Category: News (Older posts)

The Colorado Water Quality Control Division Commission decided on June 15, 2016 to reject its Division’s proposal to weaken temperature standards during shoulder seasons and in transition zones. If the Division had succeeded, the result would have been increased water temperatures and reduced flows, which in turn, would harm fishl, including trout populations.  CWF participated in the hearing process, in conjunction with Trout Unlimited, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife.  CWF board member Ashley Rust served as expert witness for CWF and TU. Another CWF board member, Robin Knox, an aquatic biologist, represented CWF at the hearing.  John Woodling, another experienced aquatic biologist, also testfied against the proposal.  Both John and Robin formerly  served as aquatic biologists for the Colorado Division of WIldlife (now Colorado Parks and Wildlife).

Governor Hickenlooper appointed Bob Randall as Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. CWF applauds this appointment. We have worked with Bob in his former capacity as Deputy Executive Director and most recently as Interim Director. He is highly skilled, knowledgeable and accessible. Below is the press release issued June 6, 2016.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Office of Gov. John Hickenlooper

Kathy Green | kathy.green@state.co.us<mailto:kathy.green@state.co.us>
|303-550-9276

Todd Hartman | todd.hartman@state.co.us<mailto:todd.hartman@state.co.us>
|303-513-3639

________________________________

Gov. Hickenlooper appoints Bob Randall as executive director of Dept. of Natural
Resources

DENVER ” Monday, June 6, 2016 ” Gov. John Hickenlooper today announced the appointment of Bob Randall as the executive director of the Colorado Department of
Natural Resources. Randall has served as the interim director of the department since February 2016.

œBob’s record of outstanding strategic decision making and his remarkable ability to work collaboratively with the diverse interests at DNR make him uniquely qualified
for the job, said Hickenlooper. œWith 20 years of experience in the field, he has proven to be an exemplary and committed steward of Colorado’s natural resources. We
look forward to continuing the good work.

Prior to the interim director role, Randall served as the deputy executive director since 2010, and assumed the additional role of chief operations officer in 2014.
Randall was responsible for advising the executive director on the development and execution of the Department’s policy, legislative, operational and communications initiatives and has played instrumental roles in numerous DNR projects, ranging from new regulatory standards at the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to
shaping Colorado’s approach to natural resource management on federal lands.

œI am honored and humbled by this opportunity, and am privileged to work alongside a remarkable staff of professionals throughout the entire Department, the people who
are at the heart of our agency’s success, Randall said. œI’m excited to carry on with the important work we do to manage and protect Colorado’s natural resources for people today and those who will depend upon the legacy we leave.

Prior to joining the state, Randall served as a staff attorney for Western Resource Advocates and for Trustees for Alaska.

He serves on multiple boards including the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board, Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs and the Natural Resources Damages Trustees
Council.

Randall earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri and a Juris Doctor from Lewis & Clark, Northwestern School of Law.

The appointment is effective immediately.

Governor Hickenlooper appointed Bob Randall as Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. CWF applauds this appointment. We have worked with Bob in his former capacity as Deputy Executive Director and most recently as Interim Director. He is highly skilled, knowledgeable and accessible. Below is the press release issued June 6, 2016.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Office of Gov. John Hickenlooper

Kathy Green | kathy.green@state.co.us<mailto:kathy.green@state.co.us>
|303-550-9276

Todd Hartman | todd.hartman@state.co.us<mailto:todd.hartman@state.co.us>
|303-513-3639

________________________________

Gov. Hickenlooper appoints Bob Randall as executive director of Dept. of Natural
Resources

DENVER ” Monday, June 6, 2016 ” Gov. John Hickenlooper today announced the appointment of Bob Randall as the executive director of the Colorado Department of
Natural Resources. Randall has served as the interim director of the department since February 2016.

œBob’s record of outstanding strategic decision making and his remarkable ability to work collaboratively with the diverse interests at DNR make him uniquely qualified
for the job, said Hickenlooper. œWith 20 years of experience in the field, he has proven to be an exemplary and committed steward of Colorado’s natural resources. We
look forward to continuing the good work.

Prior to the interim director role, Randall served as the deputy executive director since 2010, and assumed the additional role of chief operations officer in 2014.
Randall was responsible for advising the executive director on the development and execution of the Department’s policy, legislative, operational and communications initiatives and has played instrumental roles in numerous DNR projects, ranging from new regulatory standards at the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to
shaping Colorado’s approach to natural resource management on federal lands.

œI am honored and humbled by this opportunity, and am privileged to work alongside a remarkable staff of professionals throughout the entire Department, the people who
are at the heart of our agency’s success, Randall said. œI’m excited to carry on with the important work we do to manage and protect Colorado’s natural resources for people today and those who will depend upon the legacy we leave.

Prior to joining the state, Randall served as a staff attorney for Western Resource Advocates and for Trustees for Alaska.

He serves on multiple boards including the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board, Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs and the Natural Resources Damages Trustees
Council.

Randall earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri and a Juris Doctor from Lewis & Clark, Northwestern School of Law.

The appointment is effective immediately.

Governor Hickenlooper signed into law the Colorado Public Lands Day bill on May 17. Colorado is the first state in the nation to proclaim a public lands day.
It will be a day to celebrate and to educate youth about Colorado’s wonderful public lands: BLM and US Forest Service-managed lands, state wildlife areas and state parks.

Colorado General Assembly passed the Colorado Public Lands Day bill on May 6.

See earlier media below upon passage of the bill:
May 11, 2016 – Eric Galatas, Public News Service (CO)

Play Audio in Browser
Window
[A new bill marking Public Lands Day is expected to be signed by Gov. John
Hickenlooper. (Tljpatch0/Pixabay)
]

A new bill marking Public Lands Day is expected to be signed by Gov. John
Hickenlooper. (Tljpatch0/Pixabay)

DENVER [http://www.publicnewsservice.org/articlepx.gif?key=51845-1] – After months of partisan conflict, Colorado is set to become the first state in the nation to
officially celebrate its public lands. Senate Bill 21, now awaiting Gov. John Hickenlooper’s signature, sets the third Saturday in May as Public Lands Day.

Suzanne O’Neill, executive director of the Colorado Wildlife Federation, said themove is an opportunity to inspire young people who enjoy outdoor recreation to become stewards of wildlife habitat on lands owned by all Americans.

“This is something that we all can treasure, we can access for recreation,” she said. “It contributes a huge amount to our Colorado economy, and so it’s fitting and proper that we celebrate it.”

The bill was introduced on the first day of the session and quickly drew the ire of
some lawmakers who amended the measure to include anti-federal management
sentiments. Ultimately, both sides agreed to remove language politicizing the bill
and a version simply calling for the creation of a Public Lands Day cleared the
General Assembly.

Aaron Kindle, western sportsmen campaign manager for the National Wildlife Federation’s Rocky Mountain region, said the push for state takeover of public lands
is being bankrolled by large energy and extraction companies that find federal oversight – which includes considering factors such as impact on wildlife and water
quality and seeking public input – cumbersome to business. He said the majority of Coloradans want to celebrate, not seize, our public lands.

“They’re just so special, really,” he said. “It’s a uniquely American thing. People from all over the world come here, and we just need to make sure we understand how special they are and do our part to maintain and protect them.”

Kindle pointed to a recent survey by Colorado College that showed that 59 percent of residents oppose state takeover of public lands, and 77 percent say national lands are good for the state’s economy. According to a 2014 report by Colorado Parks and
Wildlife, outdoor recreation generates more than $34 billion in economic activity each year and creates more than 300,000 jobs.

Details of SB 21 are online at trackbill.com.
The Colorado College survey is at coloradocollege.edu.
The Parks and Wildlife report is at cpw.state.co.us.

Governor Hickenlooper signed into law the Colorado Public Lands Day bill on May 17. Colorado is the first state in the nation to proclaim a public lands day.
It will be a day to celebrate and to educate youth about Colorado’s wonderful public lands: BLM and US Forest Service-managed lands, state wildlife areas and state parks.

Colorado General Assembly passed the Colorado Public Lands Day bill on May 6.

See earlier media below upon passage of the bill:
May 11, 2016 – Eric Galatas, Public News Service (CO)

Play Audio in Browser
Window
[A new bill marking Public Lands Day is expected to be signed by Gov. John
Hickenlooper. (Tljpatch0/Pixabay)
]

A new bill marking Public Lands Day is expected to be signed by Gov. John
Hickenlooper. (Tljpatch0/Pixabay)

DENVER [http://www.publicnewsservice.org/articlepx.gif?key=51845-1] – After months of partisan conflict, Colorado is set to become the first state in the nation to
officially celebrate its public lands. Senate Bill 21, now awaiting Gov. John Hickenlooper’s signature, sets the third Saturday in May as Public Lands Day.

Suzanne O’Neill, executive director of the Colorado Wildlife Federation, said themove is an opportunity to inspire young people who enjoy outdoor recreation to become stewards of wildlife habitat on lands owned by all Americans.

“This is something that we all can treasure, we can access for recreation,” she said. “It contributes a huge amount to our Colorado economy, and so it’s fitting and proper that we celebrate it.”

The bill was introduced on the first day of the session and quickly drew the ire of
some lawmakers who amended the measure to include anti-federal management
sentiments. Ultimately, both sides agreed to remove language politicizing the bill
and a version simply calling for the creation of a Public Lands Day cleared the
General Assembly.

Aaron Kindle, western sportsmen campaign manager for the National Wildlife Federation’s Rocky Mountain region, said the push for state takeover of public lands
is being bankrolled by large energy and extraction companies that find federal oversight – which includes considering factors such as impact on wildlife and water
quality and seeking public input – cumbersome to business. He said the majority of Coloradans want to celebrate, not seize, our public lands.

“They’re just so special, really,” he said. “It’s a uniquely American thing. People from all over the world come here, and we just need to make sure we understand how special they are and do our part to maintain and protect them.”

Kindle pointed to a recent survey by Colorado College that showed that 59 percent of residents oppose state takeover of public lands, and 77 percent say national lands are good for the state’s economy. According to a 2014 report by Colorado Parks and
Wildlife, outdoor recreation generates more than $34 billion in economic activity each year and creates more than 300,000 jobs.

Details of SB 21 are online at trackbill.com.
The Colorado College survey is at coloradocollege.edu.
The Parks and Wildlife report is at cpw.state.co.us.

The Colorado Public Lands Day bill, S. 16-21 has passed the general assembly on May 6, 2016 and awaits the Governor’s signature. Colorado will become the first state to designate and celebrate an annual Public Lands Day. The bill provides that it will be celebrated beginning in 2017 on the third Saturday in May.

In late April, the Colorado Public Lands Day bill, S.16-21, had been referred to the Conference Committee to work out differences between the House and Senate versions. The issue was legislative declarations in the bill.

The Colorado Public Lands Day bill, S. 16-21 has passed the general assembly on May 6, 2016 and awaits the Governor’s signature. Colorado will become the first state to designate and celebrate an annual Public Lands Day. The bill provides that it will be celebrated beginning in 2017 on the third Saturday in May.

In late April, the Colorado Public Lands Day bill, S.16-21, had been referred to the Conference Committee to work out differences between the House and Senate versions. The issue was legislative declarations in the bill.

A huge fish kill of 5,600 trout, suckers and dace in the Big Thompson occurred on March 7, 2016 below Drake to Loveland. We learned of it on April 26 in the High Country News, in the Loveland Reporter-Herald and a press release issued by Colorado Parks & Wildlife. According to its press release, “CPW delayed news on the fish kill until the data had been thoroughly analyzed.” From what we have learned, apparently the fish kill was attributable to concrete work to rebuild the road and bridges resulting from the Sptember 2013 flood. We certainly hope there are consequences for this alarming mishap – such as fines or mitigation commensurate with the magnitude of the fish kill. The next major question is how to replenish fish in the river as this river escaped whirling disease a few years ago through natural reproduction.

Below is the press release issued by Colorado Parks & Wildlife:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jennifer Churchill
CPW NE Region PIO
303-291-7234

============================================================
Fishkill on Big Thompson being mitigated through partner meetings

DENVER — Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) confirmed today that there was a significant fish kill March 7 on the Lower North Fork Big Thompson and main stem Big Thompson River from Drake downstream to the canyon mouth in west Loveland.

The initial citizen reports prompted a multiple-agency response followed by a precautionary shutdown of water intake from the Big Thompson River by the city of Loveland. On finding that the event was limited to loss of fish including rainbow and brown trout, suckers and dace, CPW turned the focus of their investigation to verifying the origin, number of stream miles impacted, and the extent of kill.

Historic data and sample sites used by CPW for long-term monitoring of this famous recreational fishery was instrumental in defining loss to the natural resource. Before the September 2013 flood the Big Thompson fishery provided approximately $4.3 million annually on local economic impact. Restoring the recreational fishery and creating a new road-river interface with long-term resiliency and natural function remains a priority for multiple agencies, despite the latest setback.

While details of the fish kill are still being analyzed, it appears the event was associated with concrete work being performed in building and securing rockery walls
along Larimer County Road 43 and replacement of the nearby Storm Mountain Road Bridge which spans the lower North Fork, as part of the massive redesign of County Road 43 and the adjacent North Fork Big Thompson. The Storm Mountain Bridge is located approximately 0.4 miles upstream of the confluence at Drake, Colorado.

Using electro fishing, a non lethal industry standard method for estimating fish populations in rivers and streams in conjunction with citizen reports in the days immediately following the kill, CPW was able to pinpoint where fish were dying and locate the lower extent of the kill. The extent of the loss extended 8.3 miles below the confluence to Loveland’s water treatment facility where sentinel fish kept in tanks to monitor river water quality died. CPW did not find any sick or dead fish further downstream. By comparing CPW historic sites surveyed during the Fall of 2015 with post-incident surveys CPW provided a statistically accurate estimate of number of fish killed.

Ben Swigle, CPW’s aquatic biologist for the Big Thompson drainage, concluded sections of the Big Thompson River between Drake and Estes Park were not impacted and œthat healthy populations of both native and sportfish species in the upper sections will partially serve to repopulate sections of river compromised as part of
this unfortunate event. The 0.4 miles of the North Fork likely suffered a complete loss, whereas and the main stem Big Thompson from Drake downstream to the Loveland facility had suffered an estimated 52 percent loss. It is estimated that total loss was in excess of 5,600 fish.

CPW delayed news on the fish kill until data had been thoroughly analyzed. Throughout the investigation CPW worked with American Civil Constructors (ACC), the contractor for the County Road 43 flood recovery project being completed for the benefit of Larimer County under a contract administered by the Central Federal Lands Highway Division of the Federal Highway Administration, in delineating issues leading to this unfortunate event. The County Road 43 project represents a massive undertaking to rebuild the road in a manner that will be resilient to future flood
events and provide safe travel for motorists, while simultaneously restoring several miles of the North Fork Big Thompson to provide optimal flood flows and maximize aquatic and riparian habitat.

To date the project, which is slated for completion in late summer 2016, has replaced multiple bridges and constructed grouted rockery walls along many sections of road and river without issue. Unfortunately, site conditions, weather, soils, topography and other factors at the Storm Mountain Bridge created conditions that allowed movement of chemicals from concrete to enter the stream, causing a dramatic increase in pH (acidic balance of water) which when moving downstream sickened orkilled fish in its path.

Since the event, agencies involved in the Big Thompson project have been working together to establish a set of best management practices to minimize a similar event from occurring again. CPW is also working with agencies involved to determine a method of recovering the loss to the State’s fishery.

œWe have been pleased at the sincere and open effort by ACC, Larimer County, and Central Federal Lands, in working together to figure out what the problem was,
solutions to implement and now how we can work together to recover the loss in a manner that will provide long term improvement to the Big Thompson fishery, stated
Area Wildlife Manager Larry Rogstad. œWith the effort, planning and implementation that has occurred on the County Road 43 Project the public can be assured that the final result will be a safer road, improved canyon access, and a much improved river ecosystem.

Rogstad went on to say that, œWhile this has been a sad event, we hope that people will remain focused on the ultimate goal, long term and long lasting canyon recovery.

For more information on fishery management in Colorado, visit: ** http://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/Fishing.aspx
(http://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/Fishing.aspx)

A huge fish kill of 5,600 trout, suckers and dace in the Big Thompson occurred on March 7, 2016 below Drake to Loveland. We learned of it on April 26 in the High Country News, in the Loveland Reporter-Herald and a press release issued by Colorado Parks & Wildlife. According to its press release, “CPW delayed news on the fish kill until the data had been thoroughly analyzed.” From what we have learned, apparently the fish kill was attributable to concrete work to rebuild the road and bridges resulting from the Sptember 2013 flood. We certainly hope there are consequences for this alarming mishap – such as fines or mitigation commensurate with the magnitude of the fish kill. The next major question is how to replenish fish in the river as this river escaped whirling disease a few years ago through natural reproduction.

Below is the press release issued by Colorado Parks & Wildlife:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jennifer Churchill
CPW NE Region PIO
303-291-7234

============================================================
Fishkill on Big Thompson being mitigated through partner meetings

DENVER — Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) confirmed today that there was a significant fish kill March 7 on the Lower North Fork Big Thompson and main stem Big Thompson River from Drake downstream to the canyon mouth in west Loveland.

The initial citizen reports prompted a multiple-agency response followed by a precautionary shutdown of water intake from the Big Thompson River by the city of Loveland. On finding that the event was limited to loss of fish including rainbow and brown trout, suckers and dace, CPW turned the focus of their investigation to verifying the origin, number of stream miles impacted, and the extent of kill.

Historic data and sample sites used by CPW for long-term monitoring of this famous recreational fishery was instrumental in defining loss to the natural resource. Before the September 2013 flood the Big Thompson fishery provided approximately $4.3 million annually on local economic impact. Restoring the recreational fishery and creating a new road-river interface with long-term resiliency and natural function remains a priority for multiple agencies, despite the latest setback.

While details of the fish kill are still being analyzed, it appears the event was associated with concrete work being performed in building and securing rockery walls
along Larimer County Road 43 and replacement of the nearby Storm Mountain Road Bridge which spans the lower North Fork, as part of the massive redesign of County Road 43 and the adjacent North Fork Big Thompson. The Storm Mountain Bridge is located approximately 0.4 miles upstream of the confluence at Drake, Colorado.

Using electro fishing, a non lethal industry standard method for estimating fish populations in rivers and streams in conjunction with citizen reports in the days immediately following the kill, CPW was able to pinpoint where fish were dying and locate the lower extent of the kill. The extent of the loss extended 8.3 miles below the confluence to Loveland’s water treatment facility where sentinel fish kept in tanks to monitor river water quality died. CPW did not find any sick or dead fish further downstream. By comparing CPW historic sites surveyed during the Fall of 2015 with post-incident surveys CPW provided a statistically accurate estimate of number of fish killed.

Ben Swigle, CPW’s aquatic biologist for the Big Thompson drainage, concluded sections of the Big Thompson River between Drake and Estes Park were not impacted and œthat healthy populations of both native and sportfish species in the upper sections will partially serve to repopulate sections of river compromised as part of
this unfortunate event. The 0.4 miles of the North Fork likely suffered a complete loss, whereas and the main stem Big Thompson from Drake downstream to the Loveland facility had suffered an estimated 52 percent loss. It is estimated that total loss was in excess of 5,600 fish.

CPW delayed news on the fish kill until data had been thoroughly analyzed. Throughout the investigation CPW worked with American Civil Constructors (ACC), the contractor for the County Road 43 flood recovery project being completed for the benefit of Larimer County under a contract administered by the Central Federal Lands Highway Division of the Federal Highway Administration, in delineating issues leading to this unfortunate event. The County Road 43 project represents a massive undertaking to rebuild the road in a manner that will be resilient to future flood
events and provide safe travel for motorists, while simultaneously restoring several miles of the North Fork Big Thompson to provide optimal flood flows and maximize aquatic and riparian habitat.

To date the project, which is slated for completion in late summer 2016, has replaced multiple bridges and constructed grouted rockery walls along many sections of road and river without issue. Unfortunately, site conditions, weather, soils, topography and other factors at the Storm Mountain Bridge created conditions that allowed movement of chemicals from concrete to enter the stream, causing a dramatic increase in pH (acidic balance of water) which when moving downstream sickened orkilled fish in its path.

Since the event, agencies involved in the Big Thompson project have been working together to establish a set of best management practices to minimize a similar event from occurring again. CPW is also working with agencies involved to determine a method of recovering the loss to the State’s fishery.

œWe have been pleased at the sincere and open effort by ACC, Larimer County, and Central Federal Lands, in working together to figure out what the problem was,
solutions to implement and now how we can work together to recover the loss in a manner that will provide long term improvement to the Big Thompson fishery, stated
Area Wildlife Manager Larry Rogstad. œWith the effort, planning and implementation that has occurred on the County Road 43 Project the public can be assured that the final result will be a safer road, improved canyon access, and a much improved river ecosystem.

Rogstad went on to say that, œWhile this has been a sad event, we hope that people will remain focused on the ultimate goal, long term and long lasting canyon recovery.

For more information on fishery management in Colorado, visit: ** http://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/Fishing.aspx
(http://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/Fishing.aspx)

Colorado’s Revised State Wildlife Action Plan was approved by the US Fish and Wildlife Service on March 30, 2016.

cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/StateWildlifeActionPlan.aspx

Here is Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s press release:

April 6, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

http://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/StateWildlifeActionPlan.aspx

Manda Walters
CPW Communications
303-866-3203 x4608

============================================================

Colorado’s Revised State Wildlife Action Plan approved by USFWS

DENVER – The ** State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) Comprehensive Revision
(http://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/StateWildlifeActionPlan.aspx) was approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in a March 30, 2016 memo to
Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director, Bob Broscheid. The action follows an effort that spanned nearly two years and involved conservation groups, federal, state and
municipal agencies, private landowners and other stakeholders. œThe State Wildlife Action Plan is an important conservation planning tool for resource and land managers, said Broscheid. œThis revision ensures we are working with the most up-to-date and scientifically-sound information regarding Coloradohabitats and wildlife.

The action plan identifies and prioritizes ** at-risk species
(http://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/WildlifeSpecies/SWAP/CO_SWAP_Chapter2.pdf) and ** habitats
(http://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/WildlifeSpecies/SWAP/CO_SWAP_Chapter3.pdf) while outlining ** conservation actions
(http://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/WildlifeSpecies/SWAP/CO_SWAP_Chapter5.pdf) that help protect and conserve the species of concern. The plan is intended to build consensus and collaboration by identifying the best conservation management practices for federal, state, municipal agencies, as well as conservation-minded non-governmental organizations and others, dedicated to conserving the state’s most vulnerable wildlife.

Approval of the SWAP by USFWS provides CPW access to $1 million in USFWS State Wildlife Grants for programs that benefit at-risk species, such as Gunnison sage-grouse, black-footed ferrets, Colorado river cutthroat trout and many others. Grant eligibility is determined based upon having an approved SWAP.

œThe revised SWAP is more strategic and precise than the previous document, said Broscheid. œPartner agencies, nonprofit groups and interested publics have, and continue to be, important contributors to this effort.

CPW revises the State Wildlife Action Plan every 10 years, as mandated by USFWS. The action plan employs a regional approach to conservation, one that takes into
consideration the complexity inherent to unique landscapes and ecosystems. In addition to the conservation strategies for priority habitats and wildlife species, the comprehensive review also addresses climate change vulnerability and an assessment on conservation of plants, two components that were not addressed in the original 2006 SWAP version.

While the SWAP is not a regulatory document, it does inform conservation priorities. The SWAP is available online at **
http://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/StateWildlifeActionPlan.aspx
(http://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/StateWildlifeActionPlan.aspx)