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Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado visited the proposed Dolores Canyons National Monument in southwest Colorado over the weekend. The senator met with stakeholders, Tribes, and the general public, and participated in other activities to learn more about the region, which is the largest and most biodiverse stretch of unprotected public land in Colorado.
Bennet heard from monument proponents and opponents at a public hearing on Sunday afternoon in Nucla, Colorado. After approximately two hours of public comment, Bennet addressed the crowd, saying, "I would never support a national monument that affects grazing rights... I would never support one that affects people's water." The proposed monument would protect historic uses of public lands and water, including livestock grazing and water rights.
Later, Bennet signaled his support for some form of landscape protection, saying, "In this beautiful gym tonight, what I was thinking about was the people that might be here 30 years from now, and 50 years from now, and 100 years from now, and 150 years from now, what it would be like if we could find a way to do our job together, to try to establish a vision for what this all ought to look like in the future, that's a vision that can actually be shared... I certainly, as somebody who's worried about this place looking like Moab, I'm worried that if we don't do anything about it, that we run a big risk that that's the way it's going to look. So, I think we should continue to have the conversation that we're having."
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The Dolores River canyon country must be preserved... Not only is this vibrant area crucial to many animal and plant species, it’s a special place that offers unforgettable recreational opportunities and preserves cultural heritage.” 
