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<br />000530 <br /> <br />Proposed Action (HUP Releases) <br /> <br />Ruedi Reservoir. If 2003 inflow is similar to 2002 inflow, the Dearhamer and Aspen Yacht Club boat <br />ramps would not be available for use in 2003 under the Proposed Action. In 2002 the Ruedi Marina boat <br />ramp is expected to be useable through September 1 but would become unavailable shortly thereafter and <br />remain unusable in 2003 if inflow is similar to 2002 inflow. <br /> <br />Camping and other recreational activities at the reservoir would most likely be degraded for the remainder <br />of this summer season, as with No Action, and could well be degraded for most of the 2003 summer <br />season. The anticipated low reservoir content would be expected to impact the aesthetics, access to <br />recreation, and proximity to camping at Ruedi. <br /> <br />Fishing. Flows between August 1 and October 31 are expected to be between approximately 250-300 cfs. <br />These flows have the potential to impact fishing along the Fryingpan River. Although the impacts would <br />not be as substantive as higher flows, they would begin to limit river access and wading opportunities. <br /> <br />Fishing experience along the Roaring Fork would decline throughout the period of the agreement as flows <br />declined but could be expected to be slightly improved by additional releases made under this alternative. <br />This may only serve to extend the fishing season by a brief period. <br /> <br />In 2003, flows along the Fryingpan River are expected to be unusually low at times. Early in the summer, <br />flows could be as low as the minimum allowed by the Operating Principles during this time. Fishermen <br />have indicated that flows less than 150 cfs can impact fishing in the Fryingpan. Flows are expected to <br />increase as contract demand, endangered fish releases, and other releases occur later in the summer. <br />Consequently, there is potential for the fishing experience along the Fryingpan to be impacted by low <br />flows early in the summer, longer than under No Action. No appreciable impacts to Roaring Fork fishing <br />experience are anticipated because most early summer season flows are derived from tributaries other <br />than Fryingpan River. <br /> <br />Net Effects <br /> <br />Under the Proposed Action, the Ruedi Marina boat ramp in 2002 is expected to become unusable up to <br />three weeks earlier than under No Action. If 2003 inflow is similar to 2002 inflow, the Ruedi Marina <br />boat ramp would probably not be unusable for any portion of 2003. Under the No Action alternative the <br />Ruedi Marina boat ramp would be usable for approximately 30-45 days during the early part of the 2003 <br />recreation season. <br /> <br />Ruedi releases under the Proposed Action are expected to cause some impacts to fishing access and <br />wading, whereas no impacts are anticipated under No Action. Similarly, low flows in the Fryingpan <br />River are expected to occur during the 2003 summer season under both alternatives but could be <br />anticipated to last longer under the Proposed Action. <br /> <br />SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT <br /> <br />Affected Environment <br /> <br />Grand Valley. HOP beneficiaries include domestic, municipal, and agricultural users in the Colorado <br />River basin above the Gunnison River. The largest group of HOP beneficiaries is a collection of farm and <br />ranch interests in Mesa County near Grand Junction, Colorado. Agriculture has been an important <br /> <br />20 <br />