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<br />, <br />, , <br /> <br />'. <br /> <br />~. <br /> <br />COLORADO <br />GUNNISON RIVER <br /> <br />February, 1991 <br /> <br />INSTREAM FLOW ISSUES RELATED TO THE <br />BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON NATIONAL MONUMENT AND <br />THE WAYNE N. ASPINALL UNIT <br /> <br />Issue <br /> <br />Resolution of Federal reserved water right for the Black Canyon <br />of the Gunnison National Monument (BLCA) in relation to the Wayne <br />N. Aspinall Unit. <br /> <br />Backqround <br /> <br />The Aspinall Unit (Unit), consisting of Blue Mesa, Morrow Point, <br />and Crystal Reservoirs, is one of the 4 initial units authorized <br />by the Colorado River Storage Project Act of 1956. Construction <br />of the Unit was completed in 1976. The purpose of the unit is to <br />develop the water storage and hydroelectric power generating <br />potential of the Gunnison River as well as to provide recreation, <br />flood control, and fish and wildlife benefits.~The BLCA is <br />located downstream from the Aspinall Unit and was established in <br />1933. The BLCA has been granted a conditional decree for <br />reserved rights, but these rights have not been quantified. The <br />National Park Service (NPS) is in the process of analyzing data <br />to determine Gunnison River flow requirements to prevent <br />impairment of the BLCA's resources. Although there may be <br />competing water needs for the Aspinall Unit and the BLCA, <br />Congress obviously considered this when the Aspinall Unit was <br />authorized. <br /> <br />Prior to the construction of the Aspinall Unit, flows through <br />BLCA varied significantly, with high spring flows and occasional <br />very low summer flows. The water supply reports for the Aspinall <br />Unit showed a 100 cubic feet per second (cfs) flow through BLCA. <br />Since Crystal Dam was completed, the Bureau of Reclamation <br />(Reclamation) has maintained a minimum flow through the BLCA of <br />at least 200 cfs. This was increased to 300 cfs in the 1980's, <br />except for periods of extreme drought. <br /> <br />The competing purposes of the Aspinall Unit and the BLCA must be <br />determined and resolved to allow long-term protection of both <br />projects. Quantification of the Federal commitment from the <br />Aspinall unit to maintain flows through BLCA will also allow the <br />State of Colorado and Reclamation to evaluate present and future <br />water proposals in the Gunnison River Basin. At the present <br /> <br />\~9- <br />\\. \ \\ <br />\\ <br />