Bolts Ditch Act

Senate Bill

S. 365

119th Congress

Bolts Ditch Act

In Committee

Introduced:Feb 3, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Michael Bennet

D - CO

Cosponsors

1

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary

The Bolts Ditch Act allows the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District and the Upper Eagle Regional Water Authority to access and use the Bolts Ditch and its headgate within the Holy Cross Wilderness in Colorado. This enables water diversion and permits maintenance and repair activities for these local water entities.

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

The Bolts Ditch Act allows the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District and the Upper Eagle Regional Water Authority to access and use the Bolts Ditch and its headgate within the Holy Cross Wilderness in Colorado. This enables water diversion and permits maintenance and repair activities for these local water entities.

Last updated: 1/4/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Bolts Ditch ActThis bill allows additional entities—the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District and the Upper Eagle Regional Water Authority—to access and use the Bolts Ditch and its headgate within the Holy Cross Wilderness in Colorado for the purposes of the diversion of water and use, maintenance, and repair of such ditch and headgate.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Grants water access rights in Holy Cross Wilderness
Benefits Eagle River Water and Sanitation District
Benefits Upper Eagle Regional Water Authority
Allows water diversion from Bolts Ditch
Permits maintenance and repair activities
Colorado wilderness infrastructure access

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This bill addresses water infrastructure access within designated wilderness in Colorado. Water systems predating wilderness designation often have existing rights that require occasional maintenance access. By explicitly authorizing these entities access, the bill provides legal clarity for water operations serving communities near the Holy Cross Wilderness while respecting the diversion infrastructure already in place.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Related Subjects

Colorado

Lakes and rivers

Water storage

Water use and supply

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

365, 119th Congress (2025). "Bolts Ditch Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-365