The Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) approved unanimously Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s (CPW) high priority habitat maps at its rulemaking hearing on October 5, 2023. The particular maps in this year’s maps rulemaking are big game in the northeast region (of CPW) and statewide grouse and raptor maps. CWF was a party to …
Great news! Vail Town Council voted 5-2 on October 3 to acquire the bighorn sheep essential severe winter range in East Vail. The price is approximately $17.5 million for the 23-acre parcel. Earlier this year, Eagle County District Court Chief Judge had granted the Town of Vail immediate possession of the parcel following a lengthy …
The Bureau of Land Management has concluded its meetings for Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for its Grand Junction and Colorado River Valley field offices. Link to draft The agency published its draft SEIS on August 4. The draft has expanded the alternatives since scoping. The alternatives delve into areas that are proposed as open …
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 …
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, …
On July 24, 2023 the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released its proposed rule for common sense reforms to aspects of onshore oil and gas leasing on federal lands. The reforms were recommended in the Department of Interior’s November 2021 report and implement the Inflation Reduction Act’s provisions. Among the reforms are an increase in …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Colorado Wildlife Federation