Pew Applauds Browns Canyon National Monument Designation

Washington, DC—The Pew Charitable Trusts today applauded the designation of the Browns Canyon National Monument in Colorado.

Mike Matz, Pew’s director of U.S. public lands, issued the following statement:

“Browns Canyon and the stretch of the Arkansas River that runs through it are economic powerhouses in central Colorado, drawing people from all over the country for outdoor recreation. For years, visitors have enjoyed the river’s white waters and the canyon’s wild features. Those destinations now have a well-deserved monument designation.

“In addition to being one of the most popular rafting destinations in the country, the area that is now Browns Canyon National Monument attracts visitors for hiking, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, skiing, and bird-watching. The rugged cliffs and spectacular backcountry are home to a variety of wildlife, including bighorn sheep, peregrine falcons, and golden eagles. And the Arkansas River has an outstanding wild-trout fishery.

The protection of Browns Canyon gives 2015 a rousing start for conservation as we look to preserve more lands, such as Boulder-White Clouds in Idaho and the Birthplace of Rivers in West Virginia.Mike Matz

“This designation was made possible by the Antiquities Act of 1906, which gives the president the power to conserve for future generations natural, historical, and cultural treasures. The act is one of our nation’s most critical preservation tools. Republican and Democratic presidents alike—Theodore Roosevelt, Harry Truman, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, to name a few—have relied on it to safeguard our nation’s heritage.

“The protection of Browns Canyon gives 2015 a rousing start for conservation as we look to preserve more lands, such as Boulder-White Clouds in Idaho and the Birthplace of Rivers in West Virginia.”

Last year, congressional and presidential actions were taken to conserve a number of America’s wild places, including Sleeping Bear Dunes in Michigan, Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks in New Mexico, and Nevada’s Pine Forest Range. 

# # #

The Pew Charitable Trusts is driven by the power of knowledge to solve today’s most challenging problems. Learn more at www.pewtrusts.org.