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Salazar celebrates passage of five Land and Water Bills
Years of work come to fruition as the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area, Jackson Gulch Rehabilitation Act, Arkansas Valley Conduit Act and Baca Wildlife Refuge now go to the President for Consideration
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the United States House of Representatives passed the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009. Among the pieces of individual legislation in the bill were five Colorado-based efforts sponsored by Congressman John Salazar. The overriding goal of these bills is to utilize Colorado’s natural resources while protecting them for future generations to enjoy.
“This is one of the proudest days of my legislative career,” said Congressman Salazar. “These bills represent years of work and input from communities across my district. I am honored to do my part to help make these projects become a reality. They will help protect Colorado’s land, water, natural beauty for generations to come.”
A summary of the Salazar-sponsored Colorado land and water bills included in S.22 are below:
THE ARKANSAS VALLEY CONDUIT ACT
• The bill would establish a 65% federal cost share for the construction of the Arkansas Valley Conduit, a proposed 130-mile water delivery system from Pueblo Dam to communities throughout the Arkansas River Valley. The Conduit was originally authorized in 1962 as part of the Fryingpan-Arkansas project.
THE JACKSON GULCH REHABILITATION ACT
• The bill would authorize $8.25 million in federal funding to rehabilitate the Jackson Gulch irrigation canal, which delivers water from Jackson Gulch Dam to residents, farms and businesses in Montezuma County. In addition to providing supplemental agricultural water for about 8,650 irrigated acres and a domestic water supply for the Mesa Verde National Park, the Mancos Project also delivers water to the more than 500 members of the Mancos Rural Water Company, the Town of Mancos and at least 237 agricultural businesses.
THE SANGRE DE CRISTO NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA ACT
• The bill would designate a National Heritage Area in Conejos, Costilla and Alamosa counties in the San Luis Valley. Flanked by the Sangre de Cristos to the east and the San Juan range to the west, these three counties are at the confluence of Native American, Hispano and Anglo cultures. The area’s rich cultural traditions, fertile lands, and rugged mountains make the Valley one of our nation’s crown jewels. The legislation authorizes up to $10 million in federal matching funds over 15 years to help protect historic, cultural, natural, and recreational resources. The National Heritage Area would be managed by local citizens and organizations, but the National Park Service will provide administrative and technical support.
The Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 now goes to the President for consideration.
• The bill would amend the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Act of 2000 to explain the purpose and provide for the administration of the Baca National Wildlife Refuge. When the Great Sand Dunes National Park was established the legislation lacked a statement of purpose for the Baca National Wildlife refuge. This legislation defines the purpose of the refuge as follows: “…to restore, enhance, and maintain wetland, upland, riparian, and other habitats for native wildlife, plant, and fish species in the San Luis Valley.”THE DOMINGUEZ-ESCALANTE NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA ACT
• The bill would designate approximately 210,000 acres of federally-owned land on the Uncompahgre plateau as the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area (NCA), of which approximately 65,000 acres would be designated as the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Area.
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