Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper celebrated the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources’ passage of three Bennet-led bills, including the Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit (AVC) Act, the Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development (SHRED) Act, and the Bolts Ditch Access and Use Act. Hickenlooper’s Sarvis Creek Wilderness Expansion Act, supported by Bennet, also passed with bipartisan support.
“These bills represent years of collaborative work with Colorado leaders in every corner of the state. They will invest in Colorado’s outdoor recreation industry and ensure every Coloradan has access to a safe and reliable water supply,” said Bennet. “This week’s bipartisan votes were an important step forward, and I’ll keep working to get each of these bills signed into law.”
Bennet and Hickenlooper introduced the Finish the AVC Act in September 2024, alongside Colorado U.S. Representative Lauren Boebert, to ensure the completion of the Arkansas Valley Conduit. Once constructed, the Conduit will deliver clean drinking water from the Pueblo Reservoir to more than 50,000 families, producers and municipalities throughout 39 communities in the Arkansas River Valley.
“Coloradans have waited 60 years for the federal government to deliver on its promise of safe, clean drinking water for the lower Arkansas River Valley,” said Hickenlooper. “We’ve come too far to slow down now.”
Bennet reintroduced the SHRED Act last year alongside Hickenlooper, Wyoming U.S. Senator John Barrasso, and 10 of their bipartisan Senate colleagues. Last Congress, the SHRED Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives and advanced out of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The bill will invest in outdoor recreation and forest health in and around mountain communities by enabling National Forests to retain a portion of the annual fees paid by ski areas operating within their boundaries.
The Bolts Ditch Access and Use Act would allow the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District and the Upper Eagle Regional Water Authority to use, repair and maintain Bolts Ditch. Bolts Ditch was mistakenly included within the Holy Cross Wilderness when it was mapped in 1980. This prevented local municipalities from maintaining and using the ditch, which was created to fill a water storage reservoir that was originally constructed in the early 1900s.
Support for the Finish the AVC Act:
“Water is one of our most precious resources in Colorado and we are committed to helping every Coloradan access clean drinking water. This project will support access in the Arkansas valley and I thank Senator Bennet for his leadership on this issue,” said Colorado Governor Jared Polis.
“This is another very important step for the people of the Lower Arkansas Valley who have struggled to get the Arkansas Valley Conduit moving ahead for more than 60 years. Now that the AVC is finally under construction and given the current estimated cost of the AVC project, this legislation is absolutely necessary to make this dream a reality. We are grateful for our entire congressional delegation stepping up to make it happen,” said Bill Long, President, Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District.
Support for the SHRED Act:
“Ski areas across the country appreciate Senator Bennet’s leadership in the Senate and unwavering support for outdoor recreation. Retaining ski area permit fees with the Forest Service will help boost the agency’s recreation capacity, improve visitor services and expand access to our nation’s forests for all Americans,” said Kelly Pawlak, President/CEO, National Ski Areas Association.
“CAST is excited to see the SHRED Act take the next step in the legislative process and is proud to have collaborated with Senator Bennet, federal land managers, the ski industry and local governments to develop the bill,” said Margaret Bowes, Executive Director, Colorado Association of Ski Towns. “The SHRED Act will direct much-needed funding to some of the nation’s most visited national forests and give the USFS additional resources to manage and protect the public lands on which mountain town economies are so dependent.”
“NWCCOG congratulates Senator Bennet and his staff on this groundbreaking bill which will bring millions of dollars back to the White River National Forest and other forests with ski areas to give a leg up to underfunded offices and forest staff who manage permits and recreation in the busiest national forests in the U.S.,” said Jon Stavney, Executive Director, Northwest Colorado Council of Governments. “With the impacts of COVID and Climate this funding comes at a critical time for our beloved forests. The Senator and his staff worked hard to negotiate a bill that would allow our local governments to stop having to backfill recreation management budgets on nearby national forests as they have in recent years. Now more than ever, our forests need active management, and this legislation provides the funding for our National Forest managers to do just that.”
“Our regional economy is driven by outdoor recreation and the SHRED Act will help ensure that the ski area fees generated locally are put back toward building a resilient & sustainable tourism experience,” said Chris Romer, President & CEO, Vail Valley Partnership. “This legislation is a win-win-win as it will positively impact our local businesses, our local communities, as well as those who visit.”
“The SHRED Act will strengthen the important partnership between ski areas and the US Forest Service,” said Brendan McGuire, Vice President Public Affairs, Vail Resorts. “We thank Senator Bennet for his longtime leadership and support for the outdoor recreation economy on behalf of our mountain communities.”
“Skiing is a beloved outdoor winter activity and vitally important to local communities’ and the nation’s outdoor recreation economy — the SHRED Act will ensure that the Forest Service has the bandwidth and resources necessary to support its ski area program and ultimately benefit the visitor experience at both resorts and trailheads,” said Jessica (Wahl) Turner, executive director, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable. “ORR applauds Senators Bennet (D-CO) and Barrasso (R-WY) for their leadership introducing the SHRED Act that will allow for a portion of annual fees to remain with the national forests where they are collected. If passed, this will be a huge win that will both bolster mountain communities’ outdoor recreation opportunities and economies.”
“The amount of revenue from ski and winter activities on national forests is also an indication of the impacts of that use and the need for investment to serve that use,” said Matt Scherr, Commissioner, Eagle County. “The SHRED Act will finally allow the Forest Service to more adequately invest in our natural resources that Eagle County residents and visitors alike clearly value so much.”