CORE Act would protect over 420,000 acres of Colorado public land
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet and U.S. Representative Joe Neguse reintroduced the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy (CORE) Act to protect approximately 420,000 acres of public land in Colorado, establish new wilderness areas, and safeguard existing outdoor recreation opportunities.
“The CORE Act is a model for how legislation should be done,” said Hickenlooper. “Ranchers, hunters, hikers, and local officials all came together to protect our most sacred lands and invest in our outdoor recreation.”
“Colorado’s public lands do more than fuel our economy – they are a cornerstone of our way of life. The CORE Act is the result of years of conversation and compromise to boost our economy and protect our public lands for future generations,” said Bennet. “We have secured major victories for Colorado’s public lands with the establishment of Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument and a 20-year mineral withdrawal in the Thompson Divide. But our work is not done. It’s time to pass the CORE Act into law.”
“The CORE Act came to fruition through an expansive, collaborative effort among state leaders, counties, businesses, recreation groups, outdoor enthusiasts, conservationists, and other stakeholders. It represents key initiatives that protect our treasured public spaces and safeguard outdoor recreation opportunities to boost the economy for future generations,”said Neguse. “During my time in Congress, I’ve been proud to usher components of this bill across the finish line, including successfully advocating for the establishment of the Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument. But our fight continues. And I am proud to join Senator Bennet once again in introducing the CORE Act, continuing our work to protect these lands for all Coloradans.”
In 2022, Hickenlooper, Bennet, and Neguse led the push to establish the Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument and secure a proposed administrative mineral withdrawal for the Thompson Divide – critical provisions of the original CORE Act, first introduced in 2019. In 2024, the Department of the Interior also approved a 20-year mineral withdrawal in the Thompson Divide.
The CORE Act combines four previously introduced Colorado public land bills, which have been in development over the past decade. Of the land protected by the bill, 71,000 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 designates the Sandy Treat Overlook and Ten Mile Wilderness in the Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument and establishes a permanent mineral withdrawal in areas important to ranchers and sportsmen in the Thompson Divide.
Statements of Support:
“Gunnison County has worked for years on the Curecanti and Thompson Divide elements of the CORE Act. We have fought long and hard for the CORE Act because our constituents believe in these sensible public lands protections that are vital to our economy, our values and the enduring opportunity these lands will provide for future generations,” said Jonathan Houck, Gunnison County Commissioner. “For many years, we have worked with diverse stakeholders to develop sensible landscape scale protective measures that match the values of our communities and our desire to see these productive and pristine landscapes thoughtfully protected. We are thankful to Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper and Congressman Neguse for their leadership and persistence on the CORE Act.”
“Delta County recognizes the importance of responsible energy development and environmental stewardship. The provisions in the CORE Act that support coal mine methane capture align with our commitment to balancing economic opportunity with sustainability. We appreciate Senator Bennet’s leadership in reintroducing this legislation and look forward to the benefits it can bring to our community,” said Wendell Koontz, Delta County Commissioner.
“Summit County fully supports the reintroduction of the CORE Act and protection of the wild and rural character of Colorado and its recreation and agricultural industries. The broad coalition of support across Colorado businesses and communities is a testament to the critical need for this legislation. We’re grateful to our Congressional delegation for their tireless work to protect our economic livelihoods and public lands on the Western Slope,” said Eric Mamula, Chair, Board of Summit County Commissioners.
“Colorado’s most valuable assets are its intact ecosystems, thriving watersheds, and rich biodiversity—resources that are truly priceless,” said Galena Gleason, San Miguel County Commissioner. “The CORE Act exemplifies how legislation can safeguard public lands, keeping them accessible to all. By passing the CORE Act, we can ensure the permanent protection of our most vulnerable landscapes, preserving them for future generations to explore and cherish. San Miguel County proudly supports Senator Bennet and Senator Hickenlooper in their efforts to reintroduce this vital legislation. The fate of our most iconic landscapes and fragile habitats depends on the passage of the CORE Act.”
“I am grateful to see the CORE Act will be reintroduced by Senator Bennet, Senator Hickenlooper, and Congressman Neguse,” said Greg Poschman, Pitkin County Commissioner. “The CORE Act is critical for our economy, our ranching community at Thompson Divide and for the benefit of the growing number of Americans who seek outdoor recreation. Our western United States water supply comes from natural mountainous “Water Towers” like these high country lands in the CORE Act. American prosperity and quality of life depends on protecting our water supplies. This is our time to ensure these public lands are protected for future generations of Americans. We need to get the full CORE Act done to provide permanent legislative protection for Thompson Divide.”
“Eagle County continues to fully endorse the CORE Act and urges its adoption by the United States Senate,” said Tom Boyd, Eagle County Commissioner. “This thorough, thoughtful legislation aligns perfectly with our local strategic goal of protecting our mountain ecosystem. It balances the needs of wildlife and watershed protections and other uses of the forest. It is a striking example of a collaborative legislative process involving water providers, conservation and recreational groups, and businesses that rely on recreation. Of particular pride to Eagle County is the Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument which was an outgrowth of work on the CORE Act, and this treasured landscape helps to preserve and highlight an incredible piece of history and the legacy of the Tenth Mountain Division right in our backyard. We thank our Congressional representatives for their stewardship of public lands to protect hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands in Colorado, ensuring that future generations can always enjoy our state’s mountains, rivers, and wildlife.”
“After all these years, we certainly hope the CORE Act can finally pass Congress and be signed into law,” said Scott Fetchenier, San Juan County Commissioner. “This type of legislation is just what we need to protect our public lands, bolster our recreation based economy, and help prevent climate change.”
“As a rancher who relies on the Thompson Divide for our summer grazing, I am hoping for the passage of the CORE Act. It will bring needed protection to this area which is so critical to my family and fellow ranchers and also for the entire community, who utilizes these amazing lands for hunting and year-round recreation,” said Bill Fales, Cold Mountain Ranch, rancher in the Thompson Divide. “Protection is even more vital today to safeguard the unprecedented levels of use of these USFS lands by the public. Senator Bennet, Senator Hickenlooper and Congressman Neguse have been fantastic in advancing this bill and while we have secured additional administrative protections for the Thompson Divide, we need to continue to work to get permanent legislative protection through the CORE Act.”
“The CORE Act is the best example of grassroots stakeholders working together, building consensus, and protecting private property rights I have ever experienced in a public lands bill. Expanding Sneffels Wilderness to protect one of Colorado’s most sensitive and iconic wild places needs to happen now,” said Lynn Padgett, Ouray County Commissioner.
More details about the CORE Act are available HERE.
Full text of the bill is available HERE.
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