RIVER OF THE MONTH
Gunnison River
Colorado’s second largest river by volume, the Gunnison courses west from the Continental Divide and flows for 180 miles before joining the Colorado River at the town of Grand Junction, where it nearly doubles the Colorado’s volume. Below the dams of the upper river, the Gunnison carves a spectacular chasm at Black Canyon, cuts through slickrock canyons and sculpts the beautiful sandstone mesas of the Uncompahgre Plateau.
Why It Matters
USFWS
NATE WARD
With rich archeology, unique geologic formations, free-flowing stretches, healthy riparian corridors and prime habitat for endangered desert fish, the Gunnison is one of the most important rivers in the West. The lower river, which WRC has worked to protect since 2008, sustains diverse wildlife and is rich in prehistoric artifacts and trails that offer glimpses into early human history.
Fish
RICHARD DURNAN
The dam-free lower Gunnison is one of the last strongholds for four imperiled Colorado basin warmwater fish: Colorado pikeminnow, humpback chub, bonytail chub (pictured) and razorback sucker. Without the Gunnison and a handful of other rivers, these fish, which have lost most of their habitat to depleted flows and exotic species, would go extinct.
Wildlife
Remote canyons, riverside cottonwood groves and healthy sagebrush country support diverse wildlife including pronghorn, desert bighorn sheep, mule deer, black bear, mountain lion, beaver, elk, dusky grouse, and many lizard species, as well as hawks, vultures, golden and bald eagles and peregrine falcon.