Price-Stubbs Fish Passage: Final Environmental Assessment, Finding of No Significant Impact

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Final Environmental Assessment — Chapter 2— Alternatives and the Union Pacific Railroad for the fish passage. Reclamation would negotiate protective measures to reduce impacts to private and State property, rights -of -ways, and facilities. Additional permits and easements associated with the whitewater features would be obtained by the Town of Palisade prior to construction. Following construction, any damaged area would be restored, as near as practicable, to its original condition. Access to the dam would be from the existing trail that parallels the railroad tracks within the Union Pacific Railroad's right -of -way and the E.R. Jacobson property. Reclamation would request temporary construction access to construct the fish passage and whitewater features and the Town of Palisade would obtain a permanent easement for public access through these properties to access the whitewater features. Construction staging and material storage would be on adjacent vacant lands owned by E.R. Jacobson. A cofferdam and/or bypass channel may be used to direct the river around the construction area and river flows would not be reduced. Before construction, Reclamation and the contractor would obtain necessary approvals required by the Clean Water Act. Reclamation would request Section 404 authorization for the fish passage under Regional General Permit No. 057 for projects that benefit recovery of endangered fishes. A separated Section 404 authorization may be needed for construction of the whitewater features. If discharging water for construction dewatering is needed, the contractor would obtain a Section 402 permit. Reclamation would also coordinate construction activities within the 100 -year floodplain with Mesa County. Construction • would be scheduled during low river conditions in the fall of 2005. Reclamation estimates that the construction costs for this alternative would be the about $5,400,000. The incremental costs associated with the construction of this alternative would be funded with Non - Recovery Program funds (i.e. Great Outdoors Colorado, W.A.T.E.R). The Town of Palisade and recreational interests have been working with a private consultant to design the whitewater features and refine cost estimates. It is estimated that the additional construction costs of the Downstream Rock Fish Passage with Whitewater Features Alternative when compared to the Downstream Rock Fish Passage Alternative are between $400,000 to $600,000. Operation and maintenance costs for this alternative would be negligible. Operation, Maintenance and Replacement Measures This alternative would require no regularly scheduled actions related to operation and maintenance of the fish passage, other than inspection. Reclamation would enter into a contract with Palisade and Mesa County Irrigation Districts to provide inspection and maintenance as needed. The Town of Palisade would provide maintenance, as needed, for the whitewater features including but not limited to onsite management, enforcement, and repairing whitewater features after large river flow events if needed. • 18