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Show Morrow Point Dam The Morrow Point Dam and powerplant represents the major construction activity now in progress on the Curecanti Unit. The 465-foot-high dam will embody several features unique to the Bureau of Reclamation dams. It will be the first thin-arch, double-curvature concrete dam built by the Bureau and will have a free-fall spillway over the center of the dam. Also, the first Bureau-built underground powerplant will be at Morrow Point. Construction of Morrow Point Dam and powerplant was started in 1963. The first bucket of concrete was placed in the dam on September 3, 1965, and placements have continued - with a four-month suspension because of cold weather - until the present time. On September 30, 1966, the highest block in the dam stood 275 feet above streambed, within 125 feet of the crest elevation. A total of 265,000 cubic yards, or about 73 percent of the total estimated volume of 365,000 cubic yards of concrete, had been placed in the dam which is scheduled to be finished during the 1967 construction season. Progress in the underground powerplant has advanced to include the complete excavation of the powerplant chamber and appurtenant tunnels as well as the outlet works or penstock tunnels. Placement of concrete in the powerplant was initiated in April 1966. Good progress has been made on installation of the steel liner pipe in the twin penstock tunnels to serve for conveyance of water from the reservoir to the turbine units in the powerplant. Overall completion of Morrow Point Dam and powerplant was about 70 percent on September 30, 1966. Crystal Dam At the Crystal damsite, downstream from Morrow Point Dam, the difficult access road from the existing paved road into the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument was completed in November 1965. Designs for Crystal Dam are underway. The dam will be an earth- and rockfill structure rising about 219 feet above the streambed and 660 feet long at the crest. Recreation Facilities Recreational facilities are being built by the National Park Service at the Center Point site adjacent to U.S. 50 on Blue Mesa Lake. A boat ramp is completed and in use along with temporary campgrounds and other facilities. A 186-unit campground and picnic area is also being developed. 94 |