WSPC02286

• 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: 10/1/1997
• Title: General Management Plan 2-Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument and Curecanti National Recreation Area
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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. 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,
climhing, kayaking, photography, wildlife
watching, meditation, and solitude.

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Curecanti National Recreation
Area

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Park Purpose

The reason or reasons for which
Curecanti was set aside as a part of the
national park system is called its park
purpose, Purpose statements are based
upon legislation, legislative history, and
historic trends. Curecanti is currently
being administered by the NPS based on
a number of cooperative agreements and
legal mandates. Curecanti has not yet
been authorized by specific legislation as
a separate unit of the national park
system.

The specific legal mandates for Curecanti
National Recreation Area include the
Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP)
Act and a memorandum of agreement
between the Bureau of Reclamation and
the National Park Service. The statements
below reflect the purposes and mandates
for Curecanti,

Purposes

. To conserve the scenery, natural, historic,
and archeological resources, and wildlife of
Curecanti National Recreation Area.

. To provide for public use and enjoyment in
such a way as to ensure visitor safety and
resource preservation or conservation by
establishing and maintaining facilities and
providing protective and interpretive
services.

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Mandates

. To manage the lands, waters, and activities of
Curecanti National Recreation Area in such a

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way that it does not interfere with the
purposes of the Colorado River Storage
Project Act and other Bureau of Reclamation
agreements affecting the operation of the
Aspinall Unit.

. To mitigate the loss offish and wildlife
resources as a result of the Colorado River
Storage Project

Other legislation affecting the
management ofCurecanti National
Recreation Area includes the 1916
Organic Act (and as amended by the act
of March 27, 1978), the National
Environmental Policy Act, the National
Historic Preservation Act, the
Archeological Resources Protection Act,
and the Endangered Species Act.

Park Significance

Significance is summarized in statements
that capture the essence of Curecanti' s
importance to our natural and cultural
heritage. Significance statements are not
an inventory of significant resources but
rather describe the importance or
distinctiveness of the aggregate of
resources in the park. The following are
the significance statements developed for
the park through the management
assessment process.

. The evolution of life in the Gunnison Basin
and its ultimate dependence on water is
illustrated and interpreted at Curecanti.
Evidence of the impact that water has had on
past settlements and developments abounds
in the area's geology and history,

. The three dams of the Aspinall Unit are
unique in concept and construction. The
dams were conceived in the 1950's and built
during the 1960's and 70's to provide
irrigation, flood control, hydroelectric power,
and recreation. The three-dam complex also
allows flexible water management of
upstream water resources for recreation and
irrigation while providing exchange water to
the Uncompahgre Valley through the
Gunnison Tunnel, a 6-mile, hand-dug tunnel

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