7281 ‎(2)‎

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7281
• Author: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
• Title: Recovery Implementation Program for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin, Environmental Assessment, November 1987.
• USFW Year: 1987.
• USFW - Doc Type: Denver, Colorado.
• Copyright Material: NO

CHAPTER III AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT
Although the Service and the States of Colorado and Utah have documented
Colorado squawfish and humpback chub captures since 1979, the extent to
which incidental take contributes to these fishes' endangered status
remains subject to debate. To address this question, the Proposed Action
recommends that a 2-year to 4-year creel survey be conducted by the States
to document the extent of incidental taking and to aid in determining
where permanent or seasonal closures or other restrictions may be needed
to prevent or reduce incidental mortalities. Among the areas that have
been recommended for study, the following deserve immediate attention: ,
(a) Black Rocks (river miles 135-136) on Colorado River;
(b) Westwater (river miles 116-124) on Colorado River;
(c) Grays Canyon/Three Fords (river miles 148-157) on Green River;
(d) Yampa Canyon (river miles 0-56) on Yampa River; and
(e) White River (river miles 0-21, 104-109).
These areas are depicted in Figure III-I-1. In addition to these areas
specific areas of concern include the Yampa River (near Craig, Colorado);
Green River (Browns Park, Ashley Valley, near Green River, Utah); Colorado ,
River (near Moab, Utah, and Grand Junction, Colorado).
J. Electrical Power Generation '
The Electrical Energy Market in the Upper Basin - Present and Future '
The Rocky Mountain Power Pool Area (RMPA) is most analogous to the portion of
the Upper Basin affected by the Proposed Action.I/ The RMPA is a region of '
the Western Systems Coordinating Council (WSSC) and consists of the states of
Colorado, Wyoming, and parts of Utah, Montana, and South Dakota. Combined
public and private sales of electricity in the RMPA were 35,404 gigawatthours '
(GWh) in 1985. Peak summer electrical capacity demand in 1985 was 5,739
megawatts (MW) [NERC 1986].
The Upper Basin is presently experiencing excess capacity. According to data 1
compiled by WSCC, the RMPA will likely be experiencing excess capacity into
1995 and beyond. During peak summer months, the available capacity over peak
load averaged 36 percent in 1984. This figure is estimated to fall to '
24 percent by 1994 [WSCC 1985]. Assuming 20 percent as the percentage of
capacity overload required to provide reliable service and meet regulatory
requirements, and extrapolating from the data above, capacity should equal
120 percent of demand by 1997. In other words, there should be no excess '
capacity in the RMPA in 1997, other than that required to provide reliable
service and meet regulatory requirements.
J The Upper Colorado River Basin includes States besides those in the RMPA.
However, the other WSCC regions which include Basin States--the Northwest '
Power Area and the Arizona-New Mexico Power Area--represent either distant or
anomalous conditions.

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