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diversion. Uses include fishing, swimming, and "partying ". There have been drownings at this <br />location in the past. <br />The Redlands Diversion Dam is located near the lower end of a wide canyon, with scenery <br />dominated by the river, sandstone cliffs, and cottonwood groves. The area has potential for <br />being a very attractive natural area within the city of Grand Junction; however, the general area <br />has problems with vandalism, illegal trash disposal, and overall misuse by trespassers. The <br />Gunnison River and its fringe of riparian vegetation is attractive from most locations. Extreme <br />low flows during dry summers detract from its appearance, but overall it remains a positive part <br />of the visual landscape. <br />Blue Mesa Reservoir and the Gunnison River through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison <br />National Monument and the Gunnison Gorge are significant state and national recreation areas, <br />providing boating, fishing, and other uses. <br />Impacts <br />Under the No Action Alternative, problems associated with a river portage or take out will <br />remain the same with no safe, legal public facility. Trespass will not be affected unless <br />enforcement activities are increased. The appearance of the area will change substantially as <br />gravel operations begin upstream under all alternatives. <br />With construction of the fish passageway on the east side of the river, the conditions cited above <br />will not change. During planning of the passageway, suggestions have been made that a river <br />portage and /or river take -out be made part of the proposal. This has not been included in the <br />plan for several reasons: First, it is unknown how human activity around the portage would <br />affect the behavior of the endangered fish. Second, this would place the portage or takeout very <br />near the Redlands Diversion Dam and create a potentially dangerous situation for boaters. <br />Finally, the land on which the portage would be built is private land and the landowners do not <br />support the idea because of safety, liability, and vandalism concerns. Plans to fence the <br />passageway facility will reduce the trespass use of the downstream area of the diversion dam, <br />where river currents are most hazardous. <br />The fish passageway and associated fencing will be another human development introduced into <br />the visual landscape. It is located in the immediate vicinity of a pumping plant and the diversion <br />dam so the new structure will be compatible with existing uses, but it will be noticeable. <br />Revegetation efforts will help reduce any visual impacts, and the presence of more people <br />working in the area will hopefully reduce vandalism and trash dumping. Additional river flows <br />in the 2.3 mile reach downstream from the diversion in dry periods will be beneficial from an <br />aesthetic standpoint. <br />Recreational use of Blue Mesa Reservoir will not be seriously affected because changes in <br />reservoir content will not be significant (see Table 4 and Attachment E). In some dry periods <br />such as shown in 1990, content would be reduced noticeably by the end of the year. <br />27 <br />