CPW previews Outdoor Strategy implementation and $50 million RPI expansion; staffing bill expected
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Summary
Colorado Parks and Wildlife updated the council on the statewide Outdoor Strategy and Regional Partnerships Initiative, said CPW and GoCo will direct $50,000,000 over five years for regional implementation, and flagged planned legislation to add CPW capacity to carry out the strategy.
September 19, 2025 — Tori Manogue, Western Slope Regional Partnership coordinator for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, briefed the Forest Health Council on Colorado's Outdoor Strategy and the Regional Partnerships Initiative (RPI), and announced a funding expansion to move from planning to implementation.
"CPW and GoCo have expanded the regional partnerships initiative grant program by directing $50,000,000 over the next 5 years to support the development and implementation of projects that advance the goals of Colorado's outdoor strategy," Manogue said.
Manogue described the strategy's three "North Star" goals—climate-resilient conservation, exceptional and sustainable outdoor recreation, and coordinated planning and funding—and described tools available in a public resource hub, including a data dashboard, plan library and a mapping platform (Codex). She said 21 regional partnerships now cover about 80% of Colorado and several regional plans are at or near completion.
Manogue also told the committee to expect a bill in the upcoming legislative session to provide Colorado Parks and Wildlife with additional staff capacity to implement the strategy and support regional partnerships. The bill's intent, she said, is to fund staffing and structures that enable CPW to move from planning into project implementation, visitor management and coordinated funding.
Council members asked about how GoCo would balance conservation and recreation priorities within the five-year funding allocation and whether projects could be targeted to meet both goals; Manogue said GoCo monitors funding across multiple priority areas and CPW will coordinate with GoCo to ensure the five-year portfolio meets those objectives.
What's next: CPW staff will share resource links and contact information and will continue stakeholder outreach ahead of the forthcoming bill.
