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<br />000752 <br /> <br />Associated with the proposed action, Reclamation began monitoring water quality parameters on <br />a monthly basis in April 2001. Seven sample sites were established within the Aspinall Unit <br />(See Figure 5). Water quality parameters measured will continue and include: <br /> <br />ambieot air temperature <br />water temperature <br />total dissolved solids <br />total suspended solids <br />dissolved oxygen <br /> <br />Water quality data collected from April 200 I to present is included in the appendices. During <br />the trash rack cleaning project, turbidity measurements in Morrow Point Reservoir, Crystal <br />Reservoir, and in the Gunnison River below Crystai Dam will be taken on a daily basis. <br /> <br />Water quality would be monitored during the controlled draw down, trash rack cleaning, and <br />refill of Morrow Point Reservoir. Adjustmenls in releases from Blue Mesa and Morrow Point <br />Dams would be made as needed to protect downstream water quality, Trash rack cleaning and <br />reservoir draw down would be temporarily stopped if turbidity readings below Crystal exceed <br />desired conditions. Once the reservoirs begin to clear, the trash rack cleaning or reservoir draw <br />down would continue. <br /> <br />Water Rights <br /> <br />Water rights in the Upper Gunnison Basin include both direct and indirect flow and storage <br />rights. One of the project authorizations for the Aspinall Unit was to store Upper Basin States <br />water. The Aspinall Unit would continue under nonnal operations, providing water to meet <br />downstream obligations (water rights, delivery contracts, etc.) The proposed action is projected <br />to have no effect on water rights or Aspinall water deliveries, <br /> <br />Historical and Cultural Resource Properties <br /> <br />The proposed project is located near the Curecanti Archeological District (District). The District <br />consists of a complex of over 200 recorded archeological sites and encompasses 6,750 acres. <br />The District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 15, 1984, <br />Prehistoric sites dating back to 8,000 B.C. represent a significant change in the understanding of <br />how these early people used Colorado's high mountain valleys. A large collection of artifacts <br />from the area is in storage at the Midwest Archeological Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. In <br />addition, 39 sites generally associated with the Ute Tribe and classified as temporary camps have <br />been identified in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (NPS 1997), <br /> <br />Historic resources within the Curecanli National Recreation Area illustrate three great human <br />achievements-building narrow gauge railroads, dam building/engineering, and <br />homesteading/saw milling (NPS 1997), The proposed project is in the Cimarron area and is a <br />focal point for illustrating the role of the narrow gauge railroad in the development of western <br />16 <br />