Press releases are provided to Yellow Scene Magazine. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

Media Contacts

Firearms Dealer Division: dor_edo@state.co.us

Colorado Parks & Wildlife: Travis Duncan, Travis.Duncan@state.co.us

Colorado Bureau of Investigations: Rob Low, Rob.Low@state.co.us

Today, the Department of Revenue, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are requesting feedback from Coloradans, stakeholders, and industry experts to help inform final guidance on SB25-003 that will be issued in July.

Signed by Governor Jared Polis in April 2025, Senate Bill 25-003 promotes public safety by requiring firearm safety training and an eligibility card issued by a sheriff to purchase and/or transfer specified semiautomatic firearms. SB25-003 also prohibits the purchase and sale of all rapid-fire conversion devices, like bump stocks and binary triggers.

The Firearms Dealer Division (FDD) within the Department of Revenue, CPW, and CBI are actively working with stakeholders, industry experts, and advocates to ensure different perspectives are captured and considered as they implement the new law.

Proposed Specified Semiautomatic Firearm Guidance

On May 15, the FDD published and made available draft guidance about specific models of firearms, as required by SB25-003.

As part of its commitment to an open and transparent process, the FDD shared a form for anyone to submit feedback and comments on the proposed firearms guidance. This form will remain open until midnight on June 5, 2026. The FDD will release the official guidance on July 1, 2026, and the new law will take effect on August 1, 2026.

Firearms Safety Program

As part of the legislation, starting August 1, 2026, individuals must obtain an eligibility card from their sheriff and complete a firearms safety course before purchasing or transferring a Specified Semiautomatic Firearm (SSF). This law only affects those who will purchase and transfer SSFs after August 1, 2026. Those who are in possession of an SSF prior to August 1, 2026, are not affected by this new legislation.

For updated information from CPW on how to purchase or transfer an SSF beginning August 1, visit CPW’s Firearms Safety Program page.

Background Checks

The CBI InstaCheck Unit has prepared and trained an additional 20 reserve staff members from various sections within the CBI to prepare for the implementation of SB25-003.

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Press releases are provided to Yellow Scene Magazine. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Media Contacts:

Shannon Aulabaugh, City of Boulder Media Relations, 720-494-9903

Jeff Stahla, Northern Water Public Information Officer, 970-622-2331

www.bouldercolorado.gov

City Expands Effort to Remove Eurasian Watermilfoil from Boulder Reservoir

BOULDER, Colo. – Despite the presence of Eurasian Watermilfoil, Boulder Reservoir remains one of the Front Range’s premier destinations for swimming, boating, paddling, and outdoor recreation — and the City of Boulder wants to make sure it stays that way. This week, the City of Boulder and Northern Water launched new management efforts to help remove Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM), an invasive aquatic plant species, at the Boulder Reservoir.

EWM was initially detected at the Boulder Reservoir in summer 2022 by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Since then, the city and Northern Water have worked together to remove the invasive plant in shallow areas and have now expanded to more intensive mechanical and manual removal efforts.

Now through October, reservoir visitors can expect to see the following removal methods taking place on the water:

• Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting (DASH Program): an operation where divers use suction tubes underwater to remove EWM at the roots, reducing the plant population over time. Divers plan to operate in the water Mondays through Thursdays.
• Mechanical Harvesting: an approach that removes EWM biomass by cutting the plants underwater, similar to mowing, and collecting the material for removal. Contracted mechanical harvesting dates are scheduled now through June 9 and from Sept. 21 through Oct. 9.
• Shoreline Cleanup: The Mile High Youth Corps will support city staff with shoreline cleanup by manually removing near-shore EWM and collecting plant fragments and other shoreline debris.

The majority of these operations will take place within the no-wake zone of the reservoir. Signage will be posted at the reservoir entrance gate and boat ramps to serve as a reminder for boaters to exercise caution when removal operations are actively in progress. Additionally, diver locations will be indicated with “diver-down flags.”

In partnership with Eco-Cycle, the city launched an on-site composting program in 2025 to support sustainable invasive species management. As part of this effort, harvested EWM will be combined with goose waste to reduce landfill disposal and create nutrient-rich compost for future use on turfgrass areas at the reservoir.

While removal efforts help contain the plant, preventing the spread to and from the reservoir remains critical. “Preventing the spread of invasive aquatic plant species is a shared responsibility,” said Reservoir Recreation Manager Stacy Cole. “We encourage all reservoir visitors to continue practicing the ‘Clean, Drain, Dry’ approach by cleaning all watercraft and gear, draining all water, and allowing equipment to fully dry before entering another waterway.”

Boulder Reservoir remains open and welcoming to visitors throughout the removal process. The water is beautiful, the recreation is world-class, and the community’s commitment to protecting this resource makes it even more special. Whether you’re planning a morning paddle, an afternoon swim, or a day on the water with family and friends, now is a great time to come out and enjoy everything the Reservoir has to offer. Visitors are encouraged to check the Boulder Reservoir recreation page for current conditions, hours, and registration information before heading out.

Boulder Reservoir also serves as a water supply for the city of Boulder, as well as communities and water users downstream of the facility. More information on the city and Northern Water’s EWM management plan can be found on the FAQ webpage.

–CITY —

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Press releases are provided to Yellow Scene Magazine. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

For Immediate Release – March 10, 2026

Contact: Chris Arend,

Communications Director,

Department of Natural Resources,

303-264-8615, chris.arend@state.co.us

CO Dept of Natural Resources Announces a New Shared Stewardship Agreement with CO Bureau of Land Management to Benefit Public Lands and Rural Communities

(Denver) — Colorado Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced the finalization of a Shared Stewardship memorandum of understanding (MOU) today between the two agencies. Working as partners, DNR and BLM recognize that Colorado’s public lands, including forests, watersheds, wildlife, rangelands, and outdoor recreation resources, are of critical importance to rural communities. Yet, our public lands face a multitude of challenges, including catastrophic wildfires, invasive species, degraded water quality, population pressures, and epidemics of insects and disease. These challenges are best met head-on through a collaborative shared stewardship strategy that takes advantage of DNR and BLM’s unique assets and expertise across land-ownership boundaries.

“By working together, DNR and BLM will build wildfire resilient watersheds, enhance forest health and wildlife populations, provide for robust recreational opportunities and management strategies, create jobs, and protect communities in the wildland-urban interface,” said Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, DNR. “BLM is a key partner and the second largest landowner in Colorado, and like our shared stewardship agreement with the U.S. Forest Service, this MOU will foster collaboration and communication between the state and our federal partners to enhance public land management for all Coloradans.”

The MOU outlines shared priorities, principles, and actions that each agency can take to achieve common goals. Shared Stewardship provides the structure to combine funding sources to do the right work, in the right place, at the right scale, based on collaborative input to manage our public lands. In addition to the MOU’s focus on forest health and reducing the impacts of wildfires, it is an important tool to enable collaborative management of trails, water resources, wildlife, and more.

“This Shared Stewardship MOU has been years in the making and represents a milestone for collaborative management of our public lands here in Colorado,” said Doug Vilsack, BLM’s Colorado State Director. “The state and federal government must work across boundaries and with private landowners to protect rural communities in the wildland-urban interface, enhance outdoor recreation opportunities, conserve wildlife, and strengthen relationships with our partners in agriculture.”

The DNR and BLM have a history of working on cross-boundary projects, including partnerships spanning over three decades to manage federal public lands in the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area and along the Yampa River as units in the state park system. More recently, BLM and Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), a Division of DNR, commenced a public engagement process to gather input on the potential future management of a North Sand Hills Recreation Area in Jackson County, a world-renowned off-highway vehicle recreation area.

DNR and the Colorado State Forest Services also partner with BLM on fuels mitigation projects utilizing Good Neighbor Authority, such as the recently-proposed King Mountain fuels project in Routt County, and on post-fire wildlife habitat restoration and seeding, including projects to address the impacts of the Lee Fire and other catastrophic wildfires during the 2025 fire season. BLM also works with CPW and agricultural producers to conserve wildlife habitat and reduce wildlife impacts through the Habitat Partnership Program, including innovative work to expand the use of virtual fencing technologies to benefit both ranchers and wildlife.

Beyond collaboration between DNR and BLM, the new shared stewardship strategy presents numerous opportunities to enhance collaboration with stakeholders.

“The Nature Conservancy — guided by science — works with wide-ranging partners to conserve our lands and waters to benefit people and nature,” said Carlos Fernández, State Director for The Nature Conservancy in Colorado. “We believe that collaboration and coordination are among the most strategic and efficient ways to confront Colorado’s growing conservation challenges. This new agreement between the Bureau of Land Management and the Colorado Department of Natural Resources — both longstanding TNC partners — will help advance healthier forests, protect clean water supplies, enhance wildlife habitat, and support Colorado’s vital outdoor recreation economy.”

“We deeply appreciate BLM and the State of Colorado’s strong leadership in shaping this shared stewardship agreement and are optimistic about what it means for Colorado’s world-renowned waterways, forests, mountains, deserts, and plains,” said Emily Olsen, Rocky Mountain Vice President at Trout Unlimited (TU). “This agreement encourages collaborative stewardship with communities that rely upon healthy forests, wildfire-resilient watersheds, gold medal quality fishing, and premier rafting opportunities on our state’s iconic rivers. Collectively, these initiatives will strengthen rural economies and help our public lands and waters better withstand the impacts of wildfire and drought.”

“Colorado’s wildlife, wild landscapes, and recreational access are world-renowned, and formal coordination between state and federal natural resource managers is necessary to ensure these resources endure,” said Madeleine West, Vice President for Western Conservation at the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “This MOU will foster government efficiency to reduce wildfire risk, improve forest and watershed health, support voluntary private land conservation, and increase habitat quality and connectivity for fish and wildlife across the state. Cooperation is the best way forward for Colorado to remain a vibrant place for people to live, work, hunt, fish, and enjoy many outdoor recreational pursuits.”

The MOU also advances the implementation of Colorado’s Outdoor Strategy, which was finalized in 2025. BLM was a key member of the Steering Committee that supported the development of Colorado’s Outdoor Strategy. Through the new shared stewardship strategy, DNR and BLM will coordinate across all levels of government to enhance our treasured public lands and the communities that depend on them. Find out more about shared stewardship in Colorado at our Shared Stewardship in Colorado webpage.

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Press releases are provided to Yellow Scene Magazine. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

February 19, 2026

Contact: Chris Arend, Communications Director, Department of Natural Resources

303-264-8615

chris.arend@state.co.us

(Denver) — Today, Governor Jared Polis and the Colorado Department of Natural Resources announced appointments to the Ponderosa Mountain Pine Beetle Task Force, a new multi-agency task force created by Governor Polis through Executive Action to address a significant and expanding mountain pine beetle outbreak impacting ponderosa pine forests along Colorado’s Front Range.

“Colorado is at the forefront of reducing the impact of wildfires, floods, and protecting Colorado communities. By assembling our team of forestry experts and state and local officials we are taking action to deal with the impact of mountain pine beetles and helping to protect our forest and key water sources, and equipping homeowners to better protect their homes,” said Governor Polis.

Aerial forest health surveys conducted in 2025 by the USDA Forest Service and Colorado State Forest Service show increasing mountain pine beetle activity in ponderosa pine forests up and down the Front Range, with beetle-killed trees already visible along the U.S. 285 and I-70 corridors. Warmer temperatures and ongoing drought have created favorable conditions for outbreaks of bark beetles — trends expected to continue into the next decade.

The task force is charged with developing coordinated, science-based strategies to protect Colorado communities, forests, water resources, infrastructure, and the state’s outdoor recreation economy over the next decade.

“Pitch tubes” of resin where pine beetles have tunneled (Dan West, CFFS)

“The State of Colorado, including the Department of Natural Resources, Colorado State Forest Service, and the Division of Fire Prevention and Control, has heard the Governor’s clear call that the time is now to take action on our emerging mountain pine beetle outbreak along Colorado’s Front Range,” said Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Natural Resources. “We have assembled a diverse array of elected officials, federal, state, and local representatives, and ex officio member expertise for this Task Force to move together in a coordinated effort across land ownership and political boundaries to bring forth the necessary recommendations and actions for healthy forests and communities.”

Beetle-killed trees increase hazards for firefighters, recreationists, utility providers, and transportation corridors, and can alter and may even intensify wildfire behavior under certain conditions. These impacts from beetle-killed trees are particularly concerning in Front Range foothill communities where forests, homes, and critical infrastructure intersect, and wildfire risk is already high.

The task force will be co-chaired by Dan Gibbs; Mike Morgan, Director of the Division of Fire Prevention and Control; and Matt McCombs, State Forester and Director of the Colorado State Forest Service. The task force may add ex-officio members or seek input from subject matter experts where interested and as needed, within specific topics the task force seeks to evaluate.

Appointments to the Ponderosa Mountain Pine Beetle Task Force

Appointed by the Governor

• Senator Mark Baisley, Littleton — Representative of the Colorado General Assembly
• Representative Lesley Smith, Boulder — Representative of the Colorado General Assembly

Appointed by the Department of Natural Resources

• Troy Heithecker, Lakewood — Regional Forester, USDA Forest Service
• Douglas Vilsack, Lakewood — State Director, U.S. Bureau of Land Management
• Commissioner Lesley Dahlkemper, Golden — Jefferson County Commissioner; Colorado Fire Commission
• Madelene McDonald, Lakewood — Colorado Forest Health Council; Denver Water / Watershed Scientist
• Commissioner Jody Shadduck-McNally, Loveland — Larimer County Commissioner
• Commissioner Dan Williams, Cripple Creek — Teller County Commissioner
• James Brad White, Granby — Fire Chief and District Administrator, Grand Fire Protection District
• Sebastian Walton, Denver — Xcel Energy — Representation of electric, water, and other utility providers servicing the Front Range
• William Lepry, Denver — Director, Colorado Mass Timber Coalition
• Megan Maxwell, Broomfield — Executive Director, Colorado Timber Industry Association
• Paige Lewis, Boulder — Deputy State Director/Director of Conservation, The Nature Conservancy Colorado
• Joseph Lavorini, Gunnison — Rocky Mountain Region Program Director, National Forest Foundation
• Thomas Gougeon, Denver — President, Gates Family Foundation
• Zach Thode, Livermore — Farmer and Rancher, Lehi Ranch
• Mike Alexander, Castle Rock — Director of Emergency Management, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office

Beetle-infested trees (William Ciesla, CSFS)

Ex-officio Members

Appointed by the Governor

• Ellen Bottcher of Washington, D.C., to serve as an ex officio member and representative of Colorado’s federal delegation for Representative Jeff Crank, appointed
• Abbie Callahan of Washington, D.C., to serve as an ex officio member and representative of Colorado’s federal delegation for Representative Joe Neguse, appointed
• Patrick Donovan of Denver, Colorado, to serve as an ex officio member and a representative of Colorado’s federal delegation for Senator Michael Bennet, appointed.
• Trina Griego of Lakewood, Colorado, to serve as an ex officio member and representative of Colorado’s federal delegation for Senator John Hickenlooper, appointed
• Maxwell Hanson of Cañon City, Colorado, to serve as an ex officio member and representative of Colorado’s federal delegation for Representative Brittney Petterson, appointed
• Representatives from all impacted federal delegation offices have been and remain invited to participate

Appointed by the Department of Natural Resources

• Jonathan Asher, Director, Governor’s Office of Climate Preparedness and Disaster Recovery, to serve as an ex-officio member
• John Barkowski, Forest and Montane Habitat Coordinator for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, to serve as an ex-officio member
• Chairman Melvin J. Baker, Southern Ute Indian Tribe, to serve as an ex officio member
• Dan Bean, Director of the Palisade Insectary, Colorado Department of Agriculture, to service as an ex-officio member
• Michael Conway, Commissioner of Insurance, to serve as an ex officio member
• John Kelly, Executive Director, Serve Colorado, to serve as an ex officio member
• Shayle Sabo, Resiliency Program Manager, Colorado Resiliency Office, Department of Local Affairs, to serve as an ex-officio member
• Chris Sturm, Watershed Program Director for the Colorado Water Conservation Board, to serve as an ex-officio member
• Mark Thompson, State Hazard Mitigation Officer, Office of Emergency Management, Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment, to serve as an ex officio member
• Dan West, Forest Entomologist, Colorado State Forest Service, to serve as an ex officio member
• Tim Wolfe, Director, Colorado Tourism Office, to serve as an ex officio member
• Brett Wolk, Associate Director, Colorado Forest Restoration Institute, to serve as an ex officio member

The task force will coordinate across state, local, federal, private, and nonprofit partners to advance urgent and long-term strategies, including fuel mitigation, public education, watershed and utility protection, reforestation planning, wildfire response innovation, timber market development, insurance considerations, and identification of new funding strategies.

Colorado’s approach builds on lessons learned from past bark beetle outbreaks, as well as the state’s experience responding to catastrophic wildfires and investing in forest health, watershed protection, and community resilience.

Additional appointments will be forthcoming, and additional information about task force meetings, timelines, and opportunities for public engagement will be released in early 2026.

To learn more about the mountain pine beetle, visit the Colorado State Forest Service website. Jefferson County residents can also visit the county’s mountain pine beetle resource page. To learn more about the task force, visit the Colorado Department of Natural Resources’ Ponderosa Mountain Pine Beetle Task Force page.

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Editor’s Note: Press releases are provided to Yellow Scene Magazine. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

For Immediate Release: June 12, 2025

The new pups mark a significant step forward in achieving ecological balance in the state.

DENVER — Today, Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff confirmed sightings of new wolf pups in the state. These newly established wolf families significantly bolster the wolf population in the state and are markers of the success of the wolf reintroduction program.

Colorado has prepared diligently for the arrival of these new pups. CPW has contracted and trained 11 range riders for the summer season, and CPW staff have completed over 196 site assessments to help ranchers proactively implement appropriate strategies to secure their livestock. CPW has successfully deployed turbo fladry, range riders, nightwatches, and dozens of guard dogs around the state. These efforts are largely funded by the Born to be Wild license plate, which has raised at least $819,000 for non-lethal coexistence to date.

“We are elated to welcome these new wolf pups into the world and into our great state”, said Delaney Rudy, Colorado Director for the Western Watersheds Project. “The establishment of these wolf families is an exciting step toward restoring ecological balance in Colorado, and this rewilding will improve the health of the land, wildlife, and watersheds in our shared home in the Rocky Mountains.”

“To see Colorado’s wolf families grow is amazing and worth celebrating – congratulations to all who have made this possible,” said Chris Smith, wildlife program director for WildEarth Guardians. “Progress has been slow and there will be fits and starts to any species’ recovery. But this is how restoration works.”

Wolves are highly social animals and their family bonds are incredibly strong, guiding their social and foraging behaviors. The founding of wolf families also leads to the establishment of distinct territories, which tends to reduce mortality in wolves and will make it easier for CPW and ranchers to know where and when nonlethal coexistence techniques can be deployed most effectively.

“With the birth of these wolf pups Colorado has a bright path to a sustainable future for our vast wildlands”, said Delia Malone, Wildlife Chair of Colorado Sierra Club. “A future where native carnivores can again play their essential role on life’s stage in restoring the connections that create resilient ecosystems with all their biodiversity. A future marked by coexistence that enables a restorative relationship with the natural world”.

“In the following passage from John Vucetich’s 2023 book, Restoring the Balance, he wrote: ‘The health of ecosystems inhabited by large herbivores depends on the cascading trophic effects of predation”’, cited Norman Bishop, a member of the team that restored wolves to Yellowstone, “Wolves select and remove old, sick, and unfit prey, lowering the impact of crowded grazers on limited forage, and on gravid females. In the process, they provide a regular supply of carrion that supports a myriad of scavenging mammals and birds, and hundreds of beetles. No other carnivore feeds as many other creatures as wolves do.”

Wolves also improve the health of waterways and ecosystems by redistributing the grazing pressure of herbivores. In their natural role, wolves facilitate the recovery of riparian vegetation, healing eroded waterways and improving habitat for a myriad of wildlife, including fish and beavers. Their presence on the landscape can even make humans safer, reducing elk and deer collisions with cars.

“These pups represent the hopeful future of this endangered species. They also represent the promise of a new way of living in Colorado, where we respect and treasure wildlife, like wolves,  and take care of our people in the process,” says Ryan Sedgeley, Southern Rockies Representative for the Endangered Species Coalition. “The results of the Born to be Wild license plate are proof of this. We really can build a future where wolf families and human families share the same beautiful state we both love.”

Contact:
Delaney Rudy, Western Watersheds Project, 970-648-4241, delaney@westernwatersheds.org

Chris Smith, WildEarth Guardians, 505-395-6177, csmith@wildearthguardians.org

Delia Malone, Wildlife Chair CO Sierra Club, 970-319-9498, deliamalone@earthlink.net

Norman A. Bishop  406 582-0597 nabishop32@gmail.com

Ryan Sedgeley, Endangered Species Coalition, 307-220-6084, resedgely@endangered.org

Western Watersheds Project (WWP) is a non-profit organization with more than 14,000 members and supporters. WWP’s mission is to protect and restore western watersheds and wildlife through education, public policy initiatives, and legal advocacy. WWP works to ensure that public lands and their wildlife, cultural, and natural resources are protected for future generations.

WildEarth Guardians protects and restores the wildlife, wild places, wild rivers, and health of the American West.

Sierra Club’s mission is “to explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth; to practice and promote the responsible use of the earth’s ecosystems and resources; and to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environments.”  Although we are a diverse population, the tie that binds us is our commitment to conserving those places, processes and organisms that will sustain our natural heritage with all of its biological diversity.

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Editor’s Note: Press Releases are provided to Yellow Scene. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

DENVER – The Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) and Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) are proud to support International Snowmobile Ride Day (February 8) and Take a Friend Snowmobiling Week (February 8-15), internationally recognized days that encourage riders to share their passion for the sport while promoting avalanche awareness and backcountry safety.

Like other types of outdoor recreation, snowmobiling continues to grow in popularity in Colorado. Snowmobiles operated on public land or trails in Colorado must be registered with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. In 2024, 29,434 snowmobiles were registered in Colorado — up from 28,256 in 2023. These registration fees help fund trail grooming, trail maintenance and construction.

CAIC and CPW want to support this increasing population of riders with the information and tools they need to stay safe in the backcountry and on trails.

“Snowmobiling is a fantastic way to experience Colorado’s backcountry, but as more people head into avalanche terrain, we must ensure they have access to the right safety resources,” said CAIC Director Ethan Greene. “Avalanche safety is an important part of riding in Colorado, and a great thing to talk to your friends about as you introduce them to snowmobiling.”

“Colorado is a world-class destination for winter recreation,” said CPW Statewide Public Information Officer Bridget O’Rourke. “But before you gear up and head out, mastering the art of navigating Colorado’s extreme winter weather and registering your snowmobile are important steps when planning your winter adventure.”

New Tools for Riders

Snowmobilers can now access real-time avalanche forecasts and warnings through the Colorado Trail Explorer (COTREX) app. Earlier this season, CPW and CAIC partnered to integrate avalanche forecasts into COTREX, making it easy for riders to check conditions while planning their trips.

COTREX is a free app that provides official trail information from more than 235 land managers across local, state, and federal agencies, covering over 50,000 miles of trails across Colorado, including designated snowmobile routes. By adding avalanche forecasts and warnings to the platform, CPW and CAIC are ensuring that riders have authoritative, real-time safety information at their fingertips.

Take a Friend Snowmobiling Week

Snowmobilers are the second most at-risk group for avalanche fatalities in Colorado, accounting for 22% of avalanche deaths in the state over the past decade (2015-2024). Nationally, that risk is even higher, with snowmobilers making up 33% of avalanche fatalities. CAIC works with the snowmobiling community to promote avalanche awareness and safety. During Take a Friend Snowmobiling Week, CAIC’s Snowmobile Outreach Coordinator will be on-site at the Colorado Snowmobile Association (CSA) Convention (February 7-9) in Dillon, presenting on avalanche safety for snowmobilers. The Friends of CAIC will also be at the CSA Convention with their interactive avalanche safety trailer. Throughout the week, Friends of CAIC staff and their trailer will be stationed at popular snowmobile trailheads, offering an opportunity for riders to learn more about avalanche safety, ask questions, and connect with experts before heading into the backcountry.

CAIC forecaster on a snowmobile
Below are safety tips for snowmobilers:

Know Before You Go – Plan your route based on the CAIC Avalanche Forecast at colorado.gov/avalanche. The forecast provides crucial information about current avalanche conditions.
Adapt to Changing Conditions – Be ready to adjust your plan if you see recent avalanche activity, wind-drifted snow, heavy snowfall, or cracking and collapsing in the snowpack—all signs of increasing danger.
Carry Your Rescue Gear – Always wear a transciever (aka beacon), probe, and shovel. Keeping an extra set in your tunnel bag is great, but your essential gear should stay on you in case you get separated from your sled.
Ride Smart – Travel one at a time in avalanche terrain and avoid stopping in runout zones.
Have Fun & Stay Safe – Whether boondocking, high-marking, or carving through meadows, enjoy the mountains but make sure you come home safely—ready for your next ride.

After your ride, submit a field report at Colorado.gov/avalanche or through CAIC’s mobile app to let CAIC know what you saw—even if it wasn’t an avalanche. Public observations help forecasters provide better information for all backcountry users.

“We love seeing people introduce their friends to snowmobiling, and we want those rides to be fun and safe,” said Greene. “By making avalanche awareness part of your riding routine, you’re protecting yourself, your friends, and the whole outdoor community.”

Backcountry users are pushing deeper into the mountains, which means our forecasters must also go farther to assess conditions and communicate the most accurate information. For several years, Ski-Doo / BRP and Steamboat Powersports have loaned CAIC two snowmobiles to support this work.

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Explore Colorado and maybe even improve your mental health, catching a fish is only one of the benefits

The lapping of the water against the shoreline has always felt like home. The mere thought of the water’s constant flow energizes a passion for a day at the lake. I live in Denver’s suburbs. It is difficult to break from the stressors of everyday city life, but fishing brings peace in chaos. Fishing helped me reclaim my health and is one of the few activities I have remained invested in since childhood. Your first cast is often unforgettable, but netting your first fish will instill an instant love for the sport that will evolve into a positive force in your life.

Living in Colorado, the outdoors is at the focal point of the state’s attraction to visitors and residents alike, but it can still prove to be difficult making your way out onto the Eastern plains or the mountains for a memorable angling experience. Luckily, there are quite a few options around the North Metro to catch one of the many fish species Colorado has to offer.

Colorado requires all persons 16 or older to have a valid fishing license each year outlined by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). Knowing the rules and regulations for each spot you visit is also important. Most of the information is online through government websites, local forums, and brochures. When in doubt, consult the CPW Fishing Brochure, which contains broad definitions and fishing regulations for the state’s bodies of water.

Reservoirs

Barker Reservoir

Located in Nederland, Barker Reservoir and Recreation Area is one of the best day trips from Boulder to fish in a high alpine setting without being too far away from home. The winding road up to Nederland is on the easier side for folks unaccustomed to mountain driving.

The reservoir has a big population of larger brown trout, kokanee salmon, tiger trout, and rainbow trout, so your lures need to be big, bright, and flashy. Silver rooster tails and larger, hard-bait lures were my go-to when fishing. Consider bringing heavier tackle to this lake because you will need it to cast out far from the trails that adorn the sides.

Gross Reservoir

Gross Reservoir hit me with all the nostalgia you can think of after stepping out of the car. Memories of crisp, alpine air carried by a cool morning wind over the water came flowing back to me as I approached the lake’s rocky shoreline. Growing up in Colorado, the banks of the reservoir remind me of the quintessential Colorado mountain fishing. The south side of the reservoir was closed due to an expansion project, but there was plenty of shoreline on the north side of the reservoir.

Similar rules apply for bait and tackle as Barker Reservoir. One distinct feature I noticed at the reservoir was the shore’s proximity to deeper water. Kayaks and paddleboards are allowed on the lake and could offer a different opportunity to fish in the depths. Gross reservoir does require more hiking than many others on this list, Gross North Shore Trail takes about an hour to complete and is 1.7 miles long one way. Off the trail, the shoreline is a mixture of boulders, rocks, and sand. Be careful when getting to your spot as you may fall if not careful.

Standley Lake

Standley Lake is the closest option to Denver on this list but is one of the more accessible reservoirs in the region if you do not want to take a trip into the mountains. Wipers and crappie are the premiere catches of this lake, but there is one major downside to visiting this reservoir: fishing accessibility.

You can bring a kayak or paddleboard onto the lake, but with access to one shoreline, the park’s many visitors must share this resource accordingly. Even on busy weekends, squeezing between groups is always an option, but it will make it more difficult to fish in certain spots without a watercraft.

I have personally had no luck at Standley Lake despite it being touted as one of the best spots in the area.

Boulder Reservoir and Coot Lake

I, again, did not have any luck here. Fishing Boulder Reservoir was the most difficult of any body of water on this list.

The shoreline is extremely limited to the public, and you must register your paddle-craft with Boulder County before the craft’s launch. The reservoir also has heavy, motorized boat traffic.

Coot Lake is in the same park as Boulder Reservoir. The pond is a decent hike from the reservoir’s parking lots. It can be planned around, but it is another thing to consider when planning your trip. Coot Lake would be my recommended spot to catch something.

Streams and Ponds

Boulder Creek. Photo by Doug Geiling

Boulder Creek and South Boulder Creek

Boulder Creek was the best for stream fishing in Boulder County. With many access points, there is plenty of room to find secluded spots along its edge. The creek is fishable throughout Boulder city limits with the ability to fish into the canyon. South Boulder Creek is a bit further from the city, situated on the other side of Flagstaff Mountain. South Boulder creek is best accessed in the parks of Walker Ranch or El Dorado Canyon State Park.

The early season was rough because of the massive amount of run-off and rain the Front Range saw at the beginning of the summer, but the slightest slowing of the water had a huge payoff. Most of these fish in the creeks are sub-catchable, catch-and-release only. Brown trout and brook trout dominate these waters with smaller populations of tiger trout, cutthroat trout, and cut bow trout. If fly fishing, think about using a three-weight pole or smaller. I was able to use my five-weight, but it was difficult to wield effectively because of its length.

These trout were consistently feisty with a range of flies, nymphs, synthetic mealworms, or spin baits with any color combination of blue, silver, white, pink, and black.

Pella Crossing and Golden Rod Ponds

Pella Crossing and Golden Ponds are located in Longmont with many bodies of water to choose between. The two complexes are located right next to each other with paths between the two. These ponds have plenty of fish. Situated next to a regional airport, you can catch warm water species using swimbaits or minnows while watching a slew of small planes prepare to land.

White, twisty-tail grubs and darker color swim baits offered a consistent angling experience.

Walden Ponds/Sawhill Ponds

The Walden Ponds and Sawhill Ponds were my favorite set of ponds to visit. Both are located just north of Valmont Road on North 75th Street. The parks are separate, containing multiple paths between the two making one accessible from the other.

There are more than 20 fishable ponds between the two areas offering plenty of room and opportunities to try different setups. You will mainly be fishing warm water species: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill, crappie, and carp.

Flies were especially successful from the bank when targeting bluegill and crappie, but any artificial swimbait with a head worked well in these waters. The color of these lures depended on the weather. White, twister-tail grubs worked well throughout the season, but darker greens and blues were more consistent in the later months. The Northland Tackle Mimic Minnow Spin Jig and Tail in the color firetiger was my go-to swim bait as the season progressed.

Conclusion

Fishing is intimidating, but with a wide range of options around the north metro, there are seemingly limitless opportunities to learn. Entire days can be spent indulging in the splendor of nature’s processes, freeing up your mind by taking nature’s invitation to learn and reflect. It has the power to connect you to the land that sustains the Denver metro area providing benefits for your health. 

It’s not about flashy poles and lures; it will work all the same. Instead, go out. Test the waters, and find the spot that works for you. Fishing is an underutilized resource to reduce stress while providing an opportunity to forge a deeper connection with the environment around you.

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Photo and Article by Alex Hager / KUNC (Via AP Storyshare)

Deaths on rivers in Colorado are up from last year, according to data from Colorado Parks and Wildlife. So far this year, 18 people have died on the state’s rivers and creeks, compared to only 13 in 2022.

The increase comes after heavy precipitation across the state. Above average winter snows and strong spring rains overloaded streams and rivers, making conditions more dangerous.

The Colorado River, which begins in Rocky Mountain National Park and eventually flows into Utah, has accounted for the most deaths and disappearances so far this year. Five people have died on the Colorado, and three are considered missing. The Arkansas River accounts for the second most deaths, with four.

“We want people out there recreating and having fun,” said Joey Livingston, a spokesman for CPW, “But water can inherently be dangerous. So there is a need to take some safety precautions.”

There is no official state tally of river deaths, but CPW has kept an unofficial list of incidents over the past two years. In addition to the 18 deaths, the agency’s list also marks three people as missing. CPW said river deaths occurred among rafters, tubers, and swimmers.

Another database of Colorado’s river incidents, kept by the advocacy group American Whitewater, shows that many of the deaths are on private or commercial rafting trips. Colorado is considered one of the nation’s most popular states for whitewater rafting. The Colorado River Outfitters Association reports that commercial raft customers spent $543,515 on the state’s rivers in 2022, resulting in an economic impact of more than $203 million.

So far, 2023 has delivered sustained high flows which are a direct result of high-mountain snow piled up in spades, rushing through rivers as it melted. Some parts of the state saw spring rain totals well above average, helping keep those flows high even after snow largely melted away. The Colorado River near Glenwood Springs, for example, has been flowing about 30% higher than average since peaking in June.

A release from CPW said just six inches of swift-moving water can knock a person off their feet, and water flowing at seven miles per hour has the equivalent force per unit area as air blowing above 200 miles per hour.

CPW is urging river users to take extensive safety precautions to reduce the risk of injury or death. That includes wearing a lifejacket and helmet, checking conditions ahead of time, and traveling with an experienced river guide.

Just like driving on the highway, Livingston said, “accidents happen,” even for experienced river travelers.

“So, similar to putting on your seatbelt when you get in a car, driving safely, driving slowly,” Livingston said. “You want to take some more precautions when you’re out on the water to make sure you have all your safety equipment, are aware of your surroundings and know the conditions before you go there.”

This year, people have also died in the Dolores River, the Roaring Fork River, the Animas River, Boulder Creek, and Fountain Creek. CPW’s tally also shows deaths in an irrigation canal in Lamar, Colorado and West Creek Falls within Rocky Mountain National Park.

CPW says overall water deaths in 2023 – a category that also includes drownings in reservoirs and other still bodies of water – are down from the year before.

This story is part of ongoing coverage of water in the West, produced by KUNC and supported by the Walton Family Foundation.

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To non-hunters, hunting can seem odd. You journey into nature, surround yourself with a harmonious choir of the delicate offspring of a roaring natural mystery — songbirds singing arias, elk dialing long-distance, chipmunks clearing their throats — and shoot them.T

Take Mike Janeczko. He calls himself an an “old hippie”; he smoked a joint or two, had long hair and protested Vietnam. But because he sometimes hunts, other “old hippies” call him other, less-friendly names.

“If you hunt, and you live in Boulder, you’re just a no good rotten SOB,” he says. “They hate our guts. I get into these hostile discussions every time I go out to dinner, ‘How could you possibly shoot those poor, defenseless birds?’”

These two camps — the hippies and the hunters — seem irreconcilable, and destined for endless civil war. But in this hunting season, it’s worth asking: is there anything in the middle? Wildlife managers say there has to be.

Hunt too much and you wipe out the mastodons. But if you hunt too little, there’s damage, too. The reason is that there aren’t enough predators. And without enough wolves and coyotes to naturally cull them, a herd of deer can multiply twenty-fold in six years, according to studies. Their overgrazing ruins the land for decades; then the deer themselves starve. It’s a paradox: in order to help an ecosystem thrive, hunters have to shoot a few “poor defenseless animals.”

“The reason we really have a lot of wildlife in North America, and lots of other places don’t,” says Jennifer Churchill of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, “is because we managed the wildlife and decided to hunt them.”

You thought hunting died a long time ago, along with handlebar mustaches, penny-farthing bicycles and knitting? It’s coming back. Between 2006 and 2011, hunting participation among Americans increased nine percent, said a 2011 survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “There’s a real groundswell from people who are reconsidering hunting,” says Churchill. Some of the gains in participation were due to the recession; we were so poor we had to literally shoot our own food. But a research company called Responsive Management found that the reason most commonly cited for interest in hunting was that it is a source of natural or “green” food.

Logical people realize that, if you eat meat of any kind, you’re killing poor defenseless animals anyway, only it’s by proxy. And you’re not killing wild animals who live free in the world — you’re killing farmed animals, who live like prisoners. Delicious prisoners, prisoners that pair well with chimichurri — but prisoners all the same.

Vegetarians are changing their thinking. At least three hunting books have been written lately by these hippie/locavore types, with names such as The Mindful Carnivore: A Vegetarian’s Hunt for Sustenance, Girl Hunter and Call of the Mild: Learning to Hunt My Own Dinner.

Hippies are learning to hunt, and not just for thrift store bargains.

The best example of this trend that I could find was a young Latina woman named Karla Gonzales. How peaceful is she? She runs a domestic violence and sexual abuse support center, and literally thinks that “not giving someone health insurance is a form of violence.” If she saw a spider killing a fly, she might try to slap a restraining order on him.

Up until two years ago, she thought hunting was “disgusting” and “disrespectful.” Then things changed. She was studying for her Masters degree in Gender and Ethnic Studies at CSU when a friend told her hunting was ethical, spiritual, and honest. Gonzales suddenly found herself with a rifle in her hand.

Initially, she had no idea how to use the damn thing. A series of comical mistakes on the shooting range, such as trying to aim with the wrong eye, left her bruised on her shoulder and her forehead, although it’s hard to say that mistakes can be truly comical when firearms are involved. But here’s what’s new: when she came to class in Gender and Ethnic Studies, and people saw the bruises and learned that it was from hunting, everyone in her classes supported her.
“Hunting is a lot more accepted now than it ever was,” says Bob Radocy, president of Gamelines Archery Club in Boulder.

When will this trend blossom in Boulder County? Maybe never. Hunting is outlawed on Boulder County land. And the dearth of a robust hunting culture in Boulder County has fostered deer populations that are too large, Colorado Parks and Wildlife has reported. Tim Brass, a hunting advocate, says that too many elk live on county land, and have trashed native plants and harmed farmers’ fields. Boulder County needs more hunters, he says, not less.

And why shouldn’t hippies go hunting? Don’t you get dirty? Don’t you bypass the Evil Big Food corporations like Monsanto? Doesn’t it often require missing work? Can’t you eat granola? Isn’t it part of the paleo diet? Isn’t it organic, local, low-carbon? So why shouldn’t foodies put down the creme fraische and pick up the aught-six?

Anyway, Gonzales figured out where to point her gun. She figured out how to aim it. She figured out where the deer were. On a trip to southern Wyoming, Gonzales drew a bead on a doe. She pulled the trigger. She felled her. And just like Davy Crocket… she cried like a little baby for half an hour.

“It was horrible, it was horrible,” she says. “It wasn’t nice. The poor thing — the eyes were open.”

So maybe this trend has limited appeal. But Churchill says she’s seen far more women hunters lately. And even if most women and hipsters will never take up hunting, at least the thinking is changing. For sure, Gonzales’ has shifted. “It has helped me not to be that extreme to think that [hunters] are all a bunch of idiots,” she says. “[My hunting partners] were super cool and very ethical. Not all hunters are stupid. Just some of them.”

Doesn’t that sound like healing? Isn’t that coming together? Inter-cultural harmony — isn’t that the kind of hippie stuff that Boulder County loves?

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