GOLDEN, CO (February 2, 2021) – Earlier today, the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy (CORE) Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate and House by Colorado Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, and Representatives Joe Neguse, Diana Degette, Jason Crow, and Ed Perlmutter. This comes days after the Biden administration issued an Executive Order committing the U.S. to preserving 30 percent of the nation’s lands and waters by 2030, a goal the CORE Act would help to achieve.
The CORE Act would preserve roughly 400,000 acres of public lands encompassing the Continental Divide and Camp Hale, the Thompson Divide, wilderness in the San Juan Mountains, and define the boundaries of the Curecanti National Recreation Area. The preservation of these unique historical and ecological sites not only protects some of Colorado’s most pristine lands and waters, but also works to preserve the legacy of Camp Hale, the historic home of the Tenth Mountain Division.
“Passage of the CORE Act is a way of honoring the legacy of Colorado veterans while also protecting some of Colorado’s most untouched places,” says 10th Mountain Division veteran Andrew Brennan. “Camp Hale’s recognition as the first protected national historic landscape would honor the service, sacrifice, and stories of our nation’s service members. I urge members of Congress to protect these special places within the CORE Act, and I want to thank the members of the Colorado delegation who have tirelessly led the way to make this a reality.”
The legislation is the culmination of over a decade of collaboration by outdoor enthusiasts, veterans, local elected officials, small business owners, conservation organizations, sportspeople, and community members. During the 116th Congress, the CORE Act received an outpouring of community and bipartisan support, and twice was nearly passed, most recently at the end of 2020 as a part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
“The CORE Act would honor the thousands of 10th Mountain Division World War II veterans like my father, Charles J. Owen, who trained at Camp Hale for fighting in extreme weather conditions. The stories my father told about grueling training maneuvers at high altitude, learning to ski while carrying an 80-pound pack and a rifle, and carrying injured or frostbitten soldiers out of the backcountry on their backs or sleds are some of our family’s most cherished memories,” says CDTC Board Member Don Owen. “It would mean so much to my family — and to all of the families of 10th Mountain Division soldiers who trained at Camp Hale — to see it protected as a way of honoring and remembering their service to the country. I ask Congress to pass the CORE Act because the bill does more than protect the land. It protects the stories and memories of our nation’s World War II heroes for future generations.”
The CORE Act aligns with many of the goals of the recent Executive Orders released by the Biden administration to address the climate crisis and protect 30 percent of the nation’s lands and waters by 2030. The bill would protect wildlife habitats by designating areas as off-limits to resource extraction like oil and gas drilling, restricting new road building, and halting other harmful practices that degrade the quality of wildlife and watershed habitats. Protections would also help sustain the vitality and connectivity of some of Colorado’s most important big game habitats across the state, including those of the black bear, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, and elk.
“The Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act is an investment in Colorado businesses like ours that rely on a booming outdoor recreation industry to fuel our state’s economy. This bill works to provide economic and environmental benefits by protecting wildlife habitats, recreational opportunities, and some of our most cherished destinations,” says Patrick Webber, co-founder of Fourpoints Bar in Denver. “We love our public lands and want to see places like the Thompson Divide protected from oil and gas development so that we can continue to hike, bike, and enjoy everything these lands have to offer not only now but in perpetuity. We are excited to see the bill reintroduced in the new Congress and urge members of Congress to pass the CORE Act now.”
CDTC applauds the leadership from members of Colorado’s delegation in reintroducing this important piece of legislation and are hopeful that the 117th Congress will begin the process of healing the harms of man-made climate change, get on track for 30 x 30, and pass the CORE Act now.
“Now is the time to pass the CORE Act. All along the Continental Divide Trail during the pandemic this year, we have seen families and outdoor enthusiasts turn to the healing powers of the outdoors and these inspiring places as a safe haven,” says Teresa Martinez, Executive Director of Continental Divide Trail Coalition. “Protections for these special places are an investment in Colorado’s communities and their futures. This bill would give protections to crucial historical and cultural resources that tell the story of Colorado, while also protecting the incredible scenic and natural resources that contribute to the state’s outdoor recreation industry — the powerhouse of Colorado’s economy.”
For more information on the CORE Act and what you can do to get involved, visit https://coreact.org/.
About Fourpoints Bar
Fourpoints Bar is a Denver-based business founded by two brothers from Colorado, Patrick and Kevin Webber, who have a passion for the outdoors, recreation, and clean eating. They sought to create a unique bar that simply fuels you better, with healthy and delicious ingredients that provide proper nutrition. Fourpoints Bar produces an innovative, on-the-go product that is 100% real food with zero additives, providing long-lasting energy for any type of activity.
About the Continental Divide Trail
The CDT is one of the world’s premiere long-distance trails, stretching 3,100 miles from Mexico to Canada along the Continental Divide. Designated by Congress in 1978, the CDT is the highest, most challenging and most remote of the 11 National Scenic Trails. It provides recreational opportunities ranging from hiking to horseback riding to hunting for thousands of visitors each year. While 95% of the CDT is located on public land, approximately 150 miles are still in need of protection.
About the Continental Divide Trail Coalition
The CDTC was founded in 2012 by volunteers and recreationists hoping to provide a unified voice for the Trail. Working hand-in-hand with the U.S. Forest Service and other federal land management agencies, the CDTC is a non-profit partner supporting stewardship of the CDT. The mission of the CDTC is to complete, promote and protect the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail, a world-class national resource. For more information, please visit continentaldividetrail.org.
#####
