Laserfiche WebLink
<br />"', -<., <br /> <br />"\t1i~t',? <br />v :j .;. () -.i "Affected Environrnent & Consequences <br /> <br />3-30 <br /> <br />Ridgway Reservoir, a sport fishery has developed upstream from Montrose, The CDOW <br />is stocking this reach. Reports indicated that the fishery is improving downstream from <br />Montrose. <br /> <br />3.7.1.3 South Canal <br /> <br />The fishery in the South Canal is seasonal and is dependent on the movement of fish <br />through the Tunnel. There are no flows within the South Canal during winter because no <br />irrigation demand exists. The South Canal is closed to public fishing due to its location <br />on private land and some hazardous sections. <br /> <br />3.7.2 <br /> <br />Impacts of Development Alternatives <br /> <br />3.7.2.1 <br /> <br />No Action <br /> <br />If the proposed project is not developed, significant changes may continue to occur in the <br />Gunnison or Uncompahgre River fisheries. It is projected that stocking of young rainbow <br />trout may begin in the year 2000 with the goal of restoring this fishery. In the long-term, <br />natural recruitment of rainbow trout may return. In the Uncompahgre River, the fishery <br />may continue to improve, especially upstream from Montrose as water quality improves <br />and stocking benefits are seen. Changes in the Aspinall Unit operations potentially could <br />impact fish populations. The higher spring flows predicted may reduce the potential for <br />recruitment unless careful timing and ramping are followed. On the other hand, the <br />higher spling flows could improve channel conditions. <br /> <br />3.7.2.2 Gunnison River <br /> <br />The loss of fish species from the Gunnison River as a result of development is unlikely. <br />Impacts on threatened or endangered species downstream are also not expected. Negative <br />impact of the development on the species composition and relative abundance of fish in <br />the Gunnison River downstream of the Uncompahgre River confluence is also unlikely <br />because the amount of water downstream of the confluence would be unaffected by <br />development. A shift in the relative abundance of fish species may occur in the Gunnison <br />River above the confluence. Rainbow and brown trout may comprise a greater <br />percentage of the population after the project is completed, the result of increased trout <br />reproduction because of the generally increased habitat availability that will result from <br />projection operations. <br /> <br />During surveys conducted in 1995, unusually low levels of rainbow trout fry (compared <br />to 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1996), were collected. The reason for this was that discharge <br />levels in the Gunnison River Gorge in July 1995 averaged 7,254 cfs and peaked at 9,210 <br />cfs during the period of rainbow trout fry emergence (Nehring, August 1997). Excessively <br />high discharges are known to be extremely detrimental to the survival of 2 to 4 week old <br />rainbow and brown trout fry (Nehring and Anderson, 1993). However, discharge level <br /> <br />AS Lateral Hydropower Project <br /> <br />JUly 2000 <br /> <br />__J- ,", <br /> <br />. '" ,,' c,." iL",,"illi,,:A <br />