WSP11844

• File Number: 8240.200.36
• Description: Black Canyon National Monument
• State: CO
• Basin: Gunnison
• Water Division: 4
• Date: 1/1/1992
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Proposed Contract to Deliver Water from the Wayne N. Aspinall Unit to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

Bureau of Reclamation

Background

The mission of the Bureau of Reclamation
(Reclamation) is to manage, develop, and
protect water and related resources in an
environmentally and economically sound
manner in the interest of the American public.
One of Reclamation's challenges involves
development and operation of the Wayne N,
Aspinall Unit (Aspinall Unit) as directed by
Congress with passage of the Colorado River
Storage Project (CRSP) Act in 1956.
Originally called the Curecanti Unit, the
Aspinall Unit is one of four water storage
projects initially authorized for construction on
the Colorado River and its tributaries in the
Upper Colorado River Basin. The other three
are Glen Canyon Dam/Lake Powell, on the
Colorado River main stem above Lee's Ferry
near the Arizona/Utah border; Flaming Gorge
Dam and Reservoir on the Green River; and
the Navajo Dam and Reservoir on the San
Juan Rivc!. COhStltl.:.t;O" of tile A'l'i"a:ll U",l
was contingent upon completion and approval
of an "Economic Justification Report"
(completed in I 959) which still forms the
basis for operation of the unit.

Current Operation of the Aspinall Unit

The Aspinall Unit consists of Blue Mesa,
Morrow Point, and Crystal Reservoirs, Dams
and Powerplants, The reservoirs and
powerplants are operated by Reclamation to
meet authorized purposes of:

--regulating the flow of the Colorado River
--storing water for beneficial uses
--allowing the Upper Basin states (Colorado,
Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico) to utilize the

apportionment made to and among them
through the Colorado River Compact and the
Upper Colorado River Basin Compact
--reclamation of arid and semi-arid lands
--providing for flood control
--providing for fish and wildlife
enhancement and public recreation
--improving water quality
--providing for the generation of
hydropower

Since 1965, recreational development and
use of lands associated with the Aspinall Unit
have been managed by the National Park
Service, as the Curecanti Recreation Area
under a Memorandum of Agreement. The
Aspinall Unit also includes acquired lands to
develop the Gunnison, Dome Lakes, and
Cimarron State Wildlife Areas and portions of
the Billy Creek State Wildlife Area. Fishing
access along the Gunnison River has been
acquired upstream and downstream of the
lc::,cJ..vuil:S.

A major operational objective of the
Aspinall Unit is to maximize water releases
through the powerplant outlets at each dam,
reduce releases through the river outlets, and
minimize use of the spillways, These
objectives enable Reclamation to generate
power revenues, prevent flood damage,
maximize the conservation of water, and
ensure the integrity of each dam.

Primary water storage occurs in the
uppermost and largest reservoir, Blue Mesa.
Powerplants at Blue Mesa and Morrow Point
are operated on a peaking basis, while the
dam and powerplant at Crystal are operated to
regulate (even out) downstream flows.

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