Information of Interest to SPBRT | Attached: SVLHWCD Report & HB25-1323|

[Esther Malers]

Hello SPBRT, 

The attached documents are an opportunity for members to learn about:

1. The Highland Fish Salvage Pilot Report; the product of a collaboration between the St. Vrain & Left Hand Water Conservancy District and the Highland Ditch Company to salvage fish trapped in the Highland Ditch - ATTACHED (SVLHWCD...pdf).

2. HB25-1323; concerning the authority of the Division of Parks & Wildlife Outdoor Recreation to enhance outdoor recreation opportunities (More information below).

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HB25-1323 Background: The bill is a piece of priority legislation for Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW), has been formally introduced, and will be reviewed at Monday's hearing. 

The attached documents are:

1. A fact sheet prepared by CPW - (01. FactSheet.pdf)

2. The introduced draft - (02. IntroducedDraft.pdf)

3. Proposed amendments - (03. Draft-Ammendments.pdf) & (04. List-Ammendments.pdf)

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Fletcher Jacobs, Assistant Director for Outdoor Recreation and Lands (CPW) on HB25-1323: 

"The purpose of this legislation is to: 

- Expand and strengthen CPW's role in the planning, development, and coordination of the management of Colorado's outdoor recreation that is consistent with conservation priorities and climate resilient strategies; 

- Officially establish a Non-Motorized Trails and year-round Motorized Trails program within CPW; 

- Create a unified framework to manage and enhance Colorado's rivers for recreation, safety, and conservation through a newly created River Recreation Program within CPW; 

- and, Bolster CPW's capacity to effectively implement outdoor recreation programs statewide. 

The bill is being sponsored by a bipartisan group of legislators, including: Representative Meghan Lukens, Representative Rick Taggart; and Senator Dylan Roberts, Senator Cleave Simpson. 

CPW welcomes any question or feedback you might have on this legislation." 

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As a result of stakeholder conversations, Daphne Gervais, Director of Legislative Affairs (DNR), shared the proposed amendments with the following explanation:

"Please find attached, a multi-page amendment that has been distributed to the House Agriculture, Water & Natural Resources Committee ahead of Monday's hearing. 

A redline of the bill that incorporates these changes is also included, for ease of review. 

This amendment is a result of stakeholder conversations, and provides clarifying language to make clear the bill does not create a right to access Colorado's waterways, will not affect water or private property rights, is intended to support, and not direct, local government planning efforts, and to strengthen the collaboration with key partners in the bill. 

Thanks to many of you, for your interest in the bill and engagement. 

Please reach out with any questions or feedback."

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Have a great weekend,

Esther Malers (SPBRT Recorder)

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Esther Malers

Administrative Assistant

TriLynx Systems

40504 Weld County Road 17

Severance, CO 80524-8829

[Sean Cronin]

Greetings,

Thank you Esther for previously forwarding information on HB25-1323 “Division of Parks & Wildlife Outdoor Recreation”.  As an update, HB25-1323 is “postponed indefinitely”.  Please see below.

 

https://leg.colorado.gov/content/eabe2b2a79c3f2e187258c6c006cbbdc-hb25-1323-0-activity-vote-summary

 

Sean

 

Sean T. Cronin | Executive Director

www.svlh.gov

 

St. Vrain & Left Hand Water Conservancy District | 1715 Ironhorse Dr; Suite 250 | Longmont, CO 80501-9757

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[Sean Cronin]

Greetings,

As a follow-up to the April 15, 2025 email below (RE: HB25-1323 – which was postponed), please find the following from Daphne Gervais with DNR and the attached. 

The following is from Daphne Gervais with DNR: "We've worked to fully re-do what we had in HB25-1323 from last session, so you'll notice quite a few changes and that some sections from last year's bill aren't a part of this version. Given some confusion and concerns we heard last session, I want to make explicitly clear that this is in no way related to the right-to-float policy discussion, and we’ve entirely removed the river recreation component of last year’s bill to make that abundantly clear.  

At its heart, this year's bill is aimed at helping CPW grow in capacity to better undertake collaborative, up-front outdoor recreation coordination, planning and management. Recognizing that we’ve seen exceptional growth in outdoor recreation in the state, and that that growth is straining resources at the state, local, and federal level, we're looking to formalize CPW’s role in facilitating partnerships and collaboration to try to get ahead of those challenges and ensure that recreation remains enjoyable, sustainable, and managed in a way that protects wildlife habitat, agricultural working lands, private property rights, and our treasured outdoor areas. Essentially, we want to position CPW to fulfill its existing mission better - reducing conflict between users, collaborating with external partners in a more meaningful way to inform decision-making, and coordinating within CPW and across key state agencies to advance shared goals.

 

Please send any thoughts or feedback to daphne....@state.co.us. 

 

Enjoy!

Sean

 

Sean T. Cronin | Executive Director

www.svlh.gov

 

St. Vrain & Left Hand Water Conservancy District | 1715 Ironhorse Dr; Suite 250 | Longmont, CO 80501-9757

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