Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, and U.S. Congressman Joe Neguse, have introduced the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy (CORE) Act. The bill supports growing Colorado’s outdoor recreation economy, protecting over 400,000 acres of public land, establishing new wilderness, recreation, and conservation areas, and safeguarding existing outdoor recreation opportunities.
The CORE Act combines four previously introduced Colorado public land bills, which have been in development over the past decade: the Continental Divide Recreation, Wilderness and Camp Hale Legacy Act, the San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act, the Thompson Divide Withdrawal and Protection Act, and the Curecanti National Recreation Area Boundary Establishment Act.
Of the land protected by the bill, about 73,000 acres are designated as new wilderness and nearly 80,000 acres are designated as new recreation and conservation management areas that preserve existing outdoor uses, such as hiking and mountain biking. The bill also includes a first-of-its-kind designation for Camp Hale as a National Historic Landscape to honor World War II veterans and Colorado’s military legacy, and prohibits new oil and gas development in areas important to ranchers and sportsmen in the Thompson Divide.
“Protecting Colorado's public lands is critical to protect our unique way of life. The CORE Act is the result of collaboration and will benefit our ranchers, sportsmen, small businesses, and outdoor recreation economy. When I served in Congress I was proud to lead this important legislation and am thrilled that Rep. Neguse, Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper are carrying this torch forward,” said Governor Jared Polis.
Review the CORE ACT summary, senate bill text, maps, letters of support and press release.