8089 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

FISH PASSAGE--Will the fish passageway increase, problems with non-native fish competing with native fish; will the fish use the passageway; and how much water is needed to operate the passageway? The fish passageway will not increase problems between native and non-native fish. During planning, it was recognized that the passageway could potentially increase the number of non-native fish in the lower Gunnison River; to prevent this from happening, the passageway will be designed and operated to allow only native fish to move upstream. Approximately 100 cfs will be needed to operate the passageway. A passageway of this type has not been used for the endangered fish in the Colorado River drainage, so success cannot be guaranteed. The fish, particularly the Colorado squawfish, are a strong migratory fish so iris likely they will use the passageway. Monitoring will provide the final answer. NEPA COMPLIANCE--Is an overall EIS needed for changes in the operation of the Aspinall Unit; and shouldn't an EIS be required for the fish passageway and water agreement? One of the purposes of the environmental assessment is to determine whether an environmental impact statement is needed. It should be noted that the water agreement is temporary and effects will be monitored. Prior to implementation of long-term flow changes, additional AIM compliance, perhaps involving an environmental impact statement, will be needed. WATER RIGHTS--What effect will the fish passageway and interim agreement have on existing water rights; what is the effect of the proposal on Redlands Diversion Dam water rights and water use; and does the proposal only intend to protect water for fish but not for water users? There will be no effect on water rights which are protected under State law. The Redlands Diversion Dam has a very senior right and in low flow conditions can call upon junior water rights to shut down. As explained in the environmental assessment, many water users have used water from flow regimes that followed construction of the Aspinall Unit. The proposal, under the interim agreement, is designed to protect these existing water uses dependent upon water availability. The agreement would provide that water shortages be shared by endangered fish in drought periods. ECONOMICS--Will the proposals affect hydropower production; what are the cumulative economic effect of these and other Federal programs? Hydropower should not be significantly affected as discussed in the environmental assessment. Interim agreement provisions state that endangered fish water cannot bypass the powerplants of the Aspinall Unit. The economic effects of the present proposals have been considered, and Alternatives A and B have been developed to try to protect economic benefits related to historic operations of the Aspinall Unit. From a larger perspective, the 42