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<br /> <br />. o.perated by BaR, and the lands and water surface areas of the Aspinall Unit are man~ged by <br />the NPS as the Curecanti National Recreatio.n Area (Curecanti). . <br /> <br />The Black Canyo.n includes 12 miles o.fthe Gunniso.nRiver. In 1933, the Black Canyo.n ' <br />(and asso.ciated reserved water right) was established by Presidet).tial Pro.clamatio.n for the <br />preservatio.n of the spectacular go.rges ancl additio.nal features o.f'scenic, scientific, and . <br />educational interests. Managed by the NPS, the BlackCanyo.n has many characteristics that <br />depend upo.n the Gunnison River, including valuable natural and'recreatio.nal resources, ' <br /> <br />the BLM manages lands o.f the Gunniso.n Gorge immediately do.wnstream from the Black , <br />Canyo.n as a special'recreatio.n area, The area featUres 16 miles ;o.f the Gunniso.n River ,and <br />its cany()n, is pro.po.sed fo.r designatio.n as,a natio.nal co.nservatio.n area, and includes a <br />wilderness study area. <br /> <br />, , <br />. -, . <br />; , . . <br />, The entire reach of the river, thtoughthe Black Canyon and th(;lGunnisan.Go.rge is regulated <br />by the State of Colo.rado. as a Go.ld Medal Trout fisheryand has ,been proPo.sed fo.r Federal <br />designatio.n as a Wild and Scenic River. ' , <br /> <br />B. Histo.ric'Operation of the'AspinllU Unit, <br /> <br />The Aspinall Unit co.nsistso.f Blue Mesa, Mo.rrow Point, and Crystal Reservo.irs, Dams; and <br />Po.werplants. The reservo.irs and po.werplants are aperated by th~ BaR to. .meet autho.rized <br />, purpo.ses af: " , <br /> <br />regulating the flo.w o.f the Co.lOl:ado. River <br />storing water fo.r beneficial use " ' ' , " : <br />allo.wing the ' Upper Basin 'States to. utilize the appotlio.nmentmade to. and <br />amang them through,the Co.lo.rado. River Co.mpact;and the Upper Co.lo.rado. <br />River Basin Co.mpact " <br />reclamatio.n of arid and semi-arid lands' <br />providing far floodco.ntro.l , ' " ' <br />-- , providing fo.r fish and wildlife enhancement and p\lblic recreatio.n <br />improving water quality , <br />providing fo.r the generatio.n o.f hydropower' <br /> <br />Recreatio.naldevelo.pment and use o.f the .flatwater reso.urces and ilands o.f Curecanti have <br />been managed by the NPS under a Memo.randum o.f Agreement $inceI965. The Aspinall ' <br />Unit alSo. includes land interests acquired and managed t6mitigate impacts o.f the reservo.irs <br />o.n fish, and wildlife. This mitigatio.n includes acquiring fishing access alo.ng the Gunniso.n <br />,and its tributaries upstream and do.wnstream o.fthe reservairs. ' <br /> <br />Primary watersto.rageoccursin, the uppenno.st and largest resetioir, Blue Mesa. <br />Po.werplants at Blue Mesa imd Mo.rrow Po.intare6perated o.n a peaking basis, while Crystal <br />Reservoir is o.perated to. regulate (even-o.ut) do.wnstream Gunnisqn River streamflaws. <br /> <br />2 <br />