Senator Bennet releases draft Gunnison public lands protection bill

Decade of GPLI work comes to fruition

By Bella Biondini

After working with residents from the Gunnison community for a decade, Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet in May introduced draft legislation that will further protect public lands throughout Gunnison County.

During a visit to the Gunnison Valley in 2012, Bennet shared his willingness to sponsor legislation to create additional protections for the county’s abundant public lands. His offer resulted in the creation of Gunnison Public Lands Initiative (GPLI), a coalition of various stakeholders with interests in ranching, water, conservation, recreation, hunting and fishing. Over the next 10 years, the group worked with the public to develop a consensus-based proposal that would both support the existing uses of the landscape and protect the valley’s natural resources for future generations.

Bennet released the Gunnison Outdoor Resources Protection (GORP) Act in May, based on the vision created by GPLI. Coloradans are encouraged to provide feedback on the draft bill during a 60-day comment period that ends on July 19, 2022.

Gunnison County Commissioner Jonathan Houck said the community’s willingness to collaborate and dig into complicated issues is what made the proposal successful.

“Senator Bennet believes this is how public lands bills should be developed, they start at the local level, and they just move up from there,” Houck said. “I think it's really reflective of that process. It's grassroots in the community and I'm really proud of the participation not just of the work group, but the community.”

According to Bennet, the draft GORP Act will protect key portions of Gunnison County through a variety of public land management tools, including special designations focused on recreation, wildlife, scientific research and conservation. Local leaders from some adjoining counties are also actively engaged in discussions to include possible designations in their own counties in areas that are geographically connected to the land proposed in Gunnison County.

If passed, the act will establish designations that prioritize existing uses on the landscape, from recreation to big game habitat and grazing. A small amount of acreage is proposed for wilderness, but because it has no motorized use and no existing roadways, the additional land proposed already meets that standard. It also allows existing forestry, fire and vegetation management.

Kate Oehl, communications director for Bennet’s office, said the proposal was designed to find a balance between the recreational, cultural, scientific, wilderness and scenic values of public lands, while also understanding that public lands and the health of the economy in Gunnison County are closely tied.

“Colorado’s public lands and outdoor landscapes are not only central to who we are as a state, but they’re a critical part of our local economies as well,” Bennet said in a press release. “Now after a decade of work with Coloradans, I’m pleased to share this draft legislation to protect the incredible landscapes of Gunnison County for future generations. I’ve had the opportunity to visit Gunnison County, tour these lands, and hear first-hand from local leaders about the importance of these landscapes to the surrounding communities. I am thankful to the members of the Gunnison Public Lands Initiative who have dedicated so much of their time over the past ten years to work together on the proposal that informed this draft.”

Matt Reed, public lands director at High Country Conservation Advocates, said after years of hard work, community conversation and countless hours spent over maps, having a draft is only the beginning.

“It’s a critical milestone, but we still have a long way to go,” Reed said.

To learn more about the proposal or to submit a comment visit: bennet.senate.gov