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<br />OJ15J7 <br /> <br />actions needed to recover the fish (establish self-sustaining populations) throughout the Upper <br />Colorado River Basin. Critical habitat (critical to the survival of a listed species) has been <br />designated for the Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker, and includes the 100-year flood <br />plain of Gunnison River from its confluence with Colorado River upstream to the Gunnison <br />River's confluence with the Uncompahgre River. <br /> <br />Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker have been stocked in the Gunnison River upstream <br />of the Redlands Diversion Dam and have been documented using the Redlands Fish Passageway <br />(Burdick 2002). Both species have also been stocked upstream and downstream of the Gunnison <br />River's confluence with the Colorado River (River Mile 170.3) (Burdick, 2002b). Both fish <br />species are extremely rare throughout the Upper Colorado River Basin. To exclude fish from <br />major canal diversions, a fish screen was constructed in 2002 in the Grand Valley Irrigation <br />Canal, a diversion from the Colorado River at River Mile 185.1. A fish screen will also be <br />constructed 2004 in the Government Highline Canal, which is a diversion from the Colorado <br />River at River Mile 193.6. Additional information on endangered Colorado River fishes is <br />included in the biological assessment. <br /> <br />Habitat Availability Upstream-One factor that has led to the decline of native and <br />endangered fish is loss of access to their historic habitats. In 1996, fish passage was restored <br />past the Red1ands Diversion Dam to allow endangered fish access to critical habitat in the <br />Gunnison River to its confluence with the Uncompahgre River and restored connection with <br />Colorado River endangered fish populations. This fish passageway is operated by the Service as <br />a selective passage and prevents non-native fish movements upstream of the Red1ands Diversion <br />Dam. <br /> <br />PUBLIC SCOPING <br /> <br />A public scoping letter was mailed to various agencies and adjoining landowners in April 2003. <br />Reclamation requested assistance in identifying issues and concerns associated with the proposed <br />projects. Reclamatjon requested comments by May 19,2003. No comments were received. <br /> <br />Fish screen alternatives evaluated in this EA include the Proposed Action and No action <br />Alternatives, and are discussed in Chapter 2. Each issue and concern described below is <br />discussed in Chapter 3. More information on scoping activities is also included in Chapter 4. <br /> <br />Water Resources <br /> <br />Diversion Dam Operations and W ater Rights-The Redlands Diversion Dam is used <br />year-round to divert water for irrigation and to generate hydroelectric power. Operation <br />of the fish screen should not interfere with operations of the dam or affect the ability to <br />divert water for irrigation and hydroelectric power generation. <br /> <br />3 <br />