Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and U.S. Representative Joe Neguse applauded progress on their Sarvis Creek Wilderness Completion Act, which received a hearing today in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. The bill would expand the Sarvis Creek Wilderness Area in the Routt National Forest by 6,817 acres, protecting sub-alpine wilderness habitats and wildlife while preserving access to outdoor recreation.
“Colorado’s public lands are the cornerstone of our Western way of life, and for decades, Sarvis Creek Wilderness has deserved further protection,” said Bennet. “Local elected officials and outdoor recreation, agriculture, water, and environmental leaders came together to craft this bill that protects critical watersheds, enhances wildlife habitat, and safeguards outdoor exploration for Coloradans. I look forward to getting this important legislation across the finish line for our state.”
“Sarvis Creek Wilderness has outdoor recreation opportunities and landscapes that are hard to imagine anywhere but where you see them there. Coloradans across the state want to make sure that that’s protected,” said Hickenlooper.
“I’m excited to see the Senate consider our critically important bill, the Sarvis Creek Wilderness Completion Act, which would expand protections in the Routt National Forest, helping preserve public lands, support wildlife, and more. I remain committed to advancing the bill in the House and look forward to continuing our bicameral efforts to usher it across the finish line,” said Neguse.
Specifically, the Sarvis Creek Wilderness Completion Act:
- Fulfills the community’s vision for the entire Sarvis Creek wilderness area by adding 6,817 acres on to the existing 44,556 acres, which had originally been excluded due to a plan to develop a ski area;
- Extends wilderness protection to the Harrison and Green Creek watersheds – rare, pristine sub-alpine regions that feed into the Yampa River, safeguarding aquatic resources and preserving water quality;
- Protects winter range and spring calving areas for elk that inhabit the area, in addition to habitat for other native Colorado wildlife and fish species; and
- Provides easy public access from Steamboat Springs and Stagecoach for low impact recreation, including hunting, fishing, back-country skiing, and hiking.
State, Tribal, and local leaders – including Colorado Governor Jared Polis, the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, the Routt County Board of Commissioners, and several local towns – have expressed their support for the legislation. Additionally, a wide range of conservation and outdoor recreation organizations support the bill, including The Wilderness Society, Trout Unlimited, National Wildlife Federation, Friends of Routt Backcountry, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, and Rocky Mountain Wild.
Bennet, Hickenlooper, and Neguse first introduced the Sarvis Creek Wilderness Completion Act in 2024.
In addition to the Sarvis Creek Wilderness Completion Act, the subcommittee heard testimony on the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy (CORE) Act, introduced by Bennet, Hickenlooper, and Neguse. The CORE Act would protect approximately 420,000 acres of public land in Colorado, establish new wilderness areas, and safeguard existing outdoor recreation opportunities.
The text of the bill is available HERE.
###