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Cultural Resources <br />Existing conditions <br />Over the years, lands in the immediate project area have been disturbed by various construction <br />projects related to the Redlands Diversion Dam, by railroad construction, by agricultural <br />practices, and by other activities. Evidence of prehistoric resources is not present. The <br />Redlands Diversion Dam itself has an interesting history. Construction on the Redlands project <br />began in 1905 and Benjamin and Frank Kieffer incorporated the Redlands Irrigation Company <br />in 1906. The original diversion dam was about 1,000 feet upstream from the present location; <br />the existing dam was built in 1918. Operators of the Redlands project originally sold electric <br />power and water, and irrigated substantial acres of company land. Later, the company's <br />agricultural lands were sold to private farmers and the company operated primarily as a water <br />distributor and power producer. Today, the company still operates in this manner, although <br />most customers are now homeowners rather than farmers. <br />Impacts <br />The proposed fish passageway and interim water agreement would not have direct effects on the <br />diversion dam or its operation and thus would not affect its historic qualities. The fish <br />passageway would change the appearance of the east side of the dam, giving the area a more <br />"developed" and less "rural" appearance, but would not significantly affect its historic qualities. <br />No Indian Trust assets are known to exist in the Redlands Diversion Dam area, nor in the <br />Aspinall Unit reservoirs. Therefore alternatives being considered would have no effect on such <br />assets. <br />Recreation and Visual Resources <br />Existing; conditions <br />The Gunnison River between Delta and Grand Junction is used by anglers and motorized and <br />non - motorized boaters. Recreational floating occurs in the summer months. There is also some <br />fall and early winter floating associated with hunting. The river is accessible upstream at <br />Whitewater and a 1 day float can be made between that point and the Redlands Diversion Dam. <br />If access to and from the river were improved, it is projected that use would increase. <br />The Redlands Diversion Dam is a barrier to uninterrupted river travel, and boaters must <br />currently use private property to take out or to portage around the dam. Permission has to be <br />received from the private landowners. There is no public take out at the present time. The <br />diversion represents a significant safety problem to boaters that approach it too closely. <br />Agencies and organizations familiar with the lower Gunnison River generally agree that a safe <br />take out is needed somewhere upstream of the Redlands Diversion Dam. Although the Redlands <br />Diversion Dam site is posted, there continues to be recreation immediately downstream from the <br />26 <br />