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.