Colorado River Division 5 Palisades Whitewater Park Correspondence

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be phased in or completed at once, and a description of potential flow disruption during construction and how that disruption will be mitigated. 2) Proponents plan to locate the whitewater park downstream from the Orchard Mesa Irrigation District(OMID)pumping plant and the Grand Valley Power Plant. Any disturbance or blockage within the River at the proposed location which interrupts the natural hydrograph could raise the water level at the OMID pumping plant, reduce the dynamic head necessary to drive the District's turbines, and reduce water availability for power generating capacity at the Grand Valley Power Plant. 3) The proponents' placement of "Boulder Cluster#3"has the potential of disrupting ongoing operations for OMID and Grand Valley Irrigation Company (GVIC). There is some uncertainty if Orchard Mesa will be able to deliver the water necessary to GVIC should Orchard Mesa be required to shut their gates to prevent the downstream GVIC from putting a call on the River. The District has also expressed concerns about damage to their check structures during high flows. 4) If the District should reduce power generation from the hydroplant, up to 800 cfs in unanticipated flow through a discharge chute could come into the park between Boulder Cluster#3 and Deflector pool#5, to the detriment of the safety of park users. This is of significant concern, and the project proponents have not included a clear delineation of the power canal and the discharge chute on their maps. 5) The project proponents have given little information about public safety and law enforcement concerns. We ask that they provide greater detail regarding access, boater safety, and means by which the Town and proponents intend to avoid potential trespass and vandalism issues. 6) Project proponents need to explain their future plans regarding water right filings for the whitewater park. Is it the proponents' intention to seek a water right for the Recreational In-channel Diversion(RICD) and ask for an RICD hearing before the Colorado Water Conservation Board? 7) The Upper Colorado Endangered Fish Recovery Program has invested$17.3 million in fish passages, fish screens and other capital measures designed to open up habitat to endangered fishes upstream on the mainstem of the Colorado River into what has been considered historically occupied habitat. Project proponents need to provide assurances that the proposed whitewater park will not ultimately interfere with fish migration upstream and render these capital structures useless. The drawings provided indicating a potential passage are inadequate to evaluate this matter. 8) There is a USGS stream gage (the "Palisade Gage")just downstream from the whitewater park location. This gage is used to measure flows in the 15-Mile a