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 IV
4.
Channel Maintenance
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES
The assumed flows are expected to have minimal effects on channel erosion
and sediment deposition. Slight changes in channel stability may occur
due to the interim flow releases from Flaming Gorge on the Green River.
The releases from Flaming Gorge would depress flows in August and
September and increase flows in the latter part of the year. Channel
flows of sufficient magnitude to cause some movement of cobble in spawning
riffles to remove substantial silt and sediment may benefit the fish
species use of these riffles. It remains uncertain as to whether such
scouring flows will be requested. The magnitude and duration of such
flows will depend on future research results and water system constraints.
Effects of projects in the Colorado River on channel stability/flushing
flows will be determined on a case-by-case basis, after completion of
studies to establish minimum requirements.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE "NO ACTION" ALTERNATIVE
1.
Water Management
a. Federal Water Management
Water management actions involving Federal dams will be virtually the
same as those in the Proposed Action--except that the Aspinall Unit
will not be expected to meet an interim 2,000 cfs minimum flow
requirement prior to completion of consultation. However, since flows
at the confluence very rarely drop below 2,000 cfs at present, there
is a very low probability that Aspinall Unit operations will need to
be changed under the Proposed Action to meet the 2,000 cfs minimum
flow requirement before consultation is completed. Therefore, water
management impacts resulting from modifications to Federal facilities
operation will be virtually the same for the "No Action" and Proposed
Action alternatives before consultation is completed on the Aspinall
Unit, and will be exactly the same after consultation is completed.
b. State and Private Water Management
Section 7 consultation may recommend modification of future projects
to offset depletion impacts, altering or resulting in cancellation of
project development plans. In addition, the process of developing
reasonable and prudent alternatives to offset depletion impacts would
be complicated and time-consuming, and could delay the process of
obtaining permits for proposed projects.
2.
Water Rights
Purchase of water rights on the Yampa, Colorado, and White Rivers is
unlikely due to lack of funds for this purpose. Therefore, protection of
instream flows in the Yampa and White Rivers will be accomplished by a
combination of conservation measures. Section 7 will be used to
IV-A-8

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