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PROJECT DESCRIPTION The project site is located along a mountain feature known as the Grand Hogback near New Castle, Garfield County, Colorado (Figure 1). Surface • facilities are located primarily on hilly and benched lands above the Colorado River flood plain on the north side of the Grand Hogback. Grazing is the predominant land use of the site. Extensive coal mining has occurred on the site and throughout the area. The SKM will be an underground operation utilizing hydraulic mining to produce approximately 2,200,000 tons of coal/year. Approximately 3,750 acres of Federal and private Iand will be required for the mine and associated facilities. The mine will be opened by the construction of two parallel tunnels approximately 2,500 feet in length. Primary surface facilities will include water handling and clarification equipment, coal washing, and rail loadout. Auxiliary facilities include offices, shops, electrical distribution, water and sewage treatment. The rail loadout will be approximately 4 miles long and located primarily on existing railroad bed. A high-capacity conveyor will move the coal to a unit train loading station. Principal vehicular access for the project will be via the dual purpose main access haul road. SKM will utilize approximately 12,300 acre-feet of water per year for its hydraulic mining operation. Recycling will be implemented for over 95 percent of the necessary water, once the initial depletion is made. Therefore, the net average consumptive use of water will be approximately 356 acre-feet/year. BASI5 FOR OPINION Colorado squawfish Early records indicate that the Colorado squawfish was once abundant throughout the Colorado River system. It was abundant over all of its range prior to the 1850's (Seethaler, 1978). The present range of the squawfish is restricted to the upper Colorado River basin. It is found inhabiting about 345 miles of the main stem Green River from the mouth of the Yampa River downstream to the confluence of the Green and Colorado Rivers (Miller, et al, 1982). Decline of the populations of the squawfish correlates very closely with the construction of dams and reservoirs and the removal of water from the Colorado River system. Colorado squawfish evolved in and apparently require habitat conditions typified by great seasonal fluctuations in flow and turbidity, coupled with warm summer temperatures. Additionally, it appears that squawfish require relatively unrestricted movement to satisfy all of their life history requirements. .Movement of adult squawfish appears to be related. to flow, temperature, feeding and spawning behavior. 2 `•