Sen. Cory Gardner and Rep. Scott Tipton should join Southwest Colorado to support the San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act’
As someone who grew up in Durango and has gone off to school in the Midwest, it’s clear that our access to public lands is a large part of what makes the West, and Southwest Colorado, such a magical place to live. I believe we must do everything in our power to protect these lands. On April 19, Sen. Michael Bennet introduced the San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act. The bill would add protections to 60,000 acres in the heart of the San Juan Mountains. The bill’s protections would be crucial in ensuring the public will have continued access to wilderness areas. It will help guarantee that our water, air and land are safeguarded for future generations. The bill would not affect existing off-road-vehicle-approved roads, confirming it would not negatively affect towns like Ouray and Silverton, where Jeeping plays a role in their economy.
Sen. Bennet and others who have crafted the bill have made sure they listen to local voices and put forth a bill that helps, not harms, Southwest Colorado. As a result, the bill has support from the Ouray, San Juan and San Miguel county commissioners, and the town councils in Mountain Village, Norwood, Ophir, Ridgway and Telluride.
Noticeably absent from this process have been Gardner and R Tipton.
With so much local consensus support, Gardner and Tipton should back the bill. Please ask Gardner and Tipton to publicly support and co-sponsor the bill.
Seth Marvin-Vanderryn
Durango
