Colorado Parks and Wildlife relies on user fees, NOT general tax dollars. However, the fees have not kept pace with operational costs and inflation. In order to sustain Colorado state parks and wildlife opportunities, the state legislature was asked in 2017 to consider a bill that would allow the Parks and Wildlife Commission limited authority to address current financial challenges. House Bill 1321 was crafted to help CPW with funding needed to repair high-priority dams, maintain and improve park facilities including trails, campgrounds and visitor centers; support public access for hunting and fishing, increase efforts to improve wildlife habitat and more. The bill failed to pass the legislature in Spring 2017 and was modified and resubmitted in February 2018 as SB18-143.
Learn more about the Future Generations Act 2018
We want to ensure that our visitors and supporters are knowledgeable about the mission of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and educated about the issues facing CPW. As an informed citizen, you have the opportunity to decide how involved you would like to be in public policy and legislative activity.
We will continue to update this page of our website with legislative news and information regarding the issue of CPW’s financial sustainability efforts.
https://www.denverpost.com/2017/05/05/colorado-parks-wildlife-fishing-hunting-fees/
http://www.denverpost.com/2017/05/16/colorado-parks-and-wildlife-funding-bill/
http://www.denverpost.com/2017/05/19/colorado-parks-wildlife-budget-cuts/
http://coloradotu.org/2017/05/senate-committee-kills-cpw-financial-sustainability-bill/
About Colorado Parks and Wildlife
The mission of Colorado Parks and Wildlife is to perpetuate the wildlife resources of the state, to provide a quality state parks system, and to provide enjoyable and sustainable outdoor recreation opportunities that educate and inspire current and future generations to serve as active stewards of Colorado’s natural resources.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife is a nationally recognized leader in conservation, outdoor recreation and wildlife management. The agency manages 41 state parks, all of Colorado’s wildlife, more than 300 state wildlife areas and a host of recreational programs. CPW issues hunting and fishing licenses, conducts research to improve wildlife management activities, protects high priority wildlife habitat through acquisitions and partnerships, provides technical assistance to private and public landowners concerning wildlife and habitat management and develops programs to understand, protect and recover threatened and endangered species.
CPW also administers the state’s trail program and registers boats, snowmobiles, off-highway vehicles and river outfitters. Parks and Wildlife employees and their partners work together to provide ongoing and outstanding customer service through recreational programs, amenities, and services. Regulations are established by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission.
For more information, visit: http://cpw.state.co.us/