Centennial SWA. Weld County

[Steven Mlodinow]

Greetings All
Know that Centennial - one of the finest accesses to the Platte I the CO Plains is closed to non Turkey hunters until end of turkey season and then closed to all - fine $200. Insult to injury given the new access fee. For decades hunters and fisher-folks have funded these areas. Now that we are paying, without consuming, we should write our state representatives demanding play for our pay
Steven Mlodinow
Longmont

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[elena]

Is that true even if we have bought a fishing license and the other pass (as well as the state parks pass)? I just spent like $80 for a fishing license I won’t use in order to contribute to the state and be able to bird places. If we are paying, it seems like we should be able to get in (although it’s sketchy being in places where people are shooting...) without starting an flood of emails, is there a way to clarify this or figure out how to approach the state to get some access for birders?

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> On May 23, 2020, at 2:13 PM, 'Steven Mlodinow' via Colorado Birds <cob...@googlegroups.com> wrote:
>
> Greetings All

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[Charles Hundertmark]

Each State Wildlife Area is managed under specific rules. It is a good idea for birders to know the rules for an SWA before planning to bird there.
Chuck Hundertmark
Lafayette, CO

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[Joe Roller]

Just as a point of information, the State Wildlife Area Steve Mlodinow is referring to,

along the South Platte River in Weld County, has the formal name of:

"Centennial Valley SWA".  At times it is referred to by its nickname, "Centennial SWA".

The State Wildlife Area with a similar name, "Centennial SWA" 

is on the north side of Blue Mesa Reservoir, in Gunnison County.

Neither is an ebird hotspot, but they soon will be.

Joe Roller, Denver

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/DA2A2EF2-BD4E-4F5A-B39F-F2285DD546CC%40gmail.com.

[Steven Mlodinow]

Yeah. One problem is that website and posted rules at location don’t always agree.

Sent from my iPhone

> On May 23, 2020, at 4:52 PM, Charles Hundertmark <chunde...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Each State Wildlife Area is managed under specific rules. It is a good idea for birders to know the rules for an SWA before planning to bird there.

[John Malenich]

It seems to me that the interests of the birding community are not being taken very much into consideration in any serious fashion by Colo. Parks & Wildlife and that has been a longstanding problem.  This is not just specific to this issue, this SWA, or the new requirement mandating all users to have a fishing/hunting license to use SWAs, but really with regard to a whole host of issues for both SWAs and State Parks from usage policies to land and water management policies, etc.  I am well aware that--at least in the past--the birding community was at a disadvantage from the standpoint that CPW saw hunters and fisherman as their primary revenue source, particularly for SWAs, but the new rules change that equation.    

Perhaps what could be very effective here is greater action by our State's various birding organizations like Denver Audubon, DFO, CFO, etc.  I think one of the prime reasons hunting and fishing groups get policies in line with what they want from CPW is their groups are extremely active and vocal in pushing their agenda.  This is not to say individuals should not speak out themselves on these issues (they should), but larger groups who can speak for many do often carry more weight.  Larger groups can also organize campaigns to get more individuals (their members) to speak out on crucial issues, get the word out to members and keep in contact with CPW officials on new policies.  Perhaps groups like Denver Audubon, CFO and DFO might consider taking a more active and vocal role in proactively pushing for pro-birding policies with CPW and other decision makers.  It's often much easier to proactively impact these policies before they are put into place instead of trying to react to and undo a new policy that we find problematic.  

John Malenich

Boulder, CO   

[Joe Roller]

John,

About 3 years ago CPW reached out to CFO, DFO, Audubon Society of Greater Denver, Boulder Audubon and some other nature lovers. CPW sat up a "Roundtable" to meet quarterly with reps from the groups, and I was led to believe that communication, back and forth, two way, would be enhanced, just as you suggested. Boy was I wrong!

CPW seemed to have the idea that the birding and other nature groups would be there to 

listen to what actions CPW had already decided to take. Seemed to be a one-way street, as far as I could tell.

Maybe the Roundtable is still meeting. Don't know. Maybe someone has a good word to say

about it and its accomplishments.

In my opinion, to be charitable, the Roundtable never fulfilled its mission.

Hopefully some of the attendees can let us know if Roundtable is still meeting

and what input (if any) CPW has asked from us. What discussion occurred with 

birding groups prior to the fee structure for SWA's being set up?

John, you were spot-on when you wrote:

Perhaps groups like Denver Audubon, CFO and DFO might consider taking a more active and vocal role in proactively pushing for pro-birding policies with CPW and other decision makers.  It's often much easier to proactively impact these policies before they are put into place instead of trying to react to and undo a new policy that we find problematic. 

Maybe someone could explain to me why I shouldn't be bitter.

I am writing as an individual birder, NOT as a member of any organization.

Joe Roller, Denver

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[Michael T]

I view this as a safety issue. It would be very dangerous to be walking around these areas while the Turkey season is still open and I for one would not take that chance given the nature of how turkey's are hunted......with great stealth. The season is open for just one more week.

Many state and county lands have seasonal closures for various reason whether it be for nesting raptors, upland birds, sensitive habitat, etc. Hunters have seasons and regulations to abide by as do anglers. 

Just because you have to purchase a license/stamp to use an area it doesn't mean that one gets carte blanche. Be patient and learn to share, In the grand scheme of life these are minor inconveniences.

In the end, if everyone still finds this situation distasteful and and unacceptable, I suggest that you write to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission: dnr_cpwc...@state.co.us, since they have been tasked by the state legislature to manage wildlife issues in our state. My opinion is the state legislature might currently have bigger issues to deal with.

Just my two cents

Michael Tincher

Loveland, CO

[Lynne Forrester]

I passed your emails over to Polly Reetz. Here is her reply.

The Wildlife and Habitat Roundtable was not CPW's idea - it was the brain child of Nancy Stocker and myself, with lots of participation from Bob Broscheid, then director of CPW. It is still meeting (next meeting is May 26, a virtual one). I agree that it has not lived up to its potential, but we had to deal with a change in Directors and a strange (I think) apathy from groups other than Audubon and DFO. If someone from CFO wants to participate they are more than welcome, just email me.

Meanwhile: CPW said nothing to us about the requirement of a fishing or hunting license to enter SWAs at our last meeting in February. This seems strange - we were all there, and there was plenty of time to discuss it. Perhaps CPW folks thought we

would see it on the agenda of the May Commission meeting; I missed it entirely, looking for another item.

Obviously communication among members of the Roundtable needs improvement. CFO would be welcome to join.

Polly Reetz

Denver Audubon

Current Chairman, Wildlife and Habitat Roundtable

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From: cob...@googlegroups.com <cob...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Joe Roller <jrol...@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, May 24, 2020 5:49:50 PM
To: John Malenich <john.m...@comcast.net>
Cc: Colorado Birds <cob...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [cobirds] Re: Centennial SWA. Weld County

 

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[Lynne Forrester]