InsideGov
Congress · Laws

Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993

Public Law 103-77 · H.R. 631 · 103rd Congress · began in the House

Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Aug 13, 1993 · Public Lands and Natural Resources

Sponsor: Rep. David Skaggs (D-CO-2)

Cosponsors (2): Rep. Scott McInnis,

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

Report a correction

Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 - Designates certain Colorado lands to constitute or to be parts of the following components of the National Wilderness Preservation System: (1) the Uncompahgre Wilderness; (2) the Buffalo Peaks Wilderness; (3) the Powderhorn Wilderness; (4) the Mount Zirkel Wilderness; (5) the Fossil Ridge Wilderness; (6) the Wren and Tim Wirth Wilderness Area; (7) the Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness; (8) the Lost Creek Wilderness; (9) Raggeds Wilderness; (10) the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness; (11) the Sarvis Creek Wilderness; (12) the South San Juan Wilderness; (13) the Hunter Fryingpan Wilderness; (14) the Byers Peak Wilderness; (15) the Vasquez Peak Wilderness; (16) the Weminuche Wilderness; (17) the La Garita Wilderness; (18) Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness; and (19) the Never Summer Wilderness.

Renames the Big Blue Wilderness as the Uncompahgre Wilderness.

Establishes the Fossil Ridge Recreation Management Area and the Bowen Gulch Protection Area in Colorado.

Sets forth provisions concerning the water rights in such wilderness areas.

Withdraws certain lands in the Piedra, Roubideau, and Tabeguache areas of specified national forests from location, leasing, patent, disposition, or disposal under Federal public land, mining, and mineral and geothermal leasing laws. Prohibits mechanized or motorized travel in such areas.

Requires the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) report to specified congressional committees on the status of private property interests located within the Spanish Peaks Planning Area of the Pike-San Isabel National Forest in Colorado; and (2) manage such Area for three years as provided in the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1980.

Renames the Granby Pumping Plant in Colorado the Farr Pumping Plant.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

Report a correction

Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 19 actions.

  1. Aug 13, 1993Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 103-77.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Aug 6, 1993PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Aug 4, 1993FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.
  5. Aug 3, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  6. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  7. Jul 21, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Referred to National Parks Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  8. Jul 20, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  9. Jul 19, 1993FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  10. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
  11. FloorFloor · Mr. Vento moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  12. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
  13. Jun 30, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
  14. Jun 17, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  15. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  16. Jun 8, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  17. Feb 18, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  18. Jan 26, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
  19. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

Report a correction

Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.