PAYING FOR WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AND STATE PARK OPERATIONS

C O L O R A D O P A R K S & W I L D L I F E

2017 Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Financial Sustainability Legislation

COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE • 6060 Broadway, Denver, CO 80216 • (303) 297-1192 • cpw.state.co.us

Wildlife Viewers

$2.3Billion

Anglers

$1.9Billion

State Park Visitors

$1Billion

Hunters

$919Million

Did you know? These activities have an annual impact in Colorado of $6.1 billion.

Hunting and wildlife viewing benefit every county in the state — urban and rural.

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© W

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D. L

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/CPW

© W

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D. L

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/CPW

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EOIn order to sustain Colorado state parks and wildlife opportunities, the legislature is considering a bill that would allow the Parks and Wildlife Commission the limited authority to address current financial challenges.Funding is needed to:• Repair high-priority dams to ensure public safety and maintain recreational opportuni-

ties.• Support public access for hunting and fishing in Colorado.• Increase efforts to improve wildlife habitat.• Renovate hatcheries in order to continue stocking reservoirs and streams.• Continue inspection programs to keep Aquatic Nuisance Species out of Colorado’s

waters.• Maintain and improve park facilities including trails, campgrounds and visitor centers.• Improve outdoor recreation educational programs to get more Coloradans outside.• Increase youth and adult hunter and angler recruitment.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife relies on user fees, NOT general tax dollars. However, the fees have not kept pace with operational costs and inflation.• Resident hunting and fishing license fees have not increased since 2005.• Park entrance fees have not increased since 2010.• Since 2009, CPW has cut or defunded 50 positions and reduced $40 million from its

wildlife budget.• Just to maintain current operations, CPW forecasts needing an additional $14 million

annually for wildlife and $6.5 million annually for parks.

House Bill1321leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb17-1321

The Legislative Proposal Would Allow the Parks and Wildlife Commission to:• Phase in resident hunting and fishing license fee increases (with a cap not to exceed 50

percent above the level of most existing fees).• Adjust prices and fees to keep up with inflation, keeping fees consistent with changes

in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).• Recoup transaction costs associated with resident hunting license applications (not

including over-the-counter licenses) by increasing the limited license drawing applica-tion fee up to $20.

• Create an annual resident senior fishing license, limiting the price to no more than 50 percent of the price of a regular annual resident fishing license.

• Raise fees on select nonresident licenses to ensure those license fees are not less than the equivalent resident license fees.

• Adjust select fines/penalties to reflect changes in license prices.• Create a motorized and nonmotorized watercraft registration fee to help pay for the

Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Program.• Phase in state park-related fee increases (with a cap not to exceed 50 percent above the

level of existing fees).

COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE • 6060 Broadway, Denver, CO 80216 • (303) 297-1192 • cpw.state.co.us

Elk Hunting License Price Comparison

State Park Visitation

13,615,312Total Hunting and Fishing Licenses Sales

1,715,057

Public Input Shaped this Proposal:CPW held 22 public meetings statewide. Participants strongly supported increasing fees to ensure CPW’s financial sustainability.

Did you know? Wildlife and park funds are completely separate as required by state and federal law.

Visit cpw.state.co.us/financialsustainability to learn more.

$45

2016 Mountain StatesResident Average

$70

Visitation and Participation, FY15-16

2016 Colorado Resident

4-6-2017