Ahead of Wilderness & Recreation Bill Intro, Polis, Grijalva Tour White River National Forest, Host Roundtable

Press Release

Representatives Jared Polis (CO-02) and Raul Grijalva (AZ-03), the top Democrat on the House Natural Resource Committee, today toured wilderness areas in the White River National Forest that Polis is aiming to protect in a bill he will introduce by the end of the month. Polis invited Grijalva to Colorado so he could see the area first-hand.

The representatives also participated in a roundtable discussion with roughly two-dozen local business owners, wilderness advocates, and elected officials who worked with Polis to craft the bill. The discussion offered an opportunity for Rep. Grijalva to hear from locals about how important the protection of these proposed wilderness and recreation areas is to the local communities.

"Whether it's hiking, biking, skiing, or hunting, Colorado's outdoor recreation industry adds millions to our economy each year and supports thousands of jobs in our mountain communities," Polis said. "Our bill would ensure that our public lands, which drive this economy, are preserved and protected for generations to enjoy. We're thrilled Rep. Grijalva got to see these areas first-hand and hear directly from those impacted."

"The broad local support and buy-in behind this bill is incredibly impressive. We're going to make this a priority, it's a well-done piece of legislation and I was glad to see it first-hand. This is a precedence setter," Grijalva said.

The bill Polis aims to introduce when he returns to Washington would protect 58,000 acres of wilderness lands in Summit County and eastern Eagle County, helping to sustain recreation resources, protect watersheds, preserve important wildfire corridors, and strengthen the tourism economy. The proposal would create new wilderness areas in the Williams Fork Mountains, Tenmile Range, and Hoosier Ridge, as well as expand the existing Holy Cross, Eagles Nest, and Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness Areas.

The plan also would enhance outdoor recreation opportunities such as fishing, hunting, biking, and backcountry snow sports. For example, it would create an 11,500-acre Recreation Management Area within the Tenmile Range to provide world-class mountain biking, hiking, and wildlife watching.

The proposal was drafted through an open, collaborative process with local stakeholders that not only maintained existing recreational uses, but also incorporated community values by accounting for future improvements.

With his new seat on the House Natural Resources Committee and Grijalva's engagement on the issue, Polis is optimistic about moving the bill through Congress this session. The recent successes in protecting Hermosa Creek and Browns Canyon demonstrate Colorado's commitment to preserving its open spaces.

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