To establish the Dolores River National Conservation Area and the Dolores River Special Management Area in the State of Colorado, to protect private water rights in the State, and for other purposes.
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
IntroducedMr. Bennet (for himself and Mr. Hickenlooper) introduced the following …
Summary
What This Bill Does
This bill establishes two protected areas along the Dolores River in Colorado: the Dolores River National Conservation Area (approximately 52,872 acres of Bureau of Land Management land) and the Dolores River Special Management Area (approximately 15,452 acres in San Juan National Forest). The legislation aims to protect the river's natural resources, native fish populations, whitewater boating opportunities, wildlife habitat, and cultural and archaeological sites while preserving existing water rights and the continued operation of the Dolores Project and McPhee Reservoir.
Who Benefits and How
Conservation and environmental groups benefit through permanent federal protection of over 68,000 acres of ecologically significant land, with restrictions on new roads, mining, and development. Whitewater boaters and outdoor recreation enthusiasts gain formally recognized access to the Dolores River for boating, hunting, fishing, and other recreational activities. The Dolores Water Conservancy District and agricultural water users benefit from explicit protections ensuring the Dolores Project and McPhee Reservoir continue operating unchanged, with their existing water contracts and allocations preserved. The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and other Indian Tribes benefit through preserved treaty rights and continued access to traditional ceremonial sites and plant-gathering areas. Private landowners adjacent to the conservation areas benefit from guaranteed reasonable access through protected lands to their property.
Who Bears the Burden and How
Mining, oil, gas, and geothermal industries lose the ability to develop new mineral extraction or energy projects on covered lands, as the areas are withdrawn from mineral leasing and mining claims. Motorized vehicle users face restrictions, as motorized access is limited to designated routes only, eliminating off-road vehicle use. Federal agencies including the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service must develop new management plans within 3 years, establish and staff an advisory council, and produce annual native fish conservation reports, creating additional administrative workload. Landowners or developers seeking new water projects on or affecting the covered lands face restrictions, as the bill prohibits federal assistance for projects that would affect the free-flowing character of streams or diminish resource values.
Key Provisions
- Establishes 52,872-acre Dolores River National Conservation Area and 15,452-acre Special Management Area with wilderness-character protections for the Ponderosa Gorge area
- Creates a 14-member Dolores River National Conservation Area Advisory Council with representation from water users, conservation groups, recreation interests, counties, Indian Tribes, and ranchers
- Explicitly protects existing water rights, the Dolores Project, McPhee Reservoir operations, and interstate water compacts from any changes
- Withdraws covered lands from mineral entry, mining claims, and geothermal leasing
- Restricts motorized vehicle use to designated routes and prohibits new permanent road construction
- Requires annual reports on native fish conservation progress in the Dolores River
- Releases designated river segments from further Wild and Scenic Rivers Act study
Evidence Chain:
This summary is derived from the structured analysis below. See "Detailed Analysis" for per-title beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
Primary Purpose
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