Is Colorado Ready for a Massive Tenth National Monument?

Because of its reputation as one of the most beautiful states in the country, it comes as no surprise to discover that Colorado is home to a total of nine National monuments.

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However, this all may change in the near future as efforts to name a tenth National monument are being pushed forward and if approved, would make this tenth monument the largest in the state by a wide margin.

What Are Colorado's National Monuments Currently?

As of now, Colorado's nine National monuments consist of the aptly-named Colorado National Monument, Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site, Curecanti National Recreation Area, Dinosaur National Monument, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Hovenweep National Monument, Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site, and Yucca House National Monument.

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While this seems like a lot of acreage designated to National monuments across the state of Colorado, the proposed tenth monument would be larger in area than all nine of the state's current National monuments combined.

What is Being Proposed as Colorado's Tenth National Monument?

The proposed Dolores Canyons National Monument would effectively protect nearly 400,000 acres along the Dolores River near the small Western Colorado town of Nucla as well as the notorious dead town of Uravan.

The groups that have proposed the new National monument to the Federal Government are the Protect the Dolores Coalition and the Colorado Wildlands Project.

If approved, designating the area a National monument would protect the land from any further mining operations but would not affect mining operations currently in place or the land used by farmers for grazing.

However, it is yet to be seen whether or not the proposal will be approved as the idea has been met with opposition from various groups of people who would be directly affected by the decision.