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? <br /> <br />Water should be held back in the Unit in fall and winter for a spring peak. <br />? <br /> <br />Alternatives should protect the use of the Unit as the reasonable and prudent <br />alternative under the ESA for t he Dolores and Dallas Creek Projects. <br />? <br /> <br />Alternatives should be concerned with meeting Gunnison River targets, not <br />Colorado River targets --- that should be responsibility of others on the Colorado <br />River mainstem . <br />? <br /> <br />Mitigation should be included for any adverse e ffects on water rights, water <br />supplies, and flooding. <br /> <br /> Water uses and water rights: <br />? <br /> <br />Aspinall water rights and decrees need to be followed. Some believe that these <br />call for the Unit to be operated to deliver storage water , when water is available, <br />to mi nimize or protect against downstream calls by senior water rights ; <br />suggestions for a solicitor’s opinion on this subject were made . <br />? <br /> <br />Lower flows at certain times of the year could increase “calls” on the river and <br />harm municipal and other upstream water u sers; adverse effects should be <br />addressed with mitigation plans — one idea would be providing augmentation <br />water from Reclamation reservoirs. <br />? <br /> <br />The Unit’s role in meeting compact calls needs to be addressed. <br />? <br /> <br />Effect of climate changes on meeting compacts should be considered. <br />? <br /> <br />What will be the effect on upstream waterways such as the Taylor River? <br /> <br /> Water quality: <br />? <br /> <br />If there are reduced flows in the river at times under alternatives, what effect is <br />there on concentrations of pollutants, including selenium ? <br />? <br /> <br />How do alternatives affect point source discharge permits and storm water runoff? <br />? <br /> <br />Analyze effects on Blue Mesa water quality — temperature of reservoir subbasins, <br />reservoir stratification, etc. <br />? <br /> <br />How do new flow regimes affect selenium and other water quality para meters? In <br />turn what is the effect on endangered species, point source discharge permits, and <br />fish and wildlife resources? <br /> <br /> Recreation: <br />? <br /> <br />Recreation at Blue Mesa is very important to Colorado and needs to be protected. <br />? <br /> <br />Kokanee fishery at Blue Mesa is o f statewide importance. <br />? <br /> <br />Impacts on Gunnison Whitewater Park, Morrow Point Boat tour, reservoir <br />accessibility, and other recreation concerns need to be addressed. <br />? <br /> <br />Analyze effects on recreation use at the reservoirs; include effects on recreation <br />facilities. <br />? <br /> <br />Gunnison Gorge recreation is very important and is affected by river flow levels. <br />? <br /> <br />Timing of spring peaks early in the May 15 - June 15 window would be more <br />compatible with recreational uses along the Gunnison River , in particular high use <br />during the salmon fly hatch that begins early to mid - June. <br /> <br /> <br /> 9 <br />