Camp Hale, Thompson Divide Announcement Honors Veterans, Safeguards Wildlife Habitat, Expands Recreation
DENVER (October 12, 2022) — President Joe Biden’s announcement of increased protections for Camp Hale and the Thompson Divide will help safeguard Colorado’s outdoor heritage, wildlife, and outdoor recreation opportunities.
The president’s designation of Camp Hale as a national monument will honor military veterans who served in the 10th Mountain Division while protecting critical wildlife migration corridors. The designation is the result of years of advocacy by and support from a coalition of Colorado veterans, sportsmen and women, ranchers, conservationists, and local leaders. The president also announced a 20-year pause on energy development in the Thompson Divide area, which will help support local hunting and fishing economies, along with the area’s rich wildlife populations.
“For over a decade, a broad, bipartisan coalition of Coloradans have urged the conservation of Camp Hale and the Thompson Divide to honor military veterans and to safeguard important wildlife habitat. Hunters and anglers understand well that we are not making new habitats and that the best way to maintain our sporting traditions is to keep these important landscapes and healthy habitats intact,” said Aaron Kindle, director of sporting advocacy for the National Wildlife Federation. “I’m glad our congressional leaders and the Biden Administration understand these realities and continue to champion efforts to conserve and maintain the best habitat in Colorado.”
“Designating the Camp Hale National Monument will preserve the legacy of the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division, safeguard wildlife habitat in the upper Eagle River watershed, expand opportunities for hunting and fishing, and provide an economic boost for rural communities in Colorado,” said Robin Knox, president and board chair of the Colorado Wildlife Federation. “We are grateful for the collaboration and leadership that made this designation possible so that a broad array of wildlife species, including trout, elk, bear, and mule deer, will thrive for generations to come.”
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