S. 59Senate116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Arapaho National Forest Boundary Adjustment Act of 2019

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Updated April 13, 2026 at 11:57 PM UTC

The Arapaho National Forest Boundary Adjustment Act of 2019 expands the Arapaho National Forest in Colorado by adding about 93 acres of private land known as “The Wedge.” The change only takes effect if each parcel’s owner gives written permission, and the added land becomes part of the Bowen Gulch Protection Area. The bill also clarifies how the forest’s boundary will be treated for certain federal funding calculations and limits public motorized use of the newly included private lands while preserving historic motorized access for the owners.

Key Provisions

Adds roughly 92.95 acres (lots 3, 4, 8, and 9 of sec. 13, T. 4 N., R. 76 W.) to the Arapaho National Forest boundary, pending written consent from each landowner.
Designates all federal land within the new boundary as part of the Bowen Gulch Protection Area under the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993.
For Land and Water Conservation Fund purposes, the forest’s boundary will be treated as it existed on Jan. 1, 1965.
The act does not open any privately owned land inside the new boundary to public motorized recreation.
Owners of non‑federal land within the added area who historically accessed their property via U.S. land retain the right to motorized access across existing roadways.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

January 8, 2019

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

January 8, 2019

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

January 8, 2019

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued January 8, 2019

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 59

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 8, 2019

Mr. Bennet (for himself and Mr. Gardner) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

A BILL

To adjust the boundary of the Arapaho National Forest, Colorado, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Arapaho National Forest Boundary Adjustment Act of 2019.

Arapaho national forest boundary adjustment

(a)

In general

(1)

Boundary adjustment

The boundary of the Arapaho National Forest in the State of Colorado is adjusted to incorporate the approximately 92.95 acres of land generally depicted as The Wedge on the map entitled Arapaho National Forest Boundary Adjustment and dated November 6, 2013, and described as lots 3, 4, 8, and 9 of sec. 13, T. 4 N., R. 76 W., Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado.

(2)

Limitation

A lot described in paragraph (1) may be included in the boundary adjustment only after the Secretary of Agriculture obtains written permission for the inclusion from each owner of the lot.

(b)

Bowen Gulch Protection Area

The Secretary of Agriculture shall include all Federal land within the boundary described in subsection (a) in the Bowen Gulch Protection Area established under section 6 of the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 539j).

(c)

Land and Water Conservation Fund

For purposes of section 200306(a)(2)(B)(i) of title 54, United States Code, the boundaries of the Arapaho National Forest, as modified under subsection (a), shall be considered to be the boundaries of the Arapaho National Forest as in existence on January 1, 1965.

(d)

Public motorized use

Nothing in this Act opens privately owned land within the boundary described in subsection (a) to public motorized use.

(e)

Access to non-Federal land

Notwithstanding the provisions of section 6(f) of the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 539j(f)) regarding motorized travel, the owners of any non-Federal land within the boundary described in subsection (a) who historically have accessed their land through land owned by the United States on or after the date of enactment of this Act within the boundary described in subsection (a) shall have the continued right of motorized access to their land across the existing roadway.