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The program should not affect any other threatened, endangered, or candidate species. Habitat for the bald eagle, whooping crane, and peregrine falcon will not be affected by the fish passageway, and flow changes from the interim agreement are not expected to have a measurable effect on riparian vegetation or wetlands used by these species. The southwestern willow flycatcher, black tern, and white-faced ibis would also be expected to be found along the river corridor and similarly would not be affected. Plant species listed for the Gunnison Basin would not be affected because they occur in upland habitat unaffected by the proposed actions. This EA also serves as a Biological Assessment under the Endangered Species Act. The proposed actions will not affect proposed species nor the threatened or endangered species considered with the exception of the Colorado squawfish and the razorback sucker. These fish and their critical habitat may be affected but in a beneficial manner. Based on these conclusions and consistent with regulations in 50 CFR 402.13, formal consultation under the Endangered Species Act is not necessary. Socio-Economic Factors Existing Conditions The Gunnison River has long been a key factor in the economy of the Gunnison Basin. The river supports agricultural enterprises, municipal water supplies, and a growing recreation sector in the economy. It is considered to be very important to the ranching-farming-open space culture of the area according to many comments received on the draft EA. The Aspinall Unit is important for supporting a variety of water uses, fish and wildlife, and recreation as well as producing hydropower. The operation of the Redlands Diversion Dam and other water projects in the basin is important for the maintenance of existing agricultural and suburban lifestyles in the area. From a regional and national perspective, the Aspinall Unit was constructed as part of the Colorado River Storage Project in order to initiate the comprehensive development of the water resources of the upper Colorado River Basin. It assists in allowing Colorado and other upper basin states to use water under the Colorado River Compact. It, and other major storage reservoirs, store water in wet years and cycles to supplement releases to the lower basin states in dry periods. The Aspinall Unit also provides flood control, water for consumptive uses, recreation and fish and wildlife resources, and hydropower. As stored water is released from each Aspinall Unit reservoir, it is run through turbines at the Blue Mesa, Morrow Point and Crystal powerplants to generate power. Based on monthly hydrology data, the amount of power historically produced each month over the 22-year period of Aspinall Unit operations has been estimated for the No Action alternative (see Appendix E, Tables E-22 through E-24). Estimates show the Aspinall Unit has produced an annual average of about 757,000 megawatt hours of energy. 31