Colorado senate passes bill to protect public lands

Resolution will help prevent privatization, which local activists say is critical for economy and environment

By: Sophie Stuber, Telluride Daily Planet

Colorado lawmakers unanimously passed a bill in late March to protect public lands in a rare display of bipartisan support. Colorado Senate Joint Resolution 25-009 focuses on preventing actions that would privatize public lands. The bill reiterates the state’s commitment to continue to keep public lands under federal stewardship.

Colorado’s outdoor recreation economy generates over $17 billion in GDP annually as well as more than 132,000 jobs, and protecting public lands is essential to Colorado’s economy and environment.

“Public lands are so important for so many reasons that are outlined in this resolution — not just for solitude and recreational opportunities, which we all appreciate so much — but also for climate resilience, for clean water, clean air, habitat protection,” Joan May told the Daily Planet. May is an advocate for public lands, the acting Chair of the San Miguel County Democratic Party and a former county commissioner.

“These are our lands. They’re owned by each and every one of us, and therefore it's our responsibility to be stewards for them and to protect them and take care of them. And it's also what's one of the things that sets the U.S. apart from most other countries. We have public lands,” May added.

This joint resolution can help keep outdoor spaces available to more people.

“This resolution is a clear statement that our state values equitable access to the outdoors, and helps ensure that these spaces remain open and accessible to everyone — not just the privileged few,” Sophie Fabrizio, Telluride Mountain Club operations director, told the Daily Planet. “What's special about this resolution is that it reinforces the value of keeping Colorado’s public lands public.”

This bill complements the projects that Telluride Mountain Club (TMtC) is doing on the ground locally.

“TMtC works really hard to maintain the public lands in our region. Our work — clearing and maintaining trails, managing signage and educating the public — is amplified when lawmakers commit to long-term land protection and responsible use,” Fabrizio said. “When land becomes privatized, outdoor recreation becomes more expensive, more limited, and less accessible — especially for low-income and rural communities.”

Despite the Trump administration’s recent actions to dismantle environmental protections — including rolling back clean energy projects, expanding mineral exploration and oil and gas drilling on public lands, and the mass firings of federal workers — state legislators and local governments are fighting back.

“It is so exciting to see our state government stand up in support of protecting our public lands in the face of ongoing threats of sell-off and resource extraction,” Sheep Mountain Alliance program director Ruthie Boyd told the Daily Planet.

Locally, about 64% of San Miguel County consists of public lands. The county’s main economic driver is tourism, particularly outdoor recreation. In the Grand Mesa Uncompahgre Gunnison (GMUG) National Forest, public lands generate 3,990 jobs and $152,307,000 in labor income.

“Public lands in San Miguel County provide vital opportunities for recreation, wildlife habitat, drinking water and abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation,” Boyd said.

At a national level, selling off public lands is one of the proposals to help offset taxes through the budget reconciliation process. Colorado senators introduced an amendment to stop public lands sell-offs, but it failed 48-51. But this joint senate resolution should help keep lands in Colorado away from private interests.

“Public lands' sell-off would be absolutely devastating to our way of life and the wellbeing of environments across the West. The Joint Resolution for the protection of public lands sends a strong message at a critical time that Colorado will not stand for public lands-sell off,” Boyd said.

In March, US Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and US Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO) reintroduced the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy (CORE) Act to the U.S. Congress. The House of Representatives has previously passed the CORE Act five times with bipartisan support, but the bill has been unable to get through the Senate. Sen. Bennet and Rep. Neguse first introduced the CORE Act to Congress in 2019.

“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,” Bennet said in a statement.

If passed, the CORE Act would give protections to about 420,000 acres of public land in Colorado — including 61,000 acres in the San Juan Mountains. Locally, the CORE Act would designate wilderness around Mount Sneffels and Mount Wilson, as well as establish a 21,000 acre Special Management Area in the Sheep Mountain zone. This would protect popular hiking destinations like Ice Lakes from future mining and protect important lynx habitat from development. The bill is currently with the Committee on Natural Resources.

While waiting on congressional action, peaceful public protest can be an effective way to advocate, May noted, highlighting the recent Hands Off! rally in Telluride, where about 250 people turned out. The event is part of a network of coordinated protests in over 1,300 U.S. locations and internationally, in London, Paris and Berlin.

“I was very encouraged at many of the ‘Hands Off!’ rallies, that people were adamant about public land protection,” May said. “Keep public lands in public hands. This is what sets America apart, and it's one of our greatest assets.”

Along with protest movements, Boyd encouraged people to speak out and contact their representatives.

“The more we can publicly express our support for public lands in the face of these threats and the more voices that join in, the more salient our argument becomes. Coloradoans love our public lands and we aren't going anywhere,” Boyd said.

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