Management

About Us

In 1933, Black Canyon was proclaimed a national monument by President Herbert Hoover. It was redesignated as a national park by Congress in 1999.

Park Offices

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park shares staff and administrative offices with Curecanti National Recreation Area. The park headquarters is located at Elk Creek along U.S. Highway 50.

 

Superintendent's Office

The Superintendent promotes the effective management of park development, programming, personnel management, finance and property management, protection, interpretation, research, resources management, safety, maintenance, and public relations.

Administration and Concessions

This division oversees human resources, finance and budget, procurement, concessions contracts, housing operations, and information technology.

Resource Management

This division oversees wildlife monitoring, water quality monitoring, archeology, vegetation and ecology, and NEPA and Section 106 compliance.

Visitor and Resource Protection

This division oversees law enforcement operations, search and rescue, wilderness and structural fire, emergency services, and fee operations at entrance stations and campgrounds.

Interpretation and Education

This division oversees visitor center operations, interpretive programs, information requests, social media, bookstores, education and outreach programs, distance learning programs, visual information (exhibits, brochures, graphics, website and NPS app), and public affairs.

Facilities Management

This division oversees roads, trails, and marina maintenance, buildings and utilities, custodial services, fleet maintenance (park vehicles, heavy equipment, boats, etc.), and project and contract management.

 

Superintendent's Compendium

The Superintendent's Compendium lists designations, closures, permit requirements, and other restrictions made by the superintendent.

Foundation Documents

To effectively manage a national park unit and plan for its future, a basic understanding of a park's resources, values, and history is needed - a foundation for planning and management. These are called foundation documents. Foundation documents are at the core of each park's planning portfolio.

• Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Foundation Document Overview

Other Plans and Studies

General Management Plan
The General Management Plan (14.2 MB PDF) was created in 1997 to provide Black Canyon and Curecanti with a long-range management program.

Wilderness and Backcountry Management Plan
The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park/Curecanti National Recreation Area Wilderness and Backcountry Management Plan (8 MB PDF) establishes long-term direction for the NPS to manage and protect the wilderness designated by Congress in 1978 and backcountry lands in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and backcountry lands in Curecanti National Recreation Area.

Visitor Use Study
In 2010, University of Idaho Park Studies Unit conducted a questionnaire-based survey of recreation area users and subsequent visitor use study (4.62 MB PDF).