Sponsors (2)
The bill protects and expands large areas of public land—preserving wildlife, recreation, and tribal uses and improving management transparency—while trading off reduced resource development, limits on motorized access, potential local revenue losses, and new federal costs and administrative burdens.
Residents, recreationists, and nearby communities gain large new protected areas and conservation designations (tens of thousands of acres across multiple sites), preserving scenic, wildlife, and habitat values.
Local businesses, outfitters, and visitors retain and benefit from preserved recreation (boating, hunting, fishing, grazing, events), supporting outdoor economies and local livelihoods.
Tribal members retain treaty and traditional-use rights (ceremonies, plant gathering, continued use) on the lands covered by the bill, protecting cultural practices.
Local workers, businesses, and local governments face reduced opportunities and revenue because large tracts are withdrawn from mineral leasing, mining, timber harvest, and geothermal development.
People who rely on motorized recreation or vehicle access (off-road users, some visitors) and projects that need road access will face new limits on motorized use and road construction, reducing certain recreational uses and access.
Oil and gas leaseholders and local economies may see near-term job and activity losses when leases are relinquished or withdrawn, since relinquishment cancels leases permanently and can reduce local production.
Based on analysis of 10 sections of legislative text.
Designates new wilderness and special management areas, creates the Thompson Divide withdrawal with a methane-capture pilot, and establishes Curecanti National Recreation Area in Colorado.
Creates multiple new wilderness designations, wilderness additions, and special management areas in Colorado’s national forests; establishes the Curecanti National Recreation Area as a unit of the National Park System; and creates the Thompson Divide Withdrawal and Protection Area with a pilot program to capture fugitive methane from certain underground coal mines while withdrawing lands from mining and mineral leasing (subject to valid existing rights). The law sets management purposes and authorities for the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior, incorporates official maps into law, and preserves certain reclamation and water project authorities while allowing limited administrative adjustments.
Official title: Provide for the designation of certain wilderness areas, recreation management areas, and conservation areas in the State of Colorado, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 27, 2025 by Michael F. Bennet · Last progress February 27, 2025