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Colorado Water Conservation Board is conducting studies to determine how the Recovery <br />Program can be implemented without affecting Colorado's existing and future water uses. <br />The Board believes the program can and should protect both the fish and present and future <br />water development. The Gunnison River downstream from Delta is established as critical <br />habitat for the endangered fish and projects adversely affecting the river must address this <br />at the present time, whether or not a fish passageway is constructed. The Dominguez Project <br />would inundate areas of critical habitat and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will <br />have to consider this when evaluating the project. In terms of overall water resources <br />development, the Recovery Program's goal is to recover the fish species while allowing water <br />development. <br />ENDANGERED FISH - -Why not use a hatchery program to assist endangered fish rather than <br />the proposed actions; how can the fish flows be protected (to remain in river); will additional <br />releases from the Aspinall Unit make water too cold for endangered fish; will the fish really <br />migrate up the Gunnison River; when do you conclude that the fish have enough habitat or <br />water; will non - native game fish be harmed; and what if the problem with endangered fish <br />is really water quality? A hatchery program has been started under the. Recovery Program <br />and is an important part of the recovery efforts. The ultimate goal for recovering the fish, <br />however, is to establish populations that sustain themselves rather than depend on periodic <br />stocking. The fish passageway is considered an important part of this effort on the Gunnison <br />River. Water for the fish will come from the Aspinall Unit storage and will be protected <br />from diversion under Colorado's water right system in a manner similar to any other <br />reservoir release. In general, the fish will be recovered when there are self - sustaining <br />populations in several portions of their historic habitat. Non- native game fish will not be <br />affected by the passageway itself. The interim flow agreement may provide slight benefits <br />to the Gold Medal trout waters of the Gunnison River as well as to the trout habitat between <br />the North Fork and Delta. The releases will be small (300 cfs maximum) and occur in warm <br />summer months and are not expected to affect water temperatures in the lower Gunnison <br />River. A slight cooling effect could occur in the river upstream from Austin. In most years, <br />productivity of Blue Mesa Reservoir should not be significantly affected. In a series of dry <br />years, reservoir drawdowns will be increased and this will reduce productivity. <br />FISH PASSAGE - -Will the fish passageway increase problems with non - native fish competing <br />with native fish; will the fish use the passageway; and how much water is needed to operate <br />the passageway? The passageway could increase the number on non - native fish in the lower <br />Gunnison River; to prevent this from happening, the passageway will be designed and <br />operated to allow only native fish to move upstream. Approximately 100 cfs will be needed <br />to operate the passageway. A passageway of this type has not been used for the endangered <br />fish in the Colorado River drainage, so success cannot be guaranteed. The fish, particularly <br />the Colorado squawfish, are a strong migratory fish so it is likely they will use the <br />passageway. Monitoring will provide the final answer. <br />NEPA COMPLIANCE - -Is there an overall EIS needed for changes in the operation of the <br />Aspinall Unit; and shouldn't an EIS be required for the fish passageway and water <br />31 <br />