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<br />. p ".l, <br /> <br />Park Service for the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument. This contract <br />would provide flows in the Gunnison River below the Gunnison Tunnel greater than 300 <br />cfs depending on the runoff forecast. Completion of this contract will most likely not <br />occur until the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service completes its Section 7 consultation on the <br />Aspinall Unit under the Endangered Species Act. The current schedule calls for the <br />Service to issue a final Biological Opinion for the Aspinall Unit in May, 1998. In <br />developing its Section 7 consultation, the Service must consider how to utilize the water <br />available to it in Blue Mesa through Section 7 consultations on the Dolores and Dallas <br />Creek Projects and by contract for operation of the Redlands Fish Ladder. <br /> <br />One positive result of contract negotiations with the National Park Service and <br />Section 7 consultation on the Aspinall Units is that the Bureau of Rec1amation and <br />National Park Service co-host Aspinall Unit reservoir operation meetings every four <br />months. The purpose of these meetings is to coordinate Aspinall Unit water releases <br />made in accord with authorized project purposes and water right decrees in a manner <br />which keeps water users whole, provides downstream benefits such as flood protection, <br />and does so in a manner that is beneficial to the Monument and endangered fish research. <br />We are of the opinion that these type of coordinated management operations in <br />conjunction with the existing agreements and actions in-progress can provide meaningful <br />protections to the natural resources of the proposed National Park Complex while <br />allowing the authorized purposes of the Aspinall Unit to be fulfilled and water users in <br />the Gunnison Basin to enjoy a stable and dependable water supply. <br /> <br />We have only commented on the current activities surrounding water management <br />activities impacting the Aspinall Units and the Gunnison River downstream. If the <br />Committee is interested in the impact this legislative designation could have on wildlife, <br />recreation and other resources, it needs to hear from the Colorado Department of Natural <br />Resources. Furthermore, there are several water projects, such as the AB Lateral, which <br />are in various stages of permitting and which we believe it is not appropriate to comment <br />on at this time. <br /> <br />randy\c:\msoffice\winword\blcnptes.596 <br /> <br />. . <br /> <br />OOO~23 <br /> <br />3 <br />