Final Environmental Assesment and Finding of No Significant Impact Gunnision River Activities June 1995

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I Back rg_ound In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Council on Environmental Quality's Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (40 CFR Part 1500- 1508), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) have determined that an Environmental Impact Statement is not required for constructing a fish passageway around the Redlands Diversion Dam and executing an interim water supply agreement for the recovery of endangered fish. A draft environmental assessment (EA) was published in February 1995 and copies of the final EA are available upon request. The Colorado squawfish and the razorback sucker are only found in the Colorado River Basin and are listed as endangered under the 1973 Endangered Species Act. A number of factors, ranging from habitat reduction or alteration to introduction of non - native species, account for the current rarity of these species. In response, the Recovery Implementation Program (Recovery Program) for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin was organized in cooperation with private, State, and Federal interests. Restoring passage for endangered fish to historic habitat in the Gunnison River and providing water to critical habitat for the fish are two high priority tasks under the program. The Gunnison River originates in west central Colorado in Gunnison County. From its beginning, it flows 25 miles downstream into Blue Mesa Reservoir, one of three reservoirs comprising the Aspinall Unit. Downstream from the reservoirs, the river flows approximately 110 miles to its confluence with the Colorado River at Grand Junction. The Redlands Diversion Dam is a privately owned and operated structure located on the Gunnison River 2.3 miles upstream from the confluence with the Colorado River. The structure has essentially blocked fish migration since its construction in 1918. Planned Actions Two actions are planned. One is to construct a fish passageway around the east side of the Redlands Diversion Dam as shown in Figure 1. The other is to provide water from the Aspinall Unit under an interim (temporary) water agreement as needed to operate the fish passageway and maintain adequate downstream flows to allow fish movement. Flows will either be released from water stored in the Aspinall Unit or consist of natural Gunnison River flows. Depending on water supplies available, a minimum flow of 300 cubic feet per second (cfs) will be maintained below the passageway.