Colorado has 8,350,005 acres of BLM lands and 14,498,801 acres of National Forests. The last wilderness designated in Colorado was in 2002, the James Peak Wilderness.
Media Campaigns
This media campaign ran in several Colorado papers to hilight how diverse supporters of wilderness are, illustrating that wilderness is our common ground. Click each photo to view the respective print ad (PDF), or visit the campaign page.
Bills
Rocky Mountain National Park
- Bill title:
- Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness and Indian Peaks Wilderness Expansion Act
- Bill number:
- S. 1380/H.R. 2334
- Sponsors:
- Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO), Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO), Sen. Wayne Allard (R-CO) and Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO)
- Summary:
-
This legislation would protect as wilderness nearly 250,000 acres (94 percent) of Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park. This bipartisan legislation would protect many of the lush forested valleys, glistening lakes and rivers, alpine tundra and spectacular mountain peaks that make the Rocky Mountains a national treasure. Wilderness protection for these areas has been a long time coming. President Richard Nixon recommended designating the undeveloped backcountry of Rocky Mountain National Park as wilderness in 1974.
- More Info:
- Colorado Environmental Coalition
© Jeff Widen
Campaigns
Dominguez Canyon
- Summary:
- The Greater Dominguez Campaign would give additional protections to almost 250,000 acres of current federal lands through a combination of national conservation, wilderness, or wilderness study area designations. The citizen proposal for the wilderness area in Dominguez Canyon would total approximately 84,000 acres. Home to streams, waterfalls, plunge pools, petroglyphs, and an abundance of wildlife, the area spans an extraordinary array of ecosystems from upper Sonoran piñon-juniper desert along the Gunnison River to aspen and spruce fir forests in the higher elevations. Dominguez Canyon is home to desert bighorn sheep, deer, elk, mountain lions, black bears, wild turkeys, and chukars.
- More Info:
- Colorado Environmental Coalition
- Western Colorado Congress
© Mike Matz
Browns Canyon
- Summary:
-
A campaign to preserve some 20,00 acres of the Pike-San Isabel National Forest. One of the last pristine canyons in the state, this area is the busiest stretch of the Arkansas River, with more than 90,000 user-days annually, making protection of the wild country surrounding the river vital. The Arkansas is actually the most heavily rafted river in North America. Browns Canyon provides important winter range for elk, deer, and bighorn sheep, as well as bobcats, mountain lions, and black bears. Aspen Ridge, which tops out at 10,000 feet, affords stunning scenic vistas. This proposal is supported by an incredibly broad cross-section of people: conservationists, motorized vehicle users, equestrians, bikers, local elected officials, counties, ranchers, and local communities.
- More Info:
- Colorado Environmental Coalition
© Jeff Widen
