Governor Polis signed into law the state budget on May 1, 2023, pursuant to the hard work by the Joint Budget Committee this session. We are very pleased that the budget includes $500 million for the Colorado Wildlife Safe Passages Fund within the Department of Transportation. During the 2022 session $5 million was allocated as seed money for the newly created fund. Those funds have contributed to several very important wildlife crossings projects.
Category: Uncategorized
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Denver Gains Community Wildlife Garden Habitat Certification
On October 17, 2022 Denver Parks and Recreation announced that the City and County of Denver has achieved the National Wildlife Federation’s Community Wildlife Habitat Certification. Denver is the largest city in the western United States to achieve this certification. The process of certifying as an NWF Community Wildlife Habitat has resulted in the creation of habitat gardens throughout the city while elevating citizens’ awareness of their multiple benefits for Denver’s people, wildlife and water.
Spearheaded by Denver Parks and Recreation, these efforts are in partnership with the National Wildlife Federation, Denver Water, Denver Public Schools, Denver Botanic Gardens and Colorado Wildlife Federation. This coalition has and will continue to collectively engage and collaborate with residents, businesses, schools and other stakeholders to beautify and enhance the places where Denverites spend most of their time. Colorado Wildlife Federation has helped and is a partner to NWF for Colorado certifications. Also, Denver Parks and Recreation’s Wildlife Program Administrator is a member of the Colorado Wildlife Federation Board and has been an active participant in helping CWF and DPR work toward their goal of increasing wildlife education and public outreach efforts.
Congratulations Denver !
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CWF, NWF submit amicus brief re US Forest Service failure to protect migration corridors in Rio Grande National Forest
On August 12, 2022 Colorado Wildlife Federation and National Wildlife Federation submitted a joint amicus brief focusing on failure of the US Forest Service (USFS) to protect migration corridors in the Rio Grande National Forest in its forest plan. This landscape is situated in south-central Colorado and functions as a crucial, narrow corridor for wildlife migrating to their winter range in north-central New Mexico. Big game migrate from scattered high-elevation summer ranges in Colorado to this at-risk low elevation winter range in the Chalma Basin special interest area. This region has complex wildlife movements evidenced by data gathered from numerous telemetry studies.The Spruce Hole special interest area in the Rio Grande National Forest plays a key role in wildlife connectivity and migration in the Upper Rio Grande watershed. The 36,000-acre Spruce Hole special interest area also is identified as a major wildlife movement zone by Natural Heritage New Mexico and contains key wildlife corridors at the Colorado-New Mexico border. It is incumbent on the USFS to safeguard the area from fragmentation and development so that this wildlife connectivity can remain healthy. The brief was filed in support of Petitioners’ Opening Brief. Case is filed in the US District Court for the District of Colorado. Earlier, CWF and NWF had protested the USFS Rio Grande National Forest plan, after advocating unsuccessfully for these protections consistently throughout the USFS planning process.
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CO Senate Passes Bill to fund Wildlife Highway Crossings
On May 3, the Colorado Senate passed the bill to provide $5 million in funding for wildlife highway crossing projects on areas of roads that experience high rates of wildlife -motor vehicle collisions. In short, the Safe Crossings for Colorado Wildlife and Motorists bill (SB 22-151) would set up a “Colorado Wildlife Safe Passages Fund” with a $5 million appropriation. A very good start. The Senate co-sponsors are Senators Danielson and Story. the House co-sponsors are Representatives McCluskie and Will. CWF strongly supports the bill. Next step is the Colorado House.
Here is the bill text: Safe Crossings bill
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Grants for First Round of Colorado Regional Partnerships Announced
Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced on July 1 the Regional Partnerships that will receive grant funding for capacity building and planning in this first round of applications. Funds available for this first round was $600,000. Regional Partnerships that receive grants have agreed to develop a regional conservation and recreation plan that contain a vision, goals and measurable objectives, conservation goals and needs, outdoor recreation goals and needs, priority actions and projects, implementation and measurements for monitoring progress. The concept of regional partnerships had been announced in Governor Polis Executive Order on October 30, 2020.
The seven that will receive this initial round of grant funding are: Envision Recreation in Balance Partnership, Metro Denver Nature Alliance, NoCo PLACES 2050, Ouray Recreation and Conservation Alliance, Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance, Routt Recreation Roundtable, and San Luis Valley Great Outdoors.
Below is the announcement.
Regional Partnerships that will receive funding – first round
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Grants for First Round of Colorado Regional Partnerships Announced
Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced on July 1 the Regional Partnerships that will receive grant funding for capacity building and planning in this first round of applications. Funds available for this first round was $600,000. Regional Partnerships that receive grants have agreed to develop a regional conservation and recreation plan that contain a vision, goals and measurable objectives, conservation goals and needs, outdoor recreation goals and needs, priority actions and projects, implementation and measurements for monitoring progress. The concept of regional partnerships had been announced in Governor Polis Executive Order on October 30, 2020.
The seven that will receive this initial round of grant funding are: Envision Recreation in Balance Partnership, Metro Denver Nature Alliance, NoCo PLACES 2050, Ouray Recreation and Conservation Alliance, Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance, Routt Recreation Roundtable, and San Luis Valley Great Outdoors.
Below is the announcement.
Regional Partnerships that will receive funding – first round
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It’s CO Backcountry Winter Safety Awareness Week
The Governor proclaimed the week of December 7-13 as Colorado Backcountry Winter Safety Awareness Week. To reduce any increased impact on Colorado’s natural resources and search and rescue teams Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Colorado Tourism Office, Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry, Colorado Avalanche Information Center and Colorado Search and Rescue Association developed a backcountry safety pledge. Take the Pledge
Also see CareForColorado which contains 7 Care for Colorado Principles, Care for Colorado video, Trash the Trash, and other education resources.
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Colorado Outdoor Recreation During the Pandemic
June 5: Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s campgrounds generally are open for groups of 10 or fewer. But before planning a reservation check to see if the county in which the site is located has requested continued closure.
Here is a link to county health orders:http://counties.coloradogeodev.com/safer.html
Note that at State Parks “playgrounds, picnic areas, group areas and designated swim areas” are closed. For more information, go to
https://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/COVID-19-Response.aspx
April 6: As you have heard many times by now, “this is a pandemic, not a vacation.” The message from the Governor, Department of Natural Resources and Colorado Parks and Wildlife is that if you are going to enjoy outdoor recreation, do so responsibly and close to home. Maintain the 6 feet of social distancing. Stay home if sick. Decision making as to which areas are open continues to evolve and is subject to rapid change. As of now, State Parks remain open – except Sylan Lake State Park in Eagle County. But playgrounds, campgrounds, dispersed camping and camping facilities are closed in state parks. Here are links to Colorado Parks and Wildlife information and responses to frequently asked questions:
Also download the COTREX (Colorado Traill Explorer) online map app or go to https://trails.colorado.gov
as CPW will update the map regularly to track trail-related COVID-19 closures across Colorado. The map also will help you to find an alternative trail if the one you have chosen is too full to enable you to maintain 6 feet of distancing.
There is a quite a patchwork of closures. Rocky Mountain National Park and Mesa Verde National Park are closed. US Forest Service has closed campgrounds, restroom picnic sites and “developed” trailheads – which means those with bathrooms and parking lots. Many other trails remain open. Pack out any trash you have. And check on your local areas before going. For example, Waterton Canyon and the Manitou Incline are closed.
For your safety, remember that first responders and medical personnel are stretched near or beyond capacity. Finally, note the the Governor has asked all of us to wear non-medical masks or other face coverings such as a bandana when we leave home to recreate outdoors. (Upon returning wash your hands immediately for 20 seconds with soap.)
For Colorado Public Lands Day, May 16, keep enjoying nature close to home rather than traveling to public lands and waters in other counties.
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Colorado Outdoor Recreation During the Pandemic
June 5: Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s campgrounds generally are open for groups of 10 or fewer. But before planning a reservation check to see if the county in which the site is located has requested continued closure.
Here is a link to county health orders:http://counties.coloradogeodev.com/safer.html
Note that at State Parks “playgrounds, picnic areas, group areas and designated swim areas” are closed. For more information, go to
https://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/COVID-19-Response.aspx
April 6: As you have heard many times by now, “this is a pandemic, not a vacation.” The message from the Governor, Department of Natural Resources and Colorado Parks and Wildlife is that if you are going to enjoy outdoor recreation, do so responsibly and close to home. Maintain the 6 feet of social distancing. Stay home if sick. Decision making as to which areas are open continues to evolve and is subject to rapid change. As of now, State Parks remain open – except Sylan Lake State Park in Eagle County. But playgrounds, campgrounds, dispersed camping and camping facilities are closed in state parks. Here are links to Colorado Parks and Wildlife information and responses to frequently asked questions:
Also download the COTREX (Colorado Traill Explorer) online map app or go to https://trails.colorado.gov
as CPW will update the map regularly to track trail-related COVID-19 closures across Colorado. The map also will help you to find an alternative trail if the one you have chosen is too full to enable you to maintain 6 feet of distancing.
There is a quite a patchwork of closures. Rocky Mountain National Park and Mesa Verde National Park are closed. US Forest Service has closed campgrounds, restroom picnic sites and “developed” trailheads – which means those with bathrooms and parking lots. Many other trails remain open. Pack out any trash you have. And check on your local areas before going. For example, Waterton Canyon and the Manitou Incline are closed.
For your safety, remember that first responders and medical personnel are stretched near or beyond capacity. Finally, note the the Governor has asked all of us to wear non-medical masks or other face coverings such as a bandana when we leave home to recreate outdoors. (Upon returning wash your hands immediately for 20 seconds with soap.)
For Colorado Public Lands Day, May 16, keep enjoying nature close to home rather than traveling to public lands and waters in other counties.
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Idaho Judge issued preliminary injunction that reinstates at least temporarily 2015 greater sage grouse plans
On October 16 an Idaho federal district judge issued a preliminary injunction that has reinstated temporarily the 2015 greater sage grouse plans. These 2015 BLM plans, including the plan in Colorado, were the result of collaborative work by diverse stakeholders over several years to fashion measures designed to help protect this imperiled bird and its sagebrush habitat relied upon by many other species in northwest Colorado. The 2015 Colorado plan specified some grouse habitat as closed to leasing that became opened in the 2019 plan that superseded it. If BLM appeals the ruling then the 2019 plan likely would be reinstated during the appeal. The question now during this interim period pending an appeal or final ruling is what BLM will do with the parcels within a 1-mile radius of sage grouse leks it leased in its September oil and gas lease sale but has not not yet transferred to the successful bidders. In addition, BLM has proposed to lease several similar parcels in its December and March 2020 lease sales. At the least, those parcels should be removed from consideration in those sales, pending an appeal or final ruling.