Curecanti Project Tunnel Excavation

Abstract

Curecanti Project, Tunnel Excavation. “Curecanti National Recreation Area (Curecanti NRA), located near Gunnison, Colorado encompasses Blue Mesa, Morrow Point and Crystal reservoirs of the Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP). As Curecanti NRA's most important natural resource, water covers some 25% of the total park unit area. Therefore, ensuring and maintaining appropriate reservoir levels and naturally high water quality while protecting water-related and water-dependent resources are the key objectives in Curecanti NRA's overall natural resources management scheme. The reservoirs were formed by damming the Gunnison River at three sites. Blue Mesa Dam was completed in 1965, with the Morrow Point and Crystal dams following in the 1970s. Blue Mesa and Morrow Point reservoirs serve as power producing systems, and Crystal Reservoir serves as a regulation system.”