Category: News (Older posts)

On February 14, 2025 Governor Polis and Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced receipt of a donation for 120 acres in Park County at Michigan Creek.  Wonderful for conservation. It is close to the addition of the Collard Ranch State Wildlife Area last spring.

Here is the press release:

Governor Polis and Colorado Parks and Wildlife Acquire Michigan Creek Property in Conservation Victory

PARK COUNTY, Colo. — Colorado Parks and Wildlife has acquired 120 acres in Park County, including a quarter-mile along Michigan Creek, for wildlife conservation and increased opportunities for hunters and anglers in a contract finalized today. Located about six miles southeast of Jefferson and abutted by Michigan Creek and County Road 77, the property will become Michigan Creek State Wildlife Area managed by CPW. The land contributes to critical wildlife habitat continuity with neighboring Bureau of Land Management and National Forest Service lands in Park Co.

“Protecting our iconic great outdoors for future generations to enjoy is one of my administration’s top priorities. Colorado is home to some of the best outdoor recreation in the nation, and I am thrilled to continue our state’s legacy to preserve land and protect our great outdoors. This new State Wildlife Area protects our natural resources while offering Colorado hunters and anglers more recreational opportunities,” said Governor Polis.

In 2023, a private landowner approached Western Rivers Conservancy to donate the land towards conservation efforts. Working with Colorado Open Lands, WRC placed a conservation easement on the property in late 2024 and held title to the land until conveying the land as a donation to CPW.

Michigan Creek is a tributary of the South Platte River and Tarryall Creek. The stream sustains a naturally-reproducing population of brook and brown trout, and the land offers increased hunting access for deer and elk in Game Management Unit 50.

“The donation of Michigan Creek State Wildlife Area is a win for conservation,” said Mark Lamb, Area Wildlife Manager for CPW. “We are grateful for partners like Western Rivers Conservancy and Colorado Open Lands in the continued effort to preserve habitat and increase public lands for hunting and fishing. We will work to try to have Michigan Creek SWA open to the public by the end of the year.”

“We are looking forward to the increased angling opportunities along Michigan Creek that come as a result of this partnership,” said CPW Senior Aquatic Biologist Kyle Battige.

This is the second land acquisition partnership in Park County between CPW and WRC, in addition to nearby Collard Ranch State Wildlife Area last spring, totaling 1,980 acres of scenic habitat conserved. Collaboration between stewardship partners and private landowners remains a high priority for CPW in the effort to preserve wildlife and land access for future generations.

“Conserving such a scenic and healthy stretch of Michigan Creek in an area so many Coloradans treasure is something to celebrate,” said Allen Law, WRC Interior West Project Manager. “Western Rivers Conservancy is thrilled we could expand our efforts in the South Platte Basin to help fish and wildlife thrive and to create better access to South Park’s rivers and open spaces.”

“Protecting this land means that Coloradans will be able to access excellent fishing for generations into the future, helping them connect to the outdoors and enjoy Colorado’s natural beauty,” said Kelsey Kirkwood, Colorado Open Lands Conservation Project Associate. “We are grateful for our partnerships with Western Rivers Conservancy and Colorado Parks and Wildlife which allow us to create robust and meaningful conservation outcomes for the good of all Coloradans.”

State Wildlife Areas offer hunting, angling and wildlife viewing opportunities with the purchase of an SWA pass. Revenue from pass purchases fund hunting and fishing conservation efforts and continued habitat health. Funding for this project was provided by the Park County Land and Water Trust Fund.

In December the US Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing under the Endangered Species Act the monarch butterfly as a threatened species. Public comment period closes March 12. According to the Fish and Wildlife Service the western migration has declined by more than 95% since the 1980’s.

Here is the December press release:https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2024-12/monarch-butterfly-proposed-endangered-species-act-protection

 

On January 30, 2025 the US Senate voted to confirm Doug Burgum as Secretary of the Interior on a 79-18 vote. Secretary Burgum is the former Governor of North Dakota. We congratulate him and our hope is that he will value the many uses of our public lands and employ a balanced approach to their management and stewardship.

On January 16, 2025 the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced that it has finalized the Resource Management Plan in Colorado for conserving the Greater Sage-grouse. The plan improves the 2015 plan as the best science has continued to advance during the intervening 10 years. In Colorado the Greater Sage-grouse is a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in the 2015 Colorado State Wildlife Action Plan and in the draft updated state wildlife action plan (that will be completed in September). CWF is encouraged by conclusion of the extensive work on this plan which is a crucial step in the ongoing extensive effort by state, federal and local partners to reverse the alarming population decline of this species. Its sagebrush habitat also supports numerous other species.  We note that the Oregon plan has been concluded as well but that the BLM’s plans for other western states have not been finalized.

On January 13, 2025, the US Supreme Court rejected Utah’s request to  bring a lawsuit to take over ownership and control of the 29,000 square miles of BLM-managed public lands in the state.  Although the Supreme Court did not provide its rationale, University of Colorado law professor Mark Squillace stated that the 1894 enabling legislation that permitted Utah to become a state “included a promise that it wouldn’t make any claim on federal land.” 

On November 12, the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners denied the Special Use Application for Shadow Mountain Bike Park on a 2-1 vote. They cited wildlife impacts, the comprehensive management plan, and incompatibility with the neighborhood. The applicant continued to state they could not or would not extend closure of the bike park during elk calving, which had been urged by Colorado Parks  and Wildlife. Among the 60-plus people who testified was CWF’s board chair, Robin Knox. He pointed out he has lived in the area for 42 years and that elk calving always takes place later in the spring than the date on which the applicant stated they would open the park for the season.

Earlier, on September 23, the Jefferson County Planning Commission decided to reject the Special Use Application for the Shadow Mountain Bike Park on a 7-0 vote. This hearing followed earlier public testimony by 117 on September 11 and 12. As noted below, CWF testified in opposition to the proposed bike park. The design for this “directional use” bike park would feature a lift to the downward run, many trails and other infrastructure, eliminating much of the habitat. The Commission now forwards its recommendation to the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners. Staff earlier had recommended denial. The Planning Commission commended the applicant for their effort but determined the application failed to conform to the county master plan’s land use criteria. One was that the proposal failed to satisfactorily mitigate negative impacts. Commissioners noted the proposal’s failure to incorporate half of Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s (CPW) strongly recommended seasonal closure to protect this elk winter concentration area and late spring calving. It also provides crucial connectivity to the national forest. Other failings include noise, lack of an evacuation plan for the residential area (although the applicant said that would be discussed at a later stage), and lack of adequate emergency services. The Board of County Commissioners will convene on November 12 at 9:00 am.

On September 11 and 12 the Jefferson County Planning Commission heard testimony re the proposed Shadow Mountain bike park near Conifer. CWF testified in opposition to the proposed park due to its inappropriate location in the largest remaining connectivity to the national forest and movement habitat for elk, elk winter concentration area, and calving. Many other species inhabit this parcel as well. The State Land Board owns the parcel and has been exploring a lease to the applicant. The proposed bike park would be not simply a series of trails but would include a lift to access extreme downhill runs. Infrastructure would result in habitat destruction in most of this meadowed parcel, sedimentation in the riparian area, noise and lighting. The parking lot alone is planned to accommodate 320 parking spaces. The applicant has not agreed to the extent of seasonal closures recommended by Colorado Parks and Wildlife in this High Priority Habitat. The clear majority of those who testified did so in opposition. It is gratifying to hear how much the local community values its wildlife. In addition to wildlife, experts raised issues of extreme wildfire risk, serious traffic problems, extraordinary problems of water quality and drainage, lack of medical facilities nearby, likely accidents on adjacent narrow curved roads, etc.  County staff had recommended denial of rezoning in advance of the hearing due to noncompliance of the County’s master plan.

 

On November 8, 2024 the Bureau of Land Management issued its proposed final plan to improve protections for greater sage grouse on public lands in 10 western states including Colorado. The proposed amended BLM habitat management plans will incorporate updated beset science to strengthen conservation measures for sagebrush habitat on the public lands managed by BLM. CWF is hopeful that the collaboration among state and federal agencies and private landowners, spurred on with these proposed amendments to BLM’s resource management plans that govern land use on public lands it manages, will generate durable management to help reverse the decline of this bird’s populations. The extent of the decline is 80 percent across its range since 1965. The term “proposed” is used because the protest period stage of the process runs until December 9. CWF has participated actively in the BLM’s public comment process throughout development of the proposed amendments. Here is the BLM’s press release. 

Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s (CPW)  comment period for the Colorado State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) remains open through November 12. Public comment is sought on the plan at this stage of its development: the draft lists of tier 1 and tier 2 “species of greatest conservation need,” which are the most vulnerable species in Colorado and their habitats. An addition a new category has been added: “species of greatest information need.” The SWAP is an important plan that will guide CPW work on these species. The SWAP must be updated every 10 years. Another new aspect of the Colorado SWAP is a draft listing of plant species of greatest conservation need. Invertebrates will be added after CPW and partners discuss this fall. The final updated plan is due September 30, 2025 for submission to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The updated plan is required for a state to be eligible to receive federal funding for the state and tribal wildlife grants program. CWF had participated in the kick-off discussion in April and supplied comment during the initial opportunity in early summer. We are preparing now to offer our comments on the draft lists. Note it is also essential that the Congress pass Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) as it will provide needed funding for Colorado and the other states to boost substantially the capacity to implement their plans. CWF has worked to gain passage of RAWA since it was first introduced.

To read the information on the SWAP and to make your comment click here to access CPW’s engagement website.  SWAP

On October 23, 2024 the Colorado BLM published its Resource Management Plan Amendment for Big Game Habitat Conservation to create consistency between wildlife rules promulgated by Colorado’s Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) and 12 BLM field offices. Before this plan, oil and gas operators were required to follow BLM federal leasing and permitting regulations that differed from ECMC’s rules and among field offices. The final plan sets a density limitation for greater than 1 active oil and gas location per square mile in Colorado Parks and Wildlife identified High Priority Habitats. Operators will be required to develop plans to minimize and offset direct, indirect and cumulative adverse impacts to big game species. CWF applauds BLM for this plan amendment and participated actively during its development process.

On October 15, 2024 Colorado’s  Energy and Carbon Management Commission completed its deliberations to formulate rules that will govern determination of cumulative impacts from oil and gas operations to the environment, including wildlife, water, and nearby communities. CWF was a party to the rulemaking in conjunction with Western Resource Advocates and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. The “area of evaluation” for cumulative impacts to wildlife is a one mile radius from the working pad surface of the oil and gas operations. Impacts to ungulates and other wildlife from some particular wellpads likely will extend well beyond this prescribed radius, attributable to new roads, traffic and noise. We note that the new rules also provide, “In determining whether it is necessary and reasonable to expand the Areas of Evaluation, the Operator will defer to input from the Director, the Relevant Local Government, CDPHE, and CPW. However, this necessitates keeping a watchful eye on new proposed operations to discern whether such input is needed to expand the area of evaluation. As to the area of evaluation for water resources, the new rule provides the area of evaluation is a 2.5 mile radius from the working pad surface of the oil and gas operation(s). If such location is within a “surface water supply area,” the area of evaluation also will extend 5 miles downstream.  Here is the link to the finalized Rules.  See also WRA’s press release