News Release Archive

Reclamation to Provide Limited Public Access to Crystal Dam on May 30-31,2008

Media Contact: Don Phillips, (970) 240-6300, dphillips@uc.usbr.gov

For Release: May 29, 2008

Reclamation's Curecanti Field Division announced today that limited access to Crystal Dam will be provided to the public on Friday and Saturday, May 30-31, 2008, for viewing or photographing of the spectacular spring runoff and releases occurring from the dam's spillway and powerplant. Public viewing of the spring releases will be provided between the hours on 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., on both days respectively.

At present, more than 4,000 cubic-feet-second of unregulated runoff is cascading from the dam's spillway with an additional 4,000 cubic-feet-second of water being released from the Crystal Powerplant down the Gunnison River.

Public interested in traveling to Crystal Dam to view the spring releases should note that motorized vehicles are currently precluded from traveling the full distance to the dam as major construction repairs to the damaged roadway have yet to occur. In April 2008, the East Portal Access Road suffered extensive damage resulting from a large boulder and rockslide falling onto portions of the roadbed.

Until the East Portal Road repairs are completed, only foot traffic, bicycles or non-motorized conveyance are allowed past the rockslide area with resulting access to the dam. Reclamation will have personnel on hand to point out the areas where visitors should exercise extreme caution in trekking to the dam. Please note, the total distance in traveling from the rockslide area to the dam is a 1.8 miles. At present, no restroom facilities are open at the dam.

The road, beginning at the junction with State Highway 347, provides access to the Gunnison River within the Curecanti National Recreation Area, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, and Crystal Dam. For more information contact Donald Phillips at (970) 240-6300.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.