fbpx

The I-70 Scout & Eastern Colorado News

Author: I-70 Scout

  • Boat ramp at Jumbo (Julesburg) Reservoir to close on Aug. 18

    Boat ramp at Jumbo (Julesburg) Reservoir to close on Aug. 18

    LOGAN/SEDGWICK, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife is announcing the closure of the boat ramp at Jumbo (Julesburg) Reservoir in Logan and Sedgwick Counties, effective August 18.

    The closure comes due to low water levels that have eliminated access to trailer-launched boats, which creates unsafe boating conditions and the ramp unsuitable for use. To maximize angling opportunities, Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) inspections will still be offered for hand-launched vessels with electric or fueled motors between the hours of 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Any vessels that are both hand-launched and human-powered are exempt from ANS inspections and can still be used at Jumbo as long as water levels allow.

    Vehicles are prohibited from driving down to the water’s edge to fish or to hand launch a vessel. Anyone walking near the water’s edge must do so at their own risk and be cautious for deep mud.

    Due to the high irrigation demand created by severe drought, the water level in Jumbo Reservoir is expected to decline and may result in a loss of the entire fishery resource. As such, a public fish salvage was enacted on July 25 in order to optimize the use of the fishery resource. That fish salvage is still in operation as outlined below:

    • The emergency fish salvage is permitted only at Jumbo (Julesburg) Reservoir and only during daylight hours.
    • All anglers must have a valid Colorado fishing license in accordance with state statutes.
    • No commercial angling is allowed.
    • Only angling methods that are currently legal at the reservoir are allowed. Learn more by clicking here.
    • Current size, bag, and possession limits for all species are suspended for Jumbo (Julesburg) Reservoir until the emergency public fish salvage is terminated.
    • Notification of the emergency public fish salvage opening and closure will be made through press releases, and signs will also be placed at the reservoir.
    • No motorized vehicles, including ATVs, are allowed on the lake bed.
    • The end date of the emergency public fish salvage will be announced by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

    Similar to many northeastern plains reservoirs, Jumbo Reservoir was constructed to store irrigation water for agricultural use and is used as a recreation resource secondarily.

    CPW plans to rebuild the fishery as soon as water levels allow. While the reservoir’s fishery is being rebuilt, anglers are encouraged to fish the other reservoirs on Colorado’s northeastern plains.

  • Invitation for Coverage – Riverdale Dragon Boat Regatta

    Invitation for Coverage – Riverdale Dragon Boat Regatta

    What: Riverdale Dragon Boat Regatta – Dragon Boat Races, Live Music and Dance Performances, Artists, and Food Trucks

    Who: A partnership between Colorado Dragon Boat; Adams County Parks, Open Space & Cultural Arts, and Colorado Dragon Boat Alliance (CODA)

    Where: Riverdale Regional Park – Mann Nyholt Lake
    9755 Henderson Rd.
    Brighton, CO 80601

     
    When: Saturday, Aug. 27, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

    Why: The Adams County Riverdale Dragon Boat Regatta pays tribute to the generations of Asian American and Pacific Islanders who have enriched Adams County’s history for generations. Dragon boats have long been a symbol of community, and it’s that sense of community we believe the Riverdale Dragon Boat Regatta will bring to one of the most diverse counties in Colorado. The event is free and open to all! Click here for the schedule of events.

    ###

    About Adams County

    With rich traditions and history, Adams County offers the best of suburban and rural life – vibrant cities, quiet towns, and miles of recreation. Located in the Denver metro area, Adams County is the state’s 5th largest county serving a population of nearly 520,000 residents. Adams County is home to the cities of Brighton, Commerce City, Federal Heights, Northglenn, and Thornton; portions of Arvada, Aurora, and Westminster; the town of Bennett; and a portion of the town of Lochbuie. Unincorporated communities include Henderson, Strasburg, and Watkins. Stay up to date on the latest county news and information on adcogov.org,Facebook, Twitter, Nextdoor, and Instagram.

  • 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office – Fall Citizen’s Academy

    The 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office has a few spots left for its a Fall Citizens’ Academy. They have  The application deadline is Friday, August 26. For more information or to register, click here: https://www.da18.org/community-outreach/citizens-academy/.

    Here are some short videos about the different topics being covered:

    DA Kellner: https://fb.watch/f4ChWGkVhM/ 

    Cold Case – Chris Wilcox: https://fb.watch/f4CnERjXX7/

    Domestic Violence – Liz Oldham: https://fb.watch/f4CqZjoj5G/ 

    SVU – Chris Gallo:  https://fb.watch/f4CvuT5GDT/

  • USDA Announces New Opportunities to Improve Nutrient Management

    Historic funding from Inflation Reduction Act an unprecedented investment in American agriculture

    DENVER, CO – Aug. 17, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) welcomed the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, which will deliver $19.5 billion in new conservation funding to support climate-smart agriculture. This historic funding will bolster the new steps that USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced today to improve opportunities for nutrient management. NRCS will target funding, increasing program flexibilities, launch a new outreach campaign to promote nutrient management’s economic benefits, in addition to expanding partnerships to develop nutrient management plans. This is part of USDA’s broader effort to address future fertilizer availability and cost challenges for U.S. producers.

    “President Biden and Congress have taken an important, historic step towards easing the burden of inflation on the American public and meeting the moment on climate,” said Randy Randall, Acting NRCS State Conservationist for Colorado. “Agriculture has long been at the forefront of our fight against climate change. From climate-smart agriculture, to supporting healthy forests and conservation, to tax credits, to biofuels, infrastructure and beyond, the Inflation Reduction Act provides USDA with significant additional resources to continue to lead the charge.”

    Through USDA’s conservation programs, America’s farmers and ranchers will have streamlined opportunities to improve their nutrient management planning, which provides conservation benefits while mitigating the impacts of supply chain disruptions and increased input costs.

    “The pandemic and Ukraine invasion have led to supply chain disruptions, higher prices of inputs, and goods shortages in countries across the globe,” Randall goes on to say. “USDA is responding to the needs of U.S. producers and consumers by adding program flexibilities, expanding options and assistance, and investing in nutrient management strategies to help farmers address local resource concerns and global food security while also improving their bottom line.”

    Specifically, NRCS efforts include:

    • Streamlined Nutrient Management Initiative – A streamlined imitative will incentivize nutrient management activities through key conservation programs, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), EQIP Conservation Incentive Contracts, and the Conservation Stewardship Program. The initiative will use a ranking threshold for pre-approval and include a streamlined and expedited application process, targeted outreach to small-scale and historically underserved producers, and coordination with FSA to streamline the program eligibility process for producers new to USDA. In addition to otherwise available funding at the state level, NRCS is targeting additional FY23 funds for nutrient management. NRCS is also announcing a streamlined funding opportunity for up to $40 million in nutrient management grant opportunities through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).
    • Nutrient Management Economic Benefits Outreach Campaign – A new outreach campaign will highlight the economic benefits of nutrient management planning for farmers. The potential net savings to farmers who adopt a nutrient management plan is estimated to be an average of $30 per acre for cropland.  It is estimated that there are 89 million acres of cropland (28% of total U.S. cropland) currently exceeding the nitrogen loss threshold; and if all those acres implemented a nutrient management plan, the average net savings would be $2.6 billion. NRCS staff develop nutrient management plans to help producers use nutrient resources effectively and efficiently to adequately supply soils and plants with necessary nutrients while minimizing transport of nutrients to ground and surface waters. Producer information is available at farmers.gov/global-food-security.
    • Expanded Nutrient Management Support through Technical Service Providers Streamlining and Pilots – New agreements with key partners who have existing capacity to support nutrient management planning and technical assistance will expand benefits and serve as a model to continue streamlining the certification process for Technical Service Providers (TSPs).  NRCS is also developing new opportunities to support partner training frameworks, nutrient management outreach and education, and new incentive payments through TSP partners for nutrient management planning and implementation.

    Alongside the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act and American Rescue Plan, the Inflation Reduction Act provides once-in-a-generation investment in rural communities and their infrastructure needs, while also responding to the climate crisis. The bill invests $40 billion invest billions into existing USDA programs promoting climate smart agriculture, rural energy efficiency and reliability, forest conservation, and more. Approximately $20 billion of this investment will support conservation programs that are oversubscribed, meaning that more producers will have access to conservation assistance that will support healthier land and water, improve the resilience of their operations, support their bottom line, and combat climate change. This includes:

    • $8.45 billion for EQIP
    • $4.95 billion for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)
    • $3.25 billion for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
    • $1.4 billion for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)

    For more information and resources for nutrient management planning, visit farmers.gov/global-food-insecurity. Contact NRCS at your local USDA Service Center to get assistance with a nutrient management plan for your land.

  • As fall approaches hyperphagia begins, bear activity increases in preparation for winter

    Remember to keep food away from bears for your safety and theirs. Photo courtesy of DJ Hannigan

    CPW reminds people to remain bear aware during hyperphagia – a bear’s time to pack on pounds

    DENVER – Black bears in Colorado are entering hyperphagia and will spend up to 20 hours a day trying to eat more than 20,000 calories to fatten up for winter. As bears start to prepare for hibernation and hunt for food, Coloradans may see more bear activity in urban areas.

    Most conflicts between people and bears can be traced to easily accessible human food, trash, fruit trees, shrubs or other attractants with strong odors as a bear’s natural drive to eat can overcome its fear of humans. When bears become too comfortable around humans, they can destroy property or even become a threat to human safety.

    Significant portions of Colorado experienced a hard freeze in May, resulting in the loss of a majority of food sources above 7,000 feet in elevation. Because of this, coupled with the continued drought across Colorado, bears will be on the move looking for much-needed calories to survive through the year and prepare for the winter.

    CPW’s most reported conflicts are from attractants such as trash, bird seed, pet food, and barbecue grills. Removing attractants can help eliminate conflicts and encounters with black bears. It is especially critical that people are extra vigilant and proactive in removing all attractants from outside homes and campsites.

    A black bear’s natural diet consists of berries, fruits, nuts, plants and grasses that grow naturally in the foothills and forests. Drought conditions have impacted the prevalence of food sources for black bears, however, natural food sources are still available.

    “Research shows that bears prefer natural sources of food. But they will find sources of human-provided food if it’s available, when natural food sources are limited, which can become dangerous to humans,” said CPW Northwest Region Senior Wildlife Biologist Brad Banulis. “Preventing bears from relying on human food sources takes a community effort, and it’s important that we all take proactive steps to limit human food sources in order to avoid any possible conflicts with bears and bearproof our homes.”

    Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers these tips and precautions to help you prevent human/wildlife conflicts that can also save a bear’s life.

    Bearproofing your home:

    • Keep garbage in a well-secured location.
    • Only put out garbage on the morning of pickup.
    • Clean garbage cans regularly to keep them free of food odors: ammonia is effective.
    • Use a bear-resistant trash can or dumpster.
    • Don’t leave pet food or stock feed outside.
    • Bird feeders are a major source of bear/human conflicts. Attract birds naturally with flowers and water baths. Do not hang bird feeders from April 15 to Nov. 15.
    • Do not attract other wildlife by feeding them, such as deer, turkeys or small mammals.
    • Don’t allow bears to become comfortable around your house. If you see one, yell at it, throw things at it, make noise to scare it off.
    • Secure compost piles. Bears are attracted to the scent of rotting food.
    • Clean the grill after each use.
    • Clean-up thoroughly after picnics in the yard or on the deck.
    • If you have fruit trees, don’t allow the fruit to rot on the ground.
    • If you keep small livestock, keep animals in a fully covered enclosure. Construct electric fencing if possible. Don’t store livestock food outside, keep enclosures clean to minimize odors, hang rags soaked in ammonia and/or Pine-Sol around the enclosure.
    • If you have beehives, install electric fencing where allowed.
    • Talk to your neighbors and kids about being bear aware.
    • Keep garage doors closed.

    Cars, traveling and campsites:

    • Lock your doors when you’re away from home and at night.
    • Keep the bottom floor windows of your house closed when you’re not at home.
    • Do not keep food in your vehicle; roll up windows and lock the doors of your vehicles.
    • When car-camping, secure all food and coolers in a locked vehicle.
    • Keep a clean camp, whether you’re in a campground or in the backcountry.
    • When camping in the backcountry, hang food 100 feet or more from the campsite; don’t bring any food into your tent.
    • Cook food well away from your tent; wash dishes thoroughly.

    CPW asks all residents and visitors to help save Colorado’s bears by being actively bear aware throughout the late summer and fall seasons. Bear conflicts and, unfortunately, bear euthanization is most often traced back to human behavior. It is all of our responsibility to help minimize risks to humans and bears alike by being mindful of our impacts.

    For more information on bears in Colorado, visit cpw.state.co.us/bears. If you have questions or need to report bear problems, call your nearest CPW office.

  • Western states to sizzle this week as heat builds

    Western states to sizzle this week as heat builds

    The hottest regions outside Central California are likely to be southern Oregon, the Willamette Valley and areas east of the Washington Cascades. By Wednesday, temperatures are forecast to climb to near or over 100 F across most of these locations. 

    AccuWeather Global Weather Center – August 15, 2022 – Summertime heat is set to build across the West as a gradual shift in the weather pattern occurs this week. Forecasters say temperatures will steadily climb between 10 and 18 degrees Fahrenheit above average in the upcoming days in cities such as Seattle, Portland and Medford, Oregon.


    Excessive heat watches were issued across numerous counties from north-central California, to the San Joaquin Valley for this week (shown in red).

    “Much like recent hot stretches, this will be caused by a large bulge in the jet stream, acting to keep the storm track lifted north and allowing temperatures to surge in the coming days,” explained AccuWeather Meteorologist Andrew Johnson-Levine.

    The influx of hot weather will expand across Northwest states like Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana; however, the heat will also grip portions of Central California and Nevada, throughout the week.

    An expansive swath of excessive heat watches have been issued from north-central California, through the San Joaquin Valley. The watches cover numerous counties through the latter half of the week and span from Redding to Bakersfield, California.

    Western states to sizzle this week as heat builds (Full Story) >>

  • ICYMI: Hickenlooper, Advocates Welcome Senate Climate Deal at Denver Small Business

    Hickenlooper: “This bill will be the largest climate rescue investment in the history of the world”

    Denver, CO – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper joined climate advocates and clean energy leaders in Denver today for a press conference to highlight the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, an ambitious bill to lower energy costs, increase clean energy production, and reduce carbon emissions roughly 40 percent by 2030.

    For video, CLICK HERE. 

    “This bill will be the largest climate rescue investment in the history of the world,” said Hickenlooper. “We’re going to look back in fifty years and say this was the beginning of the great transition. We can fight inflation by transitioning to a new energy economy – less expensive energy in your home, less expensive commuter costs, less expensive costs of living.”

    “This act is what our planet and communities need and deserve at a time of increasingly extreme weather and rising costs hurting families across our state and our country,” said Lorena Gonzalez, Conservation Colorado Climate Advocate. “It’s an investment in our future, a lifeline for our children and for communities trying to survive the climate impacts of today.”

    “As families across the country battle with soaring gas prices, devastating extreme weather and inflation, this act will bring much-needed relief with billions of dollars dedicated to environmental justice, including reducing air pollution in urban communities while supporting rural communities,” said Patricia Ferrero, Protegete Leadership Development Manager. “We all deserve to breathe clean air and have healthy environments to live in. It is time for the Senate to pass this legislation.”

    “Without [Senator Hickenlooper’s] perseverance and fortitude in helping to push this in the Senate, we wouldn’t be where we are today. As Governor Hickenlooper, he put us on the map by adopting the nation’s first ever pollution rules to cut methane emissions from the oil and gas sector,” said Matt Garrington, Senior Manager for State Campaigns, Environmental Defense Fund. “And now, again thanks to Senator Hickenlooper, he’s taken that leadership and helped deliver, hopefully soon, on major climate change action at the federal level.”

    “As a company leading the country’s clean energy transition, we’re proud to join U.S. Senator Hickenlooper to recognize what would be an historic national investment in clean energy,” said Frank Prager, Senior Vice President for Strategy, Security and External Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer, Xcel Energy. “In Colorado, we’re on track to reduce carbon dioxide emissions 85% by 2030 as we add significant amounts of wind and solar to our system. We’ll use the clean energy tax credits in the bill to reduce costs for our customers as we continue investing in renewable energy and exploring advanced zero-emitting technologies to keep the grid strong and reliable.”

    The event was at Dragonfly Noodle, whose owner Edwin Zoe has transitioned his small businesses to electric induction cooking appliances for energy savings and health. Other participants included Angelique Espinoza of Good Business Colorado, Sean Fox of Icelantic Skis, Andrew Bennett of Energy Outreach Colorado, and Jim Ramey of The Wilderness Society.

    Climate provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act include:

    • Over $100 billion in tax credits for clean energy generation and storage, as well as other clean technologies like EVs, clean hydrogen, and carbon capture.

     

    • Broad reforms to our federal oil and gas leasing system, including Hickenlooper’s COMPETES Act, which ends the speculative practice of non-competitive leasing.

     

    • Over $10 billion for home efficiency and electrification upgrades, which Hickenlooper fought for.

     

    • Methane fee of $1,500/ton of leaked methane from oil and gas operations – equivalent to a $60/ton carbon fee on fugitive methane.

     

    • Tens of billions of dollars in clean infrastructure and capacities, including solar, wind, and battery manufacturing, long-distance electrical transmission lines, and DOE Laboratory (incl. NREL) infrastructure.

     

    • Tens of billions for environmental justice, including reducing air pollution in urban communities and supporting rural communities.

    Hickenlooper has been credited with helping the deal coalesce by encouraging Senators Joe Manchin and Chuck Schumer to keep trying despite many giving up on any prospect of an ambitious climate bill this year.

  • Arapahoe County Has an Average New Construction Value of $216,305

    Rising real estate prices and interest rate hikes have finally started to bring balance back to the residential market this year. But while demand is falling off, the U.S. still has a major need for new homes, which could create plenty of opportunity for residential builders.

    One of the major factors that contributed to the heightened competition for housing over the last two years was housing supply. The U.S. suffered from a severe shortage of housing stock before COVID-19, and the pandemic sent available inventory to record lows. With a rush of buyers in the market, the limited availability of homes stoked competition and pushed prices higher.

    Builders have rushed to meet the need for new units. Housing permits and starts bounced back strongly after falling sharply early in the COVID-19 pandemic. And despite a recent downtick, housing starts have been higher this year than at any other point since before the Great Recession.

    While the construction industry has seen high levels of activity, recent conditions have nonetheless been challenging. Inflation has increased the cost of building materials by 33% since the beginning of the pandemic, and supply chain challenges over the last two years have contributed to increased costs and project delays. Construction firms have also struggled to hire and retain labor, and many have raised wages in efforts to do so.


    Further, the relative cost of building a new unit has increased over time. Three decades ago, the average construction cost per residential unit in 2021 dollars was $168,452. That figure today is $218,791. And notably, the construction cost per unit has outpaced the rate of inflation over that time, rising by around 7.6% just in the last decade.


    The rising costs of construction have taken place even as single-family home construction has fallen. Over the last decade, the proportion of single-family homes has decreased by more than 13%. Because single-family construction tends to be more costly than larger developments on a per-unit basis, this trend reinforces that construction costs overall are on the rise.

    Beyond unit type, a number of other factors can contribute to how much residential units cost to build. Supplies, labor, and other costs may vary by the region where construction is taking place. And market conditions or a jurisdiction’s policies can also impact whether new units are high-end or affordable, or how easy it is to add single-family or multi-family units.


    For that reason, the average cost of construction per unit can vary substantially across the country. Hawaii is the most expensive state to build new units with an average value per unit authorized of $403,596, a product of local regulations and the islands’ geography and distance from the mainland. But second in cost is Wyoming ($391,030 per unit), which has different challenges, including a lack of homebuilders. At the local level, many of the locations with the highest costs for new homes are among the most expensive real estate markets in the U.S., including the Bay Area and wealthy suburbs of New York.

    The data used in this analysis is from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Building Permits Survey (2021), the most recent data available. To determine the locations where the most expensive homes are being built, researchers at Construction Coverage calculated the average permit value per unit authorized. Authorized units included both single-unit and multiple-unit structures. It’s important to note that the value of the building permit does not reflect the ultimate market value of the unit, but rather the total value of all construction work for which the permit is issued.

    To improve relevance, only counties with at least 200,000 residents were included. Additionally, counties were grouped into cohorts based on population size: small (200,000–349,999), midsize (350,000–749,999), and large (750,000 or more). Note: only counties with complete data for 2021 were considered in this analysis.

    The analysis found that authorized units in Arapahoe County have an average permit value of $216,305, compared to $218,791 per unit nationally. Here is a summary of the data for Arapahoe County, CO:

    • Average value per unit authorized: $216,305
    • Total value of units authorized: $1,193,787,771
    • Total units authorized: 5,519
    • Single-family units as a proportion of total: 54.9%

    For reference, here are the statistics for the entire United States:

    • Average value per unit authorized: $218,791
    • Total value of units authorized: $380,036,187,000
    • Total units authorized: 1,736,982
    • Single-family units as a proportion of total: 64.2%

    For more information, a detailed methodology, and complete results, you can find the original report on Construction Coverage’s website: https://constructioncoverage.com/research/counties-where-the-most-expensive-homes-are-being-built-2022

  • Share your love of hunting with others and win prizes doing it with CPW’s Annual Take a Friend Hunting Contest

    Share your love of hunting with others and win prizes doing it with CPW’s Annual Take a Friend Hunting Contest

    DENVER – For the fourth consecutive year, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is encouraging hunters to take a friend hunting. As a reward for hunters sharing their expertise and love of hunting, CPW created a contest for mentors who take the time to pass on their knowledge, with prizes for the mentor as well as the mentee.

    “I often run into people wanting to hunt but they just don’t know how to start. Most of them just need a mentor to help out,” said CPW Hunter Outreach Coordinator Bryan Posthumus. “It is so easy to ask your friends, co-workers, or family if they want to hunt and help them get started. Quite a few started out small game hunting. Many of the hunters last year are planning on hunting with their new hunting buddy this year.”  

    Hunting has several barriers that can make getting started difficult. Equipment can be expensive and knowledge is hard to obtain. Taking your friends hunting can reduce those barriers by allowing you to share equipment and pass on the knowledge that only experience can teach. For new hunters, getting started can seem overwhelming. Encouraging a hunter to take you with them and show you the ropes can help you get started. With CPWs Take a Friend Hunting Contest, you can win a variety of prizes that will help you in future hunts.

    How it works
    If you are a hunter, take a friend hunting! If you want to learn to hunt, encourage a hunter to take you with them! Then submit a photograph and brief story of your time in the field for a chance to win a variety of hunting related prizes. Submissions will be judged by their ability to inspire and are due by Feb. 28, 2023.

    To be eligible to enter:
    Hunters must commit to mentoring an eligible new or former hunter in Colorado on at least three separate occasions. The occasions may involve any part of the mentoring process including scouting, testing/purchasing hunting gear, sighting in/practicing with hunting firearms/archery equipment, or game processing and game cooking. At least one occasion must be taking the mentee hunting. Mentor and mentee must be at least 18 yrs of age. 

    Mentors must:

    • hold a valid 2022 Colorado hunting license.
    • have held a Colorado hunting license in at least 3 of the last 5 years (2017-2021).

    Mentees must either have:

    • never had a hunting license until 2022,
    • only had a hunting license in 2021 (e.g., a second-year hunter) or
    • not had a hunting license in the past five consecutive years (i.e., since 2017).

    Contest participants must follow all applicable Colorado hunting regulations; this includes possession of all appropriate licenses. Employees of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and their immediate family (spouse, parents, siblings and children) and household members of each such employee, are not eligible.

    Prizes
    Prizes will be awarded at the end of March to winners of the photo/narrative competition. There will be multiple winners selected for a variety of prizes. Prizes include: binoculars, headlamps, butcher kits, game calls, gift cards and more.

    All prizes are non-transferable. No substitution may be made except as provided. The winner is responsible for all taxes and fees associated with prize receipt and/or use. Please check the CPW website for more details and an updated list of prizes!

    To learn more, see the official rules and find out more about how to Take a Friend Hunting in 2022.

  • Military and veterans get free entry into Colorado state parks in Aug.

    Military and veterans get free entry into Colorado state parks in Aug.

    DENVER – As a thank you to U.S. military members, Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers active duty military, veterans and the National Guard free admission to all state parks for the month of August.

    Military members and veterans, resident and nonresident, can pick up a free August Military Pass at any Colorado state park or CPW office by showing proof of service. Passes become available on Aug. 1, 2022.

    The free park pass provides a chance to experience Colorado’s state parks and the diverse wildlife and landscapes the state provides. All other park fees remain in effect, including camping reservations, boat and off-highway vehicle registrations, and hunting and fishing licenses. The pass is also not valid for accessing State Wildlife Areas.

    To help plan a unique Colorado adventure, visit the CPW park finder. State park outdoor recreation activities include:

    • Water sports- boating, kayaking, paddle boarding and swimming
    • Wildlife and wildflower viewing, birdwatching and tours with naturalists
    • Hiking, horseback riding, biking and rock climbing
    • Stargazing and geocaching
    • Accessibility programs are available to people with disabilities

    CPW offers several additional military benefits to active duty military, veterans and disabled veterans. Programs include free admission to state parks on Veterans Day, year-round free entry to all state parks for residents with Colorado Disabled Veterans or Purple Heart license plates and free small game and fishing combination licenses for qualified disabled veterans. CPW also offers a Columbine Pass which offers reduced park entrance fees to disabled Colorado residents.

    For more information about Colorado’s state parks, visit cpw.state.co.us.