WSP11296

• File Number: 8220.100.40
• Description: CRSP
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 6/30/1967
• Author: USDOI
• Title: Eleventh Annual Report on the Statuts of the Colorado River Storage Project
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Annual Report

Psge 7

CURECANTI STORAGE UNIT, COLORADO

The CUrecanti Unit, located in west-central Colorado, is one of four
authorized storage units of the Colorado River Storage Project. The
main project features include Blue Mesa, Morrow Point, and Crystal
D3.tns, Powerplants, and Switchyards. The primary purposes of the unit
are regulation and storage offlood flows of the Gunnison River and
generation of hydroelectric power from three powerplants with a com-
bined nameplate rating of 208,000 kilowatts. In addition, the project
will provide fish and wildlife and recreation benefits.

Following is the status of construction work at June 30, 1967:

Percent
Complete

Blue Mesa IA>m and Reservoir 99
Blue;> Mesa Powerplant and Switchyard 97
Morrow Point IA>m & Reservoir 89
Morrow Point Powerplant and Switchyard 58
Crytal Dam Access Road 100

Blue ~~sa Dam, west of Gunnison, ColoradO, began storing water on October 27,
1965. The powerplant is scheduled to go into operation in the fall of
1967. When filled, Blue Mesa Reservoir will contain 940,800 acre-feet of
water. The powerplant will have a generating capacity of 60,000 kilowatts.

The Morrow Point Dam and Powerplant are now being constructed under a
$15.4 million contract awarded in May 1963. The dam and and power-
plant are scheduled for completion late in fiscal year 1968.
Work continued in Fiscal Year 1967 on the contract to install two generators
of 60,000 kilowatts capacity each for the M:lrrow Point Powerplant. The
120,000 kilowatt powerplant is being constructed as an underground installa-
tion, the first such plant in Reclams.tioll history. It is being carved. out
of the left wall of the Gunnison River Canyon Just below M:lrrow Point Dam.

The Cl'ystal Dam and Powerplant are scheduled for the start of construction in
late 1969 and the powerplant is scheduled to be in operation by late F'i 1973.
. The powerplant will have an installed capacity of 28,000 kilowatts. Crystal
Reservoir is planned to re-regulate the flows of the Gunnison River to permit
the most efficient operation ot the power facilities at Morrow Point Dam.
This permitted an increase in Morrow Point generating capacity from 60,000
kilowatts to 120,000 kilowatts. The Crystal Dam access road was completed
on January 12, 1966.

Recreational facilities are being built by the National Park Service at
the Center Point Site adjacent to U. s. 50 on Blue Mesa lake. A boat-
launching ramp is completed and in use along with other facilities which
includes a campground and picnic development ~nd marina grading.