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<br />The Service recommends that during the EIS process the Aspinall Unit be operated in a <br />manner that resembles the flow recommendations. <br /> <br />The EIS process should evaluate how alternatives would offset impacts of the Aspinall <br />Unit and other projects tha t rely on the Aspinall Unit for ESA compliance , such as the <br />Dallas Creek and Dolores Projects. <br /> <br />Effects of alternative flow regimes on selenium concentrations (and other parameters) <br />should be evaluated as to effects on attainment of water quality standards , point source <br />discharge permits, selenium concentrations in critical habitat, and fish and wildlife <br />resources. <br /> <br /> National Park Service: <br />Future operations should adequately protect resources of <br />the Black Canyon National Park and Curecanti National Recreat ion Area. Reservoir <br />issues that should be considered in EIS include: effects on upstream icing, fish <br />populations, water temperature in subbasins of Blue Mesa and related food web and <br />fishery resources, water and land based recreation, location of tribut ary inflows at <br />different reservoir levels, cultural and paleontological resources, visitor facilities, and <br />Morrow Point boat tour operations. Gunnison River issues include: sediment transport, <br />fisheries and food web, riparian vegetation dynamics, visitor use and access, and anchor <br />ice formation. <br /> <br />NPS wishes to participate in development of the baseline and alternatives and in <br />development of ESA documents. Concerned with how the April 2003 Black Canyon <br />Agreement will be handled in the No Action Alternativ e. EIS should clearly present <br />operational criteria to be used to meet t he agreement. Action alternatives should include <br />a range that fully meets the needs of the endangered fish while attempting to meet <br />Aspinall Unit purposes. Alternatives should addres s meeting average peak flows and <br />instantaneous peaks. Need to keep in mind that final quantification and resolution of the <br />Park’s reserved right may affect operations. <br /> <br /> Western Area Power Administration: <br />WAPA believes that Reclamation <br />should use the EIS process to identify ways of meeting purposes of the EIS without <br />affecting hydropower. Western and their contractor Argonne National Lab have done an <br />analysis that shows Gunnison River flow recommendations can be met using “spill” <br />water in wetter hydrolog ic conditions; this analysis needs to be refined so that it can be <br />developed into the preferred alternative. <br /> <br />The 2003 Black Canyon settlement agreement should be included in all alternatives. <br /> <br />Operating practices have developed over time, for example flow regimes to protect <br />brown trout spawning . The No Action alternative should provide a range of operational <br />guidelines, including the undocumented operational practices to make it clear that the <br />impacts of No Action are variable, depending on the use of uno fficial operating practices. <br /> <br /> 14 <br />