This past month, Congress passed the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009. This is a great victory for Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District. Five pieces of legislation that I authored were included in this bill. They will allow us to utilize Colorado’s natural recourses, while ensuring that our land, water and natural beauty is protected for future generations.

The Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area Act will designate approximately 210,000 acres of federally owned land on the Uncompahgre plateau as the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area (NCA), of which approximately 65,000 acres will be designated as the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Area.

The Arkansas Valley Conduit Act will establish a 65% federal cost share for the construction of the Arkansas Valley Conduit. This is a proposed 130-mile water delivery system from Pueblo Dam to communities throughout the Arkansas River Valley.

The Jackson Gulch Rehabilitation Act will authorize $8.25 million in federal funding to rehabilitate the Jackson Gulch irrigation canal, which delivers water from Jackson Gulch Dam to Montezuma County. This will provide supplemental agricultural water for nearly 8,650 irrigated acres and a domestic water supply for the Mesa Verde National Park. It will also deliver water to the more than 500 members of the Mancos Rural Water Company, the Town of Mancos and at least 237 agricultural businesses.

The Baca Wildlife Refuge Management Act, which will amend the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Act of 2000 to define the purpose of the refuge as a place “…to restore, enhance, and maintain wetland, upland, riparian, and other habitats for native wildlife, plant, and fish species in the San Luis Valley.”

The Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area Act will designate a National Heritage Area in Conejos, Costilla and Alamosa counties. With the Sangre de Cristos to the east and the San Juan range to the west, these three counties are at the confluence of Native American, Hispano and Anglo cultures. The legislation authorizes up to $10 million in federal matching funds over 15 years to help protect historic, cultural, natural, and recreational resources.

The passage of the Omnibus Public Lands Management Bill was one of the proudest days of my legislative career. This bill, which was signed into law by President Obama on March 30, 2009, represents years of hard work and collaboration from communities throughout the 3rd District. This is a bill that we Coloradans can be proud of. It will protect our rugged mountains and fertile lands for generations to come.