How the Public Can Shape National Conservation Area Proposals

The lower Dolores River is a landscape of striking beauty, rich ecological value, and deep cultural significance. Efforts to protect this region have sparked discussions around different conservation tools, including National Conservation Area (NCA) legislation. But how exactly does the public have a say in this process? How are NCAs different from national monuments? And how do legislative designations like wilderness fit into the picture?

The Role of Public Input in NCA Legislation

Unlike executive designations like national monuments, which are created by the president under the Antiquities Act, NCAs are established through congressional legislation. This means they undergo a robust public process involving local stakeholders, county governments, and state representatives before becoming law. Usually, legislative language is created during this time, therefore, it is clear what exactly is being introduced in Congress. The entire process is public, with multiple opportunities for stakeholders and the public to shape the ultimate outcome.

A typical NCA legislative process includes:

1. Initial Stakeholder Engagement – County officials, conservation groups, ranchers, recreational users, lawmakers, and other interested parties meet to identify shared priorities and concerns.

2. Drafting Legislative Language – Lawmakers, often with input from county commissioners and advocacy groups, craft the details of the proposed NCA bill including boundaries.

3. Public Comment Periods & Community Meetings – Local residents have opportunities to weigh in through town halls, written comments, and meetings with elected officials.

4. Legislative Refinements – Based on feedback, the bill can be adjusted to better reflect community interests before it is formally introduced in Congress.

5. Congressional Process & Final Approval – Once introduced, the bill moves through committee hearings, undergoes potential additional changes and amendments based on feedback from lawmakers and agency representatives, and spurs floor debates before a final vote and the president’s signature. Often this is not a linear process, as many bills are introduced and have hearings but do not make it to the president’s desk, while the ones that do often take a number of years and pass together in large omnibus packages. 

The Inclusion of Wilderness and Other Protections

One advantage of NCA legislation compared to other conservation tools is that it can include wilderness designations, which provide the highest level of protection for wilderness-quality public lands. While some fear that an NCA could be a weaker form of protection, the reality is that legislative conservation tools offer flexibility to ensure permanent safeguards. 

Wilderness areas within an NCA receive the strongest level of protection, ensuring that these lands remain free from roads, mechanized vehicles, and industrial development. This can permanently address administrative categories such as BLM Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs) and other wilderness-quality lands such as the Dolores River Canyon WSA, Sewemup Mesa WSA and the Palisade WSA. 

Addressing Common Concerns

One concern often raised is whether a national monument could still be designated on top of an NCA. The answer is simple: This has never happened. Once Congress designates an NCA, the area is protected under law, and there is no precedent for a monument being layered on top.

Another worry is that an NCA would restrict traditional uses like grazing, hunting, or recreation. In reality, NCA legislation is crafted with local input to balance conservation with existing activities. In many cases, protections are designed specifically to maintain access for these uses while safeguarding the landscape for future generations.

A Comprehensive Conservation Vision

Agreement on an NCA in western Montrose and Mesa counties complements a similar effort to the south that resulted in the Dolores River NCA legislation introduced into Congress by Senator Bennet. A similar agreement for the northern portion of the Dolores would ensure comprehensive conservation for the lower Dolores watershed. This approach provides certainty for West End economic development, whether through tourism, recreation, or mining. By settling the maps permanently through legislative protection, this process allows communities to plan for the future while securing the long-term health of the landscape.

Why Your Voice Matters

Public participation is crucial to ensuring that any conservation legislation reflects the values of those who live, work, and recreate in the region. By engaging in the process, community members can help shape a balanced and lasting solution for the Dolores River.

Whether you attend a public meeting, write to your representatives, or join a local advocacy group, your input helps determine how these lands will be managed for generations to come. Working together, we can create a conservation framework that protects the Dolores while honoring its cultural and economic significance.

A packrafter on the Dolores River in the Dolores River Canyon Wilderness Study Area. Credit: Rig to Flip

OPINION: Let’s work together to protect the Dolores

Guest Column By Scott Braden and Rica Fulton originally posted in the Montrose Press on 1/29/2025

Efforts to protect the lower Dolores River’s public lands in Montrose and Mesa counties have generated significant attention over the past year. As leaders in the Protect the Dolores Coalition, we want to share why protecting these lands matters — and address some common misconceptions.

Our coalition is made up of conservation organizations, local businesses, and thousands of Coloradans who care deeply about the Dolores River and the surrounding lands. Many of us live on the Western Slope, in or near the Dolores River watershed. Our goal is simple: to safeguard this special place for future generations while maintaining recreational opportunities and traditional uses like grazing and mining.

A history of collaboration and miscommunication

For over 50 years, people have worked to preserve the Dolores River and its iconic landscape. Last year, our coalition proposed a national monument designation because previous attempts at legislative protection had stalled. However, early miscommunications about our process and intentions led to strong opposition from some, making open dialogue challenging.

Unfortunately, misinformation spread, including claims that we aimed to stop mining, close roads, end ranching, or restrict access. None of these are true. Our goal is to balance conservation, recreation, and traditional uses to keep this landscape healthy for the long term — not to shut people out.

Whether through a national monument or a national conservation area (NCA), new protections would allow for comprehensive planning to ensure this landscape — and the communities that depend on it — are resilient in the face of future challenges. Local residents would play a key role in shaping future management decisions under either scenario.

Why protections are necessary

While some parts of the Dolores watershed have interim protections, much of the land remains exposed and vulnerable. Unchecked mining and energy development, and unmanaged recreation are escalating threats that jeopardize wildlife, degrade vital ecosystems, and endanger the very qualities that make the Dolores unique.

Despite these challenges, we are optimistic. While political dynamics make a national monument less likely, we’re encouraged by the interest of Montrose and Mesa counties and Senator Bennet to explore legislative solutions. With leadership from Senator Bennet, our county officials and other stakeholders, we can demonstrate that it's possible to protect these lands while addressing local concerns.

Finding common ground

Western Colorado’s communities are diverse, with differing perspectives. Yet we share a common love for the Dolores and its canyons. Reasonable leaders from the West End, ranchers, miners, county representatives, tribes, and conservationists are already working together to find durable solutions.

Not everyone supports adding protections to the Dolores. Some hold hard-line positions, resist compromise, and stir fears that divide our communities. These extreme approaches make collaboration harder and distract from the real goal: protecting the land. Social media arguments don’t solve problems — working together does.

A national treasure worth protecting

The Dolores River and its surrounding canyons are more than just local landmarks — they are a national treasure. The stunning landscape, diverse wildlife, and rich cultural history deserve permanent protection. This isn’t just about preserving land; it’s about ensuring that future generations can experience the same awe-inspiring beauty we cherish today.

The risks are real, but so is the opportunity to secure the future of this remarkable place. By working together, we can honor the efforts of those who’ve fought to protect the Dolores and leave a legacy that benefits everyone.

Moving forward

As members of the Protect the Dolores Coalition, we are committed to finding solutions that reflect the voices of local communities while safeguarding a landscape of national significance. The Dolores belongs to all of us, and we promise to listen to valid concerns and work toward a solution that balances conservation, recreation, and traditional uses.

This effort won’t be easy, but it’s worth it. With support from Senator Bennet, county leaders, and community members, together we can craft a plan that protects the Dolores’ natural beauty while honoring its cultural and economic importance. Whether through a national monument or NCA, we can reach an agreement on a framework that benefits everyone.

To the county leaders and community members already working to find common ground: thank you. To those still unsure, we extend an open hand. Together, we can protect what makes the Dolores so special. It’s worth the effort — and together, we can make it happen.

Scott Braden is with Colorado Wildlands Project. Rica Fulton is with Dolores River Boating Advocates.

PRESS RELEASE: Mesa and Montrose counties’ slim conservation proposal fails to protect critical components of Dolores Canyons

Local leaders decry meager proposal, call for Senate leadership and a national monument

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 24th, 2024

GRAND JUNCTION, CO—Today, Mesa and Montrose counties published a national conservation area (NCA) proposal to conserve 29,806 acres of public lands in the Dolores Canyon Country. While the Protect the Dolores Coalition was glad to see the counties signal the importance of protecting this incomparable place, this particular proposal falls woefully short of conserving the rich wildlife, cultural sites, historic places, and recreational opportunities that make the Dolores Canyons worthy of conserving in the first place. 

"I had high hopes that Mesa and Montrose counties would unite and collaborate with local communities and stakeholders to safeguard the Dolores Canyon Country. Unfortunately, this proposal falls short on multiple fronts,” said Craig Grother, Central West Slope Regional Director of Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, a member organization of the Sportsmen for the Dolores coalition. “It fails to conserve wildlands that are essential fish and wildlife habitat, overlooking crucial cold-water fisheries and neglecting critical big game habitats throughout the Dolores Canyons. Colorado’s hunters and anglers are dedicated to seeing this remarkable area protected for future generations, and the most effective proposal to achieve this is the designation of the Dolores Canyons National Monument."

In specific, the NCA proposal excludes:

• Important big game wildlife habitat in Unaweep Canyon, the Uncompahgre Plateau, and Roc Creek, including critical winter range, calving areas, and migration corridors for elk and deer;

• Cold water fisheries like Roc Creek that support iconic species like the Colorado River cutthroat trout;

• Countless Indigenous cultural sites that document the lives of the Ute and Ancestral Puebloan peoples;

• Historical sites that tell the story of the region’s globally-significant mining history, including Calamity Camp and stretches of the Hanging Flume; 

• Virtually all of the Dolores River Canyon, Sewemup Mesa, and The Palisade Wilderness Study Areas; and

• Opportunities for recreation, including areas frequented by hikers, hunters, climbers, nature photographers, and whitewater enthusiasts. 

These important values would be conserved under the current 391,000-acre national monument proposal, which was drafted by western Colorado local elected officials, community groups, and businesses to conserve the most biologically- and culturally-rich public lands in the northern Dolores Canyons region. Over 100,000 people from Colorado and beyond have signed petitions in support of the national monument proposal. By cutting out over 92% of this community-led proposal, Mesa and Montrose county commissioners are leaving open these public lands to new mining and industrial development, a win for developers and a loss for conservation and recreation.

Community efforts to come to a consensus around a national conservation area stalled in Mesa County in 2011 and were abruptly cut short when Montrose County walked away from negotiations in 2018. Now, Colorado’s Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper have indicated that they are open to finding a pathway to permanently protect the Dolores Canyons. 

“Mesa and Montrose counties have failed, once again, to offer a good faith plan to safeguard the Dolores Canyons,” said Anna Stout, Grand Junction City Council Member and former Grand Junction mayor. “For almost 50 years, communities have worked to protect the outstanding wildlife, incredible canyons, and world class scenery found just outside Grand Junction. We shouldn’t wait another year to see it protected, much less risk decades of inaction. It is time for Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper to fill the leadership vacuum, work with President Biden, and finally conserve the Dolores Canyons National Monument.”

If the Senators are serious about delivering on longstanding efforts to conserve the Dolores Canyons, working with President Biden to designate a national monument remains the best path forward. Coloradans who care deeply about this landscape should not have to wait another year, another decade, or another five decades for our elected leaders to get the job done.

To learn more about the campaign to Protect the Dolores, please visit www.ProtectTheDolores.org. Media assets are available at www.ProtectTheDolores.org/media.

PRESS RELEASE: Western Slope Leaders Call for Swift Action from Senators on Dolores Canyons National Monument

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 3rd, 2024

GRAND JUNCTION, CO—Today, Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper issued a joint statement indicating their support for permanent conservation protections for Colorado’s Dolores River Canyons region. The Protect the Dolores Coalition is thankful for both Colorado senators who have spent meaningful time on the ground in western Colorado and for their ongoing leadership around the Dolores Canyons. Western Slope community leaders, local elected officials, business owners, and conservationists agree: now is the time for swift conservation action to protect these incredible public lands as a national monument. Local advocates have been striving to conserve the Dolores Canyons’ diverse wildlife, rich cultural and historic resources, and extraordinary canyons and mesas for five decades. A national monument designation is the best pathway to deliver on these longstanding efforts.

A national monument would help address growing visitation to public lands in Mesa and Montrose counties, create opportunities for economic development, and protect the region’s most biologically- and culturally-rich public lands from mining speculation and other development. Importantly, a national monument would invite local input and expertise into future land use through the development of a new monument management plan.

Colorado voters overwhelmingly support conservation action for the Dolores Canyons, with one recent poll finding 92 percent of Colorado voters support protections. Over 100,000 people have signed petitions calling for a national monument and urging Senators Bennet and Hickenloopers to work with President Biden’s administration. More than 200 businesses have endorsed the proposed monument, including Colorado-based farms and ranches, museums, outdoor outfitters and manufacturers, sporting retailers, real estate firms, breweries, restaurants, and other businesses. The City of Grand Junction — the largest gateway community adjacent to the Dolores Canyons — supports a national monument designation.

In response to today’s joint statement, community leaders are urging Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper to get to work with local stakeholders and the Biden administration to swiftly deliver a national monument designation for the Dolores Canyons. Coloradans should not have to wait another year, another decade, or another five decades for our elected leaders to get the job done.

Anna Stout, Grand Junction City Council Member, formerly Grand Junction Mayor

“2024 is the year for decisive action to safeguard the Dolores Canyons as Colorado’s next national monument. Grand Junction loves our national monuments and the economic opportunities they offer Colorado’s communities. Leaders in Grand Junction, and across western Colorado, are ready to pull up our sleeves and finalize the Dolores Canyons National Monument.

I am thankful to Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper for their leadership, but I’m also worried that misinformation from bad faith actors and conservation opponents will stall momentum. Overwhelming numbers of Coloradans support seeing these public lands conserved. Waiting any longer will result in the Dolores Canyons remaining unprotected and open to industrial development.”

Sarah Shrader, Owner and Co-Founder of Bonsai Design

“Like many communities in the rural Mountain West, we've had a history of a dependence on extractive industries that create boom and bust economic cycles. As we transition into a more diversified economy, what has brought people to our community is the incredible natural assets that we are so lucky to have: the rivers, the Grand Mesa, and the expansive high desert. These natural landscapes provide wonderful places for growing businesses and young families to thrive. In this ever-divided society, places like the Dolores Canyon provide the opportunity to deeply interconnect us."

Amber Clark, Executive Director of Dolores River Boating Advocates

“Thank you Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper for your visits to the Dolores Canyon Country. As you saw firsthand, common ground lies in the deep love that so many people share for the Dolores Canyons, and there is a will to come together and find lasting solutions. Local people have been working at this for 50 years and there is a window of opportunity to safeguard these public lands this year as a national monument. We are excited to build on the recent momentum and we look to your leadership to continue to bring people together and finally secure much deserved protections.”

Brien Webster, Public Lands Campaign Manager at Conservation Colorado

“The Dolores Canyon Country holds outstanding natural and cultural significance rivaling many of the most remarkable landscapes within our public lands system. Throughout our country’s history the protection of our most iconic landscapes has been lauded among our country’s best  ideas. The Dolores Canyon Country is more than deserving to be a national monument. I urge our Senators to take prompt action and support efforts that will ensure that one of Colorado’s ‘last best places’ remains an icon of the American West.”

Jay Chancellor, Colorado Advocacy Campaigns Manager at Trout Unlimited

"Trout Unlimited and Sportsmen for the Dolores coalition thank Senators Hickenlooper and Bennet for engaging communities in a discussion about the Dolores Canyons. We support a national monument designation as the best way to protect fish and wildlife habitat and sporting opportunity on these public lands."

To learn more about the campaign to Protect the Dolores, please visit www.ProtectTheDolores.org. Media assets are available at www.ProtectTheDolores.org/media.

PRESS RELEASE: Western Colorado leaders call for action on national monument

Senator Bennet to visit Dolores Canyons this weekend

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 7th, 2024

NUCLA, CO—Senator Michael Bennet is hosting a public meeting on Sunday in Nucla to hear directly from Coloradans about the effort to establish the Dolores Canyons National Monument in western Mesa and Montrose counties.

Colorado voters support the effort to conserve the Dolores Canyons by overwhelming margins, with one recent public opinion survey finding 92 percent of Colorado voters support protections. Over 100,000 individuals have signed a petition calling on Colorado’s senators to partner with President Biden’s administration and conserve the Dolores Canyons as a national monument. More than 200 businesses have endorsed the proposal — including 197 Colorado-based businesses. Farms and ranches, museums, outdoor outfitters and manufacturers, sporting retailers, real estate firms, breweries, restaurants, and many other businesses across the state support creating the Dolores Canyons National Monument. The City of Grand Junction — the largest gateway community adjacent to the proposed national monument — have backed the proposal and called for action.

For fifty years, local communities have worked to safeguard the public lands and waters around the Dolores River, which feature an incredible array of cultural and historic sites, habitat for big game and other sensitive plants and animals, scenic beauty, and unmatched outdoor recreation opportunities.

In advance of his visit, western Colorado leaders are calling on Senator Bennet to work alongside constituents and stakeholders to finally secure permanent protections for the Dolores Canyons. These individuals and additional spokespeople from the Protect the Dolores Coalition are available for press interviews on request.

Amber Clark, Executive Director of Dolores River Boating Advocates (Dolores, CO)

“Thank you, Senator Bennet, for taking the time to visit western Colorado and learn about our proposal to safeguard the outstanding public lands encompassing the Dolores River in Montrose and Mesa counties. This proposal complements the Dolores River Canyon National Conservation Area, which is currently pending in Congress and will provide long term protection for lands to the south. We have been working to conserve these incredible lands and waters, sensitive cultural sites, core wildlife areas, and unparalleled scenery for decades. Now is the time to act.”

Anna Stout, Grand Junction City Council Member (Grand Junction, CO)

“Protecting the Dolores Canyons as a national monument is something Coloradans overwhelmingly agree on. Here in Grand Junction, we are deeply committed to conserving the public lands that surround us for the benefit of our residents, all Americans, and future generations.”

Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk, Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Member & Former Tribal Councilwoman (Towaoc, CO)

"The Dolores River and surrounding lands are the ancestral homelands of the Nuchu (Ute peoples). The proposed Dolores Canyons National Monument can help preserve access and protect cultural sites and landscapes. Protection honors Indigenous connections to these lands, waters, and ecosystems."

Natalie Binder, Founder of CampV (Naturita, CO)

“CampV is a former mining town that has been transformed into a hotel and community gathering place. Our business values are grounded in conservation and economic prosperity — rural western Colorado can prosper and we can protect our public lands. A national monument for the Dolores Canyons is an opportunity to safeguard delicate lands, while also bringing in new visitors, benefiting our community and economy, and respecting traditional land uses like mining and ranching.”

Craig Grother, Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Board Member (Norwood, CO)

“Healthy, intact public lands are essential to sustaining and improving hunting and fishing opportunities. More than one million hunters and anglers enjoy the pursuit of fish and game in Colorado each year, and the conservation of these wild landscapes, like the Dolores Canyons as Colorado’s newest national monument, is critical for many who rely on them for their sporting traditions.”

Sarah Shrader, Owner and Co-Founder of Bonsai Design (Grand Junction, CO)

“Like many communities in the rural Mountain West, we've had a history of a dependence on extractive industries that create boom and bust economic cycles. As we transition into a more diversified economy, what has brought people to our community is the incredible natural assets that we are so lucky to have: the rivers, the Grand Mesa, and the expansive high desert. These natural landscapes provide wonderful places for growing businesses and young families to thrive. In this ever-divided society, places like the Dolores Canyon provide the opportunity to deeply interconnect us."

Thor Tingey, CEO and Co-Owner of Alpacka Raft (Mancos, CO)

“Protected public lands and rural economic development go hand in hand. By protecting the Dolores Canyons in western Mesa and Montrose Counties we have an opportunity in western Colorado to continue building a diverse economy that leverages the incredible natural beauty in our backyard while protecting it for future generations. The Dolores Canyons National Monument can be an asset that nurtures businesses like Alpacka Raft, while sustaining a robust and resilient Main Street.”

PRESS RELEASE: Colorado, West Slope leaders support Dolores Canyons National Monument

Diverse group of elected leaders, business owners, sportsmen, and conservation champions celebrate national monument proposal before listening session with Sen. Hickenlooper

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26th, 2024

GRAND JUNCTION —Senator John Hickenlooper is hosting public meetings this afternoon and tomorrow morning to hear directly from West Slope residents about the effort to conserve the Dolores Canyons in Mesa and Montrose counties as Colorado’s newest national monument. 

For nearly five decades, local communities in western Colorado have worked to safeguard the public lands and waters around the Dolores River, which feature an incredible array of cultural and historic sites, habitat for big game and other sensitive plants and animals, scenic beauty, and unmatched outdoor recreation opportunities. A diverse coalition of organizations and businesses are now asking Senator Hickenlooper, Senator Bennet, and other Colorado decision-makers to partner with President Biden and finally protect the Dolores Canyons National Monument.

Colorado voters support the effort to conserve the Dolores Canyons by overwhelming margins, with one recent public opinion survey finding 92 percent of Colorado voters support protections. Just last week, a group of locals traveled to Washington, DC to deliver over 103,000 petition signatures to the Biden administration from individuals in Colorado and beyond voicing support for the Dolores Canyons National Monument.

In advance of this evening’s public meeting, community and business leaders from across the state are voicing their support for action on the Dolores Canyons National Monument. 

Anna Stout, Grand Junction Mayor 

“Protecting the Dolores Canyons as a national monument is something Coloradans overwhelmingly agree on. Here in Grand Junction, we are deeply committed to conserving the public lands that surround us for the benefit of our residents and future generations. A Dolores Canyons National Monument would protect Colorado’s most vulnerable biodiversity hotspot, while honoring our past, safeguarding our present, and investing in a future where Colorado's rich natural beauty continues to inspire and enrich the lives of all Americans.”

Natalie Binder, Founder of CampV in Naturita, Colorado

“CampV is a former mining town that has been transformed into a hospitality-based business. Our business values are grounded in conservation and rural economic prosperity. We are proud of the rich mining and ranching history of our community and will continue to advocate for stakeholders to sit-down and find solutions where all industries can prosper and public lands can be protected. A National Monument is an opportunity to bring new visitors, which can benefit our community and economy, while not changing the remoteness of these lands. A National Monument is also an opportunity to be proactive, ensuring land managers recognize our unique ranching heritage and protect existing uses like mining.”

Kelly Nordini, CEO of Conservation Colorado

“The best way to protect the Dolores River and surrounding canyon country is by designating it as a national monument. This is our moment to act to protect the Dolores for current and future generations, ensuring a legacy of conservation and accessible natural wonder. Protecting the Dolores would preserve Colorado’s largest and most biodiverse unprotected stretch of public lands, while supporting local economies and preserving public access to this iconic Western-Colorado landscape.”

Scott Braden, Director of Colorado Wildlands Project

“Coloradans have sought protections for the Dolores Canyons for over 50 years. We finally have an opportunity to come together, chart a path forward, and create lasting protections we can all be proud of. The status quo for the Dolores Canyons falls woefully short of preserving the region's rich historical resources, Indigenous cultural sites, and intact riparian ecosystems. New mining exploration threatens to push further into the remaining redrock wildlands. Pipelines, powerlines, or industrial installations could yet still mar this awe-inspiring place.” 

Amber Clark, Executive Director of Dolores River Boating Advocates

“The Dolores River Canyon Country is a landscape that grabs you and doesn't let go. It’s a place I’ve devoted my career to conserving, following in the footsteps of many others who have worked for decades to safeguard this incredible area. A national monument designation for the Dolores Canyons in Mesa and Montrose counties will complement the Dolores River Canyon National Conservation Area, which is currently pending in Congress and will provide long term protection for lands to the south of the national monument proposal. Together, the NCA and national monument will provide contiguous protection for these spectacular public lands and cultural sites while ensuring existing water rights and other uses such as grazing, hunting, and recreation remain intact.” 

Patrick Ortiz, Operations Director at San Luis Valley Great Outdoors and member of HECHO’s (Hispanics Enjoying Camping Hunting and the Outdoors) Hispanic Conservation Leadership Council

“As more and more Americans make the western slope home, it is important that we preserve some of what draws people to the area in the first place. The permanent protection of the Dolores Canyons will ensure that this iconic landscape will remain intact for generations to come.  Preserving places like the Dolores Canyons will prove to be a legacy and will create and maintain a robust, conservation-minded economy for an already thriving outdoor industry.”

Aaron Kindle, Director of Sporting Advocacy at the National Wildlife Federation

“Designating the Dolores Canyons as a national monument will ensure that the number one thing wildlife need — high quality habitat — remains intact, viable and healthy in perpetuity. That’s something every hunter should want and be proud to pass onto our kids and their kids.”

Craig Grother, Central West Slope Regional Director of Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers

“Conserving large tracts of undeveloped public lands as national monuments is essential to America’s hunting and fishing traditions. The Dolores Canyons provide critical habitat for the recovery of our desert bighorn sheep, and the reintroduction and associated wildlife management now provide one of the few opportunities to hunt desert bighorn in Colorado. Farther down the Colorado Basin, President Biden has created new national monuments in places like Avi Kwa Ame in Nevada and Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni near the Grand Canyon in Arizona. For the benefit of local communities, hunters, anglers, rafters, wildlands and wildlife, and future generations, Colorado’s leaders and the president should work with the citizens and appropriate state and local governments of the West Slope to conserve the Dolores River Canyons as a new national monument.”

Lieutenant Colonel Susan P. Zanol, U.S. Air Force (retired)

"It was my honor to serve 20 years to protect our way of life, which includes the preservation of our public lands. Like many veterans, I have sought the peace and tranquility public lands uniquely provide. The Dolores River Canyon Country's abundance of beauty, sparkling rivers, and biodiversity deserves permanent protection. Last year, I watched with pride as President Biden designated Camp Hale as a national monument, ensuring a beautiful unspoiled landscape and a piece of military history was permanently protected. I urge the President to designate another equally important area in Colorado, as the Dolores River Canyon Country National Monument."

Jen Clanahan, Co-Director of Mountain Mamas

“Colorado moms are thrilled that the Dolores River Canyons area may finally receive the protection it deserves. Moms understand the importance of getting our kids outdoors and the Dolores is one of the best outdoor classrooms we have to teach our children about wildlife, nature, and those that came before us. Studies have shown that exposure to nature during childhood has profound and lasting effects on children's physical and mental health as well as emotional and cognitive development. Unstructured play in the outdoors gets kids away from their screens, reduces stress, and fosters creativity and problem-solving skills. Thank you to our Senators and President Biden for their leadership to preserve this unique and beautiful area for our kids and grandkids." 

PRESS RELEASE: Over 100,000 people from Colorado and beyond call for the protection of the Dolores Canyons as a national monument

Outpouring of public support underscores profound national significance of the Dolores Canyons

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 16th, 2024

WASHINGTON, DC—This morning, Grand Junction Mayor Anna Stout delivered over 103,000 petition signatures to the Biden administration from individuals voicing support for protecting the Dolores Canyons National Monument in Colorado’s Mesa and Montrose counties. The outpouring of public sentiment from Colorado and beyond underscores the profound national significance of these public lands.

For five decades, communities in western Colorado have been working to ensure that the Dolores River Canyon Country, which is under increasing pressure from industrial development, habitat fragmentation, and unprecedented growth in recreational use, endures for future generations. The lands proposed for national monument protections would conserve outstanding cultural, historic, and scientific resources, including the Dolores River and its associated riparian zone, Indigenous cultural sites, unique geologic formations and paleontological sites, world-class recreation opportunities, historical sites related to the area’s internationally-significant mining legacy, and habitat for iconic game species and a variety of rare plants and animals.

“The designation of the proposed Dolores Canyons National Monument will protect Colorado’s most vulnerable biodiversity hotspot, while honoring our past, safeguarding our present, and investing in a future where Colorado's rich natural beauty continues to inspire and enrich the lives of all Americans,” said Grand Junction Mayor Anna Stout.

The proposed Dolores Canyons National Monument contains public lands with some of the most important natural areas and wildlife habitat anywhere in Colorado. If protected, the monument would safeguard what is now the largest and most biodiverse stretch of unprotected public lands in the state.

“Designating the Dolores Canyons as a national monument will ensure that the number one thing wildlife need – high quality habitat – remains intact, viable and healthy in perpetuity,” said Aaron Kindle, director of sporting advocacy at the National Wildlife Federation. “That’s something every hunter should want and be proud to pass onto our kids and their kids.”

Mayor Stout was joined today by tribal and community leaders from across the country. Together, they delivered over 800,000 petition signatures from local coalitions calling for the designation of locally-driven national monuments throughout the United States, including Great Bend of the Gila in Arizona; Chuckwalla, Sáttítla - Medicine Lake Highlands, and Kw'tsán in California; Dolores Canyons in Colorado; 1908 Springfield Race Riot in Illinois, Julius Rosenwald & Rosenwald Schools sites in Illinois and Maryland; Bahsahwahbee - Swamp Cedars in Nevada; and Owyhee Canyonlands in Oregon.

The Antiquities Act of 1906 grants U.S. presidents the ability to designate national public lands, waters, and cultural and historical sites as national monuments with a presidential proclamation. 18 U.S. presidents, nine democrats and nine republicans, have used the Antiquities Act to protect national monuments. Since taking office, President Biden has used the Antiquities Act to designate five national monuments, including the Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument in Colorado.

For more information, please visit www.protectthedolores.org. Media resources, including photos and B-roll of the proposed Dolores Canyons National Monument are available here.