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river ice fonnation above Blue Mesa Reservoir, which in turn causes flooding in the Gunnison Valley above the ice jams. They noted that the contract alternatives which call for storing water in the winter for high spring releases might cause a return to ice fonnation problems. Historically these problems have been avoided by lowering Blue Mesa Reservoir below a certain target elevation by December 31 of each year. Page 16 of the Infonnation Packet identified cessation of canyon cutting activities due to reduced flows through the Black Canyon as one of the historical impacts of Aspinall Unit operation. Montrose participants identified the need for a flushing flow study to detennine sediment problems, and worried that the Black Canyon and the Gunnison Gorge have different needs. Ms. Kiefer thought that a full range of values related to sediment transport needs should be considered for stream banks, beaches, channels, and bottom maintenance, Gunnison participants thought that the contract should provide adequate flushing flows to, maintain the aquatic ecosystem of the Gold Medal Trout fishery. Montrose meeting comments mentioned that below Glen Canyon, too much riparian vegetation is choking the river, but flushing the vegetation out will hann its fishery more than help. A comment in Delta suggested that sediment is less than it was prior to the Aspinall Unit reservoirs, therefore flushing flow amounts should be less, Commissioner Corey commented: "all processes of erosion or deposition in a canyon are natural regardless of the conditions or causes,., .Increasing flows because the hydrology cutting process has been reduced is not a reasonable nor practical or beneficial alternative to the present benefits of a controlled river flow. Such a proposal is without common sense," In Gunnison, concern was expressed that low water levels in Blue Mesa would cause an increase in dust and air quality problems, . E. Social and Economic Resources Item 17. Hydropower Generation - Need to identify impacts on hydropower generation, revenues, and repayment of Aspinall Unit costs. Refer to: Gunnison, Montrose, and Delta meetings; Ms. Boretz; the City of Colorado Springs; CREDA; CRWCD; Mr. Hinchman; the Montrose County Commissioners; the Montrose Economic Development Council; Montrose Partners; Mr. Robinson; UGRWCD. (26 comments) Many requested that the analysis identify impacts of contract releases to hydropower generation and associated revenues from the Aspinall Unitnin tenns of kilowatts, dollars, Aspinall Unit repayment obligations, and regional changes in power rates. Some thought that the Aspinall Unit was built for hydropower production, and that this original intent should be met fITS!. In Montrose, we were asked if W APA contracts would control what the proposed contract could do. CREDA suggested that changes in operation for non-hydropower purposes should be analyzed in tenns of realJocation of project costs and benefits. In Gunnison, participants were worried that loss of revenues would be made up in the cost of Aspinall Unit water, At the Delta 32