Aspinall EIS - Scoping Report May 2007

• Basin Roundtable: Gunnison
• Title: Scoping Report - Scoping Report
• Date: 5/1/2007
• Author: Bureau of Reclamation
• Basin Roundtables - Doc Type: General Resources

Introductio n and Background
1.

Reclamation is prepar ing the Aspinall Unit Operations Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) to describe potential effects of operation changes for the Wayne N. Aspinall Unit
that are related to compliance with the Endangered Species Act (E SA). Public
involvem ent will be an important activity in the development of the EIS . The first phase
of the public involvement process is “scoping” and is designed to help determine issues
and alternativ es to be addressed in the EIS. Scoping is defined as “an early and open
process for determining the scope of issues to be addressed and for identifying the
significant issues related to the proposed action.” This report summarizes the findings of
the scoping period.

A draft and final EIS will be prepar ed to provide decision makers appropriate information
and to inform the public of the proposed action, reasonable alternatives, and the impacts
of the alternatives. I n addition to scoping of sign ificant issues and alternatives , key
activities will includ e development of alternatives that support the proposed action and
need, analysis of issues in the EIS, selection of a recommended plan, and preparation of a
Record of Decision. Periodic meetings and mailings will be used to keep the public
updated on the EIS.

The Record of Decision will be the final product prepared under this EIS . It will
officially present the Department of the Interior’s position on operating guidance for the
Unit.

Reclamation will define the baseline for species considered and prep are a biological
assessment on the preferred alternative in compliance with Section 7 of the ESA. The
Section 7 consultation will cover the effect of the proposed operating criteria and
guidance for the Unit compare d to the baseline conditions. The Fish and Wildlife Service
will prepare a biological opinion on the proposed action.

T he Aspinall Unit (Unit) -- which includes Blue Mesa, Morrow Point, and Crystal Dams,
Powerplants, Reservoirs and associated facilities -- is located in western Colorado. The
Unit was authorized by the Colorado Ri ver Storage Project Act of 1956 along with Glen
Canyon, Flaming Gorge, and the Navajo Unit. The authorization calls for meeting a
variety of purposes including :

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regulating the flow of the Colorado River;
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storing water for beneficial consumptive use;
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providing for the reclamation of arid and semi - arid land;
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providing for the generation of hydroelectric power;
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providing for the control of floods; and
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allowing the Upper Basin states to develop Colorado Ri ver Compact apportioned
waters.

Flow Recommendations have been developed through t he Upper Colorado River
Endangered Fish Recovery Program (Recovery Program) . The r ecommendations
2