Colorado Parks and Wildlife manages the state parks system and the wildlife of the U.S. state of
Colorado
Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of t ...
. , the division managed the
42 state parks and
307 wildlife areas of Colorado.
, the
Colorado Natural Areas Program
The U.S. State of Colorado has designated 95 natural areas of the state for special protection. The Colorado Natural Areas Program was established in 1977 to preserve and protect special areas of the state with distinctive flora, fauna, ecologica ...
had
93 designated sites which protected more than 250 endangered, rare, or threatened species.
History
*1937 – The state legislature appointed a land board to create the first State Parks Board.
*1951 – The State Parks Board leased
Cherry Creek recreation area from the
Army Corps of Engineers.
*1963 – State Parks was merged with the Division of Wildlife.
*1971 – The State Recreational Trails Program was created.
*1972 – State Parks and the Division of Wildlife were separated.
*1977 – State Parks was requested to manage the snowmobile program for the state.
*1984 – State Parks became responsible for licensing river outfitters.
*1990 – State parks began managing the off-highway vehicle program.
*1992 - Voters approved the Great Outdoors Colorado constitutional amendment directing Colorado Lottery revenues to the outdoors, including 10 percent directly to state Parks and Wildlife division. About half goes to Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Trust Fund, which in turns grants money to the agency.
*2011 - Colorado State Parks and the Colorado Division of Wildlife are merged into Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
, there were forty-two State Parks open to the public. In 2020,
Fishers Peak, opened.
Lone Mesa will open in the coming years.
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission is a layman's group of eleven members who are appointed by the
Governor of Colorado
The governor of Colorado is the head of government of the U.S. state of Colorado. The governor is the head of the executive branch of Colorado's state government and is charged with enforcing state laws. The governor has the power to either app ...
with legislative approval. The Board is charged with representing various geographic regions of the state while providing oversight and setting agency policy in a democratic way to assure the agency is responsive to the citizens of Colorado. This board meets every other month to review and set policy.
See also
*
State of Colorado
Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the ...
**
Colorado Department of Natural Resources
The Colorado Department of Natural Resources is the principal department of the Colorado state government responsible for the development, protection, and enhancement Colorado natural resources for the use and enjoyment of the state's present and ...
***
List of Colorado Natural Areas
The U.S. State of Colorado has designated 95 natural areas of the state for special protection. The Colorado Natural Areas Program was established in 1977 to preserve and protect special areas of the state with distinctive flora, fauna, ecologica ...
***
List of Colorado state parks
The system of state parks in Colorado integrates outdoor recreation with tourism. There are currently forty-two parks open to the public, and there is one in development. Colorado State Parks host over eleven million visitors each year. Colorado ...
***
List of Colorado state wildlife areas
The Colorado state wildlife areas are managed for hunting, fishing, observation, management, and preservation of wildlife.
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife division of the United States, U.S. Colorado, State of Colorado manages more than 300 state ...
References
External links
State of ColoradoColorado Department of Natural Resources*
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
{{authority control
Colorado state parks
State agencies of Colorado