Congress·In Committee·3 months ago

Congress proposes new Colorado wilderness and recreation areas, limiting new mining and some motorized use

Also known as: Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed

Review

Senate

House

President

Impacts

Mixed Impacts(1)

Farmer Rancher

Neutral

Positive Impacts(1)

Tribal Member

Helps

State Impacts

ColoradoCO

Mixed

Colorado is the only state affected: the bill designates multiple new wilderness additions and management areas on federal land, creates the Curecanti National Recreation Area (~50,300 acres), withdraws the Thompson Divide area from new mineral leasing (subject to existing rights), and starts a methane capture pilot program focused on Garfield, Gunnison, Delta, and Pitkin Counties.

Key Points

Sets aside large parts of Colorado federal land as new wilderness and conservation areas, which generally limits new roads, mining, and some motorized use.
Adds multiple wilderness areas and expansions in the White River National Forest and the San Juan Mountains, with grazing generally allowed to continue where it already exists.
Creates several wildlife conservation areas that focus on protecting habitat and migration routes, while still allowing things like firefighting work and emergency access.
Protects the Thompson Divide area by blocking new mineral leasing there, while offering leaseholders credits if they give up existing oil and gas leases in the area.
Creates the Curecanti National Recreation Area (about 50,300 acres), keeps boating/hunting/fishing allowed under rules, and lays out how land transfers and management planning would work.

EnvironmentClimate ChangeEnergyInfrastructureAgriculture

Milestones

2 milestones3 actions

Dec 2, 2025Senate

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.

Feb 27, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Feb 27, 2025

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

No later than 1 year after the bill is enacted (or earlier if Interior approves a related request sooner)

Curecanti National Recreation Area is created as a new National Park System unit

Visitors get a clearer “national recreation area” set of rules, and boating/hunting/fishing are generally allowed unless specific zones are closed for safety/management

As soon as practicable after enactment

Forest Service publishes maps and legal descriptions for the new wilderness and conservation designations

On-the-ground boundaries become clearer for visitors, local governments, and businesses (what is in/out, and which rules apply)

Not earlier than 180 days after enactment, then on the earliest of: completion of any allowed range improvements, 2 years after a positive grazing decision, or a decision not to authorize grazing

Williams Fork Mountains area starts the countdown to become full wilderness

Management begins to shift toward full wilderness rules, with full designation happening after required timing triggers

Within 3 years after enactment

Forest Service decision on whether to authorize livestock use on two vacant allotments (Big Hole and Blue Ridge)

Ranchers could gain or lose the chance to graze those allotments depending on the decision

Within 1 year after the positive authorization decision

If grazing is authorized on those allotments, a permit/authorization is issued

A rancher could begin using the allotment under a new permit and conditions

Within 180 days after enactment

Interior Department develops the plan for the methane pilot program

Sets up how methane leaks will be inventoried and how capture/destruction leasing would work

Within 2 years after enactment

Methane inventory is completed in the pilot program area

The public and local governments could learn where major methane leaks are and how big they are (with safety/confidential limits)

Within 1 year after the inventory is completed

Methane leasing/authorization program begins after the inventory

Projects to capture methane for power/heat or to destroy it can move forward under federal authorization/leases

By 4 years after the inventory is completed

If major methane sources still are not leased, Interior takes steps to cap or destroy methane (if funded)

Could lead to direct cleanup-style projects to reduce leaks even when private leasing doesn’t happen

Within 1 year after enactment; goal to complete 26 miles of easements within 10 years

National Park Service plan for fishing access easements upstream of the Aspinall Unit is created

Could expand public fishing access over time as easements are acquired, improving where people can legally fish

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act

Bill NumberS 764

Congress119th Congress

ChamberSenate

Latest ActionCommittee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(1)

D: 1

Data Sources

Congress.gov

Official legislative information

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.