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<br />0007~5 <br /> <br />CHAPTER 3 - AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND <br />ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES <br /> <br />General <br /> <br />This chapter discusses resources that may be affected by the proposed actions of drawing down <br />Morrow Point Reservoir to a water surface elevation of around 7,129 ft. and cleaning the power <br />plant trash racks. During the preparation of this Final EA, information on issues and concerns <br />was received from affected water users, resource agencies, private interests, recreational interest <br />groups and citizens and other parties (see Chapter 4, Consultation and Coordination, for further <br />details), <br /> <br />For each resource, the potentially affected area. and/or interests are identified, existing <br />conditions are described, and impacts expected under the No Action and Proposed Action <br />Alternative are discussed. This chapter concludes with a summary comparison of the <br />alternatives and a list of mitigation measures. <br /> <br />The project area is located in Montrose County. Colorado along the Gunnison River within <br />Reclamation withdrawn lands of the Aspinall Unit (Federal lands withdrawn for project <br />purposes), Montrose County has a population of about 31,500 (U.S. Census. 200 I). Montrose is <br />lhe largest city in the area with a population of about 12,000, The county is primarily rural in <br />nature with an agricultural beise, The Uncompahgre Project, constructed in the early 1900's, <br />provides irrigation water for about 86,000 acres by diverting water from the Gunnison River <br />primarily through the Gunnison Tunnel, and the Uncompaghre River. Tourism and recreation <br />are also a significant source of economic activity for the area with the Gunnison River, Black <br />Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Curecanti National Recreation Area, and the San Juan <br />Range of the Rocky Mountains nearby, <br /> <br />Aspinall Unit and M;orrow Point Reservoir <br /> <br />The Aspinall Unit of the Colorado River Storage Project consists of three reservoirs (Blue Mesa, <br />Morrow Point, and Crystal) along a 40-mile stretch of the Gunnison River (see Figure 2). <br /> <br />Morrow Point Dam was completed in 1968, In the fall of 200 I, about 11,000 cubic yards of <br />gravel and other material was removed from the river channel below Morrow Point Dam (USBR, <br />2001). <br /> <br />Blue Mesa and Morrow Point Dams are operated to provide peaking power, while Crystal Dam <br />is operated to re-regulate water releases in the Gunnison River. Under the proposed action, <br />releases from Blue Mesa would be adjusted to create a controlled draw down of the Morrow <br />Point Reservoir. When full (at elevation 7,160 fl.). Morrow Point Reservoir comprises 117,190 <br /> <br />7 <br />