Arapahoe County seeks CPW mitigation funds to restore pronghorn and mule deer habitat

Open Spaces staff told the Board of County Commissioners that Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) maintains a compensatory mitigation fund—fed by mitigation fees from oil-and-gas developers—and has about $390,000 available for the general area that includes Arapahoe County. Staff proposed applying for roughly $310,000 of that pool to fund multi-year habitat restoration on two county parcels: Rich Mill Ranch (about 70+ acres) and Coyote Creek Annex (about 45 acres).

Open Spaces staff said the projects would focus on converting overgrazed or fallow agricultural pivots back to native short-grass prairie, treating extensive noxious-weed infestations with a combination of herbicide applications (up to eight treatments over three years), mechanical removal of persistent weeds, and drill seeding to reestablish native vegetation. Staff noted the properties sit within CPW-designated high-priority habitats and near mule deer and pronghorn winter ranges.

Commissioners asked whether mitigation money requires wells to be plugged before funds are available; Open Spaces staff said the mitigation fees are paid into CPW by developers prior to drilling, so funds already exist and can be allocated to projects. Commissioners gave staff a thumbs-up to develop grant proposals and pursue CPW mitigation funding.

Open Spaces flagged expected grant-management needs (staff time to manage contractors) and noted the grant is a rolling cycle without a single fixed deadline, though CPW prefers funds be used within a multi-year period.