Sponsors (2)
Introduced May 15, 2025 by Michael F. Bennet · Last progress May 15, 2025
The bill secures long-term protection and local/tribal input for large stretches of the Dolores River—protecting recreation, wildlife, and water reliability—while imposing limits on extractive uses and access that could reduce local economic opportunities, raise administrative costs, and foreclose a stronger Wild & Scenic designation.
Residents, visitors, and local communities gain legal protection for roughly 68,324 acres of the Dolores River corridor (52,872 + 15,452 acres), preserving scenic, recreational, wildlife, watershed, and native fish values.
Local stakeholders (counties, tribes, user groups, residents) receive formal roles and guaranteed input through an advisory council and required management plans with periodic review, increasing local control and long-term resource planning.
Tribal members and communities retain and gain stronger protections for treaty and Colorado Ute settlement rights and continued access for traditional ceremonies and materials, protecting cultural practices.
Miners, grazing permittees, ranchers, and other extractive or commercial operators near the corridor face new limits (mining withdrawals, restricted uses, grazing reissuance rules), which could reduce income and economic activity in affected rural communities.
Restrictions and limits on federal assistance for projects that would affect free‑flowing streams and tighter definitions around 'water resource projects' may constrain future water-infrastructure upgrades or irrigation improvements some communities rely on.
Removing the areas from consideration for Wild & Scenic River designation precludes a stronger federal protection pathway, reducing long-term protections and funding opportunities and creating uncertainty for recreational and conservation-dependent businesses.
Based on analysis of 10 sections of legislative text.
Designates roughly 52,872 acres as a National Conservation Area and 15,452 acres as a Special Management Area, sets conservation management rules, withdraws lands from many development uses, and requires management plans within 3 years.
Designates about 52,872 acres of BLM land as a National Conservation Area and about 15,452 acres of National Forest land as a Special Management Area along the Dolores River, and sets rules to protect native fish, recreation, scenic, cultural, watershed, and wildlife values. It requires the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service to prepare management plans within three years, limits road building and motorized travel, withdraws the covered lands from many mineral and public‑land uses, and preserves existing treaty and water‑project rights.