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CHAPTER 1 PURPOSE AND NEED Wayne N. Aspinall Unit The Aspinall Unit Reservoirs--Blue Mesa, Morrow Point, and Crystal--were completed in 1966, 1970 and 1976, respectively. The Aspinall Unit along,with Glen Canyon Dam in Arizona, Flaming Gorge Dam in Utah, and Navajo Dam in New Mexico comprise the four major storage units of the Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP). The'CRSP was authorized in 1956 to provide storage to ensure that water commitments to the Lower Basin States are met and to allow the Upper Basin States to develop wat.er for hydroelectric power, irrigation, and municipal and industrial use. The Aspinall unit, located in Gunnison and Montrose Counties, provides water storage and hydroelectric power generation along the 40-mile section of the Gunnison River between the city of Gunnison and the Gunnison Diversion Dam at the Gunnison Tunnel. Flows in the river are largely controlled by Blue Mesa Reservoir, the largest and most upstream of the three Aspinall Reservoirs. Water released through the Blue Mesa Powerplant receives short- term reregulation by Morrow Point and Crystal Reservoirs, immediately downstream. Blue Mesa Reservoir has a storage capacity of 940,700 acre-feet, while Morrow Point and Crystal Reservoirs have capacities of 117,000 and 26,000 acre-feet, respectively. At Blue Mesa storage allocations are 748,430 acre- feet for active conservation and flood control; 81,071 acre-feet inactive storage; and 111,200 acre~feet dead storage (Reclamation, 1981). The reservoir is normally drawn down in the late summer, fall, and winter period; and major filling occurs between April and August. Water releases through Blue Mesa and MorrOw Point are primarily for peaking power while releases through Crystal Powerplant are uniform to satisfy downstream water rights and to maintain a minimum flow of 300 ft'/s downstream from the Gunnison Tunnel. Background on the 300 ft'/s figure is found in chapter 3. Operation of the proposed development would not affect the opera- tion or purposes of the Aspinall Unit Reservoirs. The proposed hydropower plant would be operated as a "run-of-the-river" facility, meaning that water would be diverted as it is available in the streambed without placing water rights calls on upstream storage. Consequently, the proposed development would not result in reduced storage or lower water levels in the Blue Mesa Reservoir. Dallas Creek Project Ridgway Dam and Reservoir, part of the Dallas Creek Project, were completed in 1988 on the Uncompahgre River approximately 25 miles upstream (south) of Montrose. The reservoir includes 1 -13