Local Wildlife Conservation Strategy News Items
MEDIA PACKAGE: Bears are emerging; do your part to be Bear Aware4/14/2021 3:19:43 PM
Body:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rebecca Ferrell
Branding and Communications Manager
303-291-7764 / 720-595-1449
rebecca.ferrell@state.co.us
MEDIA PACKAGE: Bears are emerging in Colorado; do your part to be Bear Aware
Bears are emerging in Colorado, and we need your help in asking all Coloradans to be Bear Aware. Each year, bears are lost in our state due solely to human negligence. Living with wildlife is a benefit to living in Colorado, and it's up to all of us to take small steps that can save a bear's life.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife is providing additional resources to assist with your media coverage on being Bear Aware in Colorado this spring, so residents can work towards keeping our bears wild.
The link below will open a folder containing:
Folder recapping reported bear conflicts in 2020 in Colorado, including sample reports and a progression of reporting in 2020
Helpful brochures and checklists for Living with Bears and Bearproofing Your Home
Video and photos from recent bear-human encounters in the state
If you need additional images or to schedule an interview, please contact your regional Public Information Officer .
Thank you for helping CPW spread the word on the importance of being Bear Aware and making small adjustments to your home and travel routines to keep wildlife in mind.
2021 Spring Bear Aware Materials
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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 42 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
Copyright © 2021 Colorado Parks and Wildlife, All rights reserved.
ReleaseDate: 4/14/2021 12:30 PM
Bears are emerging in Colorado; do your part to be Bear Aware4/14/2021 2:14:42 PM
Body:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rebecca Ferrell
Branding and Communications Manager
303-291-7764 / 720-595-1449
rebecca.ferrell@state.co.us
Bears are emerging from their dens; please prepare to be bear aware
Bears are already emerging from their winter dens in Colorado. Do your part to be Bear Aware and prevent human-bear conflicts by following simple tips to bearproof your homes and vehicles.
DURANGO, Colo. – Someone once said that the only things certain in life are death and taxes. But every spring Colorado Parks and Wildlife adds another item to that list: bears emerging from hibernation.
As the weather continues to warm up throughout Colorado, reports of bear sightings are starting to trickle into wildlife offices throughout the state. So now is the time for everyone in Colorado to shift back into bear-aware mode, said Steve McClung, assistant area wildlife manager for CPW in Durango.
“Please remember, we’re getting back into the season when bears are active,” McClung said. “So please, secure your trash and take down the bird feeders.”
Bird feeders are a major source of bear conflicts. You can instead attract birds naturally with flowering plants and bird baths. Wait until late November to hang feeders again.
Research shows that bears prefer natural sources of food. But they will find sources of human-provided food if it’s available. If bears become habituated to human sources of food they can become dangerous to humans.
CPW also urges residents to report bear problems to local wildlife offices as soon as they see them. If problems are reported early, CPW wildlife officers can use a range of options to deal with the bear. They can tour the neighborhood to look for food sources that are attracting bears, work with residents to correct the situation and set strategies to harass the bear to push it back into wild areas or to trap and move it if necessary. If CPW does not get reports until a bear is breaking into houses or vehicles, officers’ choices are limited.
“The last thing we want to do is put down a bear, every wildlife officer absolutely hates doing that,” McClung said. “So don’t hesitate to call us as soon as you see any bad behavior, even if it appears minor. That gives us a much better opportunity to correct the situation early.”
Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers these tips and precautions to help you prevent human/wildlife conflicts:
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; available from your trash hauler or on the Internet.
If you don't have secure storage, put items that might become smelly into the freezer until trash day.
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 ─ and they'll eat anything.
Allow grills to burn for a couple of minutes after cooking to burn off grease and to eliminate odors. Clean the grill after each use.
Clean-up thoroughly after picnics in the yard or on the deck. Don't allow food odors to linger.
If you have fruit trees, pick fruit before it gets too ripe. Don't allow 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 bee hives, 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 when you’re away from camp.
Keep a clean camp, whether you’re in a campground or in the back-country.
When camping in the back-country, hang food 100 feet or more from campsite; don’t bring any food into your tent
Cook food well away from your tent; wash dishes thoroughly.
For more information go to the Living with Wildlife section on the Colorado Parks and Wildlife web site: cpw.state.co.us/bears . Should you have questions or need to report bear problems, call your nearest CPW office .
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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 42 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
Copyright © 2021 Colorado Parks and Wildlife, All rights reserved.
ReleaseDate: 4/14/2021 12:15 PM
Low flows to affect fishing in Dolores River tail-water4/14/2021 11:59:42 AM
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Joe Lewandowski
Southwest Region Public Information Officer
970-759-9590 / joe.lewandowski@state.co.us
Low flows to affect fishing in Dolores River tail-water
DURANGO, Colo. – Due to continuing drought conditions, trout fishing in the Dolores River below the McPhee Reservoir dam will be adversely affected this year, said a Colorado Parks and Wildlife aquatic biologist.
Water releases from the dam will probably be under 15 cubic feet per second (cfs) and could possibly drop as low at three cfs, explained Jim White, aquatic biologist for Colorado Parks and Wildlife in Durango. In normal years, the sustained release from the dam is usually about 60 cfs. The section of river, which flows through the Lone Dome State Wildlife area, from below the dam to Bradfield Bridge ─ a distance of about 12 miles ─ is a popular tail-water fishery. Most trout fishing is done within the first six miles.
White said the lower flows will shrink the river habitat and many brown and rainbow trout will likely die. The water coming out of the dam is about 42 degrees, which is an ideal temperature for trout. But with such a low flow the water will warm quickly as it moves downstream.
“This is going to impact the trout fishery,” White said. “I would expect to see about half or more of the trout fishery habitat suffer and lose much of the trout population.”
White suggested that anglers fish early in the day and carry a thermometer to check the water temperature. Fishing should stop when the water hits 70 degrees.
The low flows will also affect native fish that live in the lower reaches of the Dolores River ─ the Flannelmouth Sucker, the Bluehead Sucker and the Roundtail Chub. These fish are listed by CPW as species of concern. The fish are adapted to survive in warm water, but they still need pools and flowing water to survive.
White is concerned about lower sections of the river drying up or being connected by only tiny rivulets of water.
“I’m worried that the natives are going to be stuck in isolated pools throughout most of the year at these flows,” White said.
Exacerbating the problem are Smallmouth Bass, an invasive non-native fish that thrives in the lower Dolores but are predators on the young of the native fish. Anglers are encouraged to fish for Smallmouth Bass; they are abundant, fairly easy to catch, tasty and there are no bag or possession limits.
As drought continues to grip the West, more and more rivers will be facing the same scenario – this year and beyond.
“All of this is a result of three things: low snowpack, dry soil that will absorb run-off and no carry-over water in the reservoir from last year,” White said.
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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 41 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
Copyright © 2021 Colorado Parks and Wildlife, All rights reserved.
ReleaseDate: 4/14/2021 9:56 AM
CPW seeks volunteers to help clean Turkey Tracks, a 7,930-acre State Trust Land public access hunting area east of Fountain4/13/2021 3:59:42 PM
Body:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bill Vogrin
Southeast Region Public Information Officer
719-466-3927 / bill.vogrin@state.co.us
CPW seeks volunteers to help clean Turkey Track Ranch State Trust Land
Turkey Track Ranch is a 7,930-acre State Trust Land and popular public access hunting area southeast of Colorado Springs.
Photo courtesy of Colorado Parks and Wildlife / Phil Gurule
April 13, 2021
CPW seeks volunteers to help clean Turkey Track Ranch State Trust Land
FOUNTAIN, Colo. – Volunteers are being sought by Colorado Parks and Wildlife to help clean up the Turkey Track Ranch, a 7,930-acre State Trust Land east of Fountain.
CPW relies heavily on volunteers to perform a variety of important tasks at its 42 parks and 350 wildlife areas and state trust land. Volunteers also make major contributions to efforts of biologists working with aquatic and terrestrial wildlife.
For this project, Wildlife Officer Phil Gurule is seeking volunteers to help clean the perimeter of the popular public access hunting area, specifically several miles along Squirrel Creek Road, South Peyton Highway and Skinner Road.
“Our new push for public access puts the responsibility on us to be good stewards of this property,” Gurule said. “We have an obligation to protect the wildlife habitat and the aesthetics of the property. It’s part of building strong community relationships with surrounding landowners.”
He hopes to get crews to clean the roadsides and expects it will take a couple days to accomplish.
“This is a big undertaking,” Gurule said. “But I know our hunters appreciate getting access to this property and they’ll show up and help us keep it looking nice.”
Gurule has scheduled cleanup days on April 24 and May 8. Crews will work from 8 a.m. to noon each day.
Crews will walk roadsides and comb the property for trash. In addition to appropriate clothing, water and snacks, volunteers are encouraged to bring reflective vests, trash pickers and five-gallon buckets, if they have them. Appropriate COVID precautions will be followed.
Anyone interested in joining the effort is asked to email Jeanette Lara, CPW volunteer coordinator for the Southeast Region, by email at: Jeanette.lara@state.co.us .
The volunteer crews will meet at a parking area on Squirrel Creek Road, about 2.5 miles east of the intersection with Peyton Highway.
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PHOTOS: Courtesy of Colorado Parks and Wildlife / Phil Gurule
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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 41 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
Copyright © 2021 Colorado Parks and Wildlife, All rights reserved.
ReleaseDate: 4/13/2021 1:57 PM
Boat ramp changes at Vega State Park4/13/2021 12:14:43 PM
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Randy Hampton
Northwest Region Public Information Officer
970-640-1647 / randy.hampton@state.co.us
BOAT RAMP CHANGES AT VEGA STATE PARK
Vega State Park is located on the northern slopes of the Grand Mesa National Forest
COLLBRAN, Colo. - Boaters at Vega State Park in Western Colorado will notice some changes when they arrive at the reservoir this year. The changes are part of Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s effort to protect Colorado waters from invasive aquatic species that can do significant damage to water storage and delivery systems.
To prevent boats from launching during hours that ANS inspections are not available, the park has installed new gates and one-way spike strips. The spike strips will allow boats to exit the lake after hours at the Island Boat Ramp but will prevent anyone from entering the lake during non-inspection hours. Purchase of the traffic spike strips was funded by Ute Water with installation assistance and materials provided by the Town of Collbran Public Works and the Collbran Job Corps concrete trades training program.
There are three boat ramps at Vega Reservoir - Island, Early Settlers, and Oak Point. Gates at Early Settlers and Oak Point will be locked during non-inspection hours and only the Island ramp will be usable by boaters exiting the water after inspection hours.
Boat inspections hours are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. from May 1 through May 27. Beginning the Friday before Memorial Day weekend (May 28) hours run from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. through Labor Day weekend (Sept. 6). From Sept. 7 through Oct. 31 ANS inspection hours at Vega return to 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Vega is closed to boating from Nov. 1 through the end of April.
“Boaters that plan to exit the lake after inspection hours should park and use the Island boat ramp so that they are not behind locked gates after hours,” said Park Manager James Masek. “It may take boaters a moment to get used to the new system but it’s critically important to protect the waters and keep them open to boating into the future. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation in this effort.”
The Colorado State Legislature approved a bill in 2018 that requires Colorado boat owners who operate motorboats and sailboats on public lakes and reservoirs to purchase a $25 ANS stamp annually. The cost of the stamp for out-of-state motorboats and sailboats is $50. Boaters from out of state can purchase online, at CPW offices, or at over 700 sales locations statewide.
Aquatic nuisance species, such as zebra and quagga mussels, pose a serious threat to natural resources, recreation and the water infrastructure of the state. Mussel infestations cause a variety of major problems. Because mussels consume plankton, they disrupt the food web and out-compete sport fish and native fish. Mussels clog infrastructure, including reservoir dams, outlet structures and distribution systems that carry water for irrigation, municipal and industrial uses. Mussels also infest boats and damage engines.
Mussels have caused billions of dollars in damage, especially in the upper Midwest. Nearby states where mussel infestations exist include Utah, Arizona, Kansas, Texas, Nebraska and Oklahoma. Invasive mussels could have devastating ecological, economic, and recreational impacts if infestations were to establish here.
A complete list of Colorado inspection sites and hours of operation, along with information about the ANS stamp, can be found on CPW’s boating page . Always check with your destination reservoir before going to verify hours of operation.
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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 41 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
Copyright © 2021 Colorado Parks and Wildlife, All rights reserved.
ReleaseDate: 4/13/2021 10:13 AM
Mack Mesa Reservoir drained to remove northern pike4/12/2021 2:39:41 PM
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Randy Hampton
Northwest Region Public Information Officer
970-640-1647 / randy.hampton@state.co.us
MACK MESA DRAINED TO REMOVE NORTHERN PIKE
Mack Mesa Reservoir is part of Highline Lake State Park. Highline Lake will not be impacted by the Mack Mesa project and the park remains open for boating, fishing, camping and all other activities.
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - In response to the discovery of northern pike in Mack Mesa Reservoir at Highline Lake State Park, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is draining Mack Mesa Reservoir. Work to drain Mack Mesa has begun and will continue for several weeks. The lake will be slowly drained to protect infrastructure and to effectively remove other species of fish for transfer to Highline Lake. Mack Mesa Reservoir is a small lake just north of the larger Highline Lake. Highline Lake will not be impacted by the project and will remain open to boaters, anglers, and other recreationists.
“Northern pike are a voracious predator that cannot be managed in Mack Mesa,” explained Ben Felt, CPW’s aquatic biologist for the Grand Junction area. “Pike will quickly decimate other fish in the lake, including trout, black crappie, largemouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish reared and stocked through CPW’s hatchery system.”
Anglers first reported catching a northern pike last fall and CPW immediately sampled the lake to get an understanding of the situation. Adult pike were removed through fish sampling in the fall. Biologists and park managers were hopeful that these sampling efforts would remove all pike, however additional fish were found during ice off - the time of year when northern pike typically spawn. It is unknown how pike got into Mack Mesa Lake but staff suspects that they were illegally transported and released by someone trying to selfishly create a place to catch their own favorite fish.
“Movement and stocking of fish into Colorado waters by private individuals without CPW approval is against the law,” said Area Wildlife Manager Kirk Oldham. “In addition, CPW does not stock northern pike in western Colorado waters because the species is a significant threat to native fish that are found only in the Colorado River basin.”
A federal program works to recover four species of endangered fish while continuing to allow the development of Colorado water for agriculture, drinking water, and other uses in western Colorado. The Upper Colorado River Recovery Program oversees work to recover humpback chub, razorback sucker, bonytail and Colorado pikeminnow.
“As the lake is drained, efforts will be made to capture the allowable fish that remain in Mack Mesa and transfer those fish to neighboring Highline Lake for the benefit of anglers,” added Felt. “Any northern pike will be removed.”
Once all fish are removed, Mack Mesa Lake will be refilled and restocked with trout, largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, and channel catfish.
“We hope to get ahold of some large brood fish to make sure that Mack Mesa will be immediately fishable by anglers in May,” said Highline Lake State Park Manager Alan Martinez. “This disruption for anglers is unfortunate and we hope anyone who loves Mack Mesa will help us keep an eye out for anyone who might illegally move fish here or anywhere else.”
Park staff and wildlife managers discussed the possibility of closing Mack Mesa Lake to public access and considered alternative fish removal techniques but those measures were discounted for multiple reasons, including being too punitive to the many responsible anglers that enjoy the lake. Future incidents could result in closure of the lake to fishing or the suspension of stocking of any fish in Mack Mesa.
"This is an unfortunate situation, and one that CPW would prefer not to be in,” said Northwest Region Senior Aquatic Biologist Lori Martin. Martin also expressed frustration that these efforts take away staff time and resources from other important projects that could benefit all anglers on the Western Slope.
Anyone with information about illegal fish stocking is encouraged to contact Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Grand Junction office at 970-255-6100. Park visitors are asked to take note of any suspicious activity, including descriptions of people and vehicle license numbers. Tipsters who wish to remain anonymous can provide information through the Operation Gamethief program by calling 877-265-6648 or by emailing game.thief@state.co.us.
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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 41 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
Copyright © 2021 Colorado Parks and Wildlife, All rights reserved.
ReleaseDate: 4/12/2021 12:37 PM
Golden trout return to State Forest State Park4/12/2021 1:54:42 PM
Body:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Randy Hampton
Northwest Region Public Information Officer
970-640-1647 / randy.hampton@state.co.us
GOLDEN TROUT RETURN TO STATE FOREST STATE PARK
A colorful golden trout
WALDEN, Colo. - Anglers in northern Colorado are hoping some tiny fish will mean the return of a popular catch at State Forest State Park. About 600 golden trout have been stocked into two high-elevation, backcountry lakes, in the park with the hopes that they’ll grow to catchable size in a few years.
Golden trout are the state fish of California and native to the Upper Kern River drainage near Mt. Whitney and Sequoia National Park in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Central California. They were believed extinct by the mid-20th century. The species was originally described by ichthyologist David Starr Jordan in 1892. History buffs will know that Jordan was the first Chancellor of Stanford University. After the golden trout was recovered in California, it was bred in hatcheries and was stocked in lakes within the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and Utah beginning in the 1970s.
From the 1970s up until 1993, golden trout were stocked in Kelly Lake in State Forest State Park but that population - like most golden trout outside of historic stream spawning habitat - were unable to reproduce at self-sustaining levels. By 2000 the golden trout in Kelly Lake had mostly disappeared. Despite their short tenure in Kelly Lake, the reputation of golden trout being a fun-to-catch and brightly colored fish lives on in the memory of area anglers. While golden trout can be found in other lakes in Colorado, the state record golden trout - weighing in at 3.75 pounds and measuring 22 1/2 inches - was caught in Kelly Lake by Donald O’Leary in 1979.
About five years ago, park staff at State Forest and aquatic biologist Kyle Battige decided to take a look at a potential return of golden trout. Conversations with the public took place and habitat assessments were undertaken. Analysis showed that two lakes - Clear Lake and Jewel Lake - would make good homes for the species.
“This was a collaboration between the park, the biological staff, and the public,” said Park Manager Joe Brand. “It took time to make sure this is done properly. Now we’re moving forward and everyone is very excited for this unique backcountry fishing opportunity.”
In late fall of 2020 an airplane was used to stock Clear and Jewel with a mix of 1.5” golden trout and small Colorado cutthroats. Clear Lake was stocked with 375 fish and Jewel Lake received about 200 fish. Biologists believe the fish will take approximately three years to reach catchable size (>8”) and after a few more years some may get up to 14” in length.
“Because golden trout aren’t effective at spawning in lake environments, additional stockings will take place to create a multi-year class fishery,” explained CPW Aquatic Biologist Kyle Battige. “We’ll sample the fish every few years to assess their health and growth. It’s anticipated that golden trout will live six to eight years in those lakes.”
Anglers that may venture into these remote, high-mountain lakes are encouraged to give the fish a few years to grow. As a reminder, a state parks pass is required to access the lakes, which are anywhere from a three mile hike (Jewel) to an eight mile hike (Clear) with several thousand feet of elevation gain along the hike. The lakes themselves sit at approximately 11,000 feet above sea level.
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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 41 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
Copyright © 2021 Colorado Parks and Wildlife, All rights reserved.
ReleaseDate: 4/12/2021 11:50 AM
Even more Colorado state parks will have Agents of Discovery augmented reality missions this spring4/9/2021 11:59:43 AM
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Travis Duncan
Statewide Public Information Officer
720-595-8294 / travis.duncan @state.co.us
Even more Colorado state parks will have Agents of Discovery augmented reality missions this spring
This yellow-bellied marmot named "Agent Raymond" is the mascot for Staunton State Park's augmented reality game.
DENVER – Colorado Parks and Wildlife has partnered with Agents of Discovery, an educational mobile gaming platform, to create augmented reality trail missions at 13 state parks. This spring, with social distancing requirements still keeping many families in small units as they venture outdoors, it’s a great time to download the app on your smartphone and try out one of the new missions.
The missions, which task users with accomplishing educational and fun outdoor activities at state parks, can be accessed by smartphone users by downloading the Agents of Discovery app from the App and Play stores. Missions are free to play and, once downloaded, do not require Wi-Fi or a data connection.
Some examples at CPW state parks include:
A Prairie Nature Trail mission at Jackson Lake State Park
Learn about young wildlife with Cheyenne Mountain State Park’s Spring Babies mission
Become a Junior Ranger at Steamboat Lake or St. Vrain state parks
Learn about the night sky at Eleven Mile State Park
Test your water knowledge at Ridgway and Mancos state parks
Go on a scavenger hunt at Lake Pueblo State Park
Discover there’s more than just dogs in Chatfield State Park’s Dog Off-Leash Area
Staunton State Park even has a mission you can try at home!
“Our missions at Barr Lake are all about the eagles right now,” said Barr Lake State Park Manager Michelle Seubert. “This is a great activity for families to get out on the trail and explore these self-guided missions to learn about the park. We also just launched our new mission: The Prairie Welcomes You to Leave No Trace.”
Get started by downloading the Agents of Discovery app and visiting one of the state parks below.
State parks with augmented reality trail missions
Barr Lake
Chatfield
Cheyenne Mountain
Crawford
Eleven Mile
Jackson Lake
Lake Pueblo
Mancos
Ridgway
St. Vrain
Staunton
Steamboat Lake
Trinidad Lake
About Agents of Discovery
Agents of Discovery is an educational mobile gaming platform that uses augmented reality to get youth active. They empower educators in all sectors to turn the whole world into an engaging, fun, and safe learning environment.
Educators use the online platform, the Mission Maker, to design their own games. These games (Missions) are then published to the Agents of Discovery app and available from the App and Play stores.
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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 41 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
Copyright © 2021 Colorado Parks and Wildlife, All rights reserved.
ReleaseDate: 4/9/2021 9:57 AM
Application period now open for Colorado Outdoor Regional Partnerships Initiative Funding Program4/9/2021 11:04:41 AM
Body:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Travis Duncan
Statewide Public Information Officer
720-595-8294 / travis.duncan @state.co.us
Application period now open for Colorado Outdoor Regional Partnerships Initiative Funding Program
DENVER – Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and Great Outdoors Colorado are collaborating to fund coalitions working to protect Colorado’s land, water, and wildlife through the Colorado Outdoor Regional Partnerships Initiative. Governor Jared Polis signed the Executive Order creating the Initiative at the opening of Fishers Peak State Park last October . CPW, in collaboration with the Colorado Department of Natural Resources and the Colorado Outdoor Partnership (CO-OP), is leading an effort to advance conservation and recreation for our public and private lands and waters in a manner that ensures our communities are healthy, livable and prosperous for future generations.
This funding program will support new and existing coalitions who will collaborate with the CO-OP and are committed to the following:
Conserving wildlife and natural resources
Ensuring sustainable outdoor recreation opportunities
Convening a broad representation of outdoor related interests
“We are pleased to advance this important, collaborative effort,” said CPW Director Dan Prenzlow. “It will bring stakeholders together from across the spectrum of the outdoors to lead local and statewide planning that balances the conservation of our state’s tremendous natural resources with the outdoor recreation experiences that we all value in Colorado.”
The funding application is available online at OutdoorPartnershipsSpring2021 . Applications are due May 20, 2021. Awards announcements will be made by the end of June 2021. For more information, including application instructions and templates for a timeline and budget, please see the Regional Partnerships Initiative page on the CPW website.
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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 41 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
Copyright © 2021 Colorado Parks and Wildlife, All rights reserved.
ReleaseDate: 4/9/2021 9:00 AM
CPW's version of 'March Madness' ends with Lake Pueblo reporting a record walleye spawn; it's great news a year after COVID-19 aborted CPW efforts4/8/2021 4:44:44 PM
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bill Vogrin
Southeast Region Public Information Officer
719-466-3927 / bill.vogrin@state.co.us
LAKE PUEBLO PRODUCES RECORD WALLEYE SPAWN A YEAR AFTER COVID-19 ABORTED CPW'S EFFORTS
Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Josh Nehring, senior aquatic biologist for the Southeast Region, displays a large walleye during the "March Madness" walleye spawn at Lake Pueblo State Park.
Photo courtesy of Colorado Parks and Wildlife
April 9, 2021
Lake Pueblo produces record walleye spawn a year after COVID-19 aborted CPW efforts
PUEBLO, Colo. – While college basketball fans sit glued to their televisions each March, Colorado Parks and Wildlife plays its own version of "March Madness."
Without fanfare, betting brackets or “One Shining Moment” tributes, CPW biologists and volunteers head out at dawn, usually in freezing temperatures, to Front Range reservoirs and spend a month capturing thousands of walleye and spawning them in a quest for Colorado anglers’ precious aquatic prize.
This March, CPW collected approximately 130 million eggs – a slam dunk for anglers statewide.
It’s particularly great news after last year’s disappointing, pandemic-shortened spawn produced only a tiny fraction of the usual haul.
“Honestly, it’s hard to believe what our team of aquatic biologists, other CPW staff, and three volunteers were able to accomplish this year at Lake Pueblo State Park,” said Josh Nehring, senior aquatic biologist for CPW’s Southeast Region. “We weren’t sure what to expect. But we never expected to catch so many fish and produce so many eggs, so fast.
“It’s remarkable. And anglers ought to be thrilled because it’s going to mean great fishing in the coming years in Colorado.”
Most every spring, CPW holds its March Madness at three state parks: Lake Pueblo, Cherry Creek and Chatfield.
There, three teams of aquatic biologists deploy at dawn each day for most of the month, working seven days a week in sun, rain and often snow, to gill-net hundreds of walleye each day.
They strip the popular gamefish, one slippery walleye after another, of their milt and roe (sperm and eggs) as the fish wriggle furiously in the biologists’ cold, wet hands.
The eggs are fertilized in a boathouse at Lake Pueblo, or on a floating barge at Cherry Creek and Chatfield. Then the fertilized eggs – often millions a day – are sent to CPW hatcheries where they are hatched and nurtured until the fry and fingerlings are ready to be stocked in waters across Colorado.
Typically the grueling routine is repeated daily until they’ve produced about 120 million eggs. Only when the goal is reached can the madness end.
Why does CPW go to all the effort?
Because anglers love walleye for the valiant fight they put up on the end of a line and for the way they taste at the end of a fork.
The walleye eggs also are valuable as CPW’s hatchery staff trade them to other states in exchange for desirable gamefish otherwise unavailable in Colorado.
The annual effort has gone on since 1988 at Lake Pueblo and, in normal years, involves a small army of CPW aquatic biologists, other staff and volunteers who typically spend hours each day alongside the biologists untangling dozens of nets – each longer than a football field – deployed each afternoon and left overnight in the lakes for the next morning’s catch.
Then, a year ago, came COVID-19 forcing a sudden stop to the spawning operation. One day into the 2020 walleye spawn, CPW aborted operations as the worldwide pandemic reached Colorado.
Anglers feared their prized catch would quickly disappear without the human-assisted spawning operation. Sure, the walleye in the three lakes would still spawn without human interference. But the survival rate of walleye eggs spawned naturally in the lake can be as low as 10 percent while eggs gathered and fertilized by CPW aquatic biologists is typically as high as 80 percent.
"That’s why CPW and its predecessor agencies began spawning fish several decades ago," Nehring said. "And the modern operation has helped boost walleye populations and ensures great fishing for anglers."
So there was great pressure on CPW’s Team Walleye as it began operations this year. That pressure was made worse by the decision to limit participation to just a core group of biologists and only three longtime volunteers: Russ Dewey, Mark Elkins and Dan Frankowski.
Those three volunteers each have decades of experience – Frankowski first volunteered at the Lake Pueblo boathouse in 1990 – and all were vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. And everyone wore masks for protection. In a further safety precaution, the net reefing operation was moved out of the cramped boathouse and into an open-air parking lot.
It was a stark contrast to past years when a large support staff and larger team of volunteers arrived each morning before dawn to expedite the spawn and to let the biologists concentrate on catching and squeezing the fish.
Perhaps the volunteers’ biggest contribution is the chore of “reefing” the nets.
They drag 32 heavy tubs, each holding a 400-foot-long gill net, and start hours of reefing -- the process of untangling the massive nets.
The work starts by taking one end of the long net and tossing it over a large plastic pipe hanging from the rafters of the boathouse.
Then they stand and pull the 400-feet of net over the tube, inch by inch, removing tree branches, debris and even old fishing lures, as they slowly and carefully place it into a new tub. Along the way they also make repairs to netting ripped by the debris.
This year, however, the 14-member Team Walleye was responsible for most of the prep work, rinse stations, all the sorting and counting.
And with only three volunteers, the CPW Team Walleye biologists spent what would normally be their lunch hours standing in the parking lot reefing nets so they could take them back out on the lake to be set for the next morning.
But as bad as 2020 was for Team Walleye, the 2021 season was great. Nehring said the overall walleye catch at Lake Pueblo was among the best in decades.
It took only a few days for the Pueblo team to blow past its goal of 40 million eggs. The walleye, and the eggs, just kept piling up.
This turned out to be especially important because CPW had decided in advance not to spawn at Chatfield this year and the effort at Cherry Creek was partially held back due to COVID-19 concerns.
Carrie Tucker, aquatic biologist based in Pueblo, said she’d never seen so many walleye.
“It was an absolutely monster year,” Tucker said. “We’ve never gotten so many fish, day after day. It was great to be back on the water. And it’s great to know our anglers are going to have a lot of success catching fish this summer.”
The number of fish netted each day kept growing until Nehring, Tucker and the team spawned 156 female walleyes on March 26. They were so surprised they wrote the number on cardboard and placed it in the rafters of the boathouse, noting it exceeded the previous record of 130 female walleye spawned in one day in 2019.
In all, Team Walleye beat the 2019 record for daily female spawns three times in 2021.
The box score showed that in a quick 16 days, they had produced 90 million eggs from Lake Pueblo -- by far the majority of CPW’s 2021 statewide total of 131 million eggs.
The team also ran up the score by exceeding 9 million eggs produced on 3 days. Their best was 9.8 million March 29.
They further stuffed the stat sheet by producing 6 million sterile "triploids." The triploid is a sterile walleye hybrid. CPW aquatic biologists like triploids because they can be stocked in West Slope waters without fear of reproducing and competing with native fish.
Another benefit of the record walleye spawn was the production of 32.4 million saugeye. It’s a hybrid made from sauger milt from Nebraska and Colorado walleye eggs. The saugeye loves shallow water making it a favorite among shore anglers.
In the college basketball March Madness, colorful confetti fell on the winners as they cut down the nets at the end of the tournament.
Only a light snow fell on Team Walleye as the biologists folded up the last nets on March 31, ending CPW's version of March Madness.
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PHOTOS:
Courtesy of Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Captions:
Colorado Parks and Wildlife aquatic biologists and technicians head out at dawn to begin pulling gill nets set the previous afternoon to collect walleye for the day's spawn.
A small boathouse in Lake Pueblo State Park hosts CPW's March Madness as aquatic biologists bring in their catch of walleye to be sorted, stripped of their milt and roe, the eggs fertilized and nets untangled in a month-long marathon.
It's cold, wet work onboard the CPW boats as aquatic biologists, technicians and wildlife officers pull in 32 gill nets, each longer than football field, remove walleye and other fish from them as well as tree branches and other debris.
CPW's Josh Nehring, senior aquatic biologist for the Southeast Region, reacts to the large volume of roe, or eggs, he is able to squeeze from a female walleye.
CPW's Carrie Tucker, aquatic biologist in Pueblo, handled much of the duty stripping milt and roe from walleye caught each day.
CPW Volunteers Mark Elkins, a retired CPW terrestrial biologist, and Dan Frankowski "reef" or untangle the gill nets in a deserted boathouse. When the first boat arrives with the catch of the morning, they moved their operation to a parking lot. Frankowski has been volunteering at the Lake Pueblo walleye spawn since 1990.
CPW Volunteers Mark Elkins, a retired CPW terrestrial biologist, and Dan Frankowski are joined by Team Walleye members who spend their lunch hours reefing nets to ensure all 32 of the 400-foot-long nets are ready to go back into the lake that afternoon.
Three longtime CPW volunteers - Russ Dewey, Mark Elkins and Dan Frankowski - pose with Carrie Tucker, (far right) aquatic biologist in Pueblo.
A light snow fell on the Colorado Parks and Wildlife walleye team on the final day of operations at Lake Pueblo State Park.
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VIDEO:
Watch the process of the eggs from the walleye spawn arriving at the Wray Hatchery to how we ship them out the door as fry to be stocked in lakes and reservoirs across the state.
Here's the link: https://youtu.be/QVH-e9yEbQo
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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 41 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
Copyright © 2021 Colorado Parks and Wildlife, All rights reserved.
ReleaseDate: 4/8/2021 2:42 PM
Colorado Parks and Wildlife urges paddleboarders to be safe on the water4/8/2021 2:34:42 PM
Body:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Joe Lewandowski
Southwest Region Public Information Officer
970-759-9590 / joe.lewandowski@state.co.us
Paddleboarders are urged to wear PFDs when they are on the water.
Paddleboarders urged to wear to wear PFDs
RIDGWAY, Colo. – As stand-up paddleboards become more and more popular, Colorado Parks and Wildlife reminds paddlers to wear personal floatation devices (PFDs) when using this watercraft.
Over the last several years at Colorado’ state parks, more and more people have been falling off their boards and some have drowned. In all those cases people were not wearing PFDs.
“So many people see paddle boards as low risk; but if you fall off your board into cold water you can get into trouble very quickly,” said Kirstin Copeland, manager at Ridgway State Park.
On rivers or reservoirs, if a paddleboarder falls off there is no guarantee that the board will remain within reach. In rivers, the board can be pulled away by the current. In lakes, a board can be pushed away quickly by the wind.
The danger is amplified on reservoirs and ponds in the afternoons in Colorado when winds pick-up or fast-moving storms stir up waves. Water temperature is also a factor. Even though the weather has been warm, the spring run-off is just starting and water in rivers and reservoirs is only about 50 degrees or lower. Cold water quickly impairs swimming ability and can cause hypothermia.
According to CPW regulations, on any watercraft the number of life jackets on board must match the number of passengers. Anyone 13 years or younger must wear a life jacket at all times. Every kind of craft is subject to the regulations, including powerboats, paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, sailboats and sailboards.
In the last two years at Ridgway reservoir, four adults who were not wearing PFDs had to be rescued by park rangers after failing off their boards. In addition, two youngsters who were wearing adult-sized life jackets also had to be rescued. The ill-fitting PFDs did not support them in the water properly. Children must be fitted with properly sized PFDs.
“Anything can happen at any time on the water. So we urge people to be cautious and consider their own safety and their loved one’s safety while they’re enjoying the water,” Copeland said. “Please, wear your PFD.”
For more information about safe boating, go to: http://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/BoatingSafety.aspx .
Listen to CPW’s PODCAST on boating safety:
https://art19.com/shows/colorado-outdoors/episodes/ec80b994-4eb8-4484-abea-b2b86a747c0b .
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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 41 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
Copyright © 2021 Colorado Parks and Wildlife, All rights reserved.
ReleaseDate: 4/8/2021 12:29 PM
Phase 1 of the bike park remodel at Lory State Park has begun4/8/2021 7:44:41 AM
Body:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jason Clay
Northeast Region Public Information Officer
303-291-7234 / jason.clay@state.co.us
@CPW_NE
Phase 1 of the bike park remodel at Lory State Park has begun
Volunteers and financial assistance still needed to complete enhanced bike park design, which envisions first-of-its-kind amenities for a Colorado State Park | Friends of Lory State Park website
BELLVUE, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Friends of Lory State Park (FoLSP) and partners TREK North in Fort Collins, J2 Contracting , Drake Cycles and Overland Mountain Bike Association (OMBA) broke ground on a revitalized Corral Center Bike Park at Lory State Park this week.
Once completed, the updated bike park will be the first of its kind at any Colorado State Park. Thanks to a successful raffle that featured a donated TREK Roscoe 7 Mountain Bike and raised almost $10,000, the project partners will have enough funds to jump start Phase 1 of the project. However, more support will be needed to complete the total $50,000 bike park revitalization.
“We are excited to start phase 1 of the bike park project," said Park Manager Roy McBride. "We've uncovered from the snow and the ground has thawed, allowing crews to begin moving the dirt jumps. In the meantime, we are working with our partners to secure additional funding to complete phase 2. If the additional funding is raised, we hope to complete phase 2 by the end of the 2021 summer season.”
The bike park at Lory State Park will be closed until construction of the new jumps and pump track is completed, which is anticipated to take about a week.
“Improving the former horse corral to a bike skills arena has been on our drawing board for several years,” explained FoLSP Board President, Patricia Miller. “We are excited to continue working with Debbie Posewitz of TREK, Eric Drake of Drake Cycles, Kenny Bearden from OMBA, Chance Brown of J2 Contracting, CPW and many others in realizing a new upscale park, adapted for beginners and experienced mountain bikers to hone their skills.”
Chance Brown, owner of J2 Contracting, is lending his expertise to the project as the lead designer. Many other individuals and groups are supporting the design and construction efforts as well, including Cameron Landis and other Lory State Park staff, Send Town Bike Club, OMBA, TREK, and Drake Cycles. Phase 1 will cost around $7,500, which means that the proceeds from the October 2020 TREK Bicycle Raffle that raised $9,905 will cover the initial construction.
The plan is to use existing on-site dirt to improve and enlarge the start hill and construct a pump track and small/medium dirt jump lines. It was determined that these three areas would cater to nearly the entire Lory State Park bike rider population. Phase 1 will also include updated signage with maps, rules and safety information. Additionally, enhanced landscaping will make the area more suitable for spectators at future events.
Phase 2, which will require an influx of an additional $40,000, will include the construction of a large dirt jump line using steel framed wooden jump lips and a curved wall ride. The park designers plan to add five of these structures and their associated landings.
“Free dirt for rough grading the large dirt jump landings translates into more trail surfacing that can be purchased or imported," Brown emphasized as being critical for Phase 2 of the project. "Having additional surfacing for future maintenance is critical to the success of the park.”
Landscaping donations to help with shade and general park aesthetics will also be gladly accepted.
FoLSP is extremely grateful for the nearly 300 donors who participated in the October raffle, thereby jump-starting Phase 1 of the project. The Friends group is already pursuing additional funding sources for Phase 2 as well, including a Partners in the Outdoors Grant, Colorado Gives initiatives, business sponsorships and potentially another bike raffle in Summer/Fall 2021.
Sara Abernathy, the winner of the TREK Roscoe 7 raffle, is very appreciative of the Lory State Park staff and community partners for their efforts.
“We love Lory because of the fun features, well-built trails with different difficulties, and the ability to get away from town to recreate," she said. "It's so gorgeous."
To support the Friends of Lory State Park and the Corral Center Bike Park, please visit https://www.loryfriends.org/support-your-friends-and-support-your-park/ . For more information about the project, please contact FoLSP at 970-235-2045 or email loryspfriends@gmail.com
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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 41 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
Copyright © 2021 Colorado Parks and Wildlife, All rights reserved.
ReleaseDate: 4/8/2021 5:39 AM
Colorado Parks and Wildlife extends primary draw application deadline until Friday, April 9 at 8 p.m.4/7/2021 4:04:42 PM
Body:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Travis Duncan
Statewide Public Information Officer
720-595-8294 / travis.duncan @state.co.us
Colorado Parks and Wildlife extends primary draw application deadline until Friday, April 9 at 8 p.m.
DENVER – Hunters hoping to draw a big-game license in Colorado in 2021 will now have until Fri., April 9 at 8 p.m. MT to apply in the primary draw due to volume-related technological issues that kept some hunters from being able to apply before the original deadline of April 6 at 8 p.m.
“We’re going to do what’s right for our hunters,” said CPW Director Dan Prenzlow. “This will ensure those who encountered errors within our system through no fault of their own can still apply to hunt in Colorado this year.”
Approximately 20% of the almost 700,000 big game primary draw applications were submitted in the last 24 hours of the application period, which opens March 1 annually. The volume-related issues encountered by the system occurred as thousands of people were submitting applications as the deadline approached. Applicants are reminded that applying early allows for ample time to receive confirmation of their application and, in the case that they do experience any issues, for them to be resolved prior to the deadline. CPW advises hunters not to wait until the last minute to apply during this one-time extension to avoid any additional issues.
Hunters are encouraged to review the 2021 Colorado Big Game brochure for all updated regulations related to this year’s hunting seasons.
###
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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 42 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
Copyright © 2021 Colorado Parks and Wildlife, All rights reserved.
ReleaseDate: 4/7/2021 2:00 PM
Go fish! Colorado launches resident digital fishing license on myColorado™ app4/7/2021 11:04:42 AM
Body:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Travis Duncan
Statewide Public Information Officer
720-595-8294 / travis.duncan @state.co.us
Go fish! Colorado launches resident digital fishing license on myColorado™ app
Colorado residents can now display their fishing license on their smartphone through the myColorado™ app.
DENVER – Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s resident fishing licenses are now accessible through myColorado™, the State of Colorado’s official mobile app™. Resident anglers will purchase their fishing licenses the same way they always have and receive a printed physical license, but now they will also have the option to display it within the myColorado app.
The myColorado app gives Colorado residents the ability to create an electronic version of their Colorado driver’s license or state identification (ID) card on their smartphone as proof of identity within the state. Now, resident anglers can use it to show they have a valid fishing license as well. The myColorado app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play . Visit myColorado.gov to learn more.
“We are excited to make it as easy as possible for Coloradans to show they’ve purchased their fishing licenses, allowing them to continue enjoying our state’s great outdoors,” said Governor Jared Polis. “Since my children are under 16, they can fish for free, but when I got my license a couple years ago I was surprised that there wasn’t an option to display my license on my phone. While a paper license still works for many people, it can be easy to forget at home, but many parents like me always have their phone on them. This new option meets Coloradans where they’re at, providing 21st century service.”
“Resident fishing license products are a great way for CPW to enter the digital arena with our licenses,” said CPW Director Dan Prenzlow. “We’ll continue to explore options for making proof of holding a valid license or pass easier for our customers.”
Check out the myColorado FAQ document for more information about how to access your resident fishing license within the app Wallet. The specific fishing products anglers will see will include:
Resident annual
Resident youth annual
Resident senior annual
Resident 1-day
Resident additional-day
Resident senior low-income lifetime
Resident disability lifetime
Resident VA lifetime
Resident first responder lifetime
Extra rod stamp
Moving forward, CPW will explore adding new products to the myColorado mobile app, such as individual park passes, dog-off leash passes and some annual hunting licenses.
It’s time to go fish!
CPW reminds anglers that it's time to get ready for another season of fishing. Coloradans and non-resident visitors alike can purchase a 2021 annual fishing license online , at your local CPW office or at any of our hundreds of authorized sales agents statewide .
An annual 2021 license is valid from March 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. CPW provides a range of options for anglers including both the annual fishing license and one-day fishing licenses as well as educational opportunities for those new to angling.
One excellent resource is the CPW Fishing Report which is published bi-weekly. The CPW Fishing Report is available online , through the CPW Fishing app , and by subscribing to an email newsletter . The report provides the latest fishing news and events in Colorado, describes current fishing conditions across the state and issues a stocking report .
CPW stocks 90 million fish annually into Colorado’s waters to ensure quality angling opportunities. CPW does not receive general tax dollars and fishing license fees support all statewide hatchery and fish-stocking operations.
Up-to-date regulations and pricing for annual, daily and multi-day licenses can be found in the 2021 Colorado Fishing Brochure ( Spanish version ). For individuals ages 18 through 64, a $10.40 Habitat Stamp is required with the first license purchase for the year. Youth under age 16 can fish for free and CPW provides opportunities throughout the season to learn how to fish.
Check out the myColorado digital fishing license media toolkit for answers to frequently asked questions, social media messages, and stock images and screenshots for this exciting new feature. To learn more about fishing in Colorado, including 37 angling locations within Colorado state parks, visit our website at cpw.state.co.us .
###
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CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 42 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.
Copyright © 2021 Colorado Parks and Wildlife, All rights reserved.
ReleaseDate: 4/7/2021 9:00 AM
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