Member Recommendation: Osprey & Alpacka Rafts
The Dolores River Canyon Country is one of Colorado’s most iconic and biodiverse landscapes, located in southwest Colorado near the Utah border. Home to diverse wildlife, over 66 bird species, sensitive fish, and significant cultural resources, it also offers world-class recreation including whitewater boating, hiking, and wildlife watching. Economically, BLM lands contribute $8.8 billion annually to Colorado’s economy and support 39,000 jobs. Protective designations are shown to strengthen rural economies without displacing existing industries. Despite its ecological, economic, and cultural richness, the landscape remains largely unprotected, leaving it vulnerable to mining, public land selloffs, unplanned recreation, and climate change impacts.
Protection efforts have been underway for decades, with Dolores River Boating Advocates (DRBA) playing a leadership role. A 68,000-acre National Conservation Area (NCA) proposal covering three counties in the southern region has been introduced in Congress three times with broad bipartisan support. In the north, a national monument campaign that launched in 2023 evolved in 2025 to an NCA approach. Tribal engagement is a central priority. DRBA leads an ethnography project reconnecting Tribal Nations to the landscape and incorporating traditional ecological knowledge into land management.
