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<br />00075G <br /> <br />In addition, brown and rainbow trout are affected if flows in the Gunnison River are below 300 <br />cfs, Crystal Reservoir will continue to operate as the regulating reservoir with releases being <br />made based on projected hydrology, Therefore, flows in the Gunnison River below Crystal <br />would be unaffected by the proposed action. During the Cimarron Dredging Project (USBR, <br />2001), it was observed that periods of zero releases from Morrow Point Dam assisted in settling <br />suspended sediments out of the water column and protecting water quality below Crystal <br />Reservoir. <br /> <br />CDOW fishery surveys on the Gunnison River are done in September. These surveys are very <br />important in the management of rainbow and brown trout populations, If turbidity increases, <br />these surveys cannot be completed. <br /> <br />Releases from Blue Mesa would be reduced to facilitate the draw down of Morrow Point <br />Reservoir. Reservoir releases from Blue Mesa combined with other Morrow Point Reservoir <br />tributary inflows would need [0 be less than releases from Morrow Point Dam to facilitate the <br />draw down. <br /> <br />Exposed sediments from the reservoir draw down would likely be picked up during releases from <br />Blue Mesa Reservoir into Morrow Point Reservoir. The commitment to adjust releases from <br />Blue Mesa as needed. would reduce this potential. The rate of refill for Morrow Point Reservoir <br />would also be adjusted as needed to protect downstream water quality and trout spawning sites. <br />Additional infonnation is presented in the water quality section of this chapter. <br /> <br />Landslide movements are also a potential source for suspended sediments that could degrade <br />water quality, Major landslide movements would significantly affect water quality and likely <br />deposit sediment in critical trout spawning habitats, A slow, controlled draw down of Morrow <br />Point Reservoir and monitoring of Landslides A, C and D is predicted to minimize landslide <br />movements. Suspended sediments from minor landslide movements (less than 2 inches) are <br />predicted to settle into Crystal Reservoir, and have little or no affect on trout spawning, <br />Additional infonnation on landslides was presented in the geology and landslide section of this <br />chapter, <br /> <br />If existing water quality is maintained and landslide movement is minimized, fisheries resources <br />are predicted to be unaffected by the proposed action, Flushing now releases are should not be <br />necessary mitigation measures for the Trash Rack Cleaning Project, and would only be <br />considered if other mitigation measures were unsuccessful in preventing increased sediment <br />deposits in the Gunnison River below Crystal Reservoir. Additional consultation with the <br />Service and CDOW would be needed to implement this type of mitigation measure. Other local <br />wildlife may avoid the project area during activities, however effects are projected to be short- <br />tenn and the project would not alter existing wildlife habitat. <br /> <br />14 <br />