Public Lands

Colorado is a global leader in preserving dark night skies. This year alone, Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Mesa Verde National Park and four mountain towns were recognized for their stargazing potential. While these remote locations are good at preserving their starry views, residents of the Front Range would have to help out the state's largest national park.

Colorado's ski areas spend about $25 million a year in fees in exchange for being on federal land, and only a small fraction returns to those forests for management. The Denver Post reports on a bill recently introduced in Congress that would allow forests that bring in large amounts of ski fees to allocate some of that money for staffing.

A federal judge ruled in February that the National Park Service's commercial filming fees were an unconstitutional violation of free speech. Now, Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso has introduced a bill that would waive those fees on all federal public lands, no matter the distribution platform.

Visitors have flocked to Western communities during the pandemic to soak in the region’s public lands. But how many visitors? While the National Park Service closely monitors visitation, national forests and the Bureau of Land Management lack an efficient and cost-effective way to measure foot traffic.

The lawsuit involves public land between Bears Ears and Hovenweep national monuments. It claims drilling there could cause irreparable damage to cultural sites.

As more Americans get vaccinated, they're finally preparing for long-delayed vacations. But if they want to visit some big-name national parks in the West, they may need a reservation.

Rep. Joe Neguse, a Democrat who represents Colorado’s second congressional district, was recently elected as chair of a subcommittee where he plans to legislation to protect the environment and public lands. He spoke with Colorado Edition about some of his legislative priorities for the coming year.

Two Western lawmakers have reintroduced companion bills to establish a federal conservation corps. It would invest $9 billion in a civilian workforce dedicated to public lands, part of a $40 billion package focused on conservation, restoration and rural economies.

The National Park Service just dropped an early version of its new app. The free app, available to Android and Apple users, offers features including downloadable trail maps, lodging reservations and even audio tours.

The U.S. Forest Service has faced budget cuts, and underfunding for years. So, with the agency’s blessing, around 200 conservation groups around the country have created volunteer wilderness ranger programs to help patrol the backcountry. But are volunteers a good substitute for funding full-time staff?