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Allen D. (Dave) Miller P.O. Box 567 Palmer Lake, Colorado 80133 (719) 481-2003 • FAX(719)487-4013 July 10, 1992 Mr. Ron Johnson Mr. Allen Belt Projects Manager Area Manager Bureau of Reclamation Bureau of Land Management P.O. Box 60340 2505 S. Townsend Avenue Grand Junction, CO 81506 Montrose, CO 81401 Mr. John Welch Mr. Gene Jensock Superintendent Principal Water Specialist Black Canyon Of The Gunnison Colorado Water Conservation Board National Monument 1313 Sherman Street, Room 721 2233 East Main, Suite A Denver, CO 80203 Montrose, CO 81401 Subject: Gunnism EIS Alternatives 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-19801s, 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. Although this study was never funded, the potential regional values of this high altitude, off river, storage capability were well recognized at the time. Now, with 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.