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'^Hl"i~"!7 UUi..u":,, suppliers downstream of the Redlands Diversion Dam on the Colorado River, is located in Moab, Utah. No Action: The No Action Alternative would have no affect on water quality. Proposed Action: The proposed action may have minor impacts to water quality during construction. This could include increased river turbidity during construction and removal of a temporary cofferdam needed to construct the fish return outlet structure. Construction would occur during the winter months when the Gunnison River flows are low and Reclamation would request authorization the U.S, Army Corps of Engineers under Regional General Permit No. 57, Projects beneficial to the Upper Colorado Endangered Fishes Recovery. Discharge of concrete and riprap below the normal high water line would be necessary to protect the fish return pipeline during high flow events. The proposed action would have no affect on quality of the City of Grand Junction's water supplies. VEGETATION AND LAND USE During construction of the proposed action alternative, an increase in noise and traffic would occur. To date, Reclamation has not been advised of concerns for disturbances during construction. Any complaints would be resolved on a case-by-case basis. Access for construction, operations and maintenance would utilize existing roadways. Issue: The Gunnison River provides highly valued habitat and floodplain functions that need to be considered during construction of the fish screen. Existing Conditions: The Gunnison River Basin is primarily rural in nature. A majority of the roughly 8,000 square-mile watershed is comprised of National Forest or Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands. Valleys are largely private and were originally developed for ranching, farming and mining. In recent years, recreation, retirement living, and second-home development have become important. In the vicinity of the Red1ands Diversion Dam, lands are a combination of privately owned parcels and sand and gravel operations. Redlands Water and Power Company, and federa11ands managed by the BLM. The BLM owns the land on the west side of the Gunnison River at the Red1ands Diversion Dam site. RWPChas used this BLM land since at least 1918. The Southern Pacific Railroad's line parallels the east bank of the Gunnison River in this area and primarily hauls coal in unit trains. The railroad and the Red1ands Diversion Dam are the primary land use. The City of Grand Junction has a water intake structure on the east side of the diversion dam on land leased from RWPC. This structure is located upstream of the proposed fish screen. The Department of Energy has a compound immediately downstream of the fish screen location on the east side of the Gunnison River. Residential homes and limited farming occur downstream to confluence of the Gunnison and Colorado Rivers. 13