White River National Forest, Colorado

Colorado’s Thompson Divide is a sliver of sanctuary between the densely populated Roaring Fork Valley to the east and the heavily drilled Piceance basin to the west. At the height of Drill Here, Drill Now fever, the Bureau of Land Management bypassed the required environmental review and notification of local governments, illegally issuing 65 oil and gas leases on the Divide.

In August of 2016, after a decade-long battle by farmers, ranchers, conservation groups, the outdoor industry and thousands of committed individuals in the community, the Bureau of Land Management announced its intention to cancel 25 of the leases in the Thompson Divide. While an important step forward, the remaining leases leave nearly 50,000 acres of pristine forests, meadows and watersheds threatened by the impacts of oil and gas development.

The product of over a decade of collaboration among local communities, conservationists, ranchers, recreation groups, and elected officials, the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy (CORE) Act is a comprehensive bill aimed at protecting over 400,000 acres of public land in Colorado.

The CORE Act passed the House of Representatives three times but has been stalled in the Senate amid broader debate regarding the purpose and future of America’s public lands. In 2022, areas within the CORE Act were included in the newly designated Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument, but the work to protect vulnerable wilderness, wildlife habitat, and recreation opportunities along Colorado’s Continental Divide, San Juan Mountains, and Thompson Divide remain.