San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act
I introduced the San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act this week, which would give special protected status to over 33,000 acres of pristine Colorado land, while carefully preserving the various ongoing uses of these lands – such as water and recreation. It would also designate about 22,000 acres as a special management area and withdraw over 6,000 from mineral entry lands within the Naturita Canyon.
This region of Colorado is blessed with stunning beauty. Much of the land proposed for wilderness and other protections in this legislation are additions to existing wilderness, including the Mt. Sneffels Wilderness Area and the Lizard Head Wilderness. The bill also establishes a new area called McKenna Peak. This peak presides over imposing sandstone cliffs which rise 2,000 feet above the plain. It also provides important winter wildlife habitat for large numbers of deer and elk, which draws many hunters every year. Over 30,000 recreation user days are recorded annually during hunting season in this game management unit.
If you have questions or comments about this issue, please contact me using the form below.