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'000929 Redland Fish Screen FONSI W ACO-GJ-FONSI-04-01 Page 6 dewater the canal prior to November 1, 2004, construction contracts will require contractor to provide up to 4 cfs to the City of Grand Junction pumping plant downstream of the Redlands Power Plant until November 1, 2004 to provide irrigation water for a residence and golf course. 3) The Recovery Program has committed to compensate RWPC for lost hydropower revenues from canal dewatering during construction ofthe fish screen. 4) Areas disturbed during construction will be revegetated with appropriate plant species (i.e. willows, native grasses). Reclamation will mitigate for the loss of mature cottonwood trees by planting a combination of 50 cottonwood saplings and willow cuttings (5 to 1 ratio) within the proj ect area. 5) In 1996, Reclamation entered into a temporary agreement with the Colorado Water Conservation Board to deliver water from the Aspinall Unit to ensure that a minimum of 300 cfs was maintained downstream of the Redlands Diversion Dam in the months of July through October for the benefit of the Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker. The 300 cfs is used to operate the Redlands fish ladder and maintain adequate flows to allow endangered fish to swim upstream from the Colorado River to the fish ladder entrance. The interim agreement expires in 2005 and a permanent agreement regarding flows below the Redlands Diversion Dam will be addressed in the Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision for operational changes for the Aspinall Unit that are related to compliance with the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and implementation ofthe Service's Gunnison and Colorado River flow recommendations or a reasonable alternative. During the time period between when the interim agreement expires and the issuance of a record of decision, Reclamation will to the extent allowable under State and Federal laws, attempt to release from the Aspinall Unit sufficient water to maintain a minimum flow of 300 cfs during the months of July, August, September, and October in the Gunnison River from the Redlands Diversion Dam to the confluence of the Gunnison River with the Colorado River. During drought periods when the 300 cfs flow below Redlands may not be possible, Reclamation will work with the Service and water users in the Gunnison River Basin to provide flows lower than 300 cfs below Redlands. Based on a review of comments received, analysis of environmental impacts, and coordination with the Service under the Endangered Species Act, Reclamation concludes that construction, operation, and maintenance of the Redlands fish screen will have no significant impacts on the quality of the human environment or the natural resources in the project area, and therefore further NEP A compliance in the form of an environmental impact statement will not be required. This Finding of No Significant Impact has, therefore, been prepared and is submitted to document environmental review and evaluation of the proposed action in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended. ~~e [~j1 ..