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<br />lECORC OF 0 EaSTON <br />'.\'~lrGId M:G__IM:aOi,.C~llJ ~r <br /> <br />"~GO <br /> <br />environmental and project-related issues. These letters were <br />from the City of Grand Junction, Mesa County Water Association, <br />Sierra Club Rocky Mountain Chapter, Mr. Paul H. Grant of Grand <br />County, Colorado, and the Service. <br /> <br />The City of Grand Junction raised the issue that insufficient <br />detail was provided in the DEIS on the substitution agreement for <br />Wolford Mountain Reservoir and Green Mountain Reservoir. To <br />address this issue, the SDEIS was expanded to include a more <br />detailed discussion of the substitution agreement and its <br />potential impacts. <br /> <br />The Mesa County Water Association raised the issue concerning <br />what recourse water users on the Blue and Colorado Rivers <br />upstream of McCoy or Kremrnling would have to maintain suitable <br />streamflows for irrigation, recreational, and commercial <br />purposes. In response, it was stated that only a substitution of <br />water between the proposed reservoir and Green Mountain is being <br />contemplated. If any senior water rights were injured, recourse <br />would be through the State of Colorado water rights system. No <br />injury to such senior water rights is anticipated. <br /> <br />The Sierra Club Rocky Mountain Chapter raised the issues of the <br />project's reliance on congressional authorization for approval <br />and the allegation that there is no current market for the water <br />yield of the project. In response, it was stated that the water <br />substitution agreement could be implemented by Reclamation within <br />existing legislation and authorities. Water demand data is <br />consistent with the updated metropolitan Denver system-wide EIS. <br /> <br />Mr. Paul H. .Grant raised the issues that the project would affect <br />Grand County and dewater most of the Colorado River and all of <br />the Fraser River. In response, Mr. Grant was advised that <br />substitution of water would be limited to Wolford Mountain and <br />Green Mountain Reservoirs. Therefore, the project will not <br />impact that portion of the Colorado River Basin upstream of the <br />Blue River including the Fraser River sub-basin. In the future, <br />substitutions or exchanges with impacts different than those <br />described in the SDEIS would require additional NEPA compliance. <br /> <br />The Service raised the issue that the SDEIS does not address <br />impacts to the aquatic environment on the Colorado River above <br />the Blue River confluence or impacts to the Williams Fork River <br />below Williams Fork Reservoir. In response it was stated that <br />the project will not change the historic functions of Williams <br />Fork Reservoir and the diversions by the Moffat Tunnel diversion <br />system. In the future, substitutions or exchanges different than <br />those described in SDEIS would require additional NEPA <br />compliance. <br />