The 180-mile (289-km) long river flows east to west, and it has a drainage area of 7,923 square miles (20,520 km2) according to the USGS. [30] Humpback chub, bonytail chub, Colorado pikeminnow, and the razorback sucker are susceptible to elevated concentrations of mercury based on their long distance annual migrations to reproduce. Three dams operated by the Bureau of Reclamation just upstream from the park have severely altered the natural flow of the river. Selenium and mercury contamination of the Gunnison River results from irrigation of soils that are naturally high in selenium, mining activity, and atmospheric mercury deposition. [8] Because of these factors the future of the Gunnison River is uncertain. [17], Elevated selenium in the Gunnison River Basin reflects the underlying geology. By the time it connects to the Colorado River, the Gunnison will have drained nearly 8,000 square miles of rugged terrain in rural western Colorado, though its renown reaches far beyond. Pets are allowed. The Aspinall Unit, as the dams are collectively known, inundated more than 40 miles of prime native trout waters to allow more consistent control of the river’s water for irrigation and hydropower. accepts these cards and reserves the right to temporarily hold an amount prior to arrival. When irrigators transport water to and through their farms in open canals, selenium dissolves in the water and either percolates into groundwater or gets carried into drainage ditches that discharge into the Gunnison. In the other direction, the five viewpoints are either at roadside or along very short trails, all seeing different parts of the canyon though encountering similar-looking scenery. Streams and rivers in Colorado are designated as Gold Medal Waters by the state wildlife commission because they provide outstanding angling opportunities for large trout. The Gunnison River is threatened by climate change, demand for water resources and ongoing challenges regarding selenium contamination. Selenium’s origins and pathway to the rivers Selenium is a natural element found in Mancos shale, a soil common throughout the Uncompahgre and Grand valleys in the Gunnison River basin. The river starts west of Grand Junction near the Continental Divide above Crested Butte Ski Area and flows through the town of Gunnison and on through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. All of these projects provided the area with large amounts of water which supported local agriculture, recreation, and other industries. [36] In addition, the Clean Water State Revolving Fund has awarded the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment almost $13 million dollars for future research and development along with pollution control and mitigation attempts. June 11- 2020 - Fishing is really good. Alice’s Garden: Solutions for Clean Water in Milwaukee, Year of the River: The Elwha and White Salmon. It flows into the Colorado River at Grand Junction. The moss is less of an issue now after the flush but its still a factor. Upstream of the Black Canyon, dams have impeded the once wild river’s passage, creating a series of storage and hydropower reservoirs, including Colorado’s largest at Blue Mesa. Parties/events are not allowed Pets . [33] These attempts include giving funding to farmers of the Gunnison River Basin to reduce the amount of sedimentation deposited back into the river and therefor lower the overall amount of selenium being loaded into the river via tributaries. Delta County, in the basin, is piloting a new agricultural hydropower program focused on pressurized sprinkler irrigation rather than flood irrigation in order to spur water conservation. Although its headwaters originate along the Continental Divide, the Gunnison formally begins at the confluence of the Taylor and East Rivers south of Crested Butte. price/night: $230 10 Exceptional 1 review The Great Escape in Gunnison Gunnison Budget Hotel. The flows are at 1400 cfs and the clarity is a little off color. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison was named a national monument in 1991 before Congress declared it a national park in 1999. Recommended Trips on Dominguez-Escalante Canyon – Gunnison River: Trip Name: Dominguez to Escalante Canyon Sections Included: Dominguez-Escalante Canyon The main three rivers here are the Gunnison River, the Taylor River, and the East River. [7], Contamination of the Gunnison River with selenium and mercury results from irrigation of high-selenium soils derived from the Mancos Shale and from mineral mining. It then winds through desert canyonlands, where it receives Kannah Creek. The reservoirs produce hydroelectric power and supply the surrounding areas with water for both municipal and irrigation use. The Blue Mesa Dam, Morrow Point Dam, and Crystal Dam–built between the 1960s and the 1970s–are part of the Colorado River Storage Project. It begins below the confluence of the North Fork and the Uncompahgre Rivers with the Gunnison River, all in the vicinity of the city of Delta, where the river again disappears into canyons, shallower and broader but still somewhat wild. offers accommodations with a kitchen in Gunnison. [6][3] The drainage basin of the Gunnison River collects water from different habitats, such as forests and alpine meadows, located the along Continental Divide. Escalante noted that Rivera thought it was "the great Rio del Tizon", the long-used Spanish name for the lower Colorado River. The landlocked cousin to the sockeye salmon begins their fall journey in Blue Mesa Reservoir before running up the Gunnison River in late August. 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