Presidential Proclamation Describes Natural and Cultural Values

Perhaps there is more to Browns Canyon than you thought.  The President's Proclamation begins with this:

"In central Colorado's vibrant upper Arkansas River valley, the rugged granite cliffs, colorful rock outcroppings, and stunning mountain vistas of Browns Canyon form an iconic landscape that attracts visitors from around the world. The landscape's canyons, rivers, and backcountry forests have provided a home for humans for over 10,000 years, and the cultural and historical resources found in this landscape are a testament to the area's Native Peoples as well as the history of more recent settlers and mining communities. The area's unusual geology and roughly 3,000-foot range in elevation support a diversity of plants and wildlife, including a significant herd of bighorn sheep. Browns Canyon harbors a wealth of scientifically significant geological, ecological, riparian, cultural, and historic resources, and is an important area for studies of paleoecology, mineralogy, archaeology, and climate change."

The Proclamation then continues with a detailed description of its location at the northern end of the Rio Grande Rift System, Native Americans who frequented the area for hunting and ceremonies, European exploration, mining, geology, plant diversity, and animals found there - a treasure trove of nature and culture.  The concluding sections outline some of the restrictions and permissions that apply to the new monument.

The whole proclamation is a good read - download it here.