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<br />OOll'755 <br /> <br />Commercial Guiding Services <br /> <br />Commercial guiding services have developed on the Gunnison River as a result of the high <br />quality of fishing, rafting, and sightseeing available to the general public. The majority of <br />commercial float and walk-wade fishing use occurs within the BLM's Gunnison Gorge NCA and <br />Wilderness. These activities are popular throughout the summer (May - early October) with the <br />highest annual use of the river by both commercial and private float and walk-wade fishers <br />occurring during June (stone fly hatch period). Float fishing by commercial guides is also <br />extremely popular in July, August and September. Any action that would reduce fishing success, <br />river navigability, or the aesthetic nature of the river will have a negative effect on commercial <br />guiding services. <br /> <br />The majority (79.4%) of visitation at the Curecanti National Recreation Area, the Black Canyon <br />of the Gunnison National Park and the Gunnison Gorge NCA and Wilderness occur between <br />May and September. Effects to commercial guiding services are projected to be greatest during <br />this lime period as well. <br /> <br />The greatest potential for increased turbidity during the trash rack cleaning could occur during <br />the reservoir refill. This is because sediments deposited in the reservoir, normally covered and <br />protected by the reservoir, would be exposed. Water moving over the top of these exposed <br />sediments during the reservoir refill would pick up and move the sediments, This type of <br />sediment movement was observed during the 2001 Crystal Trash Rack Cleaning, The controlled <br />draw down would begin in August with a target date of September 4th to reach a water surface <br />elevation of7, 129 ft. This would result in a Morrow Point Reservoir refill start date between <br />September 9th and September 19th, Releases during the reservoir refill would be adjusted as <br />needed to protect downstream water quality. Water quality monitoring during the trash rack <br />cleaning project would be implemented as described in the water quality section of this chapter, <br /> <br />Cumulative Impacts <br /> <br />Cumulative impacts are impacts on the environment, which result from the incremental impact of <br />the action, when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions. <br />Cumulative impacts can result from individually minor but collectively significant actions taking <br />place over a period of time. <br /> <br />Past and present activities that have affected river-related resources in the area include irrigation, <br />urban development and recreational activities associated with construction and operation of the <br />Aspinall Unit and the Uncompahgre Project, and activities associated with the Recovery <br />Implementation Program for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin. <br /> <br />Implementation of all or any of these projects has affected and continues to affect the human <br />environment including but not limited to water quality. water rights. socioeconomic and wildlife <br /> <br />19 <br />