Curecanti National Recreation Area Author:Rose Houk The narrow thread of the Gunnison once cut through high, eroded vistas and sagebrush-covered mesas. A series of dams have tamed the Gunnison River upstream from the Black Canyon, generating hydroelectric power and providing water for irrigation and recreation in southern Colorado. the result, Blue Mesa Reservoir, offers visitors of Curecanti Nat... more »ional Recreation Area unforgettable scenery, wildlife, and adventure. Photos by Michael Collier.« less