Category «News»

USFWS has issued final EIS for CO experimental wolves population

On September 15, 2023 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) issued its final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and draft record of decision for Colorado to establish an experimental gray wolves population. The FEIS was announced ahead of schedule as it had been expected in October. Colorado Parks and Wildlife and many organizations including CWF …

Not so fast: Uinta Basin Railway plan stalled

On August 18, 2023, in a 66-page opinion, the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a setback to the Uinta Basin Railway’s plan to transport billions of gallons of crude oil from Utah through Colorado along the Colorado River. In the case brought by Eagle County and 5 environmental groups, …

Governor, CPW, GOCO announce regional partnership grants

On July 11, 2023  Governor Polis, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Great Outdoors Colorado announced the regional partnerships that were awarded support funding in this grant round. The grant funding recipients in this grant round are: Envision Chaffee County  $197,479 Metro Denver Nature Alliance  $250,000 Montelores Coallition   $100,00 NoCO Places 2050   $102,532 Pikes Peak Outdoor …

BLM releases long-awaited Proposed Resource Mgmt Plan for eastern Colorado

On July 7, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released its long-awaited Proposed Resource Management Plan and final Environmental Impact Statement for the Eastern Colorado planning area. It covers the public lands it manages in South Park and in eastern Colorado. This includes surface lands and federal mineral estate. The Proposed Resource Management Plan includes …

Governor Polis signs Water-wise Landscaping in HOAs bill

On May 17, Governor Polis signed into law SB23-178  Water-wise Landscaping In Homeowners’ Association Communities. The bill was co-sponsored by Senators Sonya Jaquez Lewis and Perry Will, and Representatives Karen McCormick and Mandy Lindsay. Native plants that attract pollinators are a great option. The new provides that an association’s guidelines or rules must: Not prohibit …

Governor vetoes wolf reintroduction bill SB 23-256

  On May 16, Governor Polis vetoed SB 23-256. CWF had supported the bill and is disappointed by the veto. Here was our letter to the editor: We respectfully urge Governor Polis to sign wolf reintroduction timing bill into law. Our organization, Colorado Wildlife Federation, supports Senate Bill 23-256 to enable responsible reintroduction of wolves as …

Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Senate co-sponsors added

On May 9, 10 new Senate co-sponsors have been added to Recovering America’s Wildlife Act: Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), Sen. Thomas Carper (D-DE), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS), Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), Sen. John Boozman (R-AR), Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), and Sen. Ted Budd …

BLM proposed Public Lands Rule public meetings

The Bureau of Land Management announced its schedule for public meetings to discuss its proposed Public Lands rule. The purpose of the rule is to elevate conservation as a use of BLM lands on par with other uses. The agency proposes to define conservation to include protection and restoration and provides tools and processes to …