Category: News (Older posts)

The Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies brought together state, federal and local partners who have an interest in western wildlife issues for its 97th summer conference in Vail in early July. Included was approval of several white papers concerning sage grouse management that we hope will help inform Department of the Interior review of current conservation efforts under Secretarial Order 3353. Here is the link to the Order www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/uploads/so_3353.pdf

Here is the link to the white papers: www.wafwa.org/initiatives/sagebrush_ecosystem_initiative/

The Outdoor Industry Association released a report today, June 27, 2017: $28B in consumer spending a year in outdoor recreation in Colorado. Here is the OIA press release:

For Immediate Release

Outdoor Recreation Bolsters Colorado’s Economy with $28 Billion Annually in Consumer
Spending

Boulder, Colo. – June 27, 2017 ” Outdoor recreation is a huge economic force in the state of Colorado. It generates $28 billion in consumer spending annually and
contributes a whopping 229,000 jobs and $2 billion in state and local tax revenue, according to a ˜sneak peek’ (https://outdoorindustry.org/state/colorado/) of the
Outdoor Recreation Economy State Report released today by the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA). Colorado is OIA’s home state, and its numbers are the first the association is releasing.

œColorado has a lot going for it in terms of outdoor recreation access and economics”people choose to live in Colorado because of the healthy, fun lifestyle
that exists here, and the businesses that thrive here, rightly take advantage of the strong employee base that loves to get outdoors, said Amy Roberts, executive
director of OIA. œIt is no coincidence that growth in Colorado’s outdoor recreation economy has coincided with Colorado continuing to be ranked as a leader in the nation in overall economic growth, the growth of new businesses and as a healthy population overall.

OIA’s report also highlights that more than 71 percent of Colorado’s 5.7 million residents participate in outdoor recreation each year, œreinforcing that communities across Colorado recognize that outdoor recreation supports a healthy lifestyle, contributes to a high quality of life and”perhaps most importantly”attracts and sustains employers and families.

œMy office’s primary focus is to galvanize and promote the outdoor recreation industry in our state and support and encourage Coloradans to spend more time outside. The numbers in OIA’s report highlight that more than 71 percent of Coloradans participate in outdoor recreation. This clearly demonstrates that

Coloradans are indeed seizing that opportunity, said Luis Benitez, director of Colorado’s Office of Outdoor Recreation. œOutdoor recreation is a significant and impactful economic engine for our state, and this is due in large part to our residents’ and leaders’ support for the outdoors.

The report highlights another point many in the industry already know”that outdoor recreation doesn’t just generate a healthy lifestyle or significant dollars but also adds 229,000 jobs to Colorado’s job pool (as highlighted earlier) and nearly $10 billion in wages and salaries. In comparison, the oil, gas and mining industries total 58,000 jobs.

œOIA’s Outdoor Recreation Economy (https://outdoorindustry.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/OIA_RecEconomy_FINAL_Single.pdf) report reflects what Smartwool and many in our industry have known all along”it makes dollars and ˜sense’ to locate your business where your product is used, said Smartwool President Travis Campbell. œThanks to its public lands, access to
recreation, and an educated, skilled workforce, Colorado is a fantastic location for outdoor industry companies and their employees.

As outlined in the state report, Colorado remains well positioned to continue to grow its outdoor recreation economy, but as with any sector, there are actions that
can support and grow the industry. Outdoor Industry Association urges state policymakers to:

· Adequately fund state and local parks and trails to make them attractive and accessible to families and friends seeking to get outside;
· Take steps to raise awareness of the importance of the outdoor recreation economy (for example, Colorado has shown leadership by establishing Great Outdoors Colorado,
the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Office and a Public Lands Celebration Day);
· Develop and plan urban areas in a way that means every citizen can get outside and recreate within 30 minutes of their home; and
· Support policies that encourage outdoor innovators to start businesses in Colorado.

On July 26, the full reports for all 50 states will be released. Southwick and Associates conducted the report on OIA’s behalf over the past year. This is the second such report and the 2017 report is the largest, most comprehensive report of its kind, in part, because there was a 70-percent increase in survey responses from the previous study. The activities included in Southwick’s research include camping, fishing, hunting, motorcycling (on/off road), off-roading (ATV, 4×4, etc.), snow
sports, trail sports (backpacking, climbing, etc.), paddle sports, wheel sports (bicycling on/off road) and wildlife viewing.

About Outdoor Industry Association

Based in Boulder, Colo., with offices in Washington, D.C., Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is the leading trade association for the outdoor industry and the
title sponsor of Outdoor Retailer. Outdoor Industry Association unites and serves over 1,200 manufacturers, supplier, sales representative and retailer members through its focus on trade and recreation policy, sustainable business innovation and outdoor participation. For more information, visit outdoorindustry.org.

###

The Outdoor Industry Association released a report today, June 27, 2017: $28B in consumer spending a year in outdoor recreation in Colorado. Here is the OIA press release:

For Immediate Release

Outdoor Recreation Bolsters Colorado’s Economy with $28 Billion Annually in Consumer
Spending

Boulder, Colo. – June 27, 2017 ” Outdoor recreation is a huge economic force in the state of Colorado. It generates $28 billion in consumer spending annually and
contributes a whopping 229,000 jobs and $2 billion in state and local tax revenue, according to a ˜sneak peek’ (https://outdoorindustry.org/state/colorado/) of the
Outdoor Recreation Economy State Report released today by the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA). Colorado is OIA’s home state, and its numbers are the first the association is releasing.

œColorado has a lot going for it in terms of outdoor recreation access and economics”people choose to live in Colorado because of the healthy, fun lifestyle
that exists here, and the businesses that thrive here, rightly take advantage of the strong employee base that loves to get outdoors, said Amy Roberts, executive
director of OIA. œIt is no coincidence that growth in Colorado’s outdoor recreation economy has coincided with Colorado continuing to be ranked as a leader in the nation in overall economic growth, the growth of new businesses and as a healthy population overall.

OIA’s report also highlights that more than 71 percent of Colorado’s 5.7 million residents participate in outdoor recreation each year, œreinforcing that communities across Colorado recognize that outdoor recreation supports a healthy lifestyle, contributes to a high quality of life and”perhaps most importantly”attracts and sustains employers and families.

œMy office’s primary focus is to galvanize and promote the outdoor recreation industry in our state and support and encourage Coloradans to spend more time outside. The numbers in OIA’s report highlight that more than 71 percent of Coloradans participate in outdoor recreation. This clearly demonstrates that

Coloradans are indeed seizing that opportunity, said Luis Benitez, director of Colorado’s Office of Outdoor Recreation. œOutdoor recreation is a significant and impactful economic engine for our state, and this is due in large part to our residents’ and leaders’ support for the outdoors.

The report highlights another point many in the industry already know”that outdoor recreation doesn’t just generate a healthy lifestyle or significant dollars but also adds 229,000 jobs to Colorado’s job pool (as highlighted earlier) and nearly $10 billion in wages and salaries. In comparison, the oil, gas and mining industries total 58,000 jobs.

œOIA’s Outdoor Recreation Economy (https://outdoorindustry.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/OIA_RecEconomy_FINAL_Single.pdf) report reflects what Smartwool and many in our industry have known all along”it makes dollars and ˜sense’ to locate your business where your product is used, said Smartwool President Travis Campbell. œThanks to its public lands, access to
recreation, and an educated, skilled workforce, Colorado is a fantastic location for outdoor industry companies and their employees.

As outlined in the state report, Colorado remains well positioned to continue to grow its outdoor recreation economy, but as with any sector, there are actions that
can support and grow the industry. Outdoor Industry Association urges state policymakers to:

· Adequately fund state and local parks and trails to make them attractive and accessible to families and friends seeking to get outside;
· Take steps to raise awareness of the importance of the outdoor recreation economy (for example, Colorado has shown leadership by establishing Great Outdoors Colorado,
the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Office and a Public Lands Celebration Day);
· Develop and plan urban areas in a way that means every citizen can get outside and recreate within 30 minutes of their home; and
· Support policies that encourage outdoor innovators to start businesses in Colorado.

On July 26, the full reports for all 50 states will be released. Southwick and Associates conducted the report on OIA’s behalf over the past year. This is the second such report and the 2017 report is the largest, most comprehensive report of its kind, in part, because there was a 70-percent increase in survey responses from the previous study. The activities included in Southwick’s research include camping, fishing, hunting, motorcycling (on/off road), off-roading (ATV, 4×4, etc.), snow
sports, trail sports (backpacking, climbing, etc.), paddle sports, wheel sports (bicycling on/off road) and wildlife viewing.

About Outdoor Industry Association

Based in Boulder, Colo., with offices in Washington, D.C., Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is the leading trade association for the outdoor industry and the
title sponsor of Outdoor Retailer. Outdoor Industry Association unites and serves over 1,200 manufacturers, supplier, sales representative and retailer members through its focus on trade and recreation policy, sustainable business innovation and outdoor participation. For more information, visit outdoorindustry.org.

###

Colorado Parks and Wildlife reported on June 23, 2017 that it has spawned unique cutthroat trout after rescuing 158 last summer from the massive Hayden Pass wildfire. Here is the article:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bill Vogrin CPW SE Region PIO 719-227-5211

============================================================ June 23, 2017

CPW staff spawn unique cutthroat trout rescued from Hayden Pass fire

GUNNISON, Colo. – Inside Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Roaring Judy Hatchery, the staff is working to save and breed 158 unique cutthroat trout rescued from Hayden Creek during last year’s devastating Hayden Pass wildfire, southwest of Cañon City.

Throughout June, hatchery technicians have artificially extracted milt and roe – semen and eggs – from the unique cutthroat trout, which were first discovered in Hayden Creek by CPW biologists in 1996. Today they may be the last survivors because no fish were found in an initial survey of the South Prong of Hayden Creek in the aftermath of the wildfire and subsequent flooding.

The fire erupted from a lightning strike last July 8 and roared out of control for weeks, eventually charring 16,754 acres across the Hayden Creek and Big Cottonwood Creek drainages above the Arkansas River near Coaldale.

At the time, CPW staff and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) volunteers made a desperate dash behind the fire lines and captured roughly half of the cutthroats believed to be living in a one-mile stretch of the South Prong.

Of the rescued trout,158 were taken to Roaring Judy and placed in isolation. The other 36 were released in Newlin Creek south of Cañon City with a goal that they would reproduce naturally.

Several hundred fish were left behind in hopes they would survive and the monsoon rains would spare the drainage. Heavy rain events after a fire can inundate streams with debris, ash and sediment making it difficult for fish to survive and reproduce.

Indeed, soon after the fire, fall monsoons ravaged the watershed. Biologists returned to the area with sampling gear and could not find a single fish. They plan to return to the creek this fall in hopes of finding a few hardy survivors .

The Hayden Creek cutthroat are unique and different than the famed pure greenback cutthroat residing in Bear Creek, on the western edge of Colorado Springs. Those trout, which ironically are native to the South Platte River basin, were once thought to be extinct in the 1930s. A study headed up by scientists at CU Boulder in 2012 revealed that the only true greenback cutthroat resided in Bear Creek. That information led to the propagation and eventual reintroduction of those fish into several streams and one lake in the South Platte basin.

The cutthroat trout in Hayden Creek, and now in the hatchery, are unique and contain genes matching museum specimens collected by early explorers. In 1889, ichthyologist David Starr Jordan collected a pair of trout specimens from Twin Lakes, near Leadville. Today those specimens reside at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History. The Hayden Creek cutthroat trout are the only known modern fish to share their genetics.

œThe coordination that occurred between the USFS staff and CPW to rescue these fish from the wild during an active fire was truly amazing, said Josh Nehring, CPW senior aquatic biologist. œFurthermore, our staff at Roaring Judy, lead by Seth Firestone, has provided exceptional care to these fish. It is not an easy task to take a wild fish into the hatchery and get them to survive let alone reproduce. Kudos to that team!

Their spawning efforts began June 12 in the isolation unit located along the East River, north of Gunnison. Firestone, hatchery manager, said roe was stripped from 10 female cutthroat and mixed with milt from 10 males the first day. Action continued June 19 and the staff is hopeful for more success the week of June 26.

But the rescue is not without risk. The trout are being treated for fungus attributed to male aggression. œIt’s a concern, Firestone said, describing how the fish are receiving weekly baths in a mild saltwater solution to combat the fungus. œWe are doing our best to keep it under control.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife reported on June 23, 2017 that it has spawned unique cutthroat trout after rescuing 158 last summer from the massive Hayden Pass wildfire. Here is the article:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bill Vogrin CPW SE Region PIO 719-227-5211

============================================================ June 23, 2017

CPW staff spawn unique cutthroat trout rescued from Hayden Pass fire

GUNNISON, Colo. – Inside Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Roaring Judy Hatchery, the staff is working to save and breed 158 unique cutthroat trout rescued from Hayden Creek during last year’s devastating Hayden Pass wildfire, southwest of Cañon City.

Throughout June, hatchery technicians have artificially extracted milt and roe – semen and eggs – from the unique cutthroat trout, which were first discovered in Hayden Creek by CPW biologists in 1996. Today they may be the last survivors because no fish were found in an initial survey of the South Prong of Hayden Creek in the aftermath of the wildfire and subsequent flooding.

The fire erupted from a lightning strike last July 8 and roared out of control for weeks, eventually charring 16,754 acres across the Hayden Creek and Big Cottonwood Creek drainages above the Arkansas River near Coaldale.

At the time, CPW staff and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) volunteers made a desperate dash behind the fire lines and captured roughly half of the cutthroats believed to be living in a one-mile stretch of the South Prong.

Of the rescued trout,158 were taken to Roaring Judy and placed in isolation. The other 36 were released in Newlin Creek south of Cañon City with a goal that they would reproduce naturally.

Several hundred fish were left behind in hopes they would survive and the monsoon rains would spare the drainage. Heavy rain events after a fire can inundate streams with debris, ash and sediment making it difficult for fish to survive and reproduce.

Indeed, soon after the fire, fall monsoons ravaged the watershed. Biologists returned to the area with sampling gear and could not find a single fish. They plan to return to the creek this fall in hopes of finding a few hardy survivors .

The Hayden Creek cutthroat are unique and different than the famed pure greenback cutthroat residing in Bear Creek, on the western edge of Colorado Springs. Those trout, which ironically are native to the South Platte River basin, were once thought to be extinct in the 1930s. A study headed up by scientists at CU Boulder in 2012 revealed that the only true greenback cutthroat resided in Bear Creek. That information led to the propagation and eventual reintroduction of those fish into several streams and one lake in the South Platte basin.

The cutthroat trout in Hayden Creek, and now in the hatchery, are unique and contain genes matching museum specimens collected by early explorers. In 1889, ichthyologist David Starr Jordan collected a pair of trout specimens from Twin Lakes, near Leadville. Today those specimens reside at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History. The Hayden Creek cutthroat trout are the only known modern fish to share their genetics.

œThe coordination that occurred between the USFS staff and CPW to rescue these fish from the wild during an active fire was truly amazing, said Josh Nehring, CPW senior aquatic biologist. œFurthermore, our staff at Roaring Judy, lead by Seth Firestone, has provided exceptional care to these fish. It is not an easy task to take a wild fish into the hatchery and get them to survive let alone reproduce. Kudos to that team!

Their spawning efforts began June 12 in the isolation unit located along the East River, north of Gunnison. Firestone, hatchery manager, said roe was stripped from 10 female cutthroat and mixed with milt from 10 males the first day. Action continued June 19 and the staff is hopeful for more success the week of June 26.

But the rescue is not without risk. The trout are being treated for fungus attributed to male aggression. œIt’s a concern, Firestone said, describing how the fish are receiving weekly baths in a mild saltwater solution to combat the fungus. œWe are doing our best to keep it under control.

Celebrate Colorado Public Lands Day on Saturday, May 20. Events: copubliclandsday,com

Celebrate Colorado Public Lands Day on Saturday, May 20. Events: copubliclandsday,com

The long awaited bill re Financial Sustainability for Colorado Parks and Wildlife was killed in the Colorado Senate Finance Committee on May 4 by a 3-2 vote. Sad Outcome!! It had passed the Colorado House Agriculture, Livestock & Natural Resources Committee on an 8-5 vote on April 17 and House Finance Committee 11-2 on Aprtil 19, and then House Appropriations Committee. The bill passed the full House on April 28 on a 42-22 vote.

The bill, HB 17-1321, would have authorized the Colorado Parks and Wildlfie Commission to raise resident hunting and fishing license fees by up to 50% over time. The bill also addresses aquatic nuisance species and creates a sticker fund to finance boat inspections. CWF testified in favor of the bill but noted 2 sections that were problematic concerning the resident hunting and fishing license fee increase. The license replacement cost provision in Section 7 was punitive as it greatly exceeded administrative cost. The House Ag Committee voted to amend the provision to change the cost to $25, in alignment with administrative cost. Section 4 provided that the “Commission shall not use revenue generated from any increased license fee amounts authorized by House Bill 17-1321 for the purchase of any fee title interest in real property, including water.” CWF had expressed great concern in a letter written to members of the Committee on April 7. In our view, because Colorado Parks and Wildlife has used fee title acquisitions tool sparingly, it is unnecssary to include a provision that addresses fee title acquisitions in this bill. In fact, since 2007, of the 250,000 acres in which CPW acquired an interest, only 11,000 acres are in fee title. The House Ag Committee amended the section with a compromise that lists high priority needs that include dam repairs, fish hatchery renovation and public access easement development and expenditure of new funds for fee title acquisition is a last resort. In our CWF testimony, we stated support for the compromise on Section 4 because the overall bill is important and necessary. The bill next was heard in the House Finance Committee on April 19 and passed 11-2, passed the House Appropriations Committee and passed the full House on April 28 on a 42-22 vote. It was introduced in the State House on April 6.

The long awaited bill re Financial Sustainability for Colorado Parks and Wildlife was killed in the Colorado Senate Finance Committee on May 4 by a 3-2 vote. Sad Outcome!! It had passed the Colorado House Agriculture, Livestock & Natural Resources Committee on an 8-5 vote on April 17 and House Finance Committee 11-2 on Aprtil 19, and then House Appropriations Committee. The bill passed the full House on April 28 on a 42-22 vote.

The bill, HB 17-1321, would have authorized the Colorado Parks and Wildlfie Commission to raise resident hunting and fishing license fees by up to 50% over time. The bill also addresses aquatic nuisance species and creates a sticker fund to finance boat inspections. CWF testified in favor of the bill but noted 2 sections that were problematic concerning the resident hunting and fishing license fee increase. The license replacement cost provision in Section 7 was punitive as it greatly exceeded administrative cost. The House Ag Committee voted to amend the provision to change the cost to $25, in alignment with administrative cost. Section 4 provided that the “Commission shall not use revenue generated from any increased license fee amounts authorized by House Bill 17-1321 for the purchase of any fee title interest in real property, including water.” CWF had expressed great concern in a letter written to members of the Committee on April 7. In our view, because Colorado Parks and Wildlife has used fee title acquisitions tool sparingly, it is unnecssary to include a provision that addresses fee title acquisitions in this bill. In fact, since 2007, of the 250,000 acres in which CPW acquired an interest, only 11,000 acres are in fee title. The House Ag Committee amended the section with a compromise that lists high priority needs that include dam repairs, fish hatchery renovation and public access easement development and expenditure of new funds for fee title acquisition is a last resort. In our CWF testimony, we stated support for the compromise on Section 4 because the overall bill is important and necessary. The bill next was heard in the House Finance Committee on April 19 and passed 11-2, passed the House Appropriations Committee and passed the full House on April 28 on a 42-22 vote. It was introduced in the State House on April 6.

On March 8, 2017 the master leasing planning process for public lands BLM manages in South Park took a leap forward. The BLM issued its preliminary alternatives for managing these lands on a landscape level in this iconic basin. CWF will post comments as soon as we review the alternatives.

The BLM’s planning process for South Park has been transparent so far and diverse interests have participated. Park County County’s thoughtful, consistent attention to this process serves a a model for local governments. We believe this planning process and robust participation by a large array of interests will culminate in a balanced plan for the future of South Park. The area features gold medal streams, herds of elk, deer and pronghorn, tourism, local businesses, agriculture, and the source of a significant amount of Denver’s and Aurora’s drinking water.

Here is the link to the preliminary alternatives from the BLM website:

eplanning.blm.gov/epl-front-office/eplanning/planAndProjectSite.do