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<br />000751 <br /> <br />Threatened and Endangered Species <br /> <br />Informal consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service, 2001) identified no <br />threatened or endangered species that could be directly affected by the proposed action. <br />Reclamation has a contract with the Service to deliver water over the Redlands Division Dam to <br />benefit endangered fish. Contract No. 95-07-40RI760 (300 cfs) has a shortage clause during dry <br />years and Reclamation is currently working on a proposed operations scheme that is less than <br />300 cfs during the July-October months. Additionally, if flushing flows were needed to remove <br />large volumes of deposited sediments from the Gunnisoo River, flushing flows could affect the <br />U,S, Fish and Wildlife Service's razorback sucker stocking program. <br /> <br />The proposed action would not affect Reclamation's contract to deliver contract flows over the <br />Redlands Diversion Dam and large volumes of deposited sediments in the Gunnison River are <br />not predicted. Additional consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and CD OW <br />would be needed to implement flushing flows as a mitigation measure. <br /> <br />Water Quality <br /> <br />Water quality is good in the Gunnison River above its confluence with the North Fork of the <br />Gunnison River. The Aspinall Unit acts as a sink for suspended solids and provides constant <br />cold-water releases, The clarity (total suspended solids and total dissolved solids) and <br />temperature of the Gunnison River creates an excellent trout fishery and provides recreational <br />opportunities for fishing, rafting, and other forms of recreation, <br /> <br />The Gunnison River and the three reservoirs are classified by the Colorado Water Quality <br />Control Commission as Aquatic Life Cold 1, Recreation 1. Water Supply and Agriculture, and <br />designated as Anti-degradation Reviewable waters (previously a High Water Quality 2 <br />designation). The Aquatic Life Cold I classification denotes waters, which support a wide <br />variety of cold water biota. Recreation I waters are suitable for primary human contact <br />including swimming, kayaking, rafting, and water-skiing, The Water Supply and Agriculture <br />,classifications denote that the waters are suitable for such purposes. The anti-degradation <br />reviewable designation recognizes water, which are not outstanding state or national resources <br />but exhibit high water quality, These waters yield to the anti-degradation review process, a <br />process that allows degradation of water quality if economic or social benefits override water <br />quality benefits (Long et aI, 1995), <br /> <br />Significant changes in water quality could negatively affect downstream trout fisheries and <br />recreation, A cloudy (turbid) Gunnison River would reduce angling success, make river running <br />more difficult (cannot see rocks and other obstructions), and generally detract from the scenic <br />views in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and the Gunnison Gorge. <br /> <br />15 <br />