119-S-1787 Journalist Public Summary

Headline Summary

Create a new conservation area along Colorado’s Dolores River to protect land, water, wildlife, and recreation while honoring existing water rights and limiting new mining and roads. [1]Congress.gov (Library of Congress) — Text - S.1787 (119th Congress): Dolores Ri…

What It Does

The bill establishes two protected designations along the lower Dolores River: a National Conservation Area on Bureau of Land Management lands and a Special Management Area on adjacent National Forest lands (together just over 68,000 acres). It directs the agencies to write management plans within three years; allows motorized use only on designated routes; withdraws most federal lands in the area from new mining claims, mineral leasing, and geothermal leasing (with existing rights respected and Department of Energy uranium leases explicitly preserved); and releases specified Dolores River segments from further consideration under the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act—while keeping current private and tribal water rights unchanged and avoiding any federal “reserved” water right. [1]Congress.gov (Library of Congress) — Text - S.1787 (119th Congress): Dolores Ri…[3]U.S. Senator Michael Bennet — Dolores River NCA & SMA Act – FAQ and resources

Who’s For It

• Colorado’s U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper (sponsors), who call it a balanced, locally built plan to protect the river and provide long-term certainty. [2]U.S. Senator Michael Bennet — To Celebrate Colorado Public Lands Day, Bennet, H…
• Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, citing protection of water allocations and cultural resources. [2]U.S. Senator Michael Bennet — To Celebrate Colorado Public Lands Day, Bennet, H…
• Local governments in Southwest Colorado: Montezuma, San Miguel, and Dolores Counties; City of Cortez; Towns of Dove Creek, Norwood, and Dolores. [2]U.S. Senator Michael Bennet — To Celebrate Colorado Public Lands Day, Bennet, H…
• Conservation and recreation groups (e.g., The Wilderness Society, American Rivers, American Whitewater, Trout Unlimited, Conservation Colorado, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Outdoor Alliance). [2]U.S. Senator Michael Bennet — To Celebrate Colorado Public Lands Day, Bennet, H…

Who’s Against It

• Montrose County commissioners formally opposed creating a Dolores conservation area in their county, citing concerns about federal restrictions on land use and local economies. [6]Montrose County (official site) — Montrose County Commissioners Oppose Designat…
• Some advocates have pushed for broader, stronger protections (a larger national monument north of this bill’s footprint) and view narrower conservation proposals as inadequate. [7]Colorado Newsline — Advocates blast Western Slope counties’ ‘grossly inadequate…[8]Protect the Dolores — Protect the Dolores – The Dolores Canyons National Monume…

What’s Next

As of December 18, 2025, Congress.gov still lists the bill as in the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee; the committee placed it on its December 17, 2025 business meeting agenda. If the committee formally reports the bill, the next step would be scheduling a vote by the full Senate, followed by House consideration. Check the committee’s meeting page and the bill’s Congress.gov entry for the latest status. [5]Congress.gov (Library of Congress) — S.1787 (119th Congress) – Bill overview an…[4]U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources — Business Meeting to Con…