An unnecessary proposal from Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, would have weakened the Antiquities Act and made it harder or even impossible to protect unique areas on our public lands, like our recently established Chimney Rock National Monument. This is the same law that helped protect nearly half of our National Parks, including the Grand Canyon and Colorado’s Great Sand Dunes and Black Canyon of the Gunnison national parks.

Not content to block the protection of additional public lands, an outrageous amendment offered by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, would have removed long-standing protections from some of Colorado’s wildest and best hunting and fishing grounds, leaving them open to mining, drilling and other extractive uses.

These two measures were forced to a vote without a single hearing or any consideration of their impacts on local economies, recreation access or to communities’ water supplies.

Thankfully, Colorado’s senators were willing to stick together, vote against both proposals and ensure they were defeated. While Bennet and Gardner are unlikely to agree on every issue, it is great to see that they both understand the importance of our public lands to all of us here in Colorado.

Whether it is for the recreation we enjoy, the clean water protected public lands provide or simply the open space that makes Colorado such a special place to call home, I appreciate Bennet and Gardner working together to ensure we continue to protect the most important areas on our public lands for the benefit of us today – and Colorado’s future generations.

Ryan Demmy Bidwell

Durango