Laserfiche WebLink
<br />nfl1'518 <br />u Vi., .,;;. <br /> <br />The proposed fish screen site is located approximately % miles downstream of the Red1ands <br />Diversion Dam. The area's dominate features include the Red1ands Canal and a large linear <br />riparian corridor between the canal and the Gunnison River (See Figure 3). The riparian corridor <br />is dominated by mature cottonwoods trees, willows, Russian olives, tamarisk, wild rose, and <br />skunkbush sumac. The area west of the canal and away from the influence of the river changes <br />to an upland community comprised predominately of greasewood, rabbitbrush and saltbush. <br />Disturbed areas are dominated by kochia, bindweed, grasses and forbs. <br /> <br />Impacts <br /> <br />No Action: The No Action alternative would have no effect on existing vegetation or current <br />land uses. <br /> <br />Proposed Action: The fish return pipeline would disturb about 1 acre of riparian vegetation <br />with grubbing and trenching. This would result in the loss of approximately 10 mature <br />cottonwood trees. After construction, the area would be re-vegetated with cottonwood and <br />willow p1antings and appropriate riparian grasses. Fifty cottonwood and willow seedlings (5 to 1 <br />ratio) would be planted in the area to mitigate for the loss of the 10 mature cottonwood trees. A <br />50-f1. corridor (25 feet on each side of the pipe) would be maintained to protect the pipe and <br />allow for access for maintenance of the fish return outlet structure. <br /> <br />Reclamation would request authorization from the Army Corps of Engineers under Regional <br />General Permit No. 57, Projects beneficial to the Colorado River endangered fishes, for the <br />construction of the fish screen. The fish return pipeline outlet structure would require discharge <br />of concrete and fill material; however no jurisdictional wetlands would be affected. No changes <br />in land use are predicted as a result of the proposed action. <br /> <br />FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES <br /> <br />Existin2 Conditions: <br />The affected area, for the purposes of assessing fish and wildlife, corresponds to the 100 year <br />floodplain of the Gunnison River from the Red1ands Diversion Dam to the Gunnison River's <br />confluence with the Colorado River. There are no significant concerns for project effects on fish <br />and wildlife resources in general; concerns focus on avoiding and minimizing adverse impacts to <br />endangered species as well as complementing efforts to establish self-sustaining population of <br />endangered Colorado Riverfish species. <br /> <br />14 <br />