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Great Month of Wilderness
Last month, Senator Ken Salazar and Congressman John Salazar introduced legislation to protect the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area and Dominguez Canyon Wilderness, and Senator Salazar introduced Browns Canyon Wilderness legislation as well. The Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness legislation was recently voted out of committee, setting the stage for it to be voted upon by the full Senate sometime this summer.
Key to passing these wilderness bills is building and maintaining bipartisan support in Congress. Senator Allard has played an active role in all three of these bills, and we ask you to send him a letter urging him to take the next step in publicly supporting and co-sponsoring the newly-introduced Dominguez and Browns Canyon bills and pressing for passage of the Rocky Mountain National Park legislation, as well.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Wilderness Proposals Need You
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
Your hard work and commitment to Colorado's wilderness quality landscapes is much appreciated. The guidance and assurances you've given to legislation now in congress for Rocky Mountain National Park, Dominguez Canyons, and Browns Canyon is helping shape the future of land protection in our great state.
Favorable public sentiment for these wilderness proposals is broad and deep. Local governments, civic groups, recreation organizations, sportsmen and conservation groups support your efforts.
These treasures provide a variety of benefits to the local communities and to our country. Wilderness protects wildlife habitat, provides clean water and offers wonderful quiet recreation opportunities.
I encourage you to continue to put energy into protecting these wonderful places. Please help move S. 3065, S. 3066 and amended S. 1380 through the Senate. Please speak on behalf of Browns Canyon legislation and encourage its passage in the House!
Thank you for your leadership on these important pieces of legislation. You have my full support in your work to pass them this year!
Sincerely,
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Campaign Launched:
June 02, 2008
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Overview
Three separate pieces of wilderness legislation now moving in Congress will protect wilderness in Colorado. Bills introduced last week will designate the Browns Canyon Wilderness adjacent to the Arkansas River south of Buena Vista and the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area and Dominguez Canyon Wilderness along the Gunnison River south of Grand Junction. Both bills have received unprecedented and diverse local support. Meanwhile, a breakthrough in negotiations over legislation designating most of Rocky Mountain National Park as wilderness led to the recent passage of this bill through the Senate Energy & Resources Committee.
All three bills enjoy good chance of passing this year, especially if Colorado's Senator Wayne Allard provides his endorsement and support. Senator Allard joined Senator Ken Salazar in introducing the Rocky Mountain National Park bill last year, and he has been active in negotiations over its final details. Similarly, he has been extensively involved in negotiating details for the Dominguez and Escalante proposals, both of which were introduced in Congress by Senator Salazar on May 22.
Your action now can persuade Senator Allard to support these three important bills, thus helping ensure their prompt approval. Please contact him today.
Background
Rocky Mountain National Parks bill would designate 249,000 acres of backcountry terrain as wilderness. This terrain is the epitome of wilderness, and its spectacular wildlands are the reason for the Park's broad attraction and ecological health. Since 1974, the Park Service has recommended wilderness designation of the Park in order to permanently and effectively preserve visitors' experiences—a popular proposal supported by all the local towns and counties surrounding the Park, plus many conservation and recreation groups.
Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area and Dominguez Canyon Wilderness will protect a unique, colorful landscape of desert canyons in western Colorado. It is an area of wonder, containing two major desert canyons with tributaries of the Gunnison River winding through it. Offering stunning views of the mountains from mesa tops, the area also offers a diverse range of recreational opportunities for visitors. Dominguez Canyon Wilderness was recommended for wilderness by the BLM in 1991. It includes stunning canyons, cliffs, live streams, and waterfalls, affording important habitat for desert big horn sheep, bear, deer, a dazzling variety of birds and smaller mammals, and rich riparian plants and fauna. Winding canyon bottoms offer over 30 miles of exploration opportunities.
Browns Canyon Wilderness protects 20,000 acres of pristine Colorado canyon country, and the dramatic scenery of the Arkansas Valley, as wilderness. It will ensure healthy habitat for big horn sheep, elk, deer, bears and large variety of birds, smaller mammals. Offering a diverse range of primitive recreational opportunities and solitude, the canyon serves as a gorgeous backdrop for rafters on the Arkansas River.
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