West Slope Rivers and Creeks Protected from Mining! (CO)

On April 3, the Biden Administration finalized a 20-year mineral withdrawal for the Thompson Divide and Mt. Emmons area between Crested Butte and Carbondale. The mineral withdrawal will protect beloved Colorado whitewater rivers and creeks, including Oh-Be-Joyful, the Slate River, Ruby Fork of the Anthracite, Anthracite Creek, and Crystal and Roaring Fork watersheds. The 221,898 acres will be protected from all forms of mineral entry, appropriation, and disposal, safeguarding the water quality, recreational access, and mountain scenery that make these creeks special. 

The Thompson Divide mineral withdrawal comes on the heels of longstanding efforts to designate the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Economy Act and to protect the area around Mt. Emmons. Working closely with our partners at Outdoor Alliance, we have supported the CORE Act for years. While the legislation is still tied up in Congress, the mineral withdrawal protects these watersheds and the surrounding landscape today. American Whitewater filed comments in support of the mineral withdrawal, citing benefits for healthy watersheds and the Colorado’s outdoor recreation industry. 

More work needs to be done to protect this landscape permanently, but for now we can celebrate and thank the administration for prioritizing this area.