Area faces threats from industrial scale mining, habitat fragmentation, unmanaged recreation)

(Colorado Newsline: 8/21/24)

In the words of former Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) Conservation Director John Gale, “Conserving large tracts of undeveloped public lands as national monuments is essential to America’s hunting and fishing traditions.”[1]

To prove the point, in 2016 BHA and a consortium of outdoor groups and businesses released a report (“National Monuments: A Sportsman’s Perspective”) on how national monument designations can sustain important fish and wildlife habitat while maintaining traditional hunting and fishing access.[2]

During 2017 BHA mapped six Western national monuments (“Hunting National Monuments”), highlighting important wildlife habitat, valuable fisheries, and access to great places to hunt and fish.[3] These interactive maps illustrate what we currently possess as public land owners—and what we could easily lose, as a 2024 BHA report (“What Project 2025 Means for Public Lands and Waters”) explains.[4]

In an April 2017 Greely Tribune op-ed (“Antiquities Act protects hunting and angling on public lands”) I added: “The Antiquities Act is so popular and effective, in the 111 years since President Roosevelt signed the act, 16 presidents (eight Republicans and eight Democrats) have used this time-tested law. And they’ve collectively protected over 140 areas through powers enabled by the act. Only three presidents have not used it, proving that the Antiquities Act is a useful, bipartisan tool.”[5]

During 2022 BHA issued another national monuments-related report (“Hunter & Angler Tenets for New Monuments”), stating that, “America’s national monuments not only enable long-term conservation of cultural sites and scientifically valuable resources; they also can conserve some of the best hunting and fishing in America.”[6]

BHA has consistently advocated for America’s national monuments system and the judicious use of the Antiquities Act as a way to permanently conserve important large landscapes. Key to achieving this outcome is a process that adheres to specific tenets and is locally driven, transparent, incorporates the science-based management of habitat, and upholds existing hunting and fishing opportunities.[7]

Colorado BHA has a long track record of supporting national monument designations, including Browns Canyon National Monument (2015) and Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument (2022), as detailed in this October 2023 BHA blog post (“A Hunter-Angler (Hell-Raisin’ & Habitat Savin’) Guide To Winning”).[8]

After the designation of Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument by President Joe Biden during October 2022, John Gale said, “Hunters and anglers in Colorado have been working with local communities for more than a decade to permanently conserve these public lands and waters and important fish and wildlife habitat … The Antiquities Act is a crucial tool to conserve large landscapes, secure important fish and wildlife habitat and uphold hunting and angling opportunities.”[9]

Currently, Colorado’s hunters and anglers have perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to protect a wide swath of public lands habitat in southwest Colorado’s Dolores River Canyons region. During April 2024 we joined hunters, anglers, rafters, business owners, and many others from across the state and region in supporting a proposed Dolores River Canyons National Monument.[10]

During August 2024 Colorado BHA Central West Slope Regional Director Craig Grother was featured in a 9News story about the proposed National Monument in southwest Colorado. “One of the concerns people here have is, well, we like it the way it is. We don’t want a bunch of people to show up,” Criag said. “Well, unfortunately, it’s already happening. The secret’s out.”[11]

 “Craig supports the monument and fears without it these rivers and lands could be loved to death,” 9News added. “As a hunter and angler, you know, we need wild places. We have very few of them left,” Craig explained. “Places where Craig can try to land a big catch,” 9News emphasized.[12]

Scott Braden of the Colorado Wildlands Project added, “It gives us a chance to be proactive rather than reactive.”[13] “The Dolores Canyons provide critical habitat for the recovery of our desert bighorn sheep, and the reintroduction and associated wildlife management now provide one of the few opportunities to hunt desert bighorn in Colorado,” Grother said.[14]

The Dolores River faces threats from industrial scale mining, habitat fragmentation, and unmanaged recreation. Protecting intact habitat for mule deer, elk, and desert bighorn sheep, particularly winter range and movement corridors, is essential for retaining quality sporting opportunities. Now is the time for action![15]

A national monument designation will help everyone better manage the change that is already occurring while also protecting public lands habitat and ensuring future generations of hunters, anglers, and many others experience the area as we have. For additional information see Sportsmen for the Dolores.

David Lien is a former Air Force officer, author, and co-chair of the Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. During 2019 he was the recipient of BHA’s Mike Beagle-Chairman’s Award “for outstanding effort on behalf of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.”[16]

Additional/Related Information

-“Colorado voters overwhelmingly support conservation action for the Dolores Canyons, with one recent poll finding 92 percent of Colorado voters support protections. Over 100,000 people have signed petitions calling for a national monument … More than 200 businesses have endorsed the proposed monument … The City of Grand Junction—the largest gateway community adjacent to the Dolores Canyons—supports a national monument designation.”[17]

-Protect the Dolores. “Western Slope Leaders Call for Swift Action from Senators on Dolores Canyons National Monument.” Press Release: 7/3/24.

-“Hunters and anglers call for Biden to designate Dolores River Canyons National Monument: Area faces threats from industrial scale mining, habitat fragmentation, unmanaged recreation.” Colorado Newsline: 8/21/24.

-Thomas Plank. “Colorado’s Senators Share BHA Priorities for the Dolores Canyon National Monument Proposal.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 7/8/24.

-Collin Hildebrand is a sportsman, bird hunter, dog trainer, and conservationist. “Rooted in long-standing traditions of hunting, fishing, exploring wild places.’” The Durango Herald: 7/7/24.

-Jason Blevins. “Colorado’s U.S. Senators express support for added protection of Dolores River, with safeguards for existing uses.” The Colorado Sun: 7/4/24.

-“Bennet, Hickenlooper Statement on Dolores Canyons National Monument Proposal.” Press Release: 7/3/24.

-Kaden McArthur. “BHA, TU, Launch Sportsmen for the Dolores.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 6/7/24.

-Jay Chancellor (Trout Unlimited) & Kaden McArthur (Backcountry Hunters & Anglers). “Hunters And Anglers Push For New National Monument In Colorado: The Dolores River offers world-class hunting and fishing opportunities but faces threats from industrial-scale mining, habitat fragmentation, climate change, and unmanaged recreation.” Colorado Trout Unlimited: 6/7/24.

-“Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Support Dolores River Canyons National Monument Proposal.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 4/5/24.

-Leslie Kaminski. “Conserving the Dolores River canyons is a gain for Western Slope hunters.” Grand Junction (Colo.) Daily Sentinel: 3/8/24.

-Kaden McArthur. “BHA’s 2024 Policy Priorities.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 1/24/24. See p.19 for Colorado Priority Landscapes, which include: 1.) Continental Divide, San Juan Mountains, Thompson Divide and Curecanti Designations; 2.) Dolores River.

-“Policy Updates.” Backcountry Beat: September 2023. “S. 636, Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area Act, led by Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO). Through establishing the Dolores River National Conservation Area and Dolores River Special Management Area the bill would conserve a total of 68,000 acres of public lands and waters. Management of these areas will be directed to conserve, protect, and enhance native fish, wildlife and recreational resources, among others.”

-“CO BHA Legislative Statement: Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Support Colorado Outdoor Recreation & Economy (CORE) Act & Dolores River National Conservation Area And Special Management Area Act.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 7/12/23.

-Dennis Webb. “Boebert backs Delores River Canyon conservation bill.” Grand Junction (Colo.) Daily Sentinel: 8/4/22.

-As BHA stipulates in our “Hunter & Angler Tenets for New Monuments” Report:

1.) The monument proposal must be developed through a public process–one that includes hunters and anglers, as well as appropriate state and local governments.

2.) The monument proclamation must clearly stipulate that management authority over fish and wildlife populations will be retained by state fish and wildlife agencies.

3.) Reasonable public access must be retained to enable continued hunting and fishing opportunities.

4.) The input and guidance of hunters and anglers must be included in management plans for national monuments.

5.) Important fish and wildlife habitat must be protected.

6.) The proposal must enjoy support from local sportsmen and women.

7.) Sporting opportunities must be upheld and the historical and cultural significance of hunting and fishing explicitly acknowledged in the monument proclamation.”

[1] Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA). “BHA Maps Hunting Opportunity in At-Risk National Monuments.” AmmoLand.com: 11/17/17.

[2] “National Monuments Report.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 2/19/16.

[3] Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. “Hunting National Monuments.” BHA National Monument Hunting & Fishing Maps (for six Western national monuments): 2017.

[4] Kaden McArthur. “What Project 2025 Means for Public Lands and Waters.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 7/15/24.

[5] David A. Lien. “Antiquities Act protects hunting and angling on public lands.” Greeley Tribune: 4/26/17.

[6] Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) Report. “Hunter & Angler Tenets for New Monuments.” BHA: 10/12/22.

[7] Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) Report. “Hunter & Angler Tenets for New Monuments.” BHA: 10/12/22.

[8] David A. Lien. “A Hunter-Angler (Hell-Raisin’ & Habitat Savin’) Guide To Winning: Colorado BHA Examples (Browns Canyon & Camp Hale).” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 10/23/23.

[9] Katie McKalip. “BHA Commends Administration Designation of National Monument in Colorado.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 10/12/24.

[10] “Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Support Dolores River Canyons National Monument Proposal.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 4/5/24.

[11] 9News (8/15/24). “Communities concerned over a proposed national monument in southwest Colorado.”

[12] 9News (8/15/24). “Communities concerned over a proposed national monument in southwest Colorado.”

[13] Evan Kruegel and Anne Herbst. “Proposed national monument would be largest in Colorado: The proposed Dolores Canyons National Monument would be big enough to fit all nine of the state's current monuments inside of it.” 9News: 8/15/24.

[14] “Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Support Dolores River Canyons National Monument Proposal.” Backcountry Hunters & Anglers: 4/5/24.

[15] https://www.sportsmenforthedolores.org/home/#map

[16] https://www.backcountryhunters.org/co_bha_award_winners

[17] Protect the Dolores. “Western Slope Leaders Call for Swift Action from Senators on Dolores Canyons National Monument.” Press Release: 7/3/24. https://www.protectthedolores.org/release/western-slope-leaders-call-for-swift-action-from-senators-on-dolores-canyons-national-monument