Welcome to Wild Connections
For twenty years we've involved people in identifying and protecting the wildlands network in our region.
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Colorado Parks and Wildlife strategic planning meetings begin Feb. 24. See details on Events page.
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Browns Canyon National Monument Designated by President Obama
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Watch for a celebration this spring or early summer...
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| Browns Canyon hikers admire huge granite outcrops and view across the Arkansas Valley to the Collegiates. Photo Kurt Kunkle. |
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Wild Connections joins with hundreds of others in celebrating President Obama's proclamation that creates Browns Canyon National Monument.
Speaking to a Chicago audience at Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy, the President noted that from now on Browns Canyon will be protected so that future generations will get to experience for themselves some of America’s greatest assets. Colorado's newest National Monument includes approximately 21,000 acres along the Arkansas River between Salida and Buena Vista. It is known for wildlife habitat, wilderness quality landscapes, back country recreation and unparalleled scenic vistas.
For more than two decades conservation groups, business interests, local government and several Colorado Representatives and Senators have proposed preserving the Monument's outstanding natural features. Congress had many chances to approve legislation, including Rep. Diana DeGette's wilderness legislation first introduced in 1999 and most recently Senators Mark Udall's and Michael Bennett's bill, which failed to reach the floor for a vote at the end of 113th. Congress.
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Next best thing to being there...
Enjoy these pictures taken by John Stansfield, Steve Valimaki, Kurt Kunkle, Friends of Browns Canyon and Conservation Colorado
9 News featured Keith Baker, Executive Director of Friends of Browns Canyon. Keith and others, making it clear that there is wide-spread support for the Monument and highlighting the positive effects of the designation. Splendid background of the river and canyons...
The Proclamtion signed by the President is a marvelous description of the natural and cultural values that will be protected in the Monument. It's animal and plant diversity is impressive, and humans have frequented the area for thousands of years. You can read the whole proclamation and there are more photos on the Browns Canyon page.
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The President also announced that starting this fall every 4th grader in America will get a one-year pass for free admission to all of our public lands for them and their families.
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Send a thank you to those who made it possible Conservation Colorado has a web page where you can send a thank you email to the President, Colorado's Governor and Senators and the Directors of the Forest Service and BLM.
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