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The Gunnison: A Basin In Balance <br />a. Recreation and the Environment <br />In the Upper Basin, where tourism is <br />the predominant industry, the Gunnison River <br />supports a burgeoning recreation economy. <br />Fishing, kayaking, rafting, and flat-water recre- <br />ation (on Blue Mesa and Taylor Park <br />Reservoirs) together generate tens of millions <br />of dollars and hundreds of jobs for the local <br />and state economies. One local expert esti- <br />mates 60% of the basin's residents have jobs <br />somehow related to tourism: "That two of the <br />top three activities are boating and fishing tells <br />you how important rivers are to us here."34 <br />Clearly, the Gunnison River and its tributaries <br />are a treasured resource for people from all <br />over the state and country. <br />kr :. ?. <br />•? • Y <br />? '" .• r??? . <br />??`•"" . <br />, <br />-? z <br />L•y . <br />..k <br />w <br /> <br />..4 • .?? <br />Recent figures reveal that each year - ,.;.= ...? <br />rafters make 20,000 day trips and contribute <br />$4 million to the local economy.35 Some of <br />the most popular streams in the entire state, The spectacular Black Canyon of the <br />Taylor River and Lottis Creek, get roughly Gunnison depends on adequate stream <br />8,000 anglers during the summer alone.36 }lows to support its channel character and <br />The National Park Service found that in fisheries. <br />1995, Black Canyon of the Gunnison Photo by Jeff Widen <br />National Park generated $12.3 million in <br />annual revenues, $1.1 million in increased tax revenue, and 307 jobs.37 In the same <br />year, the Curecanti National Recreation Area, surrounding and including Blue Mesa <br />Reservoir, generated $21 million in sales, $1.8 million in increased tax revenues, and <br />533 jobs. Visitors in 2001 numbered 200,000 at the Black Canyon and close to 1 mil- <br />lion at Curecanti.38 From an economic standpoint, the recreational values of the basin <br />outperform agricultural contributions many times over. <br />Sample of Tourism and Recreation Economic Benefits <br />Area Black Canyon Park <br />Visitors 200,000 <br />Revenue $12,300,000 <br />Sales Taxes $1,100,000 <br />Jobs 307 <br />Curecanti Recreation Area <br />1,000,000 <br />$21,000,000 <br />$1,800,000 <br />533 <br />In-stream uses, both above and below Aspinall, are supported by a variety of <br />institutions and statutory authority. They include in-stream flow water rights, other <br />water rights, CRSPA and other federal law, including the Endangered Species Act. <br />Gunnison Basin Water ' 9 '