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<br />EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br /> <br />C. Affected Environment <br /> <br />The area potentially affected by the Proposed Action includes all of the <br />Upper Colorado River Basin above Glen Canyon Dam but excludes the San Juan <br />River and its tributaries (See Figure III-I). <br /> <br />D. Environmental Consequences of the Alternatives <br /> <br />Prediction of future impacts is hampered by the dynamic, adaptable nature <br />of the Recovery Implementation Program. Program implementation will be <br />influenced greatly by future research results. Many actions cannot be <br />defined in detail until underlying research is completed and various <br />options for implementation are identified. Detailed impact analyses were <br />possible only in instances where detailed assumptions could be developed <br />and justified. Generalized impact analyses were prepared when detailed, <br />justifiable assumptions could not be developed. Table ES-1 summarizes <br />impacts. Major conclusions are as follows: <br /> <br />1. The P~oposed Action is expected to have: <br /> <br />a. Positive impacts on rare and endangered fishes and future water <br />development in the Upper Basin. <br /> <br />b. Negative impacts on nonnative warmwater fish species which compete <br />with or prey on endangered fi.shes and which can be affected by <br />control measures. This may affect warmwater sportfishing for <br />these species. <br /> <br />c. Negative impacts on power revenues (in the short term) and on <br />regional electricity rates (in the long term). These might be <br />offset by future measures to reduce impacts, such as allowing <br />operational flexibility at Flaming Gorge Dam, <br /> <br />d. Mixed impacts (i.e., both positive and negative impacts, depending <br />on location, time of year, and other variables) on nonnative <br />coldwater sport fishes,. coldwater sportfishing, recreational <br />boating, and pumping costs for waterfowl management areas. <br /> <br />e. Unpredictable, but likely minimal, impacts on nonendangered <br />warmwater.native fishes .and irrigation-associated riparian <br />habitat. <br /> <br />f. Neutral, redistributional impacts (changes that are neither <br />positive or negative in value) on Federal water management, water <br />rights, and natural riparian habitat. <br /> <br />g. No or minimal impacts on water quality, channel maintenance, <br />coldwater native fishes, terrestrial wildlife, other endangered <br />and threatened species,. candidate species, and archaeological! <br />cultural resources. <br /> <br />ES-2 <br />