Laserfiche WebLink
<br />._.~ <br />....' <br /> <br />OO[)359 <br /> <br />In addition, brown and rainbow trout are affected if flows in the Gunnison River are below 300 <br />cfs. Crystal Reservoir will continue to operate as the regulating reservoir with releases being <br />made based on projected hydrology. Therefore, flows in the Gunnison River below Crystal <br />would be unaffected by the proposed action. During the Cimarron Dredging Project (USBR, <br />2001), it was observed that periods of zero releases from Morrow Point Dam assisted in settling <br />suspended sediments out of the water column and protecting water quality below Crystal <br />ResfCrvoir. <br /> <br />CDOW fishery surveys on the Gunnison River are done in September. These surveys are very <br />important in the management of rainbow and brown trout populations, If turbidity increases. <br />these surveys cannot be completed. <br /> <br />Releases from Blue Mesa would be reduced to facilitate the draw down of Morrow Point <br />Reservoir, Reservoir releases from Blue Mesa combined with other Morrow Point Reservoir <br />tributary intJows would need to be less than rele:lses from Morrow Point D:lm to f:lcilitate the <br />draw down. <br /> <br />Exposed sediments from the reservoir draw down would likely be picked up during releases from <br />Blue ""es:l Reservoir into Morrow Point Reservoir, The commitment to :ldjust rele:lses from <br />Blue~lesa :lS needed. would reduce this potential. The rate of retlll for :'v[orrow Point Reservoir <br />would also be adjusted as needed to protect downstream water quality and trout spawning sites, <br />Additional inform:ltion is presented in the water qU:llity section of this ch:lpter. <br /> <br />L:lndslide movements are also a potenti:ll source for suspended sediments th:lt could degrade <br />water qU:llity, M:ljor landslide movements would signitlcantly affect water quality and likely <br />deposit sediment in critical trout spawning habit:lts, A slow. controlled draw down of :'vlorrow <br />Point Reservoir and monitoring of Landslides A. C and D is predicted to minimize landslide <br />movements. Suspended sediments from minor l:lndslide movements (less than :2 inches) are <br />predicted to settle into Crystal Reservoir. and have little or no affect on trout spawning, <br />Additional information on landslides was presented in the geology and landslide section of this <br />ch:lpter. <br /> <br />If existing water qU:llity is maintained and landslide movement is minimized. fisheries resources <br />are predicted to be unaffected by the proposed action. Flushing flow releases are should not be <br />necessary mitigation measures for the Trash Rack Cleaning Project. and would only be <br />considered if other mitigation measures were unsuccessful in preventing increased sediment <br />deposits in the Gunnison River below Crystal Reservoir. Additional consultation with the <br />Service and CDOW would be needed to implement this type of mitigation measure. Other local <br />wildlife may avoid the project area during activities, however effects are projected to be short- <br />term and the project would not alter existing wildlife habitat. <br /> <br />15 <br />