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<br />001082 <br /> <br />Final Environmental Assessment-Chapter 3-Affected Environment and <br />Environmental Consequences <br /> <br />cities of Grand Junction, Fruita, and the Town of Palisade to deliver water for municipal <br />recreation uses that accomplishes the same objectives for the endangered fish. <br /> <br />Clifton Water District-Downstream Water Quality <br /> <br />Issue: Fish passage construction or dam removal could cause temporary water <br />quality changes downstream. This could affect the ability of Clifton Water District to <br />meet drinking water standards and protect public health. <br /> <br />Existing Conditions: The Clifton Water District provides domestic water to <br />about 30,000 residents in the Grand Valley. Using the Colorado River as their source of <br />water, Clifton Water District produces potable water that exceeds drinking water <br />standards (Clifton Water District, 1997). The District's diversion is approximately 6 <br />miles downstream from the Price-Stubb Diversion Dam. <br /> <br />F or all construction alternatives, Reclamation would request Clean Water Act Section <br />404 authorization from the Army Corp of Engineers under Regional General Permit <br />Number 57, Projects Beneficial to the Recovery ofthe Upper Colorado Endangered Fish <br />Species. The permit covers Recovery Program activities including construction of fish <br />ladders and fish screen, levee construction and removal, etc.). The State of Colorado <br />provided Section 401 Water Quality Certification for the types ofprojects covered under <br />Regional General Permit Number 57. General permit conditions are designed to protect <br />water quality and Reclamation would comply with these conditions. <br /> <br />Impacts <br /> <br />No Action: Water quality would remain unchanged if no fish passage is <br />constructed. <br /> <br />Conventional Fish Ladder: Fish ladder construction could cause a temporary <br />increase in erosion and sediment, but impacts are expected to be minor. Construction <br />would occur when the Colorado River is low and a temporary cofferdam would be used <br />to divert water away from construction areas. <br /> <br />Downstream Rock Fish Passage: Temporary effects on water quality are <br />predicted to be greater than the Conventional Fish Passage Alternative since more of the <br />construction activities take place in the river channel. However, implementation of best <br />management practices and construction during low river flows would minimize negative <br />impacts. Temporary cofferdams would also assist in minimizing effect on water quality. <br />Operation of the fish passage would have no effect on water quality. <br /> <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />Downstream Rock Fish Passage with Whitewater Recreation Features: <br />Effects would be similar to the Downstream Rock Fish Passage Alternative. <br /> <br />29 <br />