Public invited to view spillover

MONTROSE — Limited access to Crystal Dam will be provided to the public today and Saturday for viewing or photographing of the spring runoff and releases occurring from the dam’s spillway and powerplant, the Bureau of Reclamation's Curecanti Field Division announced Thursday.

Public viewing of the spring releases will be permitted between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., on both days.

At present, more than 4,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) of unregulated runoff is cascading from the dam’s spillway with an additional 4,000 cfs water being released from the Crystal Powerplant down the Gunnison River, according to a statement from the Bureau of Reclamation.

Those 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.

The total distance in traveling from the rockslide area to the dam is about 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.