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The I-70 Scout & Eastern Colorado News

Tag: Colorado Parks and Wildlife

  • Wildlife officials focus on project to aid with management of Larimer County elk herds

    Wildlife officials focus on project to aid with management of Larimer County elk herds

    FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologists are working on a project to obtain population demographic data to effectively and sustainably manage elk herds in Larimer County.

    Portions of the project were made possible thanks to funding support from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Habitat Partnership Program that is funded by revenue from the sale of big game licenses.

    Wildlife biologist Angelique Curtis is leading the project designed to help with management decisions for the elk herd in Data Analysis Unit (DAU) E-4.

    It specifically is targeting elk in Red Feather Lakes and the Poudre Canyon geographic areas. Crews will deploy 30 GPS satellite collars on cow (female) elk to assist in data collection and help with monitoring the herd.

    “The goal of this study is to get an understanding of migrational movements of the E-4 elk and gather herd composition data to better model the dynamics of the population for sustainable harvest,” Curtis said. “The collared cow elk will be used as ‘judas’ elk to perform aerial surveys for annual classification data. In this instance a ‘judas’ animal is the cow elk that we can locate from the collar that will lead us to the herd where we can then classify the whole herd.”

    The GPS collars will provide enough data in the first three years of deployment to design a population model for the herd. The study will last four to five years, with the remaining data collected after year three from the collars being used to refine the parameters of the model.

    Deployment of the collars started last summer by trapping or ground darting elk in the Comanche Wilderness Area. Helicopter capture was also used this past winter to deploy additional units. The few remaining collars will go out late this month via ground darting and trapping.

    Collars are spatially distributed in selected geographical areas to get a representative sample of the herd. The GPS collars will give location data every 13 hours to get a rolling time frame of movements throughout the year.

    “The locations are transmitted to the biologists computers and phones, so they reduce the time needed to track the animals,” Senior Wildlife Biologist Shannon Schaller said. “This also ensures we collect data in remote areas. If a collared elk stops moving for more than eight hours, it will emit a mortality signal that biologists can attempt to retrieve to help them understand mortality causes.

    “This technology has been a real benefit for wildlife biologists to collect data more efficiently.”

    Wildlife managers need the new data to make informed recommended license allocations for hunters, as to date there is not much known about the elk in the DAU.

    Previously, hunter harvest and voluntary elk tooth submissions from 2009 to present provided data on the herd composition (sex and age) to make harvest recommendations. The last aerial survey of the elk in the DAU was in 2006.

    In 2014, estimated elk populations obtained from ground surveys reached the upper end of the management objectives – the herd size was increasing past the point of the carrying capacity the landscape would support. Thus, both bull and cow elk license numbers increased to help the herd stay within the management objective. Wildlife managers are seeking better data on herd trends to assess harvest limits to align with new population models.

    Starting this December, Curtis along with wildlife officers, will conduct aerial surveys to gather baseline data using the GPS collars to locate the elk.

    Once more data is compiled, the new population matrix model will be built with an understanding of the areas of greatest conservation, migration corridors, calving areas and habitat enhancement opportunities all designed to keep the elk herds healthy and within the management objectives.

     

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  • Roxborough State Park’s naturalist guided activities in July

    Roxborough State Park’s naturalist guided activities in July

    ROXBOROUGH, Colo. – Come join the fun, learn about nature and watch Roxborough State Park change with the seasons. Park naturalists will lead you on a journey of discovery through our guided hikes and activities.

     

    Programs, sponsored by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, are free; however, please remember that all vehicles entering the park must purchase an $8 daily pass or display a valid annual pass. Most programs require reservations. For information and to register for programs call the park at 303-973-3959.

     

    Please sign up for all programs (except Moonlight Hikes) through Eventbrite. A link to Eventbrite can be found on our website and on our events Facebook page. We will no longer be taking phone reservations, but please do call if you need assistance. As always, our program dates and events can be found on our website, in our Rambles Newsletter and on our Facebook page.

     

    Park Hours: 5 a.m. – 9 p.m.

     

    Visitor Center Hours: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. (weekdays); 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (weekends)

     

    July 10: Rox Ride | 10 a.m.

    Take a naturalist guided tour in a five-passenger electric golf cart around the Fountain Valley Trail. Reservations via Eventbrite are required. All children must be accompanied by an adult and small children must be in a car seat (not provided).

     

    July 11: Roxborough Revealed – Whoo’s Watching You: Inside | 9 a.m.

    Are you interested in owls? Are you interested in how they live or what they do? Join Naturalist Linda Lawson in the auditorium to learn about what makes owls amazing, why owls are important to their ecosystem, and other interesting facts about owls. Reservations via Eventbrite are required. Meet at the Visitor Center to attend this event.

     

    July 11: A Meditative Walk in Nature | 9 a.m.

    Do you enjoy taking peaceful quit walks in wilderness? Join Naturalist Kathy Ford on a meditative hike to discover what natural wonders have to teach us about silence. Reservations via Eventbrite are required. Meet at the Visitor Center to attend this event.

     

    July 12: Photographing Roxborough’s Landscapes and Flowers | 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

    Join Naturalist Bob Rabito for a day of photographic adventures! Bob is an award winning, professional photographer of 42 years. Start with a presentation in the auditorium to learn how to visualize your subjects as a photographer would and discuss various techniques such as cropping, composition, lighting, and background in order to photograph the beautiful flowers and landscapes of Roxborough using the approach and techniques you just learned. Reservations via Eventbrite are required. Meet at the Visitor Center to attend this event.

     

    July 18: Roxborough Revealed – Nature Hike | 9 a.m

    When you go hiking in Roxborough State Park do you ever wonder about the natural wonders that surround you? Join Naturalist Kevin Schaal to learn about the plants and animals that call Roxborough State Park their home while enjoy a beautiful hike through Roxborough State Park. Reservations via Eventbrite are required. Meet at the Visitor Center to attend this event.

     

    July 19: Guided Bird Walk | 7:30 a.m.

    Join Naturalist Jill Holden, grab your bird book, binoculars, and join us for bird watching adventures. These hikes are for all ability levels. Dress for changing weather conditions. Reservations via Eventbrite are required. Meet at the Visitor Center to attend this event.

     

    July 25: Roxborough Revealed – Animals of Roxborough

    While hiking in Roxborough State Park have you ever wondered about the wildlife that lives in the area? Join Naturalist Sue Klinke in the auditorium to learn about the fascinating wildlife that can be found in the park and what makes them special. Reservations via Eventbrite are required. Meet at the Visitor Center to attend this event.

     

    PLEASE NOTE: DUE TO COVID-19, WE HAVE PRECAUTIONS IN PLACE FOR HIKES/PROGRAMS. WE ARE LIMITING GROUP SIZE TO 10, WHICH INCLUDES THE LEADER. THERE MUST BE A SIX-FOOT DISTANCE BETWEEN PEOPLE. YOU CAN STAND TOGETHER IF YOU LIVE IN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD. YOU MUST WEAR A MASK. IF YOU DO NOT WANT/OR CAN’T WEAR A MASK, PLEASE CONSIDER NOT SIGNING UP FOR THIS EVENT AND WAIT UNTIL THE RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED. 

     

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  • THE SPAWN MUST GO ON

    THE SPAWN MUST GO ON

    LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. – On June 30, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials were met with a blizzard and 34-degree temperatures at Zimmerman Lake while conducting its greenback cutthroat trout spawning operation. This video from Senior Video Producer Jerry Neal highlights the dedication of CPW’s aquatics staff working in these winter-like conditions, even if it says summer on the calendar.

    [Link to video] – https://vimeo.com/434428021

    While teamed up with CPW Cutthroat Trout Research Scientist Kevin Rogers, the Northeast Aquatics team collected spawn and mark recapture data from the greenback cutthroat trout “broodstock” population at Zimmerman Lake. Aquatic Biologists are always prepared for variable weather when working at 10,000 feet, but they certainly were not expecting blizzard conditions when they arrived at the lake early in the morning on June 30.

    The team captured the fish using live “trap” nets that were deployed the previous afternoon (when it was sunny and warm). Eggs were collected from females and mixed with milt (sperm) from males. The fertilized eggs were driven in small one-gallon coolers to CPW’s Salida Isolation Unit, operated by the Mt. Shavano Fish Hatchery, where they are either reared to fry to be stocked back out into the wild at other reintroduction sites, or raised to one year of age to be stocked back into the wild and replenish the broodstocks at Zimmerman Lake and the Leadville National Fish Hatchery.  

    All of the fish that are stocked into Zimmerman Lake are given a Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tag, each with a unique alphanumeric code, and a color coded Visual Implant Elastomer (VIE) tag, with each color representing a different year class and family group. During the spawn operation at Zimmerman Lake, each fish was scanned for its PIT tag and visually checked for its VIE tag.  Additionally, aquatic biologists measured length and weight and identified sex of each fish. All of this information enables biologists to assess individual fish growth rates and estimate survival of the different year classes and family groups, and thus evaluate CPWs efforts to maximize genetic diversity in the broodstock.  

    The broodstocks at Zimmerman Lake and the Leadville National Fish Hatchery, and associated hatchery operations, represent the backbone of efforts to recover the Federally Threatened State Fish of Colorado, the Greenback Cutthroat Trout.

    “It is fun and rewarding work for the biologists, even though the weather isn’t always ideal,” said Boyd Wright, CPW Native Aquatic Species Biologist.

     

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  • Operation Dry Water aims to reduce boating under the influence this holiday weekend

    Operation Dry Water aims to reduce boating under the influence this holiday weekend

    DENVER – Boaters heading out onto Colorado waters this weekend will see additional Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers enforcing boating under the influence (BUI) laws as part of the national Operation Dry Water campaign from July 3-July 5.

    This three-day enforcement operation is timed closely to the July 4th holiday each year and is designed to both educate boaters on the dangers of boating under the influence, as well as reduce the number of accidents and deaths related to alcohol and drug use on our waterways.

    “It’s so important for people to understand the dangers of drinking and boating, especially heading into a busy holiday season,” says Grant Brown, Colorado’s Boating Safety Program Manager. “Alcohol use is the leading factor in recreational boating deaths in the United States. CPW wants Colorado boaters to get out on the water and have a great time, but you have to do so responsibly. At a minimum, you may receive a citation, but there’s a chance that serious injuries can also happen. Your adult beverages will be waiting when you get back to shore – taking chances with other people’s lives just isn’t worth it.”

    Operation Dry Water’s mission is to raise awareness among recreational boaters about the dangers and consequences of boating under the influence, which include:

          •  Alcohol impairs judgment, balance, vision and reaction time; on the water, that can increase fatigue and susceptibility to the effects           of cold-water immersion.

    • Sun, wind, noise, vibration and motion are added factors found in a boating environment; all of these intensify the effects of alcohol, drugs, and some medications. A general rule to remember is that one drink on land is equivalent to three drinks on the water.
    • Alcohol can be dangerous for passengers, too. Intoxication on board can cause injuries from slips, falls overboard, and other dangerous accidents. Penalties for boating under the influence include receiving fines, having your boat impounded, potential jail time and loss of boating privileges. Boaters with a blood alcohol content (BAC) level above the .08 state limit should expect to be arrested for BUI. In Colorado, Operation Dry Water operations will include increased patrols, breathalyzer tests, and checkpoints as well as boater education and outreach. Despite increased patrol activity, the best enforcement tool CPW has is hearing from other boaters out on the water.

    “If you’re on the water and see other boaters drinking while manning their boat, or acting dangerously on their watercraft, please let us know,” says Brown. “Just as you’d call 911 to report a drunk driver, calling 911 to report drinking and boating allows dispatch to get the nearest authorities out to help eliminate potential safety issues for your family and fellow boaters.”

    The dangers of operating under the influence of marijuana are the same as those from alcohol, and the penalties are identical for either substance.  Open display or use of marijuana is illegal on public property, which includes many of the lakes, reservoirs and rivers in Colorado.

    Learn more about the consequences of boating under the influence at www.operationdrywater.org. For more information on boating safety, visit cpw.state.co.us.

     

     

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  • Gov. Polis signs funding bill to aid CPW in developing next state park

    Gov. Polis signs funding bill to aid CPW in developing next state park

    TRINIDAD, Colo. – In a sun-soaked open space flanked by 9,633-foot Fishers Peak, Gov. Jared Polis signed into law Monday a bill that provides $1 million to support Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s development of Colorado’s next state park.

    Polis called the funding critical toward achieving his goal of CPW opening the 19,200-acre park to the public as the 42 state park.

    The governor also called the next state park an economic engine that will drive the economy of Trinidad and the region as he signed Senate Bill 3 in front of a small group of lawmakers and dignitaries including Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Department of Natural Resources, and CPW Director Dan Prenzlow.

    “This is a big day because developing our 42nd state park is not as simple as opening the gates and inviting the public,” Prenzlow said. “CPW parks staff, wildlife and aquatic biologists, engineers, wildlife managers and all our partners are deep into the process of transforming this former ranch into a showplace for all who might want to recreate here.

    “CPW staff is committed to meeting the governor’s challenge to open this park by 2021 by accelerating the designing and construction of state parks from a multi-year process down to a single year. This funding will help us expedite the process. I’m confident when we finally open these gates, the public will be thrilled at the park that will greet them.”

    Gibbs and Prenzlow were joined by Representatives Daneya Esgar and Perry Will, local government and business officials from Trinidad and Las Animas County as well as leaders of CPW’s non-profit partners The Nature Conservancy (TNC), The Trust for Public Land (TPL) and Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), each playing a critical role in the purchase of the Fishers Peak property.

    “We could not have gotten this far without the hard work of our partners from GOCO, the City of Trinidad, TNC and TPL,” Prenzlow said. “Nor could this happen without our partners in the Legislature and in the hunting and fishing communities who provided millions in revenue from hunting and fishing license sales.”

    In February 2019, CPW partnered with the City of Trinidad, TNC, TPL and GOCO to purchase the mostly undeveloped property, prized for its variety of habitat, wildlife and the linkage it provides between grasslands to the east with foothills and mountains to the west.  

    On April 2, the partners signed over ownership of the property to CPW and the agency, with its partners, immediately ramped up master-planning efforts to create a park that will protect the natural treasures and wildlife found there while welcoming visitors, including hunters, hikers, mountain bikers, wildlife watchers and other outdoor enthusiasts.

    For months, biologists have been combing the property to inventory the flora and fauna. Among their discoveries was the presence of the endangered New Mexico meadow jumping mouse. In 2014, the mouse was listed as an endangered species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service due to loss of habitat and low population numbers. 

    Bird surveys continue and are going well; biologists believe they have found a potential golden eagle nest as well as a nesting pair of peregrine falcons. They also report owl sightings. 

    Herptile surveys have found an unusual lizard species, a variable skink, making the property likely the only state park with this species.

    Biologists have also deployed dozens of trail cameras across the property to study everything moving on the ground. There’s even coordinated weed-mapping underway with experts studying plants to formulate the appropriate seed mixture to use when landscaping areas of the park.

    The information gathered will then be combined with research into the archaeological and cultural history of the property. Next comes the public process as planners gather input to set management goals for the property and design recreation areas that include roads, parking lots, restrooms, picnic areas, trails and wildlife-viewing areas for the public to enjoy.

    In recent weeks, crews have begun grading and laying gravel on a new access road and parking lot.

    Installing vault toilets is expected to be completed in the coming days. To stay informed on continuing progress of the park, please sign up to receive CPW eNews emails or visit cpw.state.co.us.

    The property remains closed to public access.

    Photos courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife / Bill Vogrin

     

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  • Colorado Parks and Wildlife begins to reopen state park campgrounds May 12

    Colorado Parks and Wildlife begins to reopen state park campgrounds May 12

    DENVER — Per Governor Polis, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is beginning to reopen campgrounds at Colorado state parks after COVID-19 closures that had been in effect since March 26. Campgrounds will begin to reopen May 12, launching a phased reopening that will occur across the park system in coordination with park managers and local officials. 

    Cabins, yurts, tipis, group facilities, and other reservable day-use facilities remain closed until further notice. Please review our best practices for camping as we begin opening to overnight visitors with continued COVID-19 restrictions in place.

    Opening dates for campgrounds at Colorado state parks:

    Tuesday, May 12 • Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (Fremont County campgrounds only)

    • Chatfield State Park
    • Cherry Creek State Park
    • Eleven Mile State Park
    • Elkhead Reservoir State Park
    • Highline State Park
    • Jackson Lake State Park
    • James M. Robb CO River State Park Island Acres 
    • James M. Robb CO River State Park Fruita
    • Mancos State Park
    • Mueller State Park
    • North Sterling State Park
    • Rifle Falls State Park
    • Rifle Gap State Park
    • Staunton State Park
    • Vega State Park Wednesday, May 13 • Cheyenne Mountain State Park*
    • Crawford State Park Thursday, May 14 • Boyd Lake State Park
    • St. Vrain State Park
    • John Martin Reservoir State Park Friday, May 15 • Golden Gate Canyon State Park*
    • Lake Pueblo State Park
    • Lory State Park
    • Navajo State Park
    • Ridgway State Park The following parks continue to coordinate with local officials for reopening plans. Dates will be announced as they become available: • Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (Chaffee County campgrounds)
    • Lathrop State Park
    • Paonia State Park
    • Pearl Lake State Park
    • Stagecoach State Park
    • State Forest State Park
    • Steamboat Lake State Park
    • Sylvan Lake State Park
    • Trinidad Lake State Park
    • Yampa River State Park * Items marked with asterisks are tentative opening dates as we work with our county partners to reopen.

    The Colorado Parks and Wildlife reservation system, found at www.cpwshop.com, will have the most up-to-date information regarding availability at each park for making campsite reservations. As CPW manages this reopening process, along with managing other updates related to COVID-19, call wait times when calling CPW’s vendor, Aspira, or the CPW call center may be extensive. To avoid having to wait on hold, please visit the CPW website or cpwshop.com for information.

    Use CPWShop.com to find reservable sites

    Customers who wish to search for campsites available to reserve should visit www.cpwshop.com and click on “Visit a Park.” Here, customers can search for a park name or location, type of site, and/or date and search for available campgrounds. 

    If a customer enters specific dates and the number of nights requested, all parks with available campsites will have the option to “book sites.” If no sites are available, visitors will see an option to view the “next available date.” 

    If a specific date is not entered, customers may “search campgrounds” to view a list of all parks. They can then “check availability” at specific parks, or enter their preferred dates to see any available sites for those dates.

     

    Other state park recreation opportunities

    People may still visit state parks for day-use recreation if they are not planning to camp. As of today, non-campground outdoor areas of parks, including trails, boat ramps, marinas, and shorelines remain open. 

     

    Visitors are reminded to practice social distancing, maintain at least six feet between other visitors and wear face coverings where six feet of distance cannot be maintained. CPW managers have the discretion to close areas that do not allow for social distancing. CPW encourages people to take local county and state stay-at-home orders seriously, and limit travel to local destinations for recreating. Anyone demonstrating signs of illness, such as coughing, fever or shortness of breath should stay home. 

     

    All visitor centers and park offices remain closed, and reopening plans will be posted on the CPW website when available. Restrooms remain open, and visitors are advised to bring soap for handwashing and alcohol-based hand sanitizers when water is not available.

    Most importantly, CPW recommends that everyone follow precautionary guidance issued by the CDC, CDPHE, public local health agencies, and the Colorado Governor’s Office when recreating in the outdoors.

    Keep up to date with Colorado Parks and Wildlife

    CPW is continually monitoring COVID-19 and its impact on our customers and is committed to keeping the public informed on how the agency is responding. Visitors to all CPW parks, wildlife areas and offices are asked to follow the state’s most recent guidance on social gatherings to help slow the spread of COVID-19. 

     

    Visit the CPW website for the most up-to-date information on how CPW is supporting the state’s COVID-19 efforts, as well as our social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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  • Camping at Colorado State Parks and State Wildlife Areas will remain Closed until Further Notice

    Camping at Colorado State Parks and State Wildlife Areas will remain Closed until Further Notice

    DENVER – Camping at Colorado state parks and State Wildlife Areas will remain closed until further notice, as Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) works to implement system-wide safety protocols related to social distancing in campgrounds. 

    Customer, volunteer, and employee safety remain a top priority. CPW is committed to providing park services at the highest level possible while also ensuring public safety. System camping cancellations will be sent via email. Currently, no definitive date is known for when sites will reopen. 

    “We understand the strain these continued closures put on all of us, and we appreciate the public’s flexibility as we work through the process of reopening,” says Dan Prenzlow, Director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “Our staff is working hard to make sure we can provide safe and enjoyable experiences for everyone.” 

    CPW is working with federal and local municipal partners as well as the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to determine a timeline for camping. This coordination can make predicting definitive opening dates difficult as each county faces its own unique circumstances. 

    State Park Rangers remain on duty protecting the parks and normal rules and regulations still apply. Park trail closures due to visitation or crowding will be reported on the Colorado Trail Explorer (COTREX) App and the CPW website. 

    Colorado counties, municipalities, and land management agencies continue to update their COVID-19 guidance including travel restrictions, road closures, and access limitations on the Colorado Counties Inc. Safer-At-Home map. Outdoor recreationists are responsible for researching and understanding park and county closures before participating in any planned local recreational activities. CPW encourages park visitors to follow trail safety etiquette and visit parks responsibly.

    CPW asks all Coloradans to respect safer-at-home orders and stay close to your home and use local trails and parks for outdoor recreation. Limiting travel for recreation helps minimize the strain of visitors on small mountain communities and creates less burden for our search and rescue and emergency responders.  

    For more information, visit the CPW COVID-19 Response website for updates on park closures, permits and licenses, and outdoor recreation policies. 

     

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  • Paddleboarders are urged to be careful on the water — wear a PFD and be wary of the ice cold water.

    RIDGWAY, Colo. – As temperatures rise and Coloradans head to the state’s rivers and reservoirs, Colorado Parks and Wildlife remind recreationists to be safe on – and off – the water.

     Those eager to get out on the paddleboard must follow the state’s Safer at Home orders, and only travel within 10 miles from your homes. Paddleboarders must also be aware of county restrictions, and follow their local public health orders when planning a trip.

     Paddleboarders living close to recreational waters must be especially careful when heading out. The spring run-off has started and the water filling reservoirs is very cold. If you fall into water that’s barely 50 degrees, hypothermia can set in quickly and be life-threatening. Paddleboarders are urged to wear a personal floatation device (PFD), no matter if they’re on a river, pond or reservoir. 

     Colorado boating regulations require that adults carry a PFD on the paddleboard, but it’s much safer to wear it, said Kirsten Copeland, manager of Ridgway State Park. During the last few years, rangers and private boaters have rescued several people who have fallen off paddleboards. At Ridgway two weeks ago, a boater reported that he rescued a woman who had fallen off her paddleboard. She was not wearing a PFD and told the boater that she was barely able to hang on to her board before being rescued. 

     “So many people see paddleboards as low risk, but if you fall off your board into cold water you can get into trouble very quickly,” Copeland said. “The water is really cold now, but at most other Colorado reservoirs the water stays cold enough throughout the summer season to be dangerous.”

     CPW urges all boaters, no matter what type of craft they’re in, to wear PFDs when on the water. Regulations require that the number of PFDs on a boat match the number of people on board. Children 12 years old and younger must always wear a PFD when on the water. The rules apply to all types of boats and watercraft.

     Off the water, CPW reminds all recreationists that they are required to follow the rules of Governor Jared Polis’s “safer-at-home” order while recreating. Maintain a distance of six feet from other people, and wear a mask when in a public location.

     For complete information about Colorado’s coronavirus response, go to: https://covid19.colorado.gov/.

    For boating regulations and safety information, see https://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/BoatingSafety.aspx.

     

     

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  • Colorado Wildlife Habitat Program 2020 Request for Proposals (RFP) Now Open; Submissions due May 18

    Colorado Wildlife Habitat Program 2020 Request for Proposals (RFP) Now Open; Submissions due May 18

    DENVER – Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is pleased to announce the 2020 Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Colorado Wildlife Habitat Program (CWHP). The CWHP is a statewide program that supports CPW’s mission by offering funding opportunities to private landowners who wish to voluntarily protect important wildlife habitats on their property, and/or provide wildlife-related recreational access to the public.  

    The CWHP is an incentive-based and voluntary program that uses conservation easements, public access easements, and in limited circumstances, fee title purchases to accomplish strategic wildlife conservation goals and/or public access goals. Priority is given to proposals for conservation easements and public access easements over fee title purchases (per CPW policy and Title 33-4-102.7 C.R.S.).

    Funding for the 2020 cycle is approximately $11 million and is made possible through a conservation partnership with Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) and from revenue generated through the sale of habitat stamps. 

    To Apply

    To apply, a landowner, or his/her designee, must complete a project proposal form (“Proposal”) that addresses one or more of the following Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission (“Commission”) 2020 funding priorities: • Public access for hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing

    • Big game winter range and migration corridors
    • Protecting habitat for species of concern (specifically those Species of Greatest Conservation Need, as identified in the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Statewide Action Plan)
    • Riparian areas and wetlands
    • Landscape-scale parcels and parcels that provide connectivity to conserved lands  

    All application materials will be available on or before Wednesday, April 15, 2019 through the following CPW webpage: http://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/LandWaterCWHP.aspx

    Proposals will be accepted until 5:00 pm on Monday, May 18, 2019

    Completed Proposals are to be emailed to: Applicants will receive a confirmation email acknowledging receipt of Proposals.

    It is not required that CPW hold conservation easements funded through the CWHP.  A landowner may request a land trust, local government, or other conservation organization (collectively, “Third Party,”) to submit a Proposal on his/her behalf. If the Proposal involves a conservation easement to be held by a Third Party, the entity must be qualified to hold conservation easements under federal and state law.

    Additional Information

    Colorado Parks and Wildlife recognizes that maintaining wildlife-compatible agriculture on the landscape is an important benefit that can be realized through appropriately crafted conservation easements and land management plans. All conservation easement projects funded through the CWHP will have an accompanying management plan that must be agreed upon by the landowner and CPW prior to the closing of the project. The management plan typically includes provisions for the type, timing, and duration of livestock grazing, recreational activities, and overall management of habitat to protect or enhance the property’s conservation values identified in the conservation easement. Negotiating the terms and conditions of the management plan is a key step in the conservation easement process. Landowners are encouraged to develop a clear vision of the future of their property prior to submitting their Proposal. Proposals are scored and ranked through a rigorous review process to evaluate strategic conservation impacts, biological significance, public benefits, and project feasibility. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact their local CPW Area Wildlife Manager or his/her designee for assistance describing the wildlife and habitat values accurately and to discuss the merits of their Proposal.  Local CPW office contact information may be found at https://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Maps/CPW_Areas.pdf.

    Projects are provided funding based on recommendation by the Commission. Applicants are expected to be notified of the Commission’s final award decisions following the November 2020 Commission meeting.

    All projects involving conservation easements are required by law to be monitored annually. Third-Party conservation easement holders are required to submit to CPW a copy of the annual monitoring report for each conservation easement that receives funding through the CWHP. 

    Public access is not required for conservation easement projects. However, conservation easement proposals that separately offer to convey to CPW public access for wildlife-related recreation may be eligible for compensation in addition to compensation for the conservation easement. Landowners may also submit proposals to the CWHP for projects where the sole purpose is to provide hunting or fishing access to the public through a public access easement.

    Under Colorado law, terms of the transaction become a matter of public record after the project is completed and closed. Additionally, it is important for CPW and our major funding partners to provide accurate information to the public regarding the CWHP efforts to protect vital habitats and provide hunting and fishing access opportunities.  Applicants should be aware that after a project has closed, information about the transaction, including funding amounts, may be used by CPW for internal planning and public information purposes. 

    All real estate transactions in this program are subject to an appraisal to verify value.  Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult their legal and financial advisors when contemplating any real estate transaction associated with the CWHP.

    Contact Information

    For additional information about the CWHP or application process, please contact:

    Amanda Nims, Land Protection Specialist and Program Manager, CWHP

    Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Real Estate Section

    6060 Broadway

    Denver, CO 80216

    (303) 291-7269

     

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  • Elk rescued from mine shaft

    Elk rescued from mine shaft

     CREEDE, Colo.  – The wind blew hard and cold on Saturday in the upper Rio Grande Valley and it was not the kind of day that Chere Waters would normally pick to hike up a blustery hillside.

    “I don’t know what it was, but something was drawing me to go up there,” Waters said.

    Whatever the mysterious calling, her intuition led her to an old mine shaft which, in turn, led to an unusual rescue of a 250-pound cow elk by Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers and local emergency responders on April 18.

    A Creede resident for 34 years, Waters decided to go to a trail off the Bachelor Loop Road just outside of town. She told her hiking partner they would go to an area she’d been to years ago where she remembered seeing a mine shaft.

    Waters said she surprised herself when she walked the mile from her vehicle right up to the opening. She saw the hole from about 10 yards away and tossed a rock in, hoping to get a sense of the depth of the shaft.

    “It’s the scariest thing, it’s at the edge of some trees so it’s hard to see,” she said.

    But even though she sensed some danger, she decided to look in. So she “belly crawled” on the ground and had her friend hold onto her ankles so she could peer over the edge.

    “So I looked in and see this animal in there. I was so surprised, I couldn’t believe it,” Waters said.

    She didn’t bring her phone but luckily her friend did. They contacted the sheriff’s department at about 2 p.m., and a little over an hour later Wildlife Officers Brent Woodward and Jeremy Gallegos arrived, along with Mineral County Sheriff’s officers.

    “When I got the call I was told that a deer was stuck in a hole,” Woodward said. “But they thought the shaft was only about 10 feet deep. When I got there I could see it was an elk and it was probably 30 feet down.”  

    He could also see the animal’s tracks at the edge of the hole.

    Woodward darted the elk from above with a tranquilizer to knock it out temporarily. The shaft was not too far from an old four-wheel drive trail so they were able to get vehicles close. Using a winch from one of the trucks, Terry Wetherill, Mineral Count emergency and search and rescue manger, was lowered into the hole. He estimated the size at about 10 feet by 3 feet so he had enough room to place some straps around the animal.

    He said that over the years he’s pulled deer and elk out of barbed-wire fences, “but I’ve never had to pull one out of a hole.”

    In 1889, miners flocked to Creede at the start of a silver boom. Wetherill said there are dozens of old mine shafts in the area but most of them have collapsed and filled in over the years. He’s been told about many but not about the one where the elk fell. The walls of the shaft are still secured with timbers; Wetherill said the opening has probably been there for more than 100 years.

    “It’s dangerous, it’s in the shadows and until you’re 20 feet away you don’t see it,” he said.

    Wetherill is talking to officials at the Rio Grande National Forest office and Mineral County to determine ownership of the shaft so that it can be covered.

    The elk was pulled up slowly and Woodward described its condition as “pretty beat up.” He thought it could have been there for two or three days.

    “It’s amazing that those ladies saw it,” Woodward said.

    Back on the surface, the officers allowed the elk to lie on the ground for about 15 minutes while they examined its condition. Then Gallegos administered a drug that reverses the tranquilizer effects. It took a few minutes for it to stand up on shaky legs.

    “When she stood up, she moved a few yards, turned and looked at us for a few seconds and then turned and trotted away. It was great that we could get her out alive,” Woodward said.

    Waters and her friend stayed for the rescue and took pictures. She said they were so happy that the elk survived. But Waters, who owns C. Waters Gallery in Creede, said she’s still wondering what took her to that particular spot last Saturday.

    “I was just so called to go to that place.”

     

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