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Recovery of endangered fish is certainly not without significant expense, controversy, or problems; however, it is recognized by many water leaders in the region, that the Recovery Program is the best way to avoid conflicts between endangered species recovery and use of water to protect the quality of peoples' lives. It is a cost of having reliable and safe water supplies, now and in the future. Concerning the Redlands Fish Ladder, 1997 is the first full year of operation and when the draft EA on the GVIC fish passage was released, only one Colorado squawfish had used the Redlands Ladder. At the time of printing of this FONSI, a total of 18 Colorado squawfish have now used the ladder and moved up into the Gunnison River. This level of use indicates that fish will use these ladders/passages and upstream habitats will be opened up for the fish. In addition to the endangered fish, thousands of other native fish have used the Redlands ladder. No negative impacts to vegetation and wildlife are predicted as a result of the project. Potential benefits are seen for the recovery of two endangered fish species. Land use and private property would not be affected. The project is designed to give complete protection to GVIC water rights and uses. In certain low flow conditions, streamflows could be augmented to allow upstream passage of the endangered fish during the July to October period. Reclamation has storage water in Ruedi Reservoir that is committed to the Recovery Program which can be used to augment the streamflows. The biological opinion on the project addresses the potential loss of endangered fish in the GVIC canal as a result of the fish passage. Section 9 of the Endangered Species Act prohibits the taking of listed species without proper Federal and state permits. "Taking" is defined broadly to include activities from harassment to capture. Incidental take refers to takings that result from, but are not the purpose of, carrying out an otherwise lawful activity conducted by a Federal agency or applicant. On this fish passage project, the primary concern is the potential loss of fish into the GVIC canal. The biological opinion on the project authorizes an acceptable level of incidental take, and exempts GVIC from any responsibility for "take" resulting directly or indirectly related to the fish passage project. The opinion also calls for fish screens or fish preclusion devices for subadult and adult fish at the GVIC canal intake, if determined necessary and funded by the Recovery Program. The opinion concludes that endangered fish would be affected in a beneficial manner; other endangered species would not be affected. The GVIC Diversion Dam is potentially eligible to the National Register of Historic Places based on its importance to the early development of western Colorado and possibly due to its original design. The original wooden cribbing diversion dam was modified to add a concrete cutoff wall on the upstream side of the dam and a concrete cap across its crest in about 1980. The function and use of the diversion will not be affected by the passage project and the construction may allow the opportunity to view and record a portion of the original wooden cribbing design. The project is not expected to have significant social, economic, or recreation impacts. Water supplies would not be affected, and the relatively small size of the project would not infuse