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

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5 river administration could occur under present conditions; with the agreement in place, the estimate remained at 5 percent. The agreement has been recommended for approval by the Colorado Water Conservation Board, the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District, and the Fish and Wildlife Service. 4. A small amount of riparian wildlife habitat (less than 1 acre) will be impacted and mitigation measures include restoring this loss. Twenty -six miles of the Gunnison River downstream from the Aspinall Unit is a Gold Medal trout fishery. Under the interim agreement, there will be minor benefits to the trout fishery as low summer flows will occasionally be supplemented. Overall, changes in river flows above the Redlands Diversion Dam will not be significant to fish and wildlife resources. Fisheries in Crystal and Morrow Point Reservoirs will not be affected. In most years, the fishery of Blue Mesa Reservoir will not be affected; however a series of dry years could reduce Blue Mesa Reservoir's water content and could reduce productivity of the reservoir. 5. Following installation of the passageway, it is projected that the endangered fish and other native fish will begin to move above the Redlands Diversion Dam. The passageway will open over 50 miles of river for these fish, with the plan that they will eventually develop into self - sustaining populations. The passageway will be operated to prevent non - native fish from moving upstream, and this will reduce or eliminate the problem of introducing more non - native fish to the Gunnison River. The Fish and Wildlife Service has concluded that the project may affect critical habitat of endangered fish, but in a beneficial manner. They have also concluded that other threatened or endangered species will not be affected. 6. The Gunnison River and the operation of the Aspinall Unit have long been key factors in the economy of the Gunnison Basin. Under the projects, the Gunnison River and the Aspinall Unit will continue as an important factor in the economy of western Colorado and, when hydropower and water storage are considered, an important factor in the economy of the west. Construction of the fish passageway will introduce money into the local economy, but it is a relatively small project and will not significantly affect the local economy nor place a strain on any services such as schools or transportation. The development of operation plans to protect existing water uses under the interim agreement will preclude any significant impacts on water uses and associated economies. Water released to maintain minimum streamflows under the interim agreement will come from water already reserved in the Aspinall Unit for endangered fish use, so future water uses and sales will not be affected. 7. There will be no effect on the water supply of the Redlands Water and Power Company for hydropower production or irrigation. In extreme drought periods, such as 1977, the interim agreement calls for sharing water shortages. For example, neither the fish or the water users would receive a full water supply. On a long -term basis, no significant losses in annual hydropower production and associated revenues at the Aspinall Unit are anticipated due to proposed changes in release patterns of the interim agreement. In dry water years when releases are made to the fish and to protect water users from increases in calls, seasonal changes in hydropower production are expected. These changes would need to be monitored. If