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ONSI-Ruedi 2012 Agreement May 2003 Fryingpan River. Additionally, any increased fluctuations will occur mostly outside of critical brown and rainbow trout early development life stages specific to the Fryingpan River. Implementation of the Preferred Alternative is not expected to significantly affect winter releases from Ruedi Reservoir. Macroinvertebrate populations are not anticipated to be affected. Threatened and Endangered Species: The Preferred Alternative will provide 10,825 of through 2012 to improve endangered fish habitat and ensure continued progress towards recovery of endangered fish. RECREATION Ruedi Reservoir: As a result of implementing the Preferred Alternative, in dry years, Aspen Yacht Club and Dearhamer boat ramps would only be usable until early July. In moderate years, Aspen Yacht Club and Dearhamer boat ramps would only be usable until late Augustlearly September. In wet years, all boat ramps would be usable through the recreation season. The effects of the Preferred Alternative are equivalent to the effects of the No Action Alternative on recreation at Ruedi Reservoir. Although Reclamation does not believe the Preferred Alternative warrants mitigation measures to offset impacts, we do recognize the potential for enhancing recreation at Ruedi Reservoir. Reclamation will work with the USFS to 1) try to get a mast raising pole installed at Ruedi Marina boat ramp, 2) attempt to keep Ruedi Marina boat ramp clear of debris and sediment during the late summer when water levels are low, and 3) address concerns about low water hazards. Fryingpan Fishing: The Preferred Alternative reduces the estimated number of days with potential flows >250 cfs from the No Action Alternative by approximately 9 days in dry years, 12 days in moderate years, and 12 days in wet years, thereby increasing the number of wadable days on the Fryingpan River. Reclamation does not believe implementation of the Preferred Alternative will significantly affect either fishing or fish populations in the Fryingpan River. Roaring Fork Fishing: Smaller releases would provide less benefit to Roaring Fork fishing than the No Action Alternative. Fewer releases would mean less potential supplemental flows to aid boating and fishing from boats on the Roaring Fork. Reclamation does not believe implementation of the Preferred Alternative will significantly affect either fishing, fish populations, or boating on the Roaring Fork River. ECONOMIC/SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT Effects to local economies, as a result of implementing the Preferred Alternative, would be directly related to recreation and development impacts on the west slope. • Recreation activities at Ruedi Reservoir, on the Fryingpan River downstream of Ruedi, and on the Roaring Fork River can all potentially be impacted by Ruedi Reservoir endangered fish releases. However, the Preferred Alternative will cause less impact than the No Action Alternative by decreasing both the volume of water released from Ruedi for endangered species purposes (compared to past endangered fish releases) and the potential for flow days >250 cfs on the Fryingpan River. Additionally, the Preferred Alternative will not significantly affect the occurrence of rapidly changing flows on the Fryingpan River. Based on current requests for Ruedi Round lI contracts, the availability of Wolford Reservoir to meet at least some of the demand, and the term of the 2012 Agreement, Reclamation does not believe implementing the Preferred Alternative will result in lost development opportunities on the west slope. HYDROPOWER PRODUCTION 1 Implementing the Preferred Alternative reduces the estimated number of by-pass days, as compared to the No Action Alternative, by approximately 9 days in dry years, 12 days in moderate years, and 12 days in wet years. Additionally, due to the opportunistic nature of the license granted to the Town of Aspen under the FERC program, all releases from Ruedi Reservoir are considered a benefit.