Conservation groups back Polis wilderness plan for Eagle, Summit counties

Environmental groups Friday praised the renewed efforts of U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, D-Boulder, to protect more than 160,000 acres of public lands in Eagle and Summit counties as either wilderness or special management areas. The Wilderness Society, Colorado Environmental Coalition, Wilderness Workshop and Colorado Mountain Club – backers of the original Hidden Gems wilderness proposal – issued a statement of support after Polis on Friday announced plans to reintroduce his Eagle and Summit County Wilderness Preservation Act.

Wilderness backers cite local support; hopeful Congress will back plans

Proponents of expanding wilderness protections on public lands in the heart of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains have been buoyed by local support and remain hopeful they’ll see passage of at least one new wilderness bill despite the changing congressional landscape.

Pitkin County backs portion of Hidden Gems wilderness plan

The Pitkin County Commissioners Wednesday unanimously voted to support the Hidden Gems wilderness proposal, which would designate nearly 63,000 acres of public lands in Pitkin County as wilderness area. That designation limits mechanized travel.

According to the Aspen Times, the…

Mountain climbing group backs Polis, Salazar wilderness bills

The Access Fund, a national climbing advocacy group, recently announced its support for a pair of proposed bills that would designate more than 121,000 acres of federal lands in Colorado as wilderness and another 99,000 acres as special management areas.…

Polis introduces scaled-down wilderness bill just as Congress adjourns

U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, D-Boulder, introduced a scaled-down wilderness proposal Wednesday night just as the House wrapped up earlier than expected with some major unfinished business left for a lame-duck session after mid-term elections in November.

Polis at that…

Polis presents draft wilderness bill for public consumption

U.S. Congressman Jared Polis, whose sprawling district includes Boulder but also some of the most intensely utilized national forest land in the state, this week released a discussion draft of legislation to create new wilderness areas in Eagle and Summit…

Local politicians, conservationists praise Polis draft wilderness plan

Local politicians and statewide environmental groups today hailed a draft wilderness proposal being circulated by U.S. Rep. Jared Polis called the Eagle and Summit County Wilderness Preservation Act.