Commissioners now oppose withdrawing the popular area southwest of Carbondale from oil and gas leasing.
The recently-introduced Colorado Outdoor Recreation Economy Act (CORE) would protect 400,000 acres of Colorado public lands.
It would also permanently withdraw portions of the Thompson Divide southwest of Carbondale from oil and natural gas leasing and protect thousands of acres around Camp Hale north of Leadville.
CORE Act supporters include Colorado Governor Jared Polis, ranchers, anglers, recreationists, hunters, local governments and more. But Garfield County Commissioners recently stated that they don't support permanent protection for Thompson Divide. Listen to audio from their February 11, 2019 meeting here and here.)