Curecanti National Recreation Area, established in 1965 along the Gunnison River in western Colorado, grew from mid-20th-century efforts to store and control Colorado River water. Managed through cooperation between the National Park Service and Bureau of Reclamation, it encompasses Blue Mesa, Morrow Point, and Crystal Reservoirs, along with adjoining river stretches. The dams were built to meet downstream water obligations, support agriculture, and provide flood control, hydroelectric power, and recreation. Blue Mesa became Colorado’s largest body of water and the main center for boating and fishing, while Morrow Point and Crystal offered more remote canyon settings. The area also preserves East Portal and the early 20th-century Gunnison Tunnel diversion works.