"West Elk Breccia, Curecanti National Recreation Area, 2013." by U.S. National Park Service , public domain
Curecanti
National Recreation Area - Colorado
Curecanti National Recreation Area is located on the Gunnison River in western Colorado. Established in 1965, Curecanti is responsible for developing and managing recreational facilities on three reservoirs, Blue Mesa Reservoir, Morrow Point Reservoir and Crystal Reservoir, constructed on the upper Gunnison River in the 1960s by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to better utilize the vital waters of the Colorado River and its major tributaries. A popular destination for boating and fishing, Curecanti offers visitors two marinas, traditional and group campgrounds, hiking trails, boat launches, and boat-in campsites. The state's premiere lake trout and Kokanee salmon fisheries, Curecanti is a popular destination for boating and fishing, and is also a popular area for ice-fishing in the winter months.
Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) of Paonia Ranger District South in Gunnison National Forest (NF) in Colorado. Published by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) of Gunnison Ranger District South in Gunnison National Forest (NF) in Colorado. Published by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
JuniorRanger Activity Book for Curecanti National Recreation Area (NRA) in Colorado. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).
https://www.nps.gov/cure/index.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curecanti_National_Recreation_Area
Curecanti National Recreation Area is located on the Gunnison River in western Colorado. Established in 1965, Curecanti is responsible for developing and managing recreational facilities on three reservoirs, Blue Mesa Reservoir, Morrow Point Reservoir and Crystal Reservoir, constructed on the upper Gunnison River in the 1960s by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to better utilize the vital waters of the Colorado River and its major tributaries. A popular destination for boating and fishing, Curecanti offers visitors two marinas, traditional and group campgrounds, hiking trails, boat launches, and boat-in campsites. The state's premiere lake trout and Kokanee salmon fisheries, Curecanti is a popular destination for boating and fishing, and is also a popular area for ice-fishing in the winter months.
Three reservoirs and surrounding lands make up this recreation area in western Colorado. It is a landscape of tradeoffs; natural and human made features exist together. Geologic wonders are abundant from the sagebrush shrublands to forests. Visitors can experience the park year-round on both land and water.
Curecanti is located between the Colorado towns of Gunnison (to the east), Montrose (to the west), and Lake City (to the south). The West Elk Mountain Wilderness area borders Curecanti to the north. U.S. Highway 50 runs the length of Curecanti east to west.
Elk Creek Visitor Center
This visitor center provides information, exhibits, book and map sales, restrooms, and outdoor seating. Water is available inside when the building is open.
Follow U.S. Highway 50 15 miles (24 km) west of Gunnison, CO, or 49 miles (79 km) east of Montrose, CO, then follow signs to the visitor center. GPS coordinates: N 38.4668, W -107.1663
Cimarron Campground
Cimarron Campground is located 20 miles (32 km) east of Montrose, CO on U.S. Highway 50 at the site of Cimarron, a historic narrow gauge railroad town. The campground accommodates tents to medium sized RVs. All sites are first-come, first-served and the campground rarely fills. Railroad exhibits are adjacent to the campground. Crystal Reservoir near Morrow Point Dam is approximately 1.5 miles away (2.4 km).
Standard Camping Fee
24.00
The nightly camping fee at Cimarron is $24.00. Group size limit is eight people and two vehicles.
Senior / Access Camping Fee
12.00
Discounted camping rate for valid Senior or Access passes. The nightly camping fee with valid passes is $12.00. Group size limit is eight people and two vehicles.
Cimarron Campground
Cimarron Campground
Cimarron Campground
Dry Gulch Campground
Dry Gulch Campground is located 17 miles west of Gunnison just north of U.S. Highway 50. The campground is shaded by large cottonwood trees and can accommodate tents or medium sized RVs. All sites are first-come first-served. A horse corral is available. Elevation: 7560 feet
Standard Camping Fee
20.00
The nightly camping fee at Dry Gulch is $20.00. Group size limit is eight people and two vehicles.
Senior / Access Camping Fee
10.00
Discounted camping rate for valid Senior or Access passes. The nightly camping fee with valid passes is $10.00. Group size limit is eight people and two vehicles.
Dry Gulch Campground
Dry Gulch Campground
Dry Gulch Campground
Dry Gulch Campground Sites
Dry Gulch Campground Sites
Dry Gulch Campground Sites
Dry Gulch Horse Corral
Dry Gulch Horse Corral
Dry Gulch Horse Corral
East Elk Creek Group Campground
East Elk Creek is a group campsite that can accommodate a total of 50 people. The site is located 16.5 miles west of Gunnison just north of U.S. Highway 50. The campsites are located under large cottonwood trees, and space is available for tents or RVs. Elevation: 7535 feet
East Elk Creek Group Campground
120.00
50 people maximum.
East Elk Creek Group Campground 1
East Elk Creek Group Campground 1
Picnic shelter and bridge leading to tent campsites.
East Elk Creek Group Campground 2
East Elk Creek Group Campground 2
Parking area, picnic shelter and vault toilet.
East Elk Creek Group Campground 3
East Elk Creek Group Campground 3
The campground is shaded by Cottonwood trees.
East Portal Campground
The East Portal Campground is located within Curecanti National Recreation Area, but is adjacent to and only accessible from Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, which has a $30 entrance fee. The campground is located at the bottom of the canyon, along the Gunnison River. It is a small campground shaded by box elder trees. East Portal is closed in winter, when the Bureau of Reclamation closes the East Portal Road. Elevation: 6549 ft (1996.1 m)
Standard Camping Fee
20.00
The nightly camping fee at East Portal is $20.00. Group size limit is eight people and two vehicles.
Senior / Access Camping Fee
10.00
Discounted camping rate for valid Senior or Access passes. The nightly camping fee with valid passes is $10.00. Group size limit is eight people and two vehicles.
East Portal Campground - Sites with vehicle access
East Portal Campground - Sites with vehicle access
Five out of the fifteen sites have vehicle access.
East Portal Campground - Walk-in sites
East Portal Campground - Walk-in sites
Ten of the 15 sites are walk-in tent sites.
Elk Creek Campground
Elk Creek Campground is located 16 miles west of Gunnison on U.S. Highway 50 on the shore of Blue Mesa Reservoir. We recommend making reservations prior to coming to Curecanti because cell service and first-come, first-served sites may be unavailable. Reservations may be made on recreation.gov from mid-May to mid-September. All types of camping from tents to large RVs can be accommodated. Very few sites have trees. This is the only campground with electricity (Loop D only) at Curecanti. Elevation: 7540 feet
Loops A & B Standard Camping Fee
24.00
The nightly camping fee for Loops A & B at Elk Creek is $24.00.
Loops A & B Senior / Access Camping Fee
12.00
Discounted camping rate for valid Senior or Access passes. The nightly camping fee with valid passes is $12.00.
Loop C Standard Camping Fee
24.00
The nightly camping fee for Loop C at Elk Creek is $24.00. Loop C sites are non-reservable (first-come first-served).
Loop C Senior / Access Camping Fee
12.00
Discounted camping rate for valid Senior or Access passes. The nightly camping fee with valid passes is $12.00. Loop C sites are non-reservable (first-come first-served).
Loop D Standard Camping Fee
34.00
The nightly camping fee for Loop D (sites with electricity) at Elk Creek is $34.00.
Loop D Senior / Access Camping Fee
17.00
Discounted camping rate for valid Senior or Access passes. The nightly camping fee with valid passes is $17.00.
Elk Creek Campground
Elk Creek Campground
Elk Creek Campground
elk creek campground
Twilight on Blue Mesa, looking west
Twilight on Blue Mesa, looking west
Gateview Campground
Gateview Campground is located in a deep, narrow canyon at the extreme south end of the Lake Fork Arm of Blue Mesa Reservoir. Take CO Highway 149 7 miles west of Powderhorn, then 6 miles north on the gravel Blue Mesa Cutoff Road. All sites are first-come first-served. Gateview is best suited for tent camping. Due to the narrow gravel road, even small RVs or pop-up trailers are not recommended. Elevation: 7538 feet
Gateview Campground
0.00
Free.
Lake Form Arm at Gateview
A path along a canyon with a river on the left side
Lake Form Arm at Gateview
Lake Fork Campground
The campground is located 27 miles west of Gunnison on CO Highway 92 near the intersection with U.S. Highway 50 on the shore of Blue Mesa Reservoir. We recommend making reservations at recreation.gov prior to coming to Curecanti because cell service and first-come, first-served sites may be unavailable. Reservations may be made on recreation.gov from mid-May to mid-September. Tents and large RVs can be accommodated. The campground is paved except for the tent walk-in sites. Elevation: 7580 feet
Upper & Middle Sections Standard Camping Fee
24.00
The nightly camping fee for the Upper and Middle Sections at Lake Fork is $24.00.
Upper & Middle Sections Senior/Access Camping Fee
12.00
Discounted camping rate for valid Senior or Access passes. The nightly camping fee with valid passes is $12.00.
Lower Section Standard Camping Fee
24.00
The nightly camping fee for Lower Section at Lake Fork is $24.00. The Lower Section is non-reservable (first-come first-served).
Lower Section Senior/Access Camping Fee
12.00
Discounted camping rate for valid Senior or Access passes. The nightly camping fee with valid passes is $12.00. The Lower Section is non-reservable (first-come first-served).
Lake Fork Campground
Lake Fork Campground
Lake Fork Campground
Ponderosa Campground
Ponderosa Campground is located at the northwest end of the Soap Creek Arm of Blue Mesa Reservoir. From U.S. Highway 50, follow CO Highway 92 1/2 mile past Blue Mesa Dam to Soap Creek Road. Proceed 7 miles north on the gravel Soap Creek Road. Tents and medium sized RVs can be accommodated at Ponderosa. All sites are first-come first-served. Elevation: 7880 feet Note: During dry conditions, the first 7 miles of Soap Creek Road are passable to trailers and RVs. Rain can make the Soap Creek Road impassable.
Standard Camping Fee
20.00
The nightly camping fee at Ponderosa is $20.00. Group size limit is eight people and two vehicles.
Senior / Access Camping Fee
10.00
Discounted camping rate for valid Senior or Access passes. The nightly camping fee with valid passes is $10.00. Group size limit is eight people and two vehicles.
Ponderosa Campground
Ponderosa Campground
The Upper Loop of Ponderosa.
Red Creek Campground
Red Creek Campground is located 19 miles west of Gunnison just north of U.S. Highway 50. There are 2 sites--1 individual site and 1 group site. The group site can accommodate a maximum of 20 people. The individual site is first-come first-served, and the group site is by reservation only. RVs longer than 22 feet are not recommended due to a lack of space to turn around. Elevation: 7542 feet
Red Creek Individual Site - Standard Camping Fee
20.00
The nightly camping fee at the Red Creek Individual Site is $20.00. Group size limit is eight people and two vehicles.
Red Creek Individual Site - Senior/Access Camping Fee
10.00
For Individual Site only: discounted camping rate for valid Senior or Access passes. The nightly camping fee with valid passes is $10.00. Group size limit is eight people and two vehicles.
Red Creek Group Site
60.00
$60.00 per night. Reservations required. Maximum group size: 20 people.
Red Creek Campground 1
Red Creek Campground Group Site
Red Creek Campground Group Site
Red Creek Campground 2
Red Creek Campground Group Site Parking Area and Vault Toilet
Red Creek Campground Group Site Parking Area and Vault Toilet
Stevens Creek Campground
The campground is located 12 miles west of Gunnison on U.S. Highway 50 on the shore of Blue Mesa Reservoir. Tents to large RVs can be accommodated. The 53 sites are surrounded by sage and rabbitbrush. There is no natural shade. All sites are first-come first-served. Elevation: 7540 feet
Standard Camping Fee
20.00
Maximum of 8 people per site. No more than two primary recreational camping units per site, (car, pickup, motorhome, van, pop-up trailer, in which people are sleeping). In addition, if space allows, the following may also be at the site: tent, boat trailer, vehicles not used for sleeping.
Senior / Access Camping Fee
10.00
Discounted camping rate for valid Senior or Access passes. The nightly camping fee with valid passes is $10.00.
Maximum of 8 people per site. No more than two primary recreational camping units per site, (car, pickup, motorhome, van, pop-up trailer, in which people are sleeping). In addition, if space allows, the following may also be at the site: tent, boat trailer, vehicles not used for sleeping.
Loop A
Loop A
This campground is next to Blue Mesa Reservoir and has very little shade.
Crystal Trail View
The snow-capped San Juan Mountain Range looms in the distance as viewed from the Crystal Trail
The snow-capped San Juan Mountain Range looms in the distance as viewed from the Crystal Trail
Twilight Before Dawn
Blue Mesa reflects the color of the sky in the dawn twilight.
Blue Mesa reflects the color of the sky in the dawn twilight.
Hedgehog Cactus Blossom
Hedgehog Cactus flower blooming along the Crystal Trail
Hedgehog Cactus flower blooming along the Crystal Trail
Dillon Pinnacles
Large pinnacle spires across a body of water
Dillon Pinnacles next to Blue Mesa Reservoir
Blue Mesa Nights
An arm of the Milky Way galaxy glows over Blue Mesa.
An arm of the Milky Way galaxy glows over Blue Mesa.
Morrow Point Reservoir
Tall spires alongside steep canyon walls. A narrow body of water flows below.
Morrow Point Reservoir
NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Curecanti National Recreation Area, Colorado
Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. Links to products from Baseline Geologic and Soil Resources Inventories provide access to maps and reports.
reservoir and shoreline hills
Landbird Monitoring in Northern Colorado Plateau Network Parks, 2018
Because birds can be sensitive to habitat change, they are good indicators of ecosystem integrity. The Northern Colorado Plateau Network partners with the University of Delaware to assess breeding-bird species trends in three different habitats: low-elevation riparian, pinyon-juniper, and sage shrubland. Find out which species were increasing and declining at network parks as of 2018.
Small, bright-orange bird with yellowish underfeathers.
Traits, Tradeoffs, and Pivot Points: How Climate, Plant, and Soil Properties Affect Vegetation Growth on the Northern Colorado Plateau
As the northern Colorado Plateau heads into a hotter, drier future, there will be ecological winners and losers. Figuring out how different vegetation communities will fare is tricky. A recent study aimed to identify which vegetation communities might come out ahead, which might lag behind, and what might make the difference.
Desert grassland in red rock setting. Pink wildflowers grow in foreground as storm brews in the sky.
Wildland Fire in Douglas Fir: Western United States
Douglas fir is widely distributed throughout the western United States, as well as southern British Columbia and northern Mexico. Douglas fir is able to survive without fire, its abundantly-produced seeds are lightweight and winged, allowing the wind to carry them to new locations where seedlings can be established.
Close-up of Douglas fir bark and needles.
What We’re Learning and Why it Matters: Long-Term Monitoring on the Northern Colorado Plateau
Knowing which key natural resources are found in the national parks, and whether they're stable or changing, helps decisionmakers make sound choices. The Northern Colorado Plateau Network is building that knowledge. After more than ten years of monitoring, we've learned a lot about park ecosystems, how they're changing, and what they may look like in the days to come. Find out what we’ve learned and how it’s being used to help managers plan for the future.
Man stands in a stream, looking down at a handheld gauge.
Landbird Population Trends in the Northern Colorado Plateau Network, 2019
Because birds can be sensitive to habitat change, they are good indicators of ecosystem integrity. The Northern Colorado Plateau Network partners with the University of Delaware to assess breeding-bird species trends in three different habitats: low-elevation riparian, pinyon-juniper, and sage shrubland. Find out which species were increasing and declining at network parks as of 2019.
Bald eagle
Water Quality in the Northern Colorado Plateau Network: Water Years 2016–2018
Once a month, ecologists collect water samples at dozens of monitoring sites in and near ten National Park Service units across Utah and Colorado. This consistent, long-term monitoring helps alert managers to existing and potential problems. Find out the results for 2016-2018 in this brief from the Northern Colorado Plateau Network.
A monitoring crew of three samples a clear river flowing over brown rock and sand
A Closer Look at When Grasses Need a Drink: Soils, Precipitation, and Desert Grasses
The results of a recent study may help land managers to prioritize grassland conservation and restoration efforts. Park managers can’t do much about climate, but with the right information, they can make choices based on how different grassland communities behave in different soil types. In this study, cool-season grasses showed more resilience to drought than warm-season grasses.
A field crew member takes measurements on a grassland transect.
Water Quality Trends in Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP and Curecanti NRA, 2001–2014
“Is it safe to go in the water?” It’s a pretty basic question—and a really important one. In Curecanti National Recreation Area and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, the Northern Colorado Plateau Network partners with park managers to find the answer. A report examined long-term trends in water quality at both parks from 2001 to 2014--and the news was mostly good.
Blue reservoir with ice
Connie Rudd: Defining a Career Path
Connie Rudd's career with the National Park Service began as a seasonal ranger in 1979. Her continual desire to learn propelled her to various sites and positions in interpretation, planning, and management until 2014, when she retired as Park Superintendent. In this Spotlight article, Rudd reflects on her career path, changes in interpretation, and being in upper management as a woman. Part of "Women’s Voices: Women in the National Park Service Oral History Project."
Connie Rudd smiles for a portrait in an outdoor setting, wearing a NPS uniform and flathat
Landbird Population Trends in the Northern Colorado Plateau Network, 2020
Because birds can be sensitive to habitat change, they are good indicators of ecosystem integrity. The Northern Colorado Plateau Network partners with the University of Delaware to assess breeding-bird species trends in three different habitats: low-elevation riparian, pinyon-juniper, and sage shrubland. Find out which species were increasing and declining at network parks as of 2020.
Small beige bird with black beak and feet, brown back.
Survival is Still Tough for Dinosaurs at Curecanti National Recreation Area
Dinosaur fossils at Curecanti National Recreation Area, Colorado, are exposed to climatic and environmental factors that can rapidly destroy or rebury them. Park staff have instituted programs to study how best to protect them. One program tracks what happens to individual specimens. Another studies shoreline changes at the fossil sites.
rock with fossils in surface and a scale bar
Series: Park Paleontology News - Vol. 13, No. 1, Spring 2021
All across the park system, scientists, rangers, and interpreters are engaged in the important work of studying, protecting, and sharing our rich fossil heritage. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/newsletters.htm">Park Paleontology news</a> provides a close up look at the important work of caring for these irreplaceable resources. <ul><li>Contribute to Park Paleontology News by contacting the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/common/utilities/sendmail/sendemail.cfm?o=5D8CD5B898DDBB8387BA1DBBFD02A8AE4FBD489F4FF88B9049&r=/subjects/geoscientistsinparks/photo-galleries.htm">newsletter editor</a></li><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/">Fossils & Paleontology</a> </li><li>Celebrate <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossilday/">National Fossil Day</a> with events across the nation</li></ul>
park ranger in uniform
Monitoring From Space: Using Satellite Imagery to Measure Landscape Conditions on the Ground
Scientists from the Northern Colorado Plateau Network travel thousands of miles each year to collect data on plants, soils, and water across network parks. But it would be impossible to cover every square inch of the Northern Colorado Plateau with boots on the ground. Instead, we simultaneously monitor the parks with boots in space—satellite data that provide information at a much broader scale.
Satellite and Earth in space
Localized Drought Impacts on Northern Colorado Plateau Landbirds
Birds of the desert southwest, a climate-change hotspot, are among the most vulnerable groups in the US. To help park managers plan for those changes, scientists evaluated the influence of water deficit on landbird communities at 11 national parks in Utah and Colorado. The results will help land managers to focus conservation efforts on places where certain species are most vulnerable to projected climate changes.
A man wearing a clipboard looks through binoculars at dawn in field of sagebrush
Changing Patterns of Water Availability May Change Vegetation Composition in US National Parks
Across the US, changes in water availability are altering which plants grow where. These changes are evident at a broad scale. But not all areas experience the same climate in the same way, even within the boundaries of a single national park. A new dataset gives park managers a valuable tool for understanding why vegetation has changed and how it might change in the future under different climate-change scenarios.
Green, orange, and dead grey junipers in red soil, mountains in background
Algae Blooms and Climate Change at Curecanti
Multiple species of blue green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, are native to our area of Colorado and are an essential part of the food web in Blue Mesa. In fact, cyanobacteria showed up about 2 billion years ago on the planet. Even though it has been around for billions of years, more and more lakes around the World are seeing bigger and more frequent blooms - Blue Mesa Reservoir included.
Blue Green Algae in Blue Mesa Reservoir
Judith Córdova
Judith Córdova experienced discrimination as a child in her Denver-area neighborhood. As an adult, she continued to fight against it in her job as an equal opportunity employment specialist for the National Park Service (NPS). Eventually she rose through the ranks herself, becoming the first Latina superintendent in 1993.
Judith Cordova in an NPS baseball cap looks into the camera.
Landbird Population Trends in the Northern Colorado Plateau Network, 2021
Because birds can be sensitive to habitat change, they are good indicators of ecosystem integrity. The Northern Colorado Plateau Network partners with the University of Delaware to assess breeding-bird species trends in three different habitats: low-elevation riparian, pinyon-juniper, and sage shrubland. Find out which species were increasing and declining at network parks as of 2021.
Small dove with black spots on back of wings, long tail, and brownish-gray body.
2021 National Park Service Aviation Awards
In 2021, the National Park Service Aviation Program awarded the Excellence in Mentorship Aviation Award, the Tom Clausing Aviation All Risk (Hazard) Program Award, Aviator of the Year Award, and the Wright Brothers Aviation Safety Award.
Five men and a woman stand surrounding a Mesa Verde Helitack sign. Two men hold awards.
Studying the Past and Predicting the Future Using Rat Nests
In the western United States, packrat middens are one of the best tools for reconstructing recent environments and climates. These accumulations of plant fragments, small vertebrate remains, rodent droppings, and other fossils can be preserved for more than 50,000 years. Packrat middens have been found in at least 41 National Park Service units.
Photo of a wood rat.
Series: Park Paleontology News - Vol. 14, No. 2, Fall 2022
All across the park system, scientists, rangers, and interpreters are engaged in the important work of studying, protecting, and sharing our rich fossil heritage. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/newsletters.htm">Park Paleontology news</a> provides a close up look at the important work of caring for these irreplaceable resources. <ul><li>Contribute to Park Paleontology News by contacting the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/common/utilities/sendmail/sendemail.cfm?o=5D8CD5B898DDBB8387BA1DBBFD02A8AE4FBD489F4FF88B9049&r=/subjects/geoscientistsinparks/photo-galleries.htm">newsletter editor</a></li><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/">Fossils & Paleontology</a> </li><li>Celebrate <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossilday/">National Fossil Day</a> with events across the nation</li></ul>
Photo of a person sitting while using a laboratory microscope.
Series: Park Paleontology News - Vol. 15, No. 1, Spring 2023
All across the park system, scientists, rangers, and interpreters are engaged in the important work of studying, protecting, and sharing our rich fossil heritage. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/newsletters.htm">Park Paleontology news</a> provides a close up look at the important work of caring for these irreplaceable resources. <ul><li>Contribute to Park Paleontology News by contacting the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/common/utilities/sendmail/sendemail.cfm?o=5D8CD5B898DDBB8387BA1DBBFD02A8AE4FBD489F4FF88B9049&r=/subjects/geoscientistsinparks/photo-galleries.htm">newsletter editor</a></li><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/">Fossils & Paleontology</a> </li><li>Celebrate <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossilday/">National Fossil Day</a> with events across the nation</li></ul>
three people working in a fossil quarry
Utilizing Trace Fossils to Fill in Paleoecological Gaps at Curecanti National Recreation Area
Paleontologist Ryan King, professor at the Western Colorado University in Gunnison, CO, has been documenting Mesozoic vertebrate fossil localities in Curecanti National Recreation Area. Among the paleontological resources Ryan has documented at the recreation area are fossil dinosaur footprints and skin impressions.
photo of a lakeshore
NPS Establishes NPSage Initiative to Restore Sagebrush-Steppe Ecosystems
Artemisia species, commonly known as sagebrush, are far from being the only species on the landscape. The sagebrush biome is composed of a rich mosaic of thousands of diverse plant species, which are largely driven by differences in climate, soil and elevation. These distinct sagebrush plant and animal communities occur in approximately 70 park units across the western U.S— all of which are experiencing significant threats from wildfire and droughts.
Two NPS staff knealing next to plants growing in a nursery
Making an Impact: Long-Term Monitoring of Natural Resources at Intermountain Region National Parks, 2021
Across the Intermountain Region, Inventory & Monitoring Division ecologists are helping to track the effects of climate change, provide baseline information for resource management, evaluate new technologies, and inspire the next generation of park stewards. This article highlights accomplishments achieved during fiscal year 2021.
A man looks through binoculars at sunrise.
Landbird Population Trends in the Northern Colorado Plateau Network, 2022
Because birds can be sensitive to habitat change, they are good indicators of ecosystem integrity. The Northern Colorado Plateau Network partners with the University of Delaware to assess breeding-bird species trends in three different habitats: low-elevation riparian, pinyon-juniper, and sage shrubland. Find out which species were increasing and declining at network parks as of 2022.
Hairy woodpecker clings to the underside of a tree branch.
A Changing Bimodal Climate Zone Means Changing Vegetation in Western National Parks
When the climate changes enough, the vegetation communities growing in any given place will also change. Under an expanded bimodal climate zone, some plant communities in western national parks are more likely to change than others. National Park Service ecologists and partners investigated the future conditions that may force some of this change. Having this information can help park managers decide whether to resist, direct, or accept the change.
Dark storm clouds and rainbow over mountains and saguaros.
Project Profile: Produce Seed for Intermountain Grasslands
The National Park Service and organizations of the Southwest Seed Partnership will implement the National Seed Strategy and associated revegetation and restoration efforts in grassland ecosystems in Intermountain Region parks. The project focuses on native plant development and involves collecting, producing, cleaning, testing, tracking, and storing seeds from native species.
a man kneels in a field and puts collected seeds into a 5 gallon bucket
Park Managers look to Bipartisan Infrastructure Law projects to break cycle of fire-driven ecosystem losses in the West
Park managers look to Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to break the cycle of fire-driven ecosystem losses in the West. The project focus, as part of a larger program that the National Park Service calls its NPSage Initiative, is on collaborative work to build capacity across four priority seed zones of the Intermountain Region: 17 parks in the Colorado Plateau and Rocky Mountains ecoregions of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.
rows of tall grasses being grown for restoration
Outside Science (inside parks): Water Monitoring at Curecanti National Recreation Area
In this episode follow Scientists-in-Parks intern and the water monitoring team at Curecanti National Recreation Area as they work to collect water samples and document river algae.
a title slide for Outside Science (inside parks) at Curecanti National Recreation Area
Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park Service
To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation.
A toad sits on red sand, looking into the camera.
Landbird Population Trends in the Northern Colorado Plateau Network, 2023
Because birds can be sensitive to habitat change, they are good indicators of ecosystem integrity. The Northern Colorado Plateau Network partners with the University of Delaware to assess breeding-bird species trends in three different habitats: low-elevation riparian, pinyon-juniper, and sage shrubland. Find out which species were increasing and declining at network parks as of 2023.
A speckled white bird floats on blue water.
Project Profile: Assess Climate Change Effects on Colorado River National Parks to Inform River Management Planning
Climate change is rapidly impacting National Park Service (NPS) units on the Colorado River, necessitating proactive planning to safeguard vital resources. The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) is initiating a planning process post-2026, which will reevaluate dam operations, directly impacting the rivers and reservoirs in multiple parks. To inform these decisions, NPS will quantify the impacts on priority park resources through Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments (CCVAs).
Photograph of Horseshoe Bend, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
Project Profile: Manage Invasive Plants and Re-Seed Degraded Lands to Maintain Healthy Rangelands in Intermountain Region Park Units
The National Park Service will improve rangeland conditions and climate resilience across parks in Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. This will include rangeland ecosystem assessments, the monitoring of forage availability and vegetation conditions, the restoration of rangeland infrastructure and grazing allotments, and adding staff capacity in parks.
The moon rises over a dark desert landscape, with shrubs in the foreground.
Project Profile: Resilient Sagebrush Ecosystems (NPSage)
The National Park Service will expand NPSage collaborative ecosystem restoration projects and integrate climate vulnerability planning and resiliency enhancement actions in parks across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Colorado, Northern California, and Arizona.
Bucket of seeds
Dinosaurs of the National Park Service
Dinosaur fossils have been discovered at or are associated with at least 27 NPS units. Geographically, their finds are concentrated in the parks of the Colorado Plateau, but they have been found from central Alaska to Big Bend National Park in Texas to Springfield Armory National Historic Site in Massachusetts. The most famous site is the Dinosaur Quarry of Dinosaur National Monument, but a rush of new finds since the 1970s has greatly expanded our knowledge.
allosaurus fossil
Saving the Heart of the American West’s Largest Landscape
Sagebrush, America’s most imperiled ecosystem, is half of what it once was. Aided by recent infrastructure funding, a dedicated community of scientists is racing to protect the best of what’s left.
Vast, flat, sagebrush landscape with mountains in the distance viewed from a lichen covered outcrop.
Bryant Expedition - 1883
Byron Bryant's expedition continued exploration of the "Grand Canyon of the Gunnison" for railroad opportunities during the winter of 1883 and 1884. Their survey helped advise the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad to not continue through Black Canyon.
Black Canyon walls and rim have snow, sky has clouds. Dark river is at the bottom.
Gunnison Expedition - 1853
Lieutenant John W. Gunnison, Lieutenant Edward G. Beckwith, and crew traveled from the Great Plains, over the Rocky Mountains, and into the Tomichi Valley. The expedition continued to follow the Grand River (Gunnison River). The Gunnison Expedition report contains the first official description of the Black Canyon.
Lithograph depicting a scene with tall pinnacle spires and mesas.
Kolb Expedition - 1916
Kolb was one of the first to conduct a lengthy recreational trip down the Gunnison River through Black Canyon.
Historic black and white image of a person looking at rapids between steep canyon walls.
Landbird Population Trends in the Northern Colorado Plateau Network, 2024
Northern Colorado Plateau Network’s long-term landbird monitoring program provides habitat-based updates for bird population status and trends in the parks in the Northern Colorado Plateau. These inform scientists and managers about changes in bird populations and about the health of the habitats they depend on. Learn more about which species were detected in the network parks for the first time and which landbird populations were increasing or declining between 2005 - 2024.
A bird sitting in a tree.
Vegetation Production and Phenology at Curecanti National Recreation Area
Northern Colorado Plateau Network’s scientists use satellite observations of vegetation condition in Curecanti National Recreation Area with climate data over time to reveal how climate influences plant production and phenology. Knowing which of the wide range of 16 vegetation assemblages found in Curecanti are more or less sensitive to climate change can help managers understand what to expect over the next few decades, and plan for the changes coming their way.
A view of the Curecanti reservoir.
Series: Park Paleontology News - Vol. 10, No. 2, Fall 2018
All across the park system, scientists, rangers, and interpreters are engaged in the important work of studying, protecting, and sharing our rich fossil heritage. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/newsletters.htm">Park Paleontology news</a> provides a close up look at the important work of caring for these irreplaceable resources. <ul><li>Contribute to Park Paleontology News by contacting the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/common/utilities/sendmail/sendemail.cfm?o=5D8CD5B898DDBB8387BA1DBBFD02A8AE4FBD489F4FF88B9049&r=/subjects/geoscientistsinparks/photo-galleries.htm">newsletter editor</a></li><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/">Fossils & Paleontology</a> </li><li>Celebrate <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossilday/">National Fossil Day</a> with events across the nation</li></ul>
NPS staff work to document a recently discovered slab of Navajo Sandstone
Curecanti
Curecanti National Recreation Area
Colorado
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Windsurfers on Blue Mesa Reservoir
Curecanti National Recreation Area’s stark landscape bears
the imprint of attempts to alter these rugged mesas and
canyons for human purposes. The most recent major
alteration was the construction of three dams on the
Gunnison River in the 1960s to provide irrigation and
hydroelectric power. The dams are part of the Wayne N.
Aspinall Unit of the Bureau of Reclamation's Upper Colorado
River Storage Project. The dams eliminated the wild-fowing
water of the Gunnison River and replaced it with static
reservoirs. The high, dry, eroded vistas are no longer
interrupted by the Gunnison River's narrow thread, but by
three bodies of water: Blue Mesa, Morrow Point, and Crystal
reservoirs. Blue Mesa serves as the main water-storage
reservoir. Morrow Point Dam generates most of the power.
Crystal Dam maintains an even fow through the Black
Canyon of the Gunnison. The old rock faces of Black Canyon
that hold the water of the Morrow Point and Crystal
reservoirs show the changes that have occurred over two
billion years. Surrounding mesas are capped with cliffs and
rocky spires telling of violent volcanic eruptions some 30
History
Railroad helped
develop small towns
like Cimarron. It
operated until 1949.
Winter
Brook trout, kokanee
salmon, and nonnative
fsh including rainbow,
brown, and Mackinaw
(lake) trout draw
anglers to park waters
in summer and winter.
The region’s ranchers
and farmers coveted
the Gunnison River’s
water for livestock and
crops. Opened in 1909,
the six-mile (9.6-km)
Gunnison Tunnel was
blasted through a
mesa to deliver water
to the Uncompahgre
Valley for agriculture.
A National Civil Engineering Landmark, it
ended the natural
fows of the Gunnison
River through Black
Canyon.
reservoir environment,
which has abundant
plankton. These
microscopic organisms
fourish in the still
waters, and their
concentration helps
Three dams of the
Wayne N. Aspinall Unit
dramatically changed
the area’s fshery. Only
fve of Curecanti’s 22
identifed fsh species
are native. Nonnative
fsh beneft from the
maintain the kokanee,
Curecanti's most commonly caught fsh.
Brook trout favor the
reservoirs' tributary
streams. In Blue Mesa
Reservoir’s deep subsurface canyons lurk
coldwater-loving
Mackinaw trout—
caught here at over 30
pounds (13.6 kg).
Introduced in the Gunnison River in the
1880s, rainbow trout
are still stocked along
with kokanee.
Know the Regulations
Buy a Colorado fshing
license—required for
persons 16 and older—
at marinas or sporting
goods stores.
Use provided fshcleaning stations; if
none is available, use
trash cans.
Despite the abundant
wildlife, beautiful
snow-capped mesas,
and clear blue skies,
winter at Curecanti is
harsh.
Snagging for kokanee
begins in November;
contact the park for
the exact date.
Temperatures dip as
low as –40ºF (–40ºC)
and are made more
dangerous by strong
winds. Adequate
preparation for winter
activities is a must.
Elk, bighorn sheep,
and deer come down
from the mountains in
winter to feed and
avoid colder, snowier
conditions at higher
elevations.
Check beforehand for
closures, seasons, bait,
and other restrictions.
Brown trout
Ice fshing is popular.
Four inches (10 cm) of
hard, clear ice are
needed to support one
adult on foot. Do your
research before you
venture onto the ice.
Your safety is your
responsibility.
Rainbow trout
Warning: Strong winds
make wind-chill factors
extreme. Be prepared.
Wear clothing in several light layers. Hooded
and windproof outer
layers are important.
Keep your head and
neck covered and
warm.
Hands and feet are the
most diffcult to keep
warm. Mittens are
better than gloves.
Boots should be big
enough to allow good
circulation.
Visit the park website
for more winter recreation and safety information.
Cross-country skiing
and snowshoeing are
other ways of experiencing Curecanti's
winters.
Bearing the Curecanti
Needle on its logo, the
Denver & Rio Grande
Kokanee salmon
NPS / LISA LYNCH
The Utes spent summers in the mountains
and winters near
today’s Montrose and
Grand Junction. Like
many of the area’s
earlier inhabitants,
they were drawn here
by the abundant wildlife in the dry hills and
Despite discouraging
reports by Capt. John
Gunnison and his
Pacifc Railroad party,
which surveyed the
area in 1853, a narrowgauge railroad was in
the area by 1882 transporting coal, cattle,
ore, and other items.
Fishing
FRED K. TRUSLOW / CORNELL UNIVERSITY
Human occupation
goes back at least
10,000 years. Remains
of ancient structures
called wickiups date
back 4,500 years and
are some of the oldest
dwellings uncovered
at Curecanti.
The arrival of nonIndigenous people in
the 1800s began to
destroy Ute lifeways as
they took control of
the land. Fur traders
and miners blazed the
northern branch of
the Spanish Trail from
Santa Fe to Los Angeles. This trail frst
linked Ute country to
global commerce.
Curecanti’s
Adventures
in Curecanti
Curecanti
National
Recreation
Area
Official Junior
Ranger
Activity Book
o
t
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m
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Wel
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t
n
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c
National
e
r
Cu
Recreation Area!
To Earn Your Junior Ranger Badge:
• Complete as many activity pages as your age.
• When you are finished, bring your book back to the
visitor center to receive your badge.
Follow the Junior Ranger Rules:
• SAFETY FIRST!
- This means wear a life jacket in and around the water.
- Store food where wildlife can’t get it and remember
that you are visiting their home—give wildlife the space they need.
- Be aware of moving vehicles, especially around boat launches.
• Take care of the park. Leave it better than you found it.
• Be prepared. This means wear sunscreen and a hat, sturdy shoes,
and carry plenty of water.
Adults:
ork
ed to w
ncourag
e
e
r
a
u
Yo
r child.
with you
closely
ed
present
estions
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q
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courage
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and mea
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of ideas
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disc
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less emp
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nd more
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e
very.
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should
2
BINGO!
Find a sagebrush
and sketch it below.
Visit a beach.
Using natural materials
that you find there, create
a picture of an elk.
Take a photo to show
a Ranger, and then
scatter the evidence!
Smell it!
Carry your own
backpack for the
whole day.
Attend a Ranger
program.
Visit Cimarron.
Find three different
spiny plants.
Sketch one below.
How many train cars
did you see?
_________________
Don ’t touch!
Find food that a wild
animal eats. Sketch it.
Hike a park trail.
Try the
Who eats this?
Remember to pack out
any trash!
Circle the colors that
you see in
_________________
Find an animal track
and sketch it.
West Elk Breccia.
(Hint: The Dillon Pinnacles
are this kind of rock.)
Black
Purple
Green
Orange
Blue
Yellow
Red
White
Ask a Park Ranger
a question.
Spot 3 constellations
in the dark night sky.
Invent a new one you see
and draw its stars.
Dillon Pinnacles Trail or
Curecanti Creek Trail.
Hiking Pine Creek Trail
to the Boat Tour
counts, too!
Touch the water in a
river or creek.
Whose is it ?
Is the water cold?
_________________
_________________
Wave to a
cottontail rabbit.
Ride in a boat.
Go fishing!
Did you go for a swim?
Did you catch one?
Yes/No
As you explore the park,
i
t
nt
a
c
re
Cu
Yes/No Draw it above.
try to get a BINGO! by crossing out
four boxes in a row, either vertically, horizontally, or diagonally.
3
!
K
E
A
L
Blue Mesa, Morrow Point, and Crystal Dams
A
N
G
I
BU ILD
each create reservoirs within Curecanti. These dams produce
electricity and store water for later use in Colorado and in the
southwestern United States. Together they are named the “Wayne
N. Aspinall Unit.” View one of the dams and sketch it below.
I sketched (circle):
Blue Mesa Dam
(view from Highway 92 or by boat)
Morrow Point Dam
(view at Cimarron)
Crystal Dam
(view at East Portal)
What humanmade and natural materials do you think were used to build this dam?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
We have many uses for the water stored in these reservoirs. Find them below.
4
W
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WASHING
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IRRIGATION
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W
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DENVER
SE
SW
Grand
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S
COMPASS ROSE
PACIFIC
OCEAN
SCALE (MILES)
0
100
200
MEXICO
If you live on this map, draw a house H where you live. If you don’t live on this map, draw a
house H and an arrow
pointing in the direction of your home.
Is it faster to travel from your home to mountains or to an ocean? ____________________
Using the map’s scale, estimate how far Blue Mesa (Curecanti) is from the ocean: _____________
Melting snow from the West Elk and San Juan Mountains joins the Gunnison River, which flows through Blue Mesa
Reservoir and the Black Canyon, and then joins the Colorado River in Grand Junction. The Colorado River flows all the
way to the Pacific Ocean. Imagine that you are a drop of water in Blue Mesa Reservoir traveling by river to the ocean.
How many states do you pass through?_________ How many countries do you visit?____________
In reality, the Colorado River no longer reaches the Pacifc Ocean. It has run dry in Mexico since 1998.
There are two main causes for this change. One cause is that the southwestern United States relies heavily on the
river for irrigation, drinking water, and electricity. The other cause is that we have had multiple years of drought and
warmer temperatures, both effects of climate change. What are three things th