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<br />000955 <br /> <br />populations in the project area, and no adverse effects related to environmental justice are <br />predicted. . . ' <br /> <br />SOCIOECONMIC CONDTIONS <br /> <br />. ' <br />Existine: Conditions: The Gunnison River has long been a key factor in the economy of <br />the Gunnison B'asin. The river supports agricultural enterprises, municipal water supplies, and a . <br />growing recreation sector in the economy. The operation ofthe Redlands Diversion Dam and <br />other water projects in the basin ~s important for the maintenance of existing agricultural and <br />suburban lifestyles in the area. <br /> <br />Impacts <br /> <br />No Action: Under the No Action aitemative, the ,Recovery Program would not provide <br />funding for the construction, operation and maintenance of a fish screen in the Redlands Power <br />Canal. Without assistance from the Recovery Program, R WPC would bear all costs associated <br />with minimizing incidental take associated with R WPC operations. As a small water district, <br />these added costs would have a significant impact to R WPC and its costumers. Under the <br />Recovery Program, recovery implementation costs" are covered by federal power revenues, state <br />cost sharing contributions, and Federal appropriations. <br /> <br />.Proposed Action: Construction of the fish screen would result in additional <br />expenditures in the local economy, but it is a relatively small.project and would not signifi~antly <br />affect the local economy nor place a strain on any services such as schools or transportation. <br /> <br />, ' <br />Because operation and maintenance costs would be funded by the Recovery Program, R WPC <br />would not bear additional expenses directly associated with the construction, operation or <br />maintenance of the fish screen. However, the fish screen would result in a small head loss at the <br />diversion dam which could reduce power generation and reduce revenues. Redlands, separate <br />from the proposed action, installed flashboards on the diversion dam to offset the head loss as a <br />result of the fish screen. R WPC would not be able to generate hydropower duririg construction <br />of the fish screen. This would result in about4 months, loss of winter power generation revenue <br />and the Recovery Program has agreed to compensate RWPC for hydropower revenue losses <br />associated with construction of the fish screen. <br /> <br />CULTURAL RESOURCES <br /> <br />Existine: Conditions: <br /> <br />Over the years, land in the.immediate project area has been disturbed by various construction and <br />maintenance projects related to the Redlands Diversion Dam, railroad construction, agricultural <br /> <br />20 <br />