OLLI Talks: Beneath Blue Mesa: The Gunnison River Valley Before the Reservoir (ONLINE)
OSHR 3203Witness a historical snapshot as David Primus discusses the history and shows photographs of the 23-mile stretch of the Gunnison River Valley existing before Blue Mesa Reservoir. Three towns, sixteen fishing resorts/hotels, and fifteen ranches were eliminated when the reservoir was constructed in the early 1960s. The area had been a vibrant ranching and fishing paradise enjoyed by countless visitors and residents for almost 90 years. David has been researching this history for over twenty years, interviewing many people who grew up or remembered the valley well. David recently wrote and published the book Beneath Blue Mesa: The Gunnison River Valley Before the Reservoir. After the presentation, there will be ample time for questions and discussion about the reservoir, the impact on lives and livelihoods when reservoirs are constructed, and the overall challenges faced today in the Colorado River system.
David Primus has lived in Gunnison, Colorado, since 1978, graduating from Western Colorado University in 1981. After enjoying a 30-year career in technology, he retired in 2021. His life-long passion has been the history of the American West, specializing in Colorado history. A third-generation Coloradoan, he has written the books Beneath Blue Mesa: The Gunnison River Valley Before the Reservoir and Steamboat Springs: Memories of a Colorado Pioneer and was a member of a small team producing Medicine in the Mountains, a history of the "Lake City Medical Center." He has long been a Gunnison County Historic Preservation Commission member, writes historical articles for the Gunnison Country Times, and helped develop a historical mapping project with Gunnison County.Notes
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