Colorado’s Thompson Divide protected from new drilling for next 20 years!

Great news! The Biden administration has approved a plan to ban new oil and gas development on the Thompson Divide along Colorado's Western Slope. The mineral withdrawal will protect about 225,000 acres of public lands from new oil and gas leasing and mining for the next 20 years. The administration first proposed this plan in October 2022. Since then, thousands of people have shared their support for protecting the Thompson Divide, and now it's official!

The Thompson Divide is quintessential backcountry in Western Colorado, where people and wildlife thrive. For more than a decade, hunters, ranchers, conservation groups, local governments and outdoor enthusiasts have advocated for protecting this unique landscape from the impacts of mining and energy exploration.