9367 (3) - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Allen D. (Dave) Miller P.o. Box 567 Palmer Lake, Colorado 80133 (719) 481-2003 . FAX (719) 481-4013 July 10, 1992 Mr. Ron Johnson Projects Manager Bureau of Reclamation P.O. Box 60340 Grand Junction, CO 81506 Mr. Allen Belt Area Manager Bureau of Land Management 2505 S. Townsend Avenue Montrose, CO 81401 Mr. John Welch Superintendent Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Monument 2233 East Main, Suite A Montrose, CO 81401 Mr. Gene Jensock Principal Water Specialist Colorado Water Conservation Board 1313 Sherman Street, Room 721 Denver, CO 80203 SUbject: Gunnison EIS A1ternatives For Recovery Of Endangered Fish Dear Sirs: Your proposed federal plan to recreate native Gunnison River flows for endangered fish recovery could permanently damage Colorado's ability to develop its vital Colorado River Compact entitlements. As a citizen concerned with Colorado's environment and economic future, I hereby request full EIS consideration of the following Gunnison alternatives to enhance endangered fish and Black Canyon flows: 1. Additional Headwater storage Arapahoe County's ongoing 900,000 acre feet Union Park Reservoir Project is designed to store water in wet cycles to augment Gunnison Basin river flows, during the critical drought cycles. When the original 300,000 acre feet Union Park storage decree was issued in 1984, all local, state, and federal officials agreed with its optimal river flow stipulations for fish and other environmental purposes. During the mid-1980's, the Bureau of Reclamation was also interested in sponsoring a detailed study to determine the multiple benefits of Union Park for the entire Upper Gunnison and Colorado River Storage System. Al though thi s study was never funded, the potential regional values of this high altitude, off river, storage capability were well recognized at the time. Now, wi th Arapahoe County's more advanced concept, Union Park will serve as a multipurpose reservoir to benefit the regional environments and economies of both slopes. Up to 300,000 acre feet of Union Park storage will still be used to enhance Gunnison water rights, reservoir levels, river flows, and endangered fish, as originally envisioned in 1984. The additional 600,000 acre feet will be used to save Colorado's wasted compact entitlements during wet cycles for Front Range use during extended droughts. When used as drought backup for Denver's existing reservoirs, a yearly average of 60,000 acre feet from Union Park will increase the safe yield of Metro Denver's water system by 120,000 acre feet. The public cost per unit of yield will be about half that of other Metro Denver alternatives. The invaluable Gunnison and Colorado River benefits are a key integral part of Arapahoe's unprecedented water storage concept. Because of its many fish, recreation, and drought benefits; local state, and federal water interests should consider a cooperative West/East Slope partnership to develop and operate the Union Park Water Conservation Project.