Committee approves five Colorado Parks and Wildlife property actions, including conservation easements and leases

The Capital Development Committee reviewed five Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) land transactions and recommended support for each action after staff presentations and questions. Daphne Gervais, CPW’s director of legislative affairs, led the series of proposals and CPW local staff answered follow‑up questions about habitat, access and mineral/water rights.

Actions approved and outcomes - Willow Creek (Yuma County): The committee recommended support for acquisition of a perpetual conservation easement and a perpetual access easement on the Galvin property (120 acres) for $33,000. The motion passed unanimously 6–0. - Sandy Bluffs lease renewal (Yuma County): The committee recommended support for a 10‑year lease renewal of the Weiser parcels within Sandy Bluffs State Wildlife Area for $127,150 for 2,543 acres; the motion passed unanimously 6–0. - Fort Collins Service Center easements: CPW will acquire two perpetual right‑of‑way easements from Freedom Storage LLC at no cost (less than one acre) to enable shared stormwater and road access work; the motion passed unanimously 6–0. - Walker Ranch (Moffat County): CPW proposed two public‑access easements, partial funding of a Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust third‑party conservation easement, and contributions of $750,000 (wildlife funds) plus $100,000 GoCo for public hunting access on a 4,076‑acre property. The committee recommended support; roll call recorded a 5–1 vote with Senator Bazely voting No. - Tolland Ranch (Boulder/Gilpin counties): CPW proposed a fee‑title acquisition of roughly 3,314 acres to create a new state wildlife area using Great Outdoors Colorado and habitat‑stamp revenues; the motion passed 4–2 after Representative Winter announced she would likely oppose state acquisition of private land and Senator Bazely also voted No.

CPW staff highlighted conservation and public‑access benefits for each transaction. On Walker Ranch members asked about a portion of the parcel within Dinosaur National Monument and protections for northern leopard frogs; CPW’s area wildlife manager said frogs are documented as a species of concern but that the agency did not propose specific on‑site mitigation beyond baseline reporting in the packet.

Next steps: Each committee recommendation advances the CPW projects through the normal acquisition and management planning processes; several packets included letters of local and legislative concurrence.