Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area Act

Key Points

• This bill would create two new protected zones in southwest Colorado covering about 68,000 acres of federal land. The goal is to preserve the area's natural beauty, fish populations, and popular spots for whitewater boating, hunting, and hiking.
• To address local concerns, the plan strictly protects existing water rights. It ensures that the McPhee Reservoir can continue to operate normally and that farmers and ranchers will not lose the water they currently rely on for their crops and livestock.
• The policy would stop new mining projects and the building of new permanent roads in these areas. However, it allows current activities like cattle grazing and existing uranium leases to continue as they are now.
• A new 14-member advisory group would be formed to give local people a voice in how the land is managed. This group would include representatives from local counties, the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, conservation groups, and the farming community.
• The bill also protects the rights of Native American Tribes to use the land for traditional ceremonies and to gather plants. It ensures that the new protections do not interfere with existing treaty rights or Tribal water settlements.

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