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Commissioners review reduced CDA funding and consider $10,000 CPW Habitat Partnership grant to supplement noxious weed cost-share program
Summary
County staff said a Colorado Department of Agriculture award to the county was cut by 25% to $15,000; they proposed applying for a $10,000 Colorado Parks and Wildlife Habitat Partnership grant with no match to restore the cost-share pool to $25,000, and commissioners said they will make final allocations at a public meeting the next day.
James, a county staff member overseeing the noxious weed program, told the Board of County Commissioners that the county’s 2025 award from the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) was reduced by 25%, leaving $15,000 from CDA for cost-share work.
To offset that reduction, James recommended applying to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Habitat Partnership program for $10,000. He said the CPW grant requires no local match and would bring the county’s total cost-share funds to $25,000 if awarded. James advised spending any CPW funds first because CPW dollars cannot be used as match for other state grants.
Commissioners and staff discussed program demand: last year the county spent $30,000 on cost shares and could not fulfill all requests. James noted the program remains popular and urged residents to submit requests early.
Board members asked about permitted species and program details. James said the county intends to focus on its a-list species but also include some b-list species; he noted CDA had warned it would not fund kochia and that the CPW funds cover chemical treatments only. Commissioners raised concerns about availability of applicators; James said local applicators are busy and some may be retiring, suggesting supply constraints could affect implementation.
No formal vote occurred in the workshop. Commissioners said the county will make final decisions about cost-share allocations and the CPW application at the next public meeting the following day. Staff indicated an April review by CPW for the grant application timetable.
