Wilderness; © John Richter Photography
The Campaign for America's Wilderness welcomes Rep. John Salazar's (D-CO) legislation to protect more than 61,000 acres of public land in southwestern Colorado. The San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act (H.R. 3914), introduced October 22, is the result of a thorough collaboration with local stakeholders, and will be the first new wilderness designation in the San Juan Mountains since 1993.
"With the introduction of the San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act, Rep. Salazar has shown he can balance the protection of public lands in his district with the interests of the people who live there," said Marcia Argust, Policy Specialist for Campaign for America's Wilderness. "His legislation reflects a ground up process that is broadly supported by local communities, elected officials, ranchers, recreation groups, and other diverse stakeholders.
Located in southwest Colorado's Rocky Mountains within Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and San Juan National Forest lands, the San Juan Mountain range is one of the most geologically diverse mountain ranges in the world. 480,000 acres of the San Juan National Forest were previously designated wilderness, but several critical landscape linkages require additional protection.
"The bill would provide permanent protection for some of the most spectacular, yet still unprotected and vulnerable, wild country left in Colorado," Argust said. "This protection would help communities preserve their quality of life and quiet recreation opportunities."
