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<br />e <br /> <br />Bureau of Reclamation <br /> <br />U.S. Department of the Interior <br /> <br />National Park Service <br /> <br />Gunnison River Contract <br />Newsletter <br /> <br />Water from Blue Mesa Reservoir <br />... through the Black Canyon <br />... and the Gunnison Gorge <br /> <br />No. I <br /> <br />March 1993 <br /> <br />INITIAL SCOPING COMPLETED <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />The public has an important role in the National <br />Environmental Policy Act (NEP A) process. <br />During scoping, they provide input on what issues <br />should be addressed. Initial scoping h~ been <br />completed for the proposal to develop a contract to . <br />deliver water from Blue Mesa Reservoir to the <br />Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument <br />(Black Canyon). Beginning with public meetings <br />on May 19-21, 1992, we received many oral and <br />written comments. This newsletter highlights the <br />results of the initial scoping effort. <br /> <br />The public asked that the scope of the proposed' <br />contract expand to resolve issues related to: <br /> <br />.. quantification of Federal reserved water <br />right for the Black Canyon <br /> <br />. operating the Aspinall Unit to assist in the <br />recovery of downstream endangered fish <br /> <br />.. determining the availability of water stored <br />in Blue Mesa Reservoir for use by the <br />people of Colorado and the Gunnison Basin <br /> <br />The contract should provide equitably for the <br />long-term protection of: <br /> <br />. Aspinall Unit water storage purposes <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />. purposes and resources of Black Canyon, <br />Curecanti, and Gunnison Gorge <br /> <br />. Colorado's ability to use its entitlement of <br /> <br />Colorado River compact allocation and its share <br />of Aspinall Unit storage <br /> <br />.. downstream endangered fish species <br /> <br />. existing/future uses of Gunnison Basin water <br />supplies under Colorado State water law <br /> <br />The public was concerned about the effects of <br />the contract on the following resources: <br /> <br />. Water - supply, uses, quality, <br />and water rights administration <br /> <br />. Sport Fisheries (Gold Medal trout, . <br />Blue Mesa Reservoir) <br /> <br />. Recreation, wilderness, wild and scenic river <br /> <br />.. Endangered fISh <br /> <br />. Wildlife/Wildlife Habitat - including <br />riparian habitat and wetlands <br /> <br />. Flooding - both upstream and downstream <br /> <br />. Sedimentation - and river channel <br />maintenance processes <br /> <br />. Hydropower - generation, power <br />rates, revenues <br /> <br />. Regional economy (agriculture, <br />ranching, recreation, tourism) <br /> <br />. Other projects and designations - existing <br />and proposed <br /> <br />Gunnison River Contract <br /> <br />March 1993 <br />