Gunnison, Colo. - The Lake Fork boat ramp on Blue Mesa Reservoir in Curecanti National Recreation Area opens Friday, May 5, 2023, at 5:30 am. It will remain open from 5:30 am to 9:00 pm for the remainder of the 2023 season. Lake Fork will be the first boat ramp to open. Other boat ramps in Curecanti NRA will open when conditions allow.“It was a long and cold winter, and the ice on Blue Mesa held on longer than usual," said Superintendent Stuart West. “Along with boating on Blue Mesa, we look forward to assisting with your explorations of Curecanti’s amazing trails, campgrounds, fisheries, scenery, and other wonders."
Motorized and trailered watercraft launched onto Blue Mesa Reservoir must be inspected for aquatic invasive species prior to launching. An inspection station is available at the Lake Fork boat ramp. Boaters are encouraged to get an exit inspection to verify watercraft are clean, drained, and dried. Boat inspections help ensure that Blue Mesa will be available for future generations to enjoy. Learn more at www.nps.gov/cure/planyourvisit/boat-ramps.htm.
Blue Mesa is currently at 7,459 feet elevation (2273 m). This is about 60 feet (17 m) below full pool at 7,519 feet (2291 m). By early July, Blue Mesa is expected to rise to within 5 (1.5 m) to 10 feet (3 m) of full pool. For more information about Blue Mesa see the Bureau of Reclamation website at www.usbr.gov/uc/water/crsp/cs/asp.html.
About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 423 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve natural resources, local history, and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service