Colorado’s U.S. senators have joined the push for wilderness and other protections for more than 61,000 acres in the San Juan Mountains.
Democrats Mark Udall and Michael Bennet have introduced the San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act, a companion bill to legislation recently offered in the House by Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo.
The proposals would designate 33,383 acres as wilderness, including a new designation in the McKenna Peak area of western San Miguel County and, to the east and southeast near Ouray and Telluride, expansions to the Mount Sneffels and Lizard Head wilderness areas. It also would designate special management for 21,697 acres including Ice Lake Basin near Silverton and peaks near Ophir.
In addition, the measures would withdraw about 6,600 acres from mineral development in the Naturita Canyon area.
The wilderness proposal in general is said to have widespread support in Ouray, San Miguel and San Juan counties. It would allow continued grazing and access to maintain and repair water facilities. It also would make allowances for existing heli-skiing in the special management area and for the Hardrock 100 trail running race.
Udall said in a joint news release with Bennet, “This bill will protect this treasured land for future generations, while respecting private property rights and allowing recreation and other uses of the land to continue.”
Bennet said the measure “strikes the right balance between preserving Colorado’s natural landscape, protecting individual land rights and creating magnificent recreational lands.”
Email DENNIS WEBB
Comments
By Mgeer
Nov 11, 2009 8:12 PM | Link to this
What used to be public lans are slowly being taken from us to preserve it for a selct few!! Everytime you look at the news someone is taking OUR lands from us to lock it up. People we need to send a message to these politicions by electing someone who wil protect our rights!!!
By Keb
Nov 11, 2009 10:57 AM | Link to this
Another enviro grab making places where most people over 50 can no longer access.
If you aren't a fitness person, or have a medical condition, then you can't enter these places. Some might go on a jeep or ATV, but can't stay that long at high elevation, need to carry medical devices, have arthritis or circulatory conditions.
By fct
Nov 11, 2009 9:29 AM | Link to this
John Salazar needs to go .
Anyone but John Salazar.
These are the Lands of Many Uses.
Public lands...NOT government closed property.
By Joe
Nov 11, 2009 8:53 AM | Link to this
Bill, a typical enviro, distorting the truth. All of the areas being proposed for wilderness currently have clean air and clean water and the opportunity for solitude even though they are not all totally off limits to motorized vehicles. Just goes to show you that areas do not have to be closed to the majority of people to be preserved. All it takes is proper management.
By Bill Schapley
Nov 11, 2009 8:39 AM | Link to this
Land of no uses? Unless of course you like to drink clean water, breathe clean air and escape, if only briefly, from the endless buzz of a motorized civilization.
By Joe
Nov 11, 2009 8:20 AM | Link to this
Wilderness, land of no uses!!
By TJ.
Nov 11, 2009 8:07 AM | Link to this
We do not need more wilderness. How about a better management of the lands. We already have enough land that is off limits to mineral exploration/extraction. How the heck are you going to heat your home with fresh air from a wilderness? We need good management policies and execution of those policies to truly preserve the land for the future. Wilderness is just another way to lock out the public to "their" land.
By William Monroe
Nov 11, 2009 7:49 AM | Link to this
Great, more areas off-limits for biking, ATV, and motorcycles. That way, only trust fund hippies with no responsibility will have time to ever go there.
By maddy
Nov 11, 2009 7:44 AM | Link to this
How in the world can it be designated wilderness if sheep can graze all over the mountains eating up everything that grows, the helicopters can buzz around all over making more noise than any ATV, and the highly organized trail runners can swarm all over the mountains? This is nothing but a thinly disguised final push to rid the San Juans of ATV's and dirt bikes. If you love to spend time in the San Juans in a jeep, on an ATV or dirt bike, write The Three Stooges, Udall, Bennet, and Salazar, and protest long and loud or the area will become an exclusive club for the elite.
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