Colorado Wilderness Act: Designating New Protected Lands and Preserving Water Rights.
This Act expands the National Wilderness Preservation System in Colorado by designating numerous parcels of land as protected Wilderness Areas. This designation ensures these lands are managed in accordance with the Wilderness Act, preserving their natural state, but imposes limits on new water resource facilities. The legislation also addresses existing water rights and access to current water facilities, ensuring that conservation efforts comply with established state water law.
Key points
Land Conservation: Numerous areas across Colorado (including Bull Gulch, Castle Peak, and Redcloud Peak) are designated as new Wilderness Areas, receiving federal protection.
Development Restrictions: The Act prohibits funding or permitting the development of any new water resource facilities, such as reservoirs, pipelines, or hydropower projects, within the newly designated wilderness areas.
Water Rights Protection: The legislation explicitly states that it does not affect existing water rights, interstate water compacts, or authorize new Federal reserved water rights, requiring new conservation water rights to follow Colorado State law.
Existing Access: Reasonable access, including motorized access where customary, is maintained for the operation, maintenance, and repair of water resource facilities that existed prior to the Act's enactment.
Expired
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