I

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 829

To designate certain lands in the State of Colorado as components of the

National Wilderness Preservation System, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FEBRUARY 24, 1999

Ms. DEGETTE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the

Committee on Resources

A BILL

To designate certain lands in the State of Colorado as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System,

and for other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE AND DEFINITIONS.

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the

5 ‘‘Colorado Wilderness Act of 1999’’.

6 (b) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this Act, the term

7 ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of the Interior or the

8 Secretary of Agriculture, as appropriate.
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1 SEC. 2. ADDITIONS TO THE WILDERNESS PRESERVATION

2 SYSTEM.

3 (a) ADDITIONS.—The following lands in the State of

4 Colorado administered by the Bureau of Land Manage5 ment or the United States Forest Service are hereby des6 ignated as wilderness and, therefore, as components of the

7 National Wilderness Preservation System:

8 (1) The following areas in the Glenwood

9 Springs Resource Area:

10 (A) Certain lands which comprise approxi11 mately 15,203 acres, as generally depicted on a

12 map entitled ‘‘Bull Gulch Wilderness Proposal’’,

13 dated February 1, 1999, which shall be known

14 as the Bull Gulch Wilderness.

15 (B) Certain lands which comprise approxi16 mately 16,300 acres, as generally depicted on a

17 map entitled ‘‘Castle Peak Wilderness Pro18 posal’’, dated February 1, 1999, which shall be

19 known as the Castle Peak Wilderness.

20 (C) Certain lands in the Glenwood Springs

21 Resource Area which comprise approximately

22 312 acres, as generally depicted on a map enti23 tled ‘‘Maroon Bells-Snowmass Addition Wilder24 ness Proposal’’, dated February 1, 1999, and

25 which are hereby incorporated in and shall be

26 deemed to be a part of the Maroon Bells-
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1 Snowmass Wilderness designated by Public

2 Law 88–577 and Public Law 96–560.

3 (D) Certain lands which comprise approxi4 mately 38,941 acres, as generally depicted on a

5 map entitled ‘‘Roan Plateau Wilderness Pro6 posal’’ dated February 1, 1999, which shall be

7 known as the Roan Plateau Wilderness.

8 (2) The following areas in the Glenwood

9 Springs Resource Area and the White River Na10 tional Forest:

11 (A) Certain lands which comprise approxi12 mately 10,240 acres, as generally depicted on a

13 map entitled ‘‘Deep Creek Wilderness Pro14 posal’’, dated February 1, 1999, which shall be

15 known as the Deep Creek Wilderness.

16 (B) Certain lands which comprise approxi17 mately 9,968 acres, as generally depicted on a

18 map entitled ‘‘Flat Tops Addition Wilderness

19 Proposal’’, dated February 1, 1999, and which

20 are hereby incorporated in and shall be deemed

21 to be a part of the Flat Tops Wilderness des22 ignated by Public Law 94–146.

23 (C) Certain lands which comprise approxi24 mately 20,949 acres, as generally depicted on a

25 map entitled ‘‘Thompson Creek Wilderness Pro-
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1 posal’’, dated February 1, 1999, which shall be

2 known as the Thompson Creek Wilderness.

3 (3) The following lands in the Grand Junction

4 Resource Area:

5 (A) Certain lands which comprise approxi6 mately 21,410 acres, as generally depicted on a

7 map entitled ‘‘Bangs Canyon Wilderness Pro8 posal’’, dated February, 1999, which shall be

9 known as the Bangs Canyon Wilderness.

10 (B) Certain lands which comprise approxi11 mately 70,311 acres, as generally depicted on a

12 map entitled ‘‘Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness

13 Proposal’’, dated February 1, 1999, which shall

14 be known as the Black Ridge Canyons Wilder15 ness.

16 (C) Certain lands which comprise approxi17 mately 25,718 acres, as generally depicted on a

18 map entitled ‘‘Demaree Canyon Wilderness Pro19 posal’’, dated February 1, 1999, which shall be

20 known as the Demaree Canyon Wilderness.

21 (D) Certain lands which comprise approxi22 mately 4,257 acres, as generally depicted on a

23 map entitled ‘‘Granite Creek Wilderness Pro24 posal’’, dated February 1, 1999, which shall be

25 known as the Granite Creek Wilderness.
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1 (E) Certain lands in the Grand Junction

2 Resource Area which comprise approximately

3 14,331 acres, as generally depicted on a map

4 entitled ‘‘Hunter Canyon Wilderness Proposal’’,

5 dated February 1, 1999, which shall be known

6 as the Hunter Canyon Wilderness.

7 (F) Certain lands which comprise approxi8 mately 28,992 acres, as generally depicted on a

9 map entitled ‘‘Little Bookcliffs Wilderness Pro10 posal’’, dated February 1, 1999, which shall be

11 known as the Little Bookcliffs Wilderness.

12 (G) Certain lands which comprise approxi13 mately 27,133 acres, as generally depicted on a

14 map entitled ‘‘The Palisade Wilderness Pro15 posal’’, dated February 1, 1999, which shall be

16 known as The Palisade Wilderness.

17 (H) Certain lands which comprise approxi18 mately 24,492 acres, as generally depicted on a

19 map entitled ‘‘South Shale Ridge Wilderness

20 Proposal’’, dated February 1, 1999, which shall

21 be known as the South Shale Ridge Wilderness.

22 (4) Certain lands in the Grand Junction and

23 Uncompahgre Resource Areas and the Uncompahgre

24 National Forest which comprise approximately

25 84,501 acres, as generally depicted on a map enti-
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1 tled ‘‘Dominguez Canyons Wilderness Proposal’’,

2 dated February 1, 1999, which shall be known as

3 the Dominguez Canyons Wilderness.

4 (5) Certain lands in the Grand Junction Re5 source Area and the Uncompahgre National Forest

6 which comprise approximately 39,184 acres, as gen7 erally depicted on a map entitled ‘‘Unaweep Wilder8 ness Proposal’’, dated February 1, 1999, which shall

9 be known as the Unaweep Wilderness.

10 (6) Certain lands in the Grand Junction Re11 source Area, the San Juan Resource Area, and the

12 Manti-LaSal National Forest which comprise ap13 proximately 30,474 acres, as generally depicted on a

14 map entitled ‘‘Sewemup Mesa Wilderness Proposal’’,

15 dated February 1, 1999, which shall be known as

16 the Sewemup Mesa Wilderness.

17 (7) Certain in the Gunnison Resource Area

18 which comprise approximately 38,527 acres, as gen19 erally depicted on a map entitled ‘‘Redcloud Peak

20 Wilderness Proposal’’, dated February 1, 1999,

21 which shall be known as the Redcloud Peak Wilder22 ness.

23 (8) Certain lands in the Gunnison Resource

24 Area and the Gunnison National Forest and Rio

25 Grande National Forest which comprise approxi-
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1 mately 71,382 acres, as generally depicted on a map

2 entitled ‘‘Handies Peak Wilderness Proposal’’, dated

3 February 1, 1999, which shall be known as the

4 Handies Peak Wilderness.

5 (9) Certain lands in the Kremmling Resource

6 Area which comprise approximately 33 acres, as

7 generally depicted on a map entitled ‘‘Platte River

8 Addition Wilderness Proposal’’, dated February 1,

9 1999, and which are hereby incorporated in and

10 shall be deemed to be part of the Platte River Addi11 tion Wilderness designated by Public Law 98–550.

12 (10) Certain lands in the Kremmling Resource

13 Area, the Arapaho National Forest, and the Routt

14 National Forest which comprise approximately

15 106,063 acres, as generally depicted on a map enti16 tled ‘‘Troublesome Wilderness Proposal’’, dated Feb17 ruary 1, 1999, which shall be known as the Trouble18 some Wilderness.

19 (11) the following lands in the Little Snake Re20 source Area:

21 (A) Certain lands which comprise approxi22 mately 50,371 acres, as generally depicted on a

23 map entitled ‘‘Cold Spring Mountain Wilder24 ness Proposal’’, dated February 1, 1999, which
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1 shall be known as the Cold Spring Mountain

2 Wilderness.

3 (B) Certain lands which comprise approxi4 mately 18,035 acres, as generally depicted on a

5 map entitled ‘‘Cross Mountain Wilderness Pro6 posal’’, dated February 1, 1999, which shall be

7 known as the Cross Mountain Wilderness.

8 (C) Certain lands which comprise approxi9 mately 34,011 acres, as generally depicted on a

10 map entitled ‘‘Diamond Breaks Wilderness Pro11 posal’’, dated February 1, 1999, which shall be

12 known as the Diamond Breaks Wilderness.

13 (D) Certain lands which comprise approxi14 mately 29,782 acres, as generally depicted on a

15 map entitled ‘‘Dinosaur Wilderness Proposal’’,

16 dated February 1, 1999, which shall be known

17 as the Dinosaur Wilderness.

18 (E) Certain lands which comprise approxi19 mately 90,592 acres, as generally depicted on a

20 map entitled ‘‘Vermillion Basin Wilderness Pro21 posal’’, dated February 1, 1999, which shall be

22 known as the Vermillion Basin Wilderness.

23 (F) Certain lands which comprise approxi24 mately 12,273 acres, as generally depicted on a

25 map entitled ‘‘Yampa River Wilderness Pro-
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1 posal’’, dated February 1, 1999, which shall be

2 known as the Yampa River Wilderness.

3 (12) Certain lands in the Royal Gorge Resource

4 Area which comprise approximately 17,552 acres, as

5 generally depicted on a map entitled ‘‘McIntyre Hills

6 Wilderness Proposal’’, dated February 1, 1999,

7 which shall be known as the McIntyre Hills Wilder8 ness.

9 (13) Certain lands in the Royal Gorge Resource

10 Area and the San Isabel National Forest which com11 prise approximately 44,187 acres, as generally de12 picted on a map entitled ‘‘Grape Creek Wilderness

13 Proposal’’, dated February 1, 1999, which shall be

14 known as the Grape Creek Wilderness.

15 (14) The following lands in the Royal Gorge

16 Resource Area and the Pike National Forest:

17 (A) Certain lands which comprise approxi18 mately 37,390 acres, as generally depicted on a

19 map entitled ‘‘Beaver Creek Wilderness Pro20 posal’’, dated February 1, 1999, which shall be

21 known as the Beaver Creek Wilderness.

22 (B) Certain lands which comprise approxi23 mately 21,809 acres, as generally depicted on a

24 map entitled ‘‘Browns Canyon Wilderness Pro-
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1 posal’’, dated February 1, 1999, which shall be

2 known as the Browns Canyon Wilderness.

3 (15) The following lands in the San Juan Re4 source Area:

5 (A) Certain lands which comprise approxi6 mately 25,979 acres, as generally depicted on a

7 map entitled ‘‘Cross Canyon Wilderness Pro8 posal’’, dated February, 1999, which shall be

9 known as the Cross Canyon Wilderness.

10 (B) Certain lands which comprise approxi11 mately 40,662 acres, as generally depicted on a

12 map entitled ‘‘Dolores River Canyon Wilderness

13 Proposal’’, dated February 1, 1999, which shall

14 be known as the Dolores River Canyon Wilder15 ness.

16 (C) Certain lands which comprise approxi17 mately 4,621 acres, as generally depicted on a

18 map entitled ‘‘Mares Tail Canyon Wilderness

19 Proposal’’, dated February 1, 1999, which shall

20 be known as the Mares Tail Canyon Wilder21 ness.

22 (D) Certain lands which comprise approxi23 mately 21,641 acres, as generally depicted on a

24 map entitled ‘‘McKenna Peak Wilderness Pro-
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1 posal’’, dated February 1, 1999, which shall be

2 known as the McKenna Peak Wilderness.

3 (E) Certain lands which comprise approxi4 mately 23,355 acres, as generally depicted on a

5 map entitled ‘‘San Luis Hills Wilderness Pro6 posal’’, dated February 1, 1999, which shall be

7 known as the San Luis Hills Wilderness.

8 (F) Certain lands which comprise approxi9 mately 14,504 acres, as generally depicted on a

10 map entitled ‘‘Weber-Menefee Mountain Wilder11 ness Proposal’’, dated February 1, 1999, which

12 shall be known as the Weber-Menefee Mountain

13 Wilderness.

14 (16) Certain lands in the San Juan Resource

15 Area and the San Juan National Forest which com16 prise approximately 31,648 acres, as generally de17 pleted on a map entitled ‘‘Snaggletooth Wilderness

18 Proposal’’, dated February 1, 1999, which shall be

19 known as the Snaggletooth Wilderness.

20 (17) the following lands in the San Luis Re21 source Area:

22 (A) Certain lands which comprise approxi23 mately 1,097 acres, as generally depicted on a

24 map entitled ‘‘Great Sand Dunes Addition Wil25 derness Proposal’’, dated February 1, 1999,
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1 and which are hereby incorporated in and shall

2 be deemed to be a part of the Great Sand

3 Dunes Wilderness designated by Public Law

4 94–567.

5 (B) Certain lands which comprise approxi6 mately 10,759 acres, as generally depicted on a

7 map entitled ‘‘Rio Grande Wilderness Pro8 posal’’, dated February 1, 1999, which shall be

9 known as the Rio Grande Wilderness.

10 (18) Certain lands in the Uncompahgre Re11 source Area and the Grand Mesa National Forest

12 which comprise approximately 10,719 acres as gen13 erally depicted on a map entitled ‘‘Adobe Badlands

14 Wilderness Area Proposal’’, dated February 1, 1999,

15 which shall be known as the Adobe Badlands Wil16 derness.

17 (19) Certain lands in the Uncompahgre Re18 source Area and the Uncompahgre National Forest

19 which comprise approximately 14,551 acres, as gen20 erally depicted on a map entitled ‘‘Roubideau Addi21 tion Wilderness Proposal’’, dated February 1, 1999,

22 which shall be known as the Roubideau Wilderness.

23 (20) Certain lands in the Uncompahgre Re24 source Area which comprise approximately 22,696

25 acres, as generally depicted on a map entitled ‘‘Gun-
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1 nison Gorge Wilderness Proposal’’, dated February

2 1, 1999, which shall be known as the Gunnison

3 Gorge Wilderness.

4 (21) The following lands in the White River Re5 source Area:

6 (A) Certain lands which comprise approxi7 mately 22,574 acres, as generally depicted on a

8 map entitled ‘‘Black Mountain-Windy Gulch

9 Wilderness Proposal’’, dated February 1, 1999,

10 which shall be known as the Black Mountain11 Windy Gulch Wilderness.

12 (B) Certain lands which comprise approxi13 mately 14,913 acres, as generally depicted on a

14 map entitled ‘‘Bull Canyon Wilderness Pro15 posal’’, dated February 1, 1999, which shall be

16 known as the Bull Canyon Wilderness.

17 (C) Certain lands which comprise approxi18 mately 18,766 acres, as generally depicted on a

19 map entitled ‘‘Oil Spring Mountain Wilderness

20 Proposal’’, dated February 1, 1999, which shall

21 be known as the Oil Spring Mountain Wilder22 ness.

23 (D) Certain lands which comprise approxi24 mately 20,646 acres, as generally depicted on a

25 map entitled ‘‘Pinyon Ridge Wilderness Pro-
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1 posal’’, dated February 1, 1999, which shall be

2 known as the Pinyon Ridge Wilderness.

3 (E) Certain lands in the White River Re4 source Area which comprise approximately

5 31,013 acres, as generally depicted on a map

6 entitled ‘‘Skull Creek Wilderness Proposal’’,

7 dated February 1, 1999, which shall be known

8 as the Skull Creek Wilderness.

9 (b) MAPS AND DESCRIPTIONS.—As soon as prac10 ticable after the date of enactment of this Act, the appro11 priate Secretary shall file a map and a boundary descrip12 tion of each area designated as wilderness by this Act with

13 the Committee on Resources of the United States House

14 of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and

15 Natural Resources of the United States Senate. Each map

16 and description shall have the same force and effect as

17 if included in this Act, except that the appropriate Sec18 retary is authorized to correct clerical and typographical

19 errors in such boundary descriptions and maps. Such

20 maps and boundary descriptions shall be on file and avail21 able for public inspection in the Office of the Director of

22 the Bureau of Land Management, Department of the In23 terior, and in the Office of the Chief of the Forest Service,

24 Department of Agriculture, as appropriate.
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1 (c) STATE AND PRIVATE LANDS.—Lands within the

2 exterior boundaries of any wilderness area designated

3 under this section that are owned by the State or by a

4 private entity shall be included within such wilderness area

5 if such lands are acquired by the United States. Such

6 lands may be acquired by the United States only as pro7 vided in the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 and follow8 ing).

9 SEC. 3. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.

10 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to valid existing rights,

11 lands designated as wilderness by this Act shall be man12 aged by the Secretary of Agriculture or the Secretary of

13 the Interior, as appropriate, in accordance with the Wil14 derness Act (16 U.S.C. 1131 et seq.) and this Act, except

15 that, with respect to any wilderness areas designated by

16 this Act, any reference in the Wilderness Act to the effec17 tive date of the Wilderness Act shall be deemed to be a

18 reference to the date of enactment of this Act.

19 (b) GRAZING.—Grazing of livestock in wilderness

20 areas designated by this Act shall be administered in ac21 cordance with the provisions of section 4(d)(4) of the Wil22 derness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(4)), as further inter23 preted by section 108 of Public Law 96–560, and, the

24 guidelines set forth in Appendix A of House Report 101–

25 405 of the 101st Congress.
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1 (c) STATE JURISDICTION.—As provided in section

2 4(d)(7) of the Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. 1133(d)(7)),

3 nothing in this Act shall be construed as affecting the ju4 risdiction or responsibilities of the State of Colorado with

5 respect to wildlife and fish in Colorado.

6 (d) WATER.—(1) With respect to each wilderness

7 area designated by this Act, Congress hereby reserves a

8 quantity of water sufficient to fulfill the purposes of this

9 Act. The priority date of such reserved rights shall be the

10 date of enactment of this Act.

11 (2) The appropriate Secretary and all other officers

12 of the United States shall take steps necessary to protect

13 the rights reserved by paragraph (1), including the filing

14 by the Secretary of a claim for the quantification of such

15 rights in any present or future appropriate stream adju16 dication in the courts of the State of Colorado in which

17 the United States is or may be joined and which is con18 ducted in accordance with the McCarran Amendment (43

19 U.S.C. 666).

20 (3) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as a relin21 quishment or reduction of any water rights reserved or

22 appropriated by the United States in the State of Colorado

23 on or before the date of enactment of this Act.

24 (4) The Federal water rights reserved by this Act are

25 specific to the wilderness areas located in the State of Col-
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1 orado designated by this title. Nothing in this title related

2 to reserved Federal water rights shall be construed as es3 tablishing a precedent with regard to any future designa4 tions, nor shall it constitute an interpretation of any other

5 Act or any designation made pursuant thereto.

Æ