WSPP286

• File Number: 8240.200.45.J
• Description: Colorado River Threatened-Endangered - RIPRAP - Red Lands Project-Fish Ladder - Enviro Studies
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 5/1/2004
• Author: DOI-BOR
• Title: Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact - RE- Redlands Power Canal Fish Screen - 05-01-04
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

000936

CHAPTER 1 :..- INTRODUCTION

PROPOSED ACTION

The Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish 'Recovery Program (Recovery Program) is
proposing to construct a fish screen in the Redlands Power Canal southwest of the city of Grand
Junction, in Mesa County, Colorado (Frontispiece Map). The Redlands Power Canal transports
water diverted from the Gunnison River by the Redlands Diversion Dam. The fish screen would
return fish that enter the Redlands Power Canal to the Gunnison River downstream of the
Redlands Diversion Dam. The Recovery Program would provide for construction, operations
alid maintenance of the fish screen. The Bureau of Reclamation would construct the fish screen
on behalf of the Recovery Program, and the Recovery Program would provide funding to
Redlands Water and Power Company (RWPC) fodong-term operations and maintenance of the
fish screen. RWCP would also assume ownership of the Redlands" Fish Ladder and fish and
receiving funding for the Recovery Program for maintenance ofthe fish ladder.

NEED FOR AN]) PURPOSE OF ACTION

This final environmental assessment (EA)'evaluates the 'effects on the human environment from
constructing and operating a fish screen in the Redlands Power Canal. The Bureau of
Reclamation (Recll:llTIation) prepared this EA in cooperation with other federal and state agencies
to comply with the National Enviro~ental Policy Act (NEP A), Endangered Species Act, and
related U.S. Department ofthe Interior policies and regulations. If, based on this analysis,
Reclamation concludes the proposed action would have no significant impact on the human
environment; preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement would not be required before
the action could be iinplemented.

UPPER COLORADO RIVER ENDANGERED FISHES RECOVERY
PROGRAM

In 1988-, the Governors of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming; the Secretary of the Interior; and the
Administrator of Western Area Power Administration entered into a.cooperative agreement to
initiate the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program. The Recovery Program
is an interagency partnership created to recover the endangered Colorado pikeminnow
(Ptychocheilus lucius), razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus), humpback chub (Gila cypha) and
bonytail (Gila elegans). .

Recovery Program elements include:

.

Habitat management including identifying and acquiring instream flows, changing

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