Epoxy

Blue Mesa Reservoir

Gunnison, Colorado, USA

Also known as Curecanti, Gunnison, Sapinero

Blue Mesa is the largest body of water in Colorado. In 2021 some of it was released downstream to protect hydropower at Lake Powell.

The dam was authorised in 1956 under the Colorado River Storage Project, alongside Morrow Point and Crystal. Storing and controlling the Gunnison was the point. Boating, fishing and the marinas were always incidental to it.

In July 2021 the Bureau of Reclamation ordered emergency releases from three Upper Basin reservoirs for the first time: Navajo, Flaming Gorge and Blue Mesa. Blue Mesa gave up 36,000 acre-feet, about 8 feet of depth. Between them the three lifted Lake Powell by roughly three feet.

Blue Mesa was projected to end that season under a quarter full, its second lowest level on record. In August 2026 it sat at about a quarter of capacity, with the boat ramps closed.

Details

Feature: Lake
Build: Epoxy
Material: Solid Walnut
Colour: Caribbean Blue
Size: 10-1/2" x 16"
Completed: February 2025

Shop this Style $350.00 CAD

Detail of the Blue Mesa Reservoir map by Keyway

How this one was made

An easy board for the most part. Blue Mesa is one long body with a lot of thin tails running off it, the inlet arms and the river channels at either end, and those were the only places that gave trouble. A channel that narrow holds air against the wood with nowhere for it to lift, so they were worked one at a time. The main body poured without incident.