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<br />SUMMARY <br /> <br />ALTERNATIVE F <br /> <br />The location, dimensions, and physical features of alternative F <br />would be the same as alternative B, including the flow capacity <br />of 1,135 ft'/s for the powerplant. This alternative would reduce <br />diversions from the Gunnison River during periods of ice buildup <br />and would deliver additional water to the Uncompahgre River <br />upstream from Montrose during the summer. Mean annual diversions <br />from the Gunnison River would be 686,840 acre-feet. <br /> <br />SUMMARY OF EXISTING ENVIRONMENT AND ENVlRONMENTAL <br />CONSEQUENCES <br />GENERAL <br /> <br />The Uncompahgre Valley lies along the western flank of the Rocky <br />Mountains with elevations ranging from 4,950 feet above sea level <br />near Delta to 6,500 feet near Montrose. The Gunnison River flows <br />east of the valley through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison <br />National Monument (MOnument) and the Gunnison Gorge Recreation <br />Area. The climate is typified by low precipitation and a wide <br />range of daily and average annual temperatures. Native <br />vegetation consists mostly of semidesert shrubs. Wetlands occur <br />along the Gunnison and Uncompahgre Rivers. <br /> <br />About 505,000 acre-feet of water flow into the Uncompahgre Valley <br />annually. Nearly two-thirds of this volume is imported for <br />irrigation from the Gunnison River via the Tunnel, and the <br />remaining volume is derived from the Uncompahgre River and its <br />tributaries. <br /> <br />The Uncompahgre River fishery is limited due to water quality and <br />flow problems. However, the Gunnison River supports an excellent <br />trout fishery between Crystal Reservoir and several miles <br />downstream from the river's confluence with the North Fork of the <br />Gunnison. <br /> <br />The total population in Montrose and Delta Counties is approxi- <br />mately 50,000 people. In addition to agriculture, tourism and <br />recreation are important local industries. <br /> <br />Any of the four development alternatives would result in short- <br />term, construction-related impacts and long-term operational <br />impacts. Short-term impacts include vegetation clearing, <br />erosion, and construction disturbance, as.well as short-term <br />increases to the local economy. Long-term impacts would be <br />related to the decreased flows in the Gunnison River and the <br />increased flows in the Uncompahgre River and the long-term <br />additions to the local economy resulting from power production. <br /> <br />S - 7 <br /> <br />ill <br /> <br />L <br />