Browns Canyon National Monument facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Browns Canyon National Monument |
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Rock outcroppings in Browns Canyon
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 Browns Canyon National Monument
Location in Colorado
Browns Canyon National Monument
Location in the United States
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| Location | Chaffee County, Colorado, USA |
| Nearest city | Salida, Colorado |
| Area | 21,586 acres (8,736 ha) |
| Authorized | February 19, 2015 |
| Governing body | Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service |
| Website | Browns Canyon National Monument |
Browns Canyon National Monument is a special protected area in Chaffee County, Colorado. It covers about 21,586 acres (8,736 ha) of land. President Barack Obama officially made it a national monument on February 19, 2015. He used a law called the Antiquities Act to do this.
This amazing place is located along the Arkansas River, between the towns of Buena Vista and Salida. Browns Canyon is super popular for whitewater rafting. People also love to go fishing and hiking there. The monument helps protect many animals, like bighorn sheep, peregrine falcons, elk, and golden eagles.
Many leaders in Colorado wanted Browns Canyon to become a monument. This included Senators Michael Bennet and Mark Udall, and Governor John Hickenlooper. Some lawmakers, like Representatives Ken Buck and Doug Lamborn, didn't agree with the President using his executive power to create the monument. They were also worried about how it might affect things like grazing animals or mining rights. But the White House said that the monument would respect existing rights, while stopping new mining leases in the future.
The Bureau of Land Management and the United States Forest Service work together to manage Browns Canyon National Monument.
What is Browns Canyon?
Browns Canyon is a beautiful area in Colorado. It's known for its stunning rock formations and the fast-flowing Arkansas River. This river is a top spot for exciting whitewater rafting adventures. Imagine floating down the river, surrounded by nature!
Besides rafting, the monument offers great opportunities for fishing. Many different kinds of fish live in the river. Hikers can explore trails and enjoy amazing views. It's a perfect place to connect with nature.
The monument also plays a big role in protecting wildlife. It's a safe home for many animals. You might spot large bighorn sheep climbing the rocks. Look up, and you might see a fast peregrine falcon or a majestic golden eagle flying high. Elk also live and thrive in this protected area.
Protecting the Land
For many years, people wanted to protect Browns Canyon. Back in 1972, the Forest Service looked at areas without roads. They thought Browns Canyon was a good place to protect as "wilderness." In 1976, another group, the BLM, also suggested protecting the area. They wanted to keep it wild and natural.
By 1979, the Forest Service found over 23,500 acres near Browns Canyon that had no roads. The BLM also found over 6,600 acres that had "wilderness characteristics." This means the land was very wild and untouched. In 1993, the BLM officially marked 7,451 acres as a "wilderness study area." This meant they were studying it to see if it should become official wilderness.
Why was it hard to protect?
It took a long time for Browns Canyon to become a national monument. In 1991, some lawmakers tried to pass a bill to make it wilderness. But the bill didn't pass. In 2005, another attempt was made. This time, a bill called the "Browns Canyon Wilderness Act" was introduced.
However, this bill also failed. The National Rifle Association of America (NRA) was concerned. They thought that making it a wilderness area would limit hunting. Hunting is a popular activity in the area. Because of these concerns, the bill didn't become a law.
Later, in 2013, Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennet tried again. They wanted to make the canyon a national monument. Their bill also included plans for more wilderness protection. But this bill didn't pass either.
Finally, in 2015, President Barack Obama used the Antiquities Act. This law allows a president to protect important natural or historic places. This way, Browns Canyon became a national monument. This means it is now officially protected for everyone to enjoy.
