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10 <br />senior to the Aspinall Unit and its decrees. These releases shall not result in any water <br />bypassing the Blue Mesa, Morrow Point, and Crystal powerplants, except during periods <br />when the powerplants are not operating. <br />The Fish and Wildlife Service and the State of Colorado will study and evaluate the effects of <br />the releases on endangered fish, their habitat, and flow needs. Based on these studies, <br />recommendations will be made on development of a long -term water supply contract with the <br />goal of recovering the fish while allowing water development to proceed. <br />Summafy of Impacts <br />The circulation of the draft EA to over 300 organizations and individuals for review produced <br />25 letters of comment. A summary of the comments and responses appears in the final EA, and <br />all comment letters are available for inspection at Reclamation's Grand Junction Projects Office. <br />The final EA was modified to reflect any changes in plans or effects. The majority of the <br />concerns expressed related to the effect of the proposals on water rights and water t In <br />response, the proposal for the interim water agreement was refined to protect these resoi.. zes. <br />Another concern raised in the review was that the passageway could inc ease hazards of the <br />Redlands Diversion Dam to boaters. It has been concluded that the hazards will not be <br />significantly increased or decreased, and the proposals will not preclude alternatives to resolve <br />this situation. Based on the final EA, it has been determined that the proposed actions will not <br />significantly affect the quality of the human environment. A summary of the reasons for a <br />Finding of No Significant Impact, discussed in more detail in the EA, is as follows: <br />1. Construction, operation of the fish passageway, and provision of water under the <br />interim agreement will have no significant effect on land use. Approximately 2 acres of land <br />owned by the Redlands Water and Power Company will be used permanently through the <br />acquisition of a perpetual easement. Design of the passageway and an operation and <br />maintenance agreement protect the structures and uses associated with both the Redlands <br />Diversion Dam and the city of Grand Junction's pump station. <br />2. Approximately 0.22 acres of shrubs will be lost due to the construction of the <br />passageway; all cottonwood trees will be protected. Approximately 0.06 acres of emergent <br />wetlands will be lost and 200 feet of shoreline utilized in the construction. Fish and Wildlife <br />Service recommendations, which call for mitigation by planting riparian shrubs /trees, are <br />included in the plan. <br />3. The interim water agreement will be administered under the State of Colorado's water <br />laws. Water rights will not be adversely affected. Since its operation began in the 1960's, the <br />Aspinall Unit has increased river flows in many months. The interim agreement, as described <br />previously, will protect continued use of these flows by water users. Water available to <br />downstream diverters will not be significantly affected and thus "calls" on the river should not <br />increase appreciably. This will protect junior water users upstream and downstream from Blue <br />Mesa Reservoir.. In a 22 -year study period, it was estimated that in 5 percent of the months, <br />