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001.515 water is pumped or diverted from the canal to serve residents of the Red1ands area. The irrigation season lasts approximately 6 months from Apri115 to October 15. The rest of the year, the power canal is operated solely for generation of hydroelectric power. Redlands Water and Power Company operates the diversion dam to maintain the 850 cfs flow into their canal as much as possible. Redlands Water and Power Company hold the most senior water rights within the Gunnison River Basin and holds water right decrees as follows: 670 cfs - priority date July 31, 1905. Allowed uses: irrigation, domestic stock, and power generation. 80 cfs - priority date June 26, 1941. Allowed uses: irrigation and power generation. 100 cfs - priority date 1995 Allowed uses: irrigation, domestic stock, and power generation. Total Water Right: 850 cfs Impacts: The No Action Alternative would have no direct affect on Red1ands water rights and uses. However, taking no action would result in failure to make sufficient progress in Recovery Program efforts to restore endangered fish populations. This could trigger future Service consultations under the Endangered Species Act, which could create confrontations between endangered fish recovery and water users. In addition, entrainment of Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker would continue and Red1ands Water and Power Company would be in violation of the prohibitions of take under the Endangered Species Act. Proposed Action: Providing fish screening for the Red1ands Power Canal would not significantly affect Red1ands Water and Power Company's ability to use their existing water rights. Under an existing agreement with the Colorado Water Conservation Board, Reclamation ensures deliveries to maintain 300 cfs below the Red1ands Diversion Dam with releases from the upstream Aspinall Unit for Red1ands Fish Passage operations. Under the proposed action, 40 cfs of the 300 cfs would be used for fish screen operations. A bypass channel capable of diverting Redlands total water right (850 cfs) is included in the fish screen designs. During times when the fish screen is inoperable because of ice or debris, isolation bulkheads would be used to bypass the fish screen. The installation of the fish screen would result in a minimal canal head loss. To make up for the head loss, Red1ands could consider installing flashboards on the diversion dam to raise the water elevation. 11