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001567 Unique Geographical Features The Palisade and Mesa County Irrigation Districts built the actual dam structure. Minutes of their board meetings clearly show both Districts consider themselves the joint owners of the dam. Reclamation understands Mr. Jacobson may challenge the Districts' ownership of the dam structure. Impacts No Action: Since no fish ladder or dam removal is considered in this alternative, no land or facility ownership rights would be changed. Current land owners may have to resolve any questions regarding dam ownership. Fish Ladder with Hydropower Plant: Access agreements and temporary easements would be necessary from all of the owners identified above. Construction access would be required from CDOT, the Union Pacific Railroad, and Mr. Jacobson. Reaching an agreement with Palisade and Mesa County Irrigation Districts to modify the dam would also be necessary. The FERC license amendment proposes granting a long-term easement or lease for the fish passage structure and a long-term access agreement for access to the site. Access agreements would also be needed from CDOT and the Union Pacific Railroad for long-term operation and maintenance of the fish ladder. Fish Ladder without Hydropower Plant: The existing FERC license and the proposed amendments include provisions for long-term easements and access. Since this alternative assumes hydropower is not developed, it follows that the commitments for easements would no longer be binding. Therefore, it would be necessary to secure temporary construction and long- term operation and maintenance easements from Mr. Jacobson, or possibly purchase his property. Other requirements would be the same as the Fish Ladder with Hydropower Plant alternative, including entering into an agreement with the dam owners to modify the dam. Dam Removal: As for the Fish Ladder alternatives, access and/or land use agreements would be necessary from all of the owners identified above. Construction access would be required from the CDOT, Palisade Irrigation District, the Union Pacific Railroad, and Mr. Jacobson. Permission from the Mesa County and Palisade Irrigation Districts to remove the dam would also be necessary; the Palisade Irrigation District is currently opposed to dam removal. Unique Geographical Features To meet requirements of environmental laws and U.S. Department of the Interior policies, Reclamation specifically addresses potential impacts of any proposed action on unique geographical features - which include prime and unique farmlands, wild or scenic rivers, rivers placed on the nationwide river inventory, refuges, floodplains or wetlands. Providing for fish passage at the Price-Stubb Dam would have no effect on prime or unique farmlands, Affected reaches of the Colorado River are not under study or recommended for designation as a wild or 35