What does Preamble of Colorado Wilderness Act of 2026 do?

This bill aims to designate certain lands in Colorado as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System. The bill also includes provisions for other purposes, though these are not specified in this section.

What does SHORT TITLE; DEFINITION. of Colorado Wilderness Act of 2026 do?

This Act is formally titled the Colorado Wilderness Act of 2026. The term 'Secretary' is defined for use within this Act.

What does ADDITIONS TO NATIONAL WILDERNESS PRESERVATION SYSTEM IN THE of Colorado Wilderness Act of 2026 do?

This section amends the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 to add several areas to the National Wilderness Preservation System in Colorado. The additions include designations for areas such as Bull Gulch Wilderness, Castle Peak Wilderness, Redcloud Peak Wilderness, Handies Peak Wilderness, and others, managed by various Bureau of Land Management field offices and National Forests. The areas range in size from approximately 312 acres to 38,176 acres, as depicted on specific maps dated in 2019, 2023, and 2025. Some designated wilderness areas, like the West Elk Wilderness and Flat Tops Wilderness, are expanded by incorporating additional lands. The Secretary of the Interior is required to file maps and boundary descriptions of the designated wilderness areas with congressional committees. State and private lands within the wilderness areas may be included if acquired by the United States under the Wilderness Act.

What does ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS. of Colorado Wilderness Act of 2026 do?

This section outlines administrative provisions related to lands designated as wilderness by the Act. Lands designated as wilderness are to be managed according to the Wilderness Act and this Act, with the effective date of the Wilderness Act deemed to be the date of enactment of this Act. Grazing of livestock in designated wilderness areas will be administered according to specific provisions of the Wilderness Act and related guidelines. The jurisdiction of the State of Colorado regarding wildlife and fish within the state is not affected by this Act. The Act clarifies that designating wilderness areas does not create buffer zones, and activities outside these areas that can be seen or heard within them are not precluded. Military helicopter overflights, flight testing, and airspace designations are not restricted within designated wilderness areas. The Colorado Army National Guard may conduct aerial navigation training exercises over designated wilderness areas, consistent with existing or subsequent memoranda of understanding. The Secretary may continue to authorize competitive running events in the Redcloud Peak and Handies Peak Wilderness Areas, compatible with wilderness preservation. Certain lands are designated as 'potential wilderness areas,' including the Deep Creek, Pisgah East, and Pisgah West areas. These potential wilderness areas will be formally designated as wilderness when the Secretary publishes a notice in the Federal Register confirming the cessation of nonconforming uses.

What does WATER. of Colorado Wilderness Act of 2026 do?

This section addresses water rights and resources within wilderness areas designated by section 2(b). Existing water rights, allocations, and interstate compacts in effect on the date of enactment are not affected by this Act. The Secretary is tasked with securing water rights within designated wilderness areas to fulfill the purposes of such areas, including protecting geological, cultural, and biological resources. Water rights adjudication within wilderness areas must generally follow Colorado State law, but the Secretary can appropriate water rights to maintain surface water levels. Beginning on the date of enactment, the development of new irrigation and pumping facilities, reservoirs, and other water structures is prohibited within designated wilderness areas. Reasonable access to existing water resource facilities is permitted, including motorized access where necessary, and these facilities can be maintained and repaired to prevent increased adverse impacts. The Secretary must cooperate with the Colorado Water Conservation Board to ensure the exercise and enforcement of water rights, and may adjudicate Federal water rights if the Board's efforts are insufficient.

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Colorado Wilderness Act of 2026

Last updated: 2/9/2026 · Introduced: 2/9/2026

Author: Diana DeGette (D-CO)

TL;DR (AI)

This bill adds several areas to Colorado's National Wilderness Preservation System, expanding existing wilderness areas like West Elk and Flat Tops and designating new areas such as Bull Gulch and Castle Peak.
The Act prohibits the development of new irrigation and pumping facilities, reservoirs, and other water structures within designated wilderness areas while preserving existing water rights and allocations.
Military helicopter overflights and aerial navigation training exercises by the Colorado Army National Guard are permitted within designated wilderness areas, and competitive running events may continue in specific areas.

119th Congressin committeeOfficial page

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Includes provisions on preamble, short title; definition., and 3 more.

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