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119-s-1791119th CongressWALLET

Gunnison Outdoor Resources Protection Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]

In Committee

Summary

Consolidated federal land management for Gunnison County would create a single framework that balances conservation, recreation, and scientific research across Forest Service and BLM lands. The bill focuses on place-based protections, limits on motorized and bicycle use in sensitive areas, and a plan for tribal trust land transfer and research designation.

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  • Families and visitors would face new access rules. The bill would create seasonal closures and vehicle limits in six named areas and set use rules for two Recreation Management Areas to guide where bikes, off-highway vehicles, and over-snow travel are allowed.
  • Wildlife, watersheds, and forests would get stronger protections and restoration. It would establish multiple Protection Areas and Wildlife Conservation Areas, require wet meadow and riparian restoration in six places, and add large wilderness tracts including a West Elk addition of about 58,600 acres and a new Matchless Wilderness of 8,656 acres.
  • Tribes, researchers, and local governments would gain specific authorities and roles. About 19,080 acres could be taken into trust for the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and roughly 12,250 acres would be set aside as a Rocky Mountain Scientific Research and Education Area, with collaborative planning required across agencies and local partners.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Tribal land trust and use protections

If enacted, the Secretary would be required, on request by the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and subject to valid existing rights, to take about 19,080 acres the Tribe owns into Federal trust for the Tribe within one year. That land would become part of the Tribe's reservation and be administered under the Federal trust rules, and it would not be eligible for gaming under Federal law. The Secretary would also be required to complete a survey to establish boundaries within one year if land is taken into trust. The bill would not change treaty rights and would require the Secretary to allow Tribal members to continue traditional ceremonies and gathering in covered or wilderness areas consistent with applicable law.

New public land protections and rules

If enacted, the bill would set aside several named public land areas near Gunnison for research, wildlife conservation, recreation management, and protection. Off-highway vehicles and bicycles would be allowed only on roads and trails already designated for those uses when the bill takes effect, except for administrative work, emergencies, or narrow event support. The Secretary would set seasonal closures in six named wildlife areas and would have up to three years to adopt winter travel plans where none exist. From enactment until plans are adopted, over-snow vehicle use would follow existing land plans. The bill would ban new permanent road construction in covered areas but would allow temporary roads for vegetation projects, emergencies, or research; temporary vegetation roads must be closed within three years after a project finishes. The Secretary would file maps and legal descriptions with Congress and make them available to the public. The bill would also require wet meadow and riparian restoration and preserve research and education uses in the Rocky Mountain Scientific Research and Education Area.

Limits on logging, mining, and leasing

If enacted, the bill would add and expand several wilderness areas and withdraw covered lands from public land entry, mining claims, and mineral and geothermal leasing laws. Specified Delta County lands would be withdrawn from oil and gas leasing and some areas would have a no-surface-occupancy rule. The Secretary would be able to authorize use or destruction of methane from certain coal-mine situations when the Federal government holds the mineral rights. The bill would ban projects carried out for the purpose of harvesting commercial timber in covered areas. Limited ecological restoration projects could include sale of small-diameter trees or biomass only outside the wildland-urban interface and only if collaboratively developed and done to restore ecological integrity. The Secretary could only acquire land in covered or wilderness areas by exchange, donation, or purchase from a willing seller.

Boat ramp permit transfer and fees

If enacted, the Secretary of the Interior could transfer a special recreation use permit for motorized boats in the Gunnison Gorge Wilderness Area only if that motorized boat use existed before the area's designation. A transfer of the Gunnison Forks boat ramp permit would be allowed only if a Federal, State, or local government has acquired a permanent public right to the ramp. Any public-use fees charged by that government would have to be reasonable. These rules would affect permit holders, governments, and recreational river users in the area.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]

CO • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 5/15/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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