FLOOD02168

• County: Gunnison
• Community: Uncompahgre Valley
• Basin: Gunnison
• Title: Uncompahgre Valley Reclamation Project - Hydropower - Part 4 - Scoping Report Gunnison River Contract
• Date: 1/1/1990
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Project

C. Proposed Project

The initial project proposed developing a water delivery contract for the Aspinall Unit to
provide a long-tenn water supply to the Black Canyon to protect its water-related resources.
As a result of scoping, the project has expanded to provide similar protection to the
Gunnison Gorge and downstream endangered fish habitat. The contract wOUld establish a
process to detennine and guarantee the quantity of water which the Aspinall Unit cap. deliver
annually to the Black Canyon, Gunnison Gorge and endangered fish habitat and for
consumptive uses above and below the Aspinall Unit. It would also set forth guidelines
regarding the manner in which the releases are made. Alternatives and environmental
impacts will be detennined, evaluated, and documented in compliance with National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements throughout negotiations and prior to
execution of the contract.

D. Goals of the Proposed Contract

With construction of the Aspinall Unit in the 1960's and 1970's, releases of water from the
Aspinall Unit (except those diverted through the intervening Gunnison Tunnel) flow through
and affect the nature and functions of the Gunnison River within the Black Canyon and the
Gunnison Gorge. In preparing for the NPS to quantify the Black Canyon's reserved water
right, it became apparent that cooperation and support of many affected agencies would be
necessary to perfect the right, and that other issues affecting the agencies needed to be
resolved. This cooperative effort between Federal, State, and local agencies is needed to
provide a balanced water resource management plan that will 1) protect the water-related
resources of the Black Canyon and lead to quantification of its federal reserved water right,
2) fulfill Federal responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act to assist in the recovery
of endangered fish species of the Upper Colorado River Basin, and 3) detennine the
availability of water stored in Blue Mesa Reservoir for use by the people of Colorado. The
goals of the contract are to provide equitably for the long-tenn protection of:

-Aspinall Unit water storage purposes;
-purposes and resources of the Black Canyon, Gunnison Gorge, and Curecanti;
-Colorado's ability to develop water apportioned to it under interstate compacts and
its share of Aspinall Unit storage;
-downstream endangered fish species; and
-existing uses in the Gunnison Basin under Colorado water law.

The lead agencies (BOR and NPS) need to develop statements to identify the purpose of and
need for the proposed contract. These statements should reflect the results of this scoping
effort, and will guide NEPA and contract development activities by all cooperating agencies
and the interested public.

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