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... ~~. 00J354 Crystal Reservoir. Recreational use at the upper end of Crystal Reservoir is primarily limited to the spring through fall. NPS also operates a tour boat at Morrow Point Reservoir by concession. The tour boat is launched and picks up passengers at the upper end of Morrow Point Reservoir and provides a 1-2 hour tour, The boat operates typically from Memorial Day to Labo, Day and requires a reservoir water surface elevation 01'7,152 ft. for the boat tour to put in and take out. Because of recent events including the September 11th terrorist attacks. the Morrow Point Boat Tour has been suspended in 2002. If the trash rack cleaning is completed in 2002. the boai tour will not be affected. However. if the cleaning is scheduled in another year and the boat tour is ,resumed. a water surface lower than 7.152 ft. before September 1st would shorten the boat tour\season. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (Park) is located downstream of tt East Portal of the Gunnison Tunnel and is managed by the National Park Service, The Park was established to preserve the spectacular gorge and other scenic. scientitic. and educatio'nal interests, The.Park includes 14 miles of the Gunnison River. , , , An additional 26 miles of the Gunnison River downstream of the 'iational Park are managed by the BL~1. The river !lows through the BL~I's 57.700-acre Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area (NC\l and Wilderness. BL~l manages the 'Ie.-'\. and Wilderness to pennanently protect and conserve its outstanding scenic. geologic. wildlife and wilderness resources and to provide a diverse range of recreational opportunities including wilderness whitewater boating and camping. tloat-tishing. walk-wade tishing. hiking. and sightseeing, The Colorado Division of Wildlife manages recreational tishing on the Gunnison River. Recreational tishing is discussed in greater detail in the Wildlife Section of this Chapter. The No Action Alternative would not affect current use of recreational resources, In future years without the trash rack cleaning. tlows may become more reduced by additional trash build,up. thus potentially affecting downstream recreation. The Proposed Astion could negatively affect recreational uses if the Gunnison River becomes cloudy (turbid), If the' waters are turbid. tishing success may be reduced and the river may become difficult to navigate by boat, thus reducing the quality of the recreational experience, For example. during the Crystal trash rack cleaning and draw down. private and commercial recreation use was almost non-existent. In addition, access to Morrow Point Reservoir would likely be closed to the public from September 3rd to October 1 ,t for public safety and resource protection. Water quality is discussed in greater detail in the Water Resources section of this chapter. Land Use and Vegetation The project area is located on lands of the United States withdrawn by Reclamation for the construction and operation of the Aspinall Unit. The lands are co-managed by Reclamation and the :-iPS. 10