9659 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Revised Supplemental Draft Environmental Assessment-Chapter 3-Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences water right at this location is remote, since the City of Grand Junction and the Clifton Water District do not have any distribution systems in this area. In addition, FERC established a prescriptive easement for fish passage and providing fish passage as a condition ofthe Jacobson Hydro No. 1 Project license which has been terminated by FERC. Conventional Fish Ladder: This alternative would have the same effect on water rights as the No Action Alternative. If constructed, only about 1,000 cfs of the 2,100 cfs water rights associated with the terminated Jacobson Hydro No. 1 Project would be available under the amended FERC license (FERC, 2001). Downstream Rock Fish Passage: This alternative would have the same effect on water rights as the No Action Alternative. Downstream Rock Fish Passage with Whitewater Recreation Features: Under this alternative, the Jacobson Hydro No. 1 Project and recreational interests would enter into an agreement to ensure adequate flows over the dam for whitewater recreation. With or without the Jacobson Hydro No.1 Project, the fish passage would receive the first 80 cfs of flow in the river, ensuring continual fish passage operations. Dam Removal: The Dam Removal Alternative would preclude the Palisade Irrigation District (PID) from pursuing development of a backup irrigation system or hydropower facility at the dam: Consequently, PID opposes removal of the dam. As co- owners of the dam, PID could prohibit the dam removalaltemative. This alternative would also preclude using the dam as a forebayto pump domestic, municipal and industrial water. The owners ofthis right have said that this impact would not affect their ability to meet their existing and future needs. The option of constructing and operating the Jacobson Hydro No. 1 Project would also be precluded by dam removal and would likely result in the abandonment of hydropower rights. L.R. Jacobson and PID have both suggested using their decreed rights and facilities as a point of delivery for surplus water from the Green Mountain Reservoir Historic User p,){)1. This water is available in some years and under certain hydrologic conditions as pan of the Orchard Mesa Check Settlement, with the objective of indirectly benefiting endangered fish habitat. However, Reclamation in 2001 completed a contract with the cities of Grand Junction, Fruita, and the Town of Palisade to deliver water for municipal recreation uses that accomplishes the same objectives for the endangered fish. Clifton Water District-Downstream Water Quality Issue: Fish passage construction or dam removal could cause temporary water quality changes downstream. This could affect the ability of Clifton Water District to meet drinking water standards and protect public health. 27