More than 14 million acres of Colorado public lands could be up for sale under the Senate version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act – including lands at the heart of Durango’s identity.
The Republican-backed budget bill would require the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service to give up 0.5% to 0.75% of their acreage out West, with more than 250 million acres being eligible for sale.
“It's an existential threat to the scenic backdrop in the recreational activities that people value so much here in Durango,” said Mark Pearson, executive director of the San Juan Citizens Alliance.
Areas such as Animas Mountain, Horse Gulch, Falls Creek and Big Canyon – all partly or fully managed by BLM – are subject to sale. Those lands play a significant role in the recreational culture of Durango, and their various uses make them widely available to residents for hiking, mountain biking, hunting and more.
“Many of our marquee spots across the country could effectively be put on the auction block,” said Michael Carroll, BLM campaign director at the Wilderness Society.
The budget draft prohibits the sale of certain lands, such as national monuments, national conservation areas and national recreation areas.
Lawmakers suggested that public land sales would address local housing needs across the country. The bill instructs the USFS and BLM to prioritize selling land “adjacent to existing developed areas,” with existing infrastructure.
However, both Pearson and Carroll said the likely outcome in Durango would be high-end, luxury developments – not affordable housing.
“Animas Mountain would be an ideal place for somebody to put a 35-acre mini mansion that overlooks the entire valley of Durango,” Carroll said. “It would have some of the most stunning views of any property in the entire southwest of Colorado.”
On Saturday, the bill was revised to eliminate the stipulation that excluded grazing lands from the sale – nearly doubling the acreage eligible for sale.
Ranchers who maintain grazing permits on public lands could potentially see those lands sold to private buyers.
“You could see a number of grazing permits go away, and a number of ranching operations be on the hook for paying exuberant fees in the future for grazing on private lands,” Carroll said.
If the legislation passes, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum would have 30 days to solicit sale proposals and produce a list of lands for sale. They would then have 60 days to complete the sales.
The bill gives local and state governments the first right of refusal for any property on the market. However, Carroll said it’s unlikely most municipalities have the financial resources to purchase federal lands.
The proposal sparked harsh backlash from Colorado communities and politicians alike. More than 300,000 people have accessed the Wilderness Society’s analysis and map of areas eligible for sale.
“Washington is trying to tell Colorado what land is for sale,” said Colorado Sen. John Hickenlooper in a statement. “This is a top-down tyrannical execution of authority that strips Colorado and our local communities of our ties to some of our most sacred landscapes.”
Richa Sharma is an intern for The Durango Herald and The Journal in Cortez and a student at American University in Washington, D.C. She can be reached at rsharma@durangoherald.com.
