the fish passage and hydropower plant were

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