Along the Dolores River in Southern Colorado families camp, raft and recreate. We have recently seen a surge in social media posts promoting the creation of a national monument out of the Dolores River Canyon. Surprisingly, these posts suggest that the motivation for the advocates supporting the monument is because they used to camp along the river when younger with their families. National monument designations usually lead to the kinds of restrictions on recreation use that we see in wilderness areas or national parks. As such, it is highly unlikely that there will be any primitive dispersed camping allowed in a Dolores River Canyon National Monument. To the extent that any camping will be allowed at all, it will be in restrictive developed campgrounds that require a reservation, and they won’t be anywhere near the riparian corridor of the river itself.
It is because of restrictions like this that we are opposing the creation of giant national monuments through the abuse of the Antiquities Act in federal court court. We continue to oppose the creation of national monuments throughout the west including the Dolores River Canyon National Monument.
There are also talks of a National Conservation Area being designated. Claims that national monuments and national conservation areas help recreation, grazing and other uses are egregiously incorrect. National Monuments and National Conservation Areas all become part of the same system that are managed the same by the BLM. Once a designation such as a national monument or NCA is made, land managers can implement more and more restrictions, and this has happened across the Western United States. Promises can be made, but it doesn’t mean they will be kept.
By filling out the form below, you can edit or send the pre-written letter opposing the proposed Colorado national monument and national conservation area. The letter will send to your representatives, helping create a record of dissent. Even if you don’t live in this area, please send a letter of opposition.
