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<br /> <br />G;;vNiSON RIVER <br />r.t.~ yin rrrr.~r~tr ~r~ /~L1Ti17 <br />(February 1J87) <br />The Gunnison River is a major tributary of the Colorado River <br />in southwestern Colorado. Originating near Almont, CO iy flows in a <br />west--northwestward direction for about 2~1 km (150 mi) to its <br />confluence with the Colorado River at Grand Junction, CO. <br />Flow regimes in the Gunnison River are modified by Wayne N. <br />Aspinall (Curecanti) Unit Dams on the Gunnison River, and the <br />Gunnison Tunnel that diverts water for. agriculture {Wiltzius 1978). <br />Below average spring and summer flows in the lower ,Gunnison River <br />have prevailed between 1948 and 1975. Another modification, the <br />Rc+dland~ Diversion Dam, is located 4.8 km (3.0 mi) above the river <br />mouth at Grand Junction mouth. Fish passage upstream to-the <br />Gunnison River is limited but may not be eliminated by this dam <br />(Valdez et al. 1982}. <br />There are no records of humpback chub from the Gunnison <br />River. Humpback chub activity areas are not identified for the <br />river. <br />Gunnison River water could be important for survival of a <br />humpback chub population downstream in the Colorado River at Black <br />Rocks. The Colorado River during low-flow years can be nearly <br />dewatered above the Gunnison River confluence (Prewitt et al. 1978, <br />Woodward-Clyde Consultants, Inc. 1J85), at these times the Colorado <br />River relies on water from the Gunnison River to replenish its <br />flow. Altered water temperature regimes upstream from Black Rocks <br />could also affect humpback chub survival if dam-released cold water, <br />did not warm enough to allow successful reproduction (Archer et al. <br />1985). <br />