Re: [cobirds] Access to State wildlife areas

This is well worth watching for those who have a desire to understand the diverse interests that CPW must juggle in developing a plan to provide access to SWAs for non-consumptive use while respecting the intended uses of these areas. For those worried about enforcement, it is worth listening to Director Prenzlow's comments.

Chuck Hundertmark

Lafayette, CO

On Aug 6, 2020, at 12:24 PM, Adrian Lakin <adrianlakin1@gmail.com> wrote:

For anyone interested in what happened in the CPW meeting on July 16/17, the meeting video is on their site at the following URL.

https://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/CommissionMeeting2020-7.aspx

You will need to go to the Day 2 video and skip ahead to the time of 1:51:13 to get to the relevant section. The discussion lasts until time 2:43:00.

There were a couple very well put together presentations and a few public comments. 

I didn't hear anything during those times that this discussion would be continued, but some of the people who commented did recommend that.

Adrian Lakin,

Mead, CO

On Saturday, July 11, 2020 at 11:39:16 AM UTC-6, Polly Reetz wrote:

Lots of discussion going on about the change in policy by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) about accessing State Wildlife Areas.    While buying a fishing license, especially a senior license, is not a big financial burden for many birders, there is a general feeling, at least among the Audubon folks I've talked to,  that we want to be counted as wildlife watchers, not fishermen or hunters, so that CPW is more aware of this audience and listens to us on other policy issues.  

 

     No one has yet come up with a method to do this that doesn't result in a reduction in Colorado's  federal Wildlife Aid in Restoration grants which come from the excise tax on hunting and fishing equipment  (although we could argue that a lot of that money in fact does NOT come from hunters - you pay it if you buy a handgun too).    The Parks and Wildlife Commission is still discussing this question - it is on their agenda for Thursday morning, July 17 at 9:25 am.   You can listen in from the CPW website (About Us - Commission - Meetings).  And offer comments by email before the meeting.

   Suggestions have been: a wildlife watchers license, a maintenance fee dedicated to SWAs, a checkoff on the fishing or hunting license application for wildlife watchers/photographers so CPW can take count of us.... your ideas??   Send them to the Commission.  Some of this would take legislative action.

Polly Reetz

Denver Audubon COnservation Committee chairperson

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