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<br />--~ <br />.~ <br /> <br />000360 <br /> <br />Threatened and Endangered Species <br /> <br />Informal consultation with the V,S. fish and Wildlife Service (Service, 2001) identified no <br />threatened or endangered species that could be directly affected by the proposed action. <br />Reclamation has a contract with the Service to deliver water over the Redlands Division Dam to <br />benefit endangered fish. Contract No. 95-07-40RI760 (300 cfs) has a shortage clause during dry <br />years and Reclamation is currently working on a proposed operations scheme that is less than <br />300 cfs during the July-October months, Additionally, if flushing flows were needed to remove <br />large volumes of deposited sediments from the Gunnison River, flushing flows could affect the <br />V,S, Fish and Wildlife Service's razorback sucker stocking program. <br /> <br />The proposed action would not affect Reclamation's contract to deliver contract tlows over the <br />Redlands Diversion Dam and large volumes of deposited sediments in the Gunnison River are <br />not predicted, Additional consultation with the V.S, Fish and Wildlife Service and CDOW <br />would be needed to implement flushing tlows as a mitigation measure, <br /> <br />Water Quality <br /> <br />Water quality is good in the Gunnison River above its contluence with the North Fork of the <br />Gunnison Rtver, The Aspinall Unit acts as a sink for suspended solids and provides constant <br />cold-water releases, The clarity (total suspended solids and total dissolved solids) and <br />temperature of the Gunnison River creates an excellent trout tishery and provides recreational <br />opportunities for tishing. rafting. and other forms of recreatilln, <br /> <br />The Gunnislln River and the three reservoirs are c1assitied by the Colorado Water Quality <br />Control Commission as Aquatic Life Cold I. Recreation I. Water Supply and Agriculture, and <br />designated as Anti-degradation Reviewable waters (previously a High Water Quality 2 <br />designation), The Aquatic Life Cold I classification denotes waters. which support a wide <br />variety of cold water biota. Recreation I waters are suitable for primary human contact <br />including swimming, kayaking. rafting, and water,skiing. The Water Supply and Agriculture <br />classitications denote that the waters are'suitable for such purposes. The anti,degradation , <br />. ' ' . - <br />reviewable designiHion recognizes water. which are not outstanding state 'or national resources' <br />but exhibit high water quality. These waters yield to the anti,degradation review process, a <br />process that allows degradation of water quality if economic or social benetits override water <br />quality benetits (Long et a!. 1995). <br /> <br />Significant changes in water quality could negatively affect downstream trout tisheries and <br />recreation. A cloudy (turbid) Gunnison River would reduce angling success. make river running <br />more difticult (cannot see rocks and other obstructions), and generally detract from the scenic <br />views in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and the Gunnison Gorge. <br /> <br />Associated with the proposed action. Reclamation began monitoring water quality parameters on <br />a monthly basis in April 200 I. Seven sample sites were established within the Aspinall Unit <br />(See Figure 5). Water quality parameters measured will continue and include: <br />16 <br />