THE GOVERNMENT NEWS DESKPERMANENT NPS STORY ARCHIVE
Organized by publication date and destination. Each story retains its permanent State & Nation address and official NPS source.
East Portal Road, managed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, will reopen on Saturday, September 19, 2026, by 8:00 a.m. The road was closed on September 14 following forecasts of significant rainfall in the region, which increased the risk of mudslides.
Official NPS sourceThe National Park Service has selected Tobin Roop as superintendent of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Curecanti National Recreation Area. Roop brings 24 years of National Park Service experience in leadership, resource management, park operations, partnerships and major project management.
Official NPS sourceThanks to recent significant rainfall, the Stage 1 Fire Restriction Order for Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Curecanti National Recreation Area will be lifted effective Friday, September 18, 2026, at 12:01 a.m.
Official NPS sourceDue to ongoing adverse weather conditions, East Portal Road in Curecanti National Recreation Area is temporarily closed for public safety.
Official NPS sourceEast Portal Road, managed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, will open tomorrow September 4, 2026, by 8:00 am. It closed on July 16, 2026, after a significant mudslide. Crews have been working to clear roadways, culverts, drainages, and visitor use areas.
Official NPS sourceMONTROSE, Colo. – The National Park Service invites you to discover your local day and night skies at the 2026 Black Canyon Curecanti AstroFest. Minimal light pollution and expansive public lands result in wonderful clear days and dark night skies at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Curecanti National Recreation Area and. Come celebrate the skies above at the annual astronomy festival.
Official NPS sourceDue to continued declining water levels at Blue Mesa Reservoir, located within Curecanti National Recreation Area, the Elk Creek boat ramp is no longer safe for launching or retrieving trailered watercraft. Effective immediately, all developed boat ramps at Blue Mesa Reservoir are limited to the hand-launching of non-trailered watercraft.
Official NPS sourceCurecanti will return to Stage 1 fire restrictions at 12:01 AM on Friday, August 21, 2026. The restrictions are in alignment with multiple state and federal partners in order to reduce the risk of fire in the region. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park will remain at Stage 2 Fire Restrictions until further notice.
Official NPS sourceThroughout the summer, National Park Service staff sample and analyze the Blue Mesa Reservoir water for the presence of blue-green algae containing cyanotoxins. At this time, toxic algae have been detected at low levels in the Iola Basin. These levels are under the State of Colorado toxicity threshold. The Iola Basin has been posted with yellow caution signs—consistent with State of Colorado and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidance.
Official NPS sourceAround 5 p.m. on July 16, 2026, a thunderstorm dropped significant rainfall at Curecanti National Recreation Area, triggering at least three major mudslides on the East Portal Road. Extensive debris washed down from drainages above the roadway, covering significant lengths of the roadway with up to six feet of boulders, rocks, and mud. Debris also covered the entire East Portal campground and much of the East Portal picnic area.
Official NPS sourceThe National Park Service is asking boaters at Blue Mesa Reservoir to prepare for changes to marina operations and boat ramp access at Elk Creek and Lake Fork as reservoir levels continue to decrease.
Official NPS sourceBlack Canyon and Curecanti will move to Stage 2 fire restrictions at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. The restrictions are in alignment with multiple state and federal partners in order to reduce the risk of fire in the region.
Official NPS sourceThe National Park Service is asking boaters at Blue Mesa Reservoir to prepare for upcoming changes to marina operations and boat ramp access at Elk Creek and Lake Fork as reservoir levels continue to decline. To maintain safe and operational marina facilities, the NPS will move marina infrastructure to deeper water. As reservoir elevations decrease, trailered watercraft will no longer be able to use existing boat ramps. Hand-launching of non-trailered watercraft will remain available.
Official NPS sourceBlack Canyon and Curecanti will move to Stage 1 fire restrictions at 12:01 AM on Thursday, June 18, 2026. The restrictions are in alignment with multiple state and federal partners in order to reduce the risk of fire in the region.
Official NPS sourceLow winter snowpack and limited spring precipitation have resulted in low water levels on the Blue Mesa Reservoir. As the water level continues to drop, boat ramps and marinas Elk Creek, Lake Fork, and Iola will be impacted.
Official NPS sourceCurecanti Prepares for Summer Boating Season and Reminds Visitors to Plan Ahead
Official NPS sourceThe National Park Service seeks public input on a proposed project to replace the water and wastewater systems within Curecanti National Recreation Area.
Official NPS sourceCurecanti National Recreation Area is transitioning to winter operations. Check the park websites for park hours, closures, and current conditions before your trip.
Official NPS sourceAs summer comes to an end, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park will transition to winter operations. Check the park websites for operational hours, closures, and current conditions before your trip.
Official NPS sourceBlack Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Curecanti National Recreation Area are in Stage 1 Fire Restrictions effective September 5 at 12:01 am.
Official NPS sourceThe National Park Service invites you to discover your local day and night skies at the 2025 Black Canyon AstroFest. Come celebrate the heavens above at the annual astronomy festival.
Official NPS sourceThe hours of operations for the boat ramps and aquatic invasive species (AIS) stations on the Blue Mesa Reservoir at Curecanti National Recreation Area will be reduced as fall begins and daylight hours decrease. Staffing levels also drop in the fall.
Official NPS sourceBlack Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Curecanti National Recreation Area are in Stage 2 Fire Restrictions effective August 14 at 12:01 am.
Official NPS sourceThroughout the summer, National Park Service staff sample and analyze the Blue Mesa Reservoir water for the presence of blue-green algae containing cyanotoxins. The latest testing revealed that concentrations of the harmful algae within the Iola Basin exceed public health safe exposure levels.
Official NPS sourceEffective at 3:00 pm, all areas of Blue Mesa Reservoir will be open to all water activities on the surface. The closure issued on July 18, 2025, is released and rescinded.
Official NPS sourceEffective immediately, the Blue Mesa Reservoir West of Middle Bridge will be closed to all boating activities on the surface, from 10:00 am to 8:30 pm daily. This closure will remain in effect from until further notice.
Official NPS sourceThe National Park Service (NPS) is seeking public input on the Grazing Management Plan and Environmental Assessment (GrMP/EA) for Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Curecanti National Recreation Area, under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Official NPS sourceScientists from the U.S. Geological Survey and National Park Service partnered on a first-of-its-kind, nationwide harmful algal bloom, or HAB, field study that began this summer and will continue over the next two years.
Official NPS source