Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park
Gunnison Tunnel
Gunnison Tunnel
SETTLING THE WEST
An early pioneer in Colorado faced many hardships. The land is rugged and the climate extreme, and as settlers to the Uncompahgre Valley soon realized, there is not enough water for farming. The Uncompahgre River just wasn't enough water to support irrigation of the valley, but just miles to the north there was the Gunnison River, locked within the walls of the Black Canyon. Could a tunnel be built to unlock that water from the canyon, and to irrigate the Uncompahgre Valley?
SURVEYING THE CANYON
In 1900 five men set out to survey the canyon, and select a site to construct a tunnel. A trip they planned to last five days carried on for four weeks. Their wooden boats were smashed, food gone, and men at the end of their rope. They finally climbed their way from the canyon, without a site chosen for the tunnel. A year later, however, William Torrence, one of the original five explorers returned to the canyon with engineer A. Lincoln Fellows. This time better prepared the two men brought rubber air mattresses and waterproof bags. After nine day of surveying in the formidable canyon the men returned with photographs and several sites chosen for construction of the tunnel.
PAYING FOR A TUNNEL
The construction of a tunnel began in 1901, but very quickly the funds were exhausted. The project was made possible in 1902 when U.S. Congress passed the Reclamation Act which allowed the farmers and water users to pay back the project over a long period of time, interest free. The funds for the project were allocated by the Secretary of the Interior as one of the first projects of the Reclamation service, now known as the Bureau of Reclamation.
BUILDING THE TUNNEL
Construction of the tunnel began again in early 1905, and it was finished in September of 1909. It was one of the largest tunnel projects to be attempted at the time, eleven feet wide by twelve feet high stretching almost six miles through hard rock, clay, sand, and shale. The construction itself was very treacherous work and the average stay of men working on the tunnel was about two weeks. The tunnel was steamy hot because of hot water seepages, underground streams often flooded the tunnel, and there were many other dangers to face.
THE TUNNEL TODAY
The tunnel is still in use today, and it is evident when you drive through the green Uncompahgre Valley. The Bureau of Reclamation has since taken on another large water project on the Gunnison River. Three dams, together known as the Wayne N. Aspinall storage unit, have impounded the forty miles of river directly above the tunnel. These dams are used for water storage, hydroelectricity, and are the reason for the existence of Curecanti National Recreation Area.
Black Canyon Of The Gunnison In Depth
News from the Parks
Frommer's Top 5 Parks for Cozy Camping
November 21, 2008 - 10:01am
I always look forward to getting my Frommer's newsletter every week. Not only are they budget travel saavy, they inspire me to get out there no matter the weather! Here are their top five picks for cozy camping.
November 21, 2008 - 10:01am
I always look forward to getting my Frommer's newsletter every week. Not only are they budget travel saavy, they inspire me to get out there no matter the weather! Here are their top five picks for cozy camping.
Park to Reopen Today after Crews Repair Road, Channel Kautz Creek
November 21, 2008 - 9:56am
The Nisqually Road in Mount Rainier National Park will reopen today, a day earlier than expected. The road, and the park, have been closed since Nov. 12 when Kautz Creek jumped its banks and flooded the main road into the park.
November 21, 2008 - 9:56am
The Nisqually Road in Mount Rainier National Park will reopen today, a day earlier than expected. The road, and the park, have been closed since Nov. 12 when Kautz Creek jumped its banks and flooded the main road into the park.
Jenna Otter Returns to Scene of Grizzly Bear Attack
November 21, 2008 - 9:55am
Reporting from Glacier National Park -- No one knew what to expect on the trail to Grinnell Glacier one late summer morning, but a second bull moose less than an hour out was hardly a good sign. During September and October -- mating season -- it's always best to give the spindly-legged animals plenty of room.
November 21, 2008 - 9:55am
Reporting from Glacier National Park -- No one knew what to expect on the trail to Grinnell Glacier one late summer morning, but a second bull moose less than an hour out was hardly a good sign. During September and October -- mating season -- it's always best to give the spindly-legged animals plenty of room.
Expected Rule Change Would Benefit Bicycling in National Parks
November 21, 2008 - 9:07am
An upcoming National Park Service (NPS) rule change could greatly benefit mountain bicycling by improving the administrative process for opening trails to bicycles. IMBA has been asking the agency to revise its policies since 1992, because the current "special regulations" process is needlessly cumbersome and treats bicycles like motorized vehicles.
November 21, 2008 - 9:07am
An upcoming National Park Service (NPS) rule change could greatly benefit mountain bicycling by improving the administrative process for opening trails to bicycles. IMBA has been asking the agency to revise its policies since 1992, because the current "special regulations" process is needlessly cumbersome and treats bicycles like motorized vehicles.
Things Slow At Hawaii's National Parks
November 21, 2008 - 8:55am
On our recent trip to Hawaii we had a feeling that things were less busy than usual. Now there are some numbers to back up our hunch: The national parks in the state saw a drop in attendance of more than 50,000 visitors during the month of October.
November 21, 2008 - 8:55am
On our recent trip to Hawaii we had a feeling that things were less busy than usual. Now there are some numbers to back up our hunch: The national parks in the state saw a drop in attendance of more than 50,000 visitors during the month of October.
