|
<br />DIANA DEGETTE
<br />
<br />COMMERCE COMMITTEE
<br />
<br />1ST D,snllCT. COlORA,OO
<br />
<br />1404 LONGWORTH
<br />W...S""NGTON. DC 20515
<br />202-225-4431
<br />FAX 202-225-5657
<br />
<br />(l[ongrtgs of tUt mnittb ~tattg
<br />J$ou5e of ~epre5entatibe5
<br />~<1llbington, 1D1[ 20515-0601
<br />
<br />SUBCOMMiTTEE ON HEALTH
<br />AND ENVIRONMENT
<br />SUBCOMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND
<br />HAZARDOUS MA. TER1A.LS
<br />
<br />DISTRICT OFFICE:
<br />1400 GLEN...,.... Pu.a:. SUITe 202
<br />DENYlER. CO 80202
<br />303 gu '998
<br />FAX 303-&U-4998
<br />E-mail: degertll@)m..l.houslI.gov
<br />
<br />e
<br />
<br />SummarY of Colorado Wilderness Act of 1999
<br />
<br />
<br />Congresswoman Diana DeGette's legislation designates as wilderness
<br />49 areas totaling approximately 1.4 million acres. These lands are
<br />currently managed or owned by the Bureau of Land Management (1.09
<br />million acres) and National Forest Service (280,000 acres).
<br />Additionally, the legislation's boundaries include 20,000 acres owned by
<br />the State of Colorado and 2600 acres of privately-owned lands that
<br />would not become wilderness unless acquired by the federal government
<br />~~ the consent of the landowner.
<br />
<br />LAND: Currently, there are 3.3 million acres of wilderness designated
<br />in Colorado, mostly on National Forest lands. The Bureau of Land
<br />Management (BLM) manages another 8.3 million acres, virtually none
<br />of which is currently protected as wilderness. When all of the areas in
<br />this proposal are designated as wilderness, roughly 13% ofBLM's land
<br />in the state and another I % of Forest Service land will be added to the
<br />National Wildemess Preservation System. This new acreage amounts to
<br />2% of Colorado's land base of66 million acres. The legislation does not Cross Mountain
<br />affect ownership of state or private lands within wilderness boundaries,
<br />unless the state or owner enters into an agreement with the federal government.
<br />
<br />WATER: The legislation creates a federal reserved water right for each wilderness area, established as
<br />of the date the legislation passes and junior to all pre-existing water claims. The legislation honors all
<br />existing water rights.
<br />
<br />ACTIVITIES: Under the Wilderness Act of 1964, development and mechani7~ activities are prolu'bited
<br />within designated wilderness, including logging, road building, new mining, oil and gas drilling, and use
<br />of motorized and mechanized equipment. All existing mining claims are honored, and livestock grazing,
<br />where previously existing, is allowed to continue. Use of wheelchairs, treatment of diseases and insects,
<br />fire suppression activities and all forms of non-mechanized recreation are allowed, including hiking,
<br />backpacking, horsepacking, hunting, fishing, rafting and canoeing, cross-country skiing, and scientific
<br />research.
<br />
<br />e
<br />
<br />PARCELS: The following is a list of sites proposed for wilderness designation. .!</Jm~ detailed
<br />description of each land parcel can be found in the attached materials: '''''',:' ..':-.)~.!.;.~.: '
<br />-,. '-.'" ~~.' .'~: 'n .'. '<;:.:.~.'1:,~:.:- _ ... ...., '.
<br />AdobeBad1ands ,DeepCreek ..HUlltcrCan}'llil't.::r'),...:..>.~~:p'late!u ",.~'.... ,".,,'
<br />Bangs Canyon Demaree Canyon ,LiUleBookcliffs":f\>:,; ", ~~'c'''''~ideaU~1 Back ; ,
<br />Beaver Creek Diamond Breaks . .'... ' ,.Mares Tail canyon> :;h;;:'...:-S'aJt!:;Uls ftills " '". .
<br />Black MID-Windy Gulch Dinosaur AdditionS)..:.:. .":Maroon BeUs:-Snow1!i8ss )t':;:~~~~i"~esa..:~,'\':, i:..:
<br />Black Ridge Canyons Dolores River Canyon '.;''';{);fcintyre Hnis '9/:.ii.,;;~.;Z?;r('\'~li'~'~Pk:;;;;;::<;: ,/"
<br />Browns Canyon DominguczCanyODS' <c.. ''ii.fcKcnDa'Peak'' ,~...... '~"~-sn'iggiCtOOiii--~''"'"'''"'''' '..",
<br />Bull Canyon Flat Tops Addition Oil Spring Mountain South Sha1c Ridge
<br />Bull Gulch GllIIIitc Creek ' The Palisade Thompson Creek _
<br />Castle Peak Grape Creek Pinyon Ridge Troublesome ..,
<br />Cold Spring Mountain Great Sand Dunes Platte River Contiguous Unaweep
<br />Cross Canyon Gunnison Gorge Redcloud Peak' V cnniIlion Basin
<br />Cross Mountain Handics Peak Rio Grande Weber-Mcnefee Mtns
<br />YampaRiver
<br />
<br />~
<br />
|