Democratic U.S. Sens. Mark Udall and Michael Bennet introduced a bill Tuesday to preserve more than 61,000 acres in southern Colorado's San Juan Mountains, including 33,000 acres of new wilderness.
The bill is the Senate version of legislation introduced in the House by Democratic Rep. John Salazar of Manassa and would expand existing wilderness around Lizard Head peak and the 14,150-foot Mount Sneffels.
The bill also creates a 21,000-acre special-management area and removes from mineral development more than 6,500 acres near Naturita Canyon.
Among the other wilderness zones in the bill are 2,000-foot sandstone cliffs near McKenna Peak and areas around North Mountain, home to a wild-horse herd and one of the largest elk herds in the state.
The San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act represents a fraction of the more than 1.9 million acres of wilderness that lawmakers and environmental groups would like to create in Colorado, a nearly 50 percent expansion.
"The San Juan Mountains are blessed with stunning beauty," Udall said. "I look forward to working with my colleagues to get (the legislation) passed."
