Outdoor recreation contributes $28 billion to Colorado’s economy annually
As Governor, Hick signed into law a bill creating Colorado Public Lands Day, first state to do so
Hick’s CORE Act will protect 400,000 acres of Colorado public lands
Durango, Colorado – To celebrate Colorado Public Lands Day, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper today joined outdoor recreation and conservation advocates to float down the Animas River in Southwest Colorado. Under Hickenlooper’s leadership as Governor, Colorado was the first state to create a holiday celebrating our public lands, which contribute $28 billion to Colorado’s economy each year.
“Colorado’s public lands offer adventure, escape and jobs — all needed now more than ever. Our outdoor recreation economy supports a quarter million jobs, driving rural economies across the state,” said Hickenlooper. “Cheers to our public lands!”
On the Animas River, Hickenlooper and the group discussed ways to better support Colorado’s outdoor recreation economy, the need to fight climate change, and the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy (CORE) Act, which includes protections for 61,000 acres of land in the San Juan Mountains.
This afternoon, Hickenlooper will tour Alpacka Raft’s manufacturing facility in Mancos to highlight how our public lands support Colorado small businesses. Tomorrow, he will join former Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Governor Jared Polis for a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Rio Grande Natural Area near Manassa.
Hickenlooper is a member of the U.S. Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which oversees federal management of 8.3 million acres of federal public lands in Colorado.