WSPC04459

• File Number: 8210.761.09.C
• Description: Colorado River-Federal Agencies-US NPS-Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 1/24/1992
• Author: BOR
• Title: Legislation to Make BC a National Park-Long Term Protection of Gunnison River Flows to be Negotiated
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: News Article/Press Release

Bureau of ReClamatiott

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News Release

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Upper Colorado Region

Grand Junction projects Office
Grand Junction CO
Ronald Johnston [phone]
For Release January 21, 1992

LONG-TERM PROTECTION OF
GUNNISON RIVER FLOWS TO BE NEGOTIATED

In a cooperative effort, the Bureau of Reclamation, National Park
Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the Colorado Water
Conservation Board will be entering into studies and negotiations
for a water service contract to provide long-term protection of
streamflows in the Gunnison River through the Black Canyon of the
Gunnison National Monument (Monument) and the Gunnison Gorge.
The Department of the Interior's Commissioner of Reclamation
Dennis B. Underwood first announced the negotiations on December
18, 1991, in Washington, DC, and further information is now
available.

Agencies have developed a preliminary working draft of the water
service contract which provides a starting point for them and the
public. This document is available from the Bureau of
Reclamation's Grand Junction Projects Office (address below).

Activities leading to execution of the contract will include
public information meetings and news releases. Documents in
compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act will also
be prepared and additional studies may be necessary. The process
will be coordinated with the U.S. Fish and wildlife Service which
has initiated studies on the importance of the Gunnison River to
endangered native fish. The public involvement and information
process will be initiated before negotiations begin.

The contract negotiations will be held to ensure that there are
sufficient flows in the Gunnison River to meet the purposes of
the Monument and to protect natural resources and recreation in
the Gunnison Gorge. The contract will provide for a flow
delivery schedule from the upstream Wayne N. Aspinall Unit Dams-
-Blue Mesa, Morrow Point, and Crystal--to acco-modate higher
spring flows and lower winter flows. Agencies'are discussing a
concept under which target volumes of water in Blue Mesa
Reservoir will be reached to maintain conservation storage and to
ensure there are no significant impacts to recreation, and an
amount of water varying with annual precipitation and runoff will
be delivered to the Monument and Gunnison Gorge.

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