Forest Health Council weighs federal advocacy after DNR says staff capacity is limited

At its April 18 meeting, the Colorado Forest Health Council spent substantial time discussing whether and how to expand engagement on federal legislation after staff said Department of Natural Resources (DNR) capacity for hands-on drafting is limited.

Courtney (staff) told the council that DNR’s associate director for federal affairs, Lacey, “would be available to attend the quarterly Forest Health Council meetings and give a small legislative update” and could supply a spreadsheet of federal bills related to forest health, but she “wouldn't be able to help support in the analysis or the drafting,” Courtney said. That limitation led members to consider what work the committee itself would need to take on if it wanted to pursue formal federal recommendations.

Members discussed several ways to get federal intelligence, including briefings from legislators’ staff, sharing materials from partner organizations and having outside groups present to the council. Pat Dorsey offered that his organization could share federal legislation summaries; Mark Morgan and others urged the council to trace federal funding flows because much state work depends on federal dollars.

DNR-affiliated participants raised a separate, urgent concern about AmeriCorps funding. A DNR representative warned that potential cuts or a funding freeze “would be devastating” for conservation corps operations that rely heavily on AmeriCorps dollars and urged members to speak with federal partners. The council agreed to assemble talking points and informational one-pagers for members who will be meeting with federal offices.

Several members said the council should seek formal guidance about whether engaging more actively on federal policy is permitted under the council’s charter and bylaws. Courtney said she would review the committee charter and bylaws and proposed bringing a formal recommendation or charter amendment to a future full-council meeting so the group can “ask permission rather than forgiveness.”

Next steps include circulating DNR’s bill-tracking spreadsheet, drafting talking points for the youth-conservation and AmeriCorps concerns, inviting a private-sector workgroup and the Youth Corps Association to present in June, and scheduling follow-up discussion of any necessary charter changes.

The council did not take a formal vote on expanding federal policy work at the meeting; members agreed to prepare materials and return with recommendations at a future session.