WSPC01202

• File Number: 8210.761.09
• Description: Colorado River-Federal Agencies-US NPS-Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 1/1/3000
• Title: General Management Plan 1-Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument and Curecanti National Recreation Area
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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Black Canyon is the centerpiece of geologic
diversity in a relatively small area, reflecting 1.7
billion years of geologic evolution.

The inner canyon wilderness is truly a wild,
foreboding place.

Tourism is a leading industry in the Gunnison
Basin. Centrally located in the basin, Black
Canyon is an accessible destination that serves
many visitors annually and directly contributes
to the local economy.

The establishment of Black Canyon as a unit of
the national park system is a symbol of
community pride.

Its position along the Gunnison River combined
with its values make BLCA an integral pan of
ecosystem management of the Gunnison River
Basin.

At every turn, nook, and cranny, Black Canyon
affords the opportunity for visitors to discover
new vistas of nature and self.

Black Canyon is a superlative example of
continuing river erosion that is accessible to and
understandable by the public.

The combination of depth and narrowness
makes Black Canyon a one of a kind setting in
North America.

The sheer size of the canyon creates an
experience where you feel the dominance of
nature over people.

The steep gradient of the Gunnison River and
the depth and narrowness of the BJack Canyon
is a physical barrier to the migration of fish,
plants, and animals. This has resulted in a

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diverse group of isolated biological communities
that provide unique opportunities for scientific
study, for example, evolution of plants and
animals, impacts of migration barriers, and so
on.

The park's canyons and backcountry areas are
quiet places where the sounds of nature create
an experience for visitors that last a lifetime.
You can hear the river flow and the wind in the
trees. At times the river talks.

You can go into the wilderness and experience
primal America and bring back a sense of
adventure and discovery.

The canyon is a great place for scientific
discovery and environmental education. It is a
living classroom providing unique insights into
geology, water and wind erosion, air quality,
wildlife habitat, and cultural history.

The magnificence of the canyon-its spectacular
depth and color-<lefy description. It touches
the emotion, imagination, and spirit. And a
river runs through it!

People can enjoy the canyon through a variety of
recreational experiences that include sight-
seeing, fishing, hiking, climbing, kayaking,
photography, wildlife watching, meditation, and
solitude.

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