The Dolores River is one of the most extraordinary places in Southwest Colorado – a redrock stronghold for biodiversity, a vital source of water for our agricultural heritage and a refuge for the people who live here. As a Montezuma County resident who works for Osprey, I see firsthand how public lands like the Dolores River Canyons sustain our employees’ quality of life and contribute directly to Cortez’s economy. These lands matter deeply to our community.
For decades, local residents have done the hard work of collaboration, setting aside differences to develop a practical, balanced plan to protect and manage the Dolores Canyons. That effort resulted in legislation to establish a Dolores River National Conservation Area across Montezuma, San Miguel and Dolores counties, with the support of Sen. Michael Bennet. This bill has been introduced repeatedly in the Senate and has earned broad bipartisan support.
Yet progress has stalled. The Journal published an opinion piece from the Montezuma and La Plata County commissioners calling out Congressman Jeff Hurd for failing to support this locally driven solution (Journal, Dec. 14). They were right to do so. Ignoring the voices of the people who live, work, and care for the Dolores River in favor of narrow special interests undermines both local trust and responsible land management.
The Dolores River NCA is exactly the kind of community-led proposal Congress claims to value. Congressman Hurd should stop delaying, listen to his constituents, and introduce this bill now – before this hard-won opportunity is lost.
Saren Yater-Wallace
Cortez
