Rep. Salazar introduces wilderness bill
The bill would add more than 60,000 acres in the San Juan Mountains.
A bill that would protect more than 60,000 acres of wilderness in Western Colorado was introduced Friday by U.S. Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo.
The San Juan Mountains Wilderness Bill would protect large areas of U.S. Forest and Bureau of Land Management land in San Miguel, Ouray and San Juan counties, at the request of local governments. Among the lands are Mount Sneffels and Wilson Peak; two of the state's fourteeners - mountains over 14,000 feet in elevation.
"San Miguel, Ouray and San Juan County representatives have expressed their hope that a portion of the natural lands that surround them will be given a wilderness designation for future generations. These are the lands which define the character and spirit of our great state and nation," Salazar said.
The legislation includes 61,682 acres of public land on portions of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest, the San Juan National Forest and the San Juan BLM Resource Area.
The bill would allow the Hardrock 100 foot race to continue, as well as access for water rights holders and ranchers who now have grazing contracts.
