Our View

The Colorado Wildlife Federation is Colorado’s oldest and most effective wildlife conservation organization. We are advocates for our state’s wildlife.  Founded in 1953, our membership consists of  wildlife conservationsts - wildlife viewers, hunters, and anglers - who believe in the stewardship of a wildlife population that defines our state heritage and traditions.  CWF, through its board, members, volunteers and staff focus on ensuring that this natural bounty will be sustained for future generations of Coloradoans and visitors to the state to enjoy.  We serve as determined advocates for our state's wildlife and the winter ranges, migration corridors, reproduction areas and the waterways they depend upon to survive. CWF issued a factual report in January 2010, "Northwest Colorado's Wildlife Habitat Today: Are We Losing Our Heritage?"   To access the report, download the pdf  under Our Stand (click View All).  Or, to order a copy of the report, call 303-987-0400  or email cwfed@coloradowildlife.org 

         

 
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The unprecedented energy development that is changing our Rocky Mountain landscape threatens iconic native species such as mule deer, sage grouse and Colorado River cutthroat trout. These impacts have been documented by respected wildlife biologists, including CWF members. As Coloradans and Americans, we recognize the need for responsible energy development. Yet we also know that energy development need not, and must not, jeopardize our remarkable wildlife resource and the sustainable economy that depends upon healthy populations and habitats.  CWF carefully follows Bureau of Land Management and US Forest Service planning, CWF works hard and effectively every day for protection of important wildlife habitat on Colorado's federal public lands with a steadfast goal of  balanced use of public lands that fully factors in wildlife habitat needs before, rather than after, energy leasing/development.   

The following is an overview of federal and state oil and gas development policy that has evolved.  On December 11, 2008, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) adopted rules that provide minimum protections to wildlife in areas designated as "sensitive wildlife habitat."  In our view, they represent a reasonable compromise.  While the rules do not provide the level of protections for wildlife that we advocated, they do offer minimum protections.   See a summary of the wildlife provisions  under Our Stand [left below - click View All].   The Colorado General Assembly passed the rules review bill on March 25, 2009 and it was signed into law by former Governor Bill Ritter on April 22.   The rules became effective April 1, 2009 on private land and May 1, 2009 on federal public lands in Colorado managed by the BLM and US Forest Service.  On May 17, 2010, Department of Interior Secretary Salazar announced onshore oil and gas leasing reforms on federal public lands.  CWF applauded this action as needed to ensure that cumulative impacts to key wildlife habitat are minimized -- by fully considering and addressing needs of wildlife in the balance.  CWF has submitted an application for master leasing planning for South Park on Nov. 4, 2011 pursuant to one of these reforms. On August 10, 2010, the Governor announced that wildlife (habitat) mitigation plans, under the COGCC's new rules referenced above, were negotiated between several energy companies and the Division of Wildlife, addressing more than 325,000 acres (18%) of northwest Colorado's Piceance Basin.  CWF applauded the companies for addressing wildlife on a parcel basis, rather than as permit applications are made.  The extent to which the plans will minimize adverse impacts in this extraordinarily important area of Colorado's wildlife  heritage and this segment of the wildlife related economic sector will not be known for a few years.  Monitoring, assessment and transparent reporting of the effectiveness of the planned measures on the ground are needed.   The State Land Board adopted revisions to its oil and gas lease form at its public meeting on March 4, 2011.  The key from the perspective of wildlife stewardship is that SLB staff confer with Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife staff to include stipulations in leases when needed to avoid or minimize adverse impacts to important wildlife habitat.   As to oil shale, CWF advocates no commercial leasing on Colorado's federal public lands in the Piceance Basin until companies that hold the research, demonstration and development leases show that commercial development is technologically feasible and estimate water use requirements.  Right now commercial leasing of our public lands is premature.