Hidden Gems Wilderness Campaign Would Shut Off-Highway Vehicle Enthusiasts Out of 379,000 Acres in Colorado

The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has learned that within the next few weeks an anti-access group will present U.S. Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) with the Hidden Gems Wilderness Campaign, which would designate 379,000 acres of public land in Colorado as federal Wilderness. These new designations would be in addition to 3.5 million acres already protected as Wilderness in Colorado. Because Polis is expected to introduce related legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives, the AMA is asking all motorcyclists and off-highway vehicle (OHV) enthusiasts to protest this latest effort to inappropriately designate public lands as Wilderness. "The AMA has formally objected to the Hidden Gems Wilderness Campaign, citing the inappropriate nature of the affected lands," said AMA Vice President for Government Relations Ed Moreland. "In addition to the AMA, the Basalt Fire District opposes the measure, contending that the designation would thwart efforts to fight fires."...more