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...... -~. 000352 CHAPTER 3 - AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES \ General This chapter discusses resources that may be affected by the proposed actions of drawing down Morrow Point Reservoir to a water surface elevation of around 7.129 ft. and cleaning the power plant trash racks, During the preparation of this Draft EA. information on issues and concerns was received from affected water users. resource agencies. private interests. recreational interest groups and citizens and other parties (see Chapter 4.Tonsultation and Coordination. for further details), I. , For each resource. the potentially affected area. and/or interests are identified. existing conditions are described. and impacts expected under the No Action and Proposed Action Alternative are discussed, This chapter concludes with a :'iummary comparison of the alternatives and a list of mitigation measures, The project area is located in \olontrosc County. Colorado along the Gunnison River within Reclamation withdrawn lands of the Aspinall Unit (Federal lands withdrawn for project purposes). Montrose County has a population of about 31.500 (V,S, Census. 200 I). Montrose is the largest city in the area with a population of about 12.000, The county is primarily rural in nature with an agricultural base, The Uncompahgre Project. constructed in the early 1900's. " provides irrigation water for about 86.000 acres by diverting water from the Gunnison River primarily through the Gunnison Tunnel. and the Uncompaghre River. Tourism and recreation are also a significant source of economic activity for the area with the Gunnison River. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Curecanti National Recreation Area. and the San' Juan Range of the Rocky Mountains nearby. Aspinall Unit and :\-Iorrow Point Reservoir , , . '., , , The Aspinall Unit of the Colorado River Storage P~oject consists of three reservoirs (Blue Mesa, Morrow Point. and Crystal) along a 40-mile stretch of the Gunnison River (see Figure 2). Morrow Point Dam was completed in 1965. In the fall of 200 I. about 11.000 cubic yards of gravel and other material was removed from the river channel below Morrow Point Dam (USBR, 2001), Blue Mesa and Morrow Point Dams are operated to provide peaking power. while Crystal Dam is operated to re-regulate water releases in the Gunnison River. Under the proposed action. releases from Blue Mesa would be adjusted to create a controlled draw down of the Morrow Point Reservoir. When full (at elevation 7.160 ft.). Morrow Point Reservoir comprises 117.190 surface acres. Lowering the reservoir water surface elevation to 7.129 ft. would reduce the reservoir surface by about 20 percent. 8