HR 1729119th CongressIn Committee

Bolts Ditch Act

Introduced: Feb 27, 2025

Sponsor: Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2] (D-Colorado)

Environment & ClimateInfrastructure

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Bolts Ditch Act would amend the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (Public Law 116-9) to broaden who may conduct maintenance on Bolts Ditch and the Bolts Ditch Headgate inside the Holy Cross Wilderness in Colorado. Specifically, it adds three entities as eligible maintainers: (1) the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District, (2) a Colorado Special District, and (3) the Upper Eagle Regional Water Authority (an authority organized under Colorado law). The change is narrowly focused on eligibility to perform maintenance work and does not create new funding or alter ownership, but it could streamline maintenance by allowing more local or regional water entities to participate.

Key Points

1This Act is titled the Bolts Ditch Act.
2It amends Section 1101(a) of Public Law 116-9 (the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act).
3It adds three entities to the list of eligible maintainers: the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District; a Colorado Special District; and the Upper Eagle Regional Water Authority.
4The maintenance subject is Bolts Ditch and the Bolts Ditch Headgate within the Holy Cross Wilderness, Colorado.
5Status: The bill passed the House on July 14, 2025 and, as of the document, was received in the Senate on July 15, 2025 and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: Water users and residents served by Bolts Ditch in the Eagle River watershed, and the local water entities listed (Eagle River Water and Sanitation District; Colorado Special Districts; Upper Eagle Regional Water Authority).Secondary group/area affected: Federal land managers and the agencies administering the Holy Cross Wilderness, since maintenance logistics involve activities within a designated wilderness area.Additional impacts: Could affect how maintenance projects are coordinated or funded (no funding is authorized by this text), and may set a precedent for expanding local or regional authorities’ role in infrastructure maintenance inside federally managed wilderness areas.

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