What's At Stake?
Help Preserve the Beauty of Colorado's San Juan Mountains
The San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act, just introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman John Salazar, proposes the following areas for wilderness designation. Please take a moment to write Rep. Salazar to thank him and let him know you support his proposal!
Included in the bill:
The following areas are designated Wilderness under the legislation:
- 3,170 acres will be added to the existing Lizard Head Wilderness Area by the Blackface, Sunshine and Wilson additions.
- 8,375 acres will be added to the existing Mt. Sneffels Wilderness Area by the Liberty Bell and Last Dollar additions.
- 13,231 acres will be added to the existing Mt. Sneffels Wilderness Area by the Whitehouse addition.
- 8,614 acres of the McKenna Peak Wilderness Study Area will be designated as Wilderness.
In addition, two other designations are created by the legislation:
- 21,697 acres will be designated as the Sheep Mountain Special Management Area. Existing uses including heliskiing will be allowed to continue, but no new roads or other development will be permitted.
- 6,595 acres will be withdrawn from eligibility for mineral leasing in Naturita Canyon. No other uses in the canyon will be impacted.
See maps of these areas as well as the text of the draft bill at:
http://www.house.gov/salazar/sjmw.shtml
For more information on these and other areas in the bill go to:
http://www.sanjuancitizens.org/wildsanjuans/northernsjmtswilderness.shtml
To contact Rep. Salazar:
Mail:
Honorable John T. Salazar
813 Main Ave., Suite 300
Durango, CO 81301
Phone: 970-259-1012 (Durango), 202-225-4761(DC)
