Sponsors (2)
The bill secures long‑term conservation, public access, tribal protections, and clearer local management for large Dolores River landscapes, but it does so by imposing new land‑use limits and administrative burdens that could reduce local economic activity, complicate infrastructure projects, and prompt legal disputes.
Rural communities, recreationists, and local governments gain long-term protection of large public landscapes and river segments (the Dolores NCA ~52,872 acres and a 15,452-acre Special Management Area) with limits on roads/motorized use, coordinated water/native‑fish protections, and annual reporting.
Indigenous tribal communities retain treaty protections, settled water rights, and continued access for traditional ceremonies and plant gathering under the bill's management rules.
Local governments, stakeholders, and the public get greater transparency and formal input through required management plans, public consultation, an advisory council, and official maps/legal descriptions filed with Congress and available locally.
Ranchers, permit holders, private landowners, and local businesses face new and expanded restrictions (limits on development, grazing, road/motorized access, timber harvest; bans on mining/geothermal on covered lands) that could reduce economic opportunities and raise operating costs.
Federal, state, and local agencies will likely incur increased planning, implementation, and compliance costs and may need to reallocate staff or funding to develop and administer the new management plans and maps.
Ambiguous legal standards and access/rights-of-way language (e.g., 'unreasonably diminish', unclear relocation/access rules) create risk of disputes, permitting delays, and litigation involving water managers, project operators, counties, and private parties.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Creates a Dolores River National Conservation Area and a Special Management Area, sets management rules and protections, and removes those lands from Wild and Scenic Rivers consideration.
Official title: Establish the Dolores River National Conservation Area and the Dolores River Special Management Area in the State of Colorado, to protect private water rights in the State, and for other purposes.
Introduced May 15, 2025 by Michael F. Bennet · Last progress May 15, 2025
Creates the Dolores River National Conservation Area (BLM lands, ~52,872 acres) and a Dolores River Special Management Area within the San Juan National Forest (~15,452 acres). It directs the Interior and Agriculture Departments to file official maps, develop management plans within three years, manage the lands to protect ecological, recreational, scenic, cultural, and watershed values, and preserve existing water project operations and tribal treaty rights. Sets rules for motorized use, roads, land acquisition (willing sellers only), grazing administration, wildfire and pest control, and other management tools; withdraws the designated lands from further Wild and Scenic Rivers Act consideration so they will not be studied or designated under that program.