Press Release

(Denver) — With Colorado facing an urgent need for proactive forest management, today the Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program (COSWAP) announced its largest Workforce Development grant investment to date. A total of $6.9 million has been awarded to 24 projects across the state for strategic wildfire mitigation and training in partnership with the Colorado Youth Corps Association and Department of Corrections’ State Inmate Wildland Fire Team (SWIFT) crew.

(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.

(Denver) — The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission and Executive Director Dan Gibbs have chosen Laura Clellan as the sole finalist for the position of CPW Director. Per statute, the public notice of the sole finalist will be posted for 14 days.

(Evergreen) — Today, Governor Jared Polis, joined by forestry experts, local leaders, and partners across key sectors, shared information on the major pine beetle outbreak taking hold in the Front Range and took Executive Action in announcing the creation of a new task force designed to protect Colorado forests and communities from the impact the mountain pine beetle will have, particularly on Colorado’s Front Range ponderosa forests, over the next decade.

(Denver) — The Colorado Department of Natural Resources is seeking candidates for the position of Director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

(Denver) — The Colorado Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced promotions and the addition of new staff members joining its Department to assist with its mission to manage and conserve Colorado’s natural resources.

Additions and changes include: Aaron Ray, Director of Policy; Alison Lerch, Assistant Director for Forest Health & Wildfire Mitigation; Jennifer Walker Graf, Assistant Director for Energy Innovation.

(Denver) - Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Natural Resources announced today that Jeff Davis has stepped down as Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director and will be moving to the Department of Natural Resources Executive Director's Office as a Senior Policy Advisor for Strategic Priorities. Major General Laura Clellan, Retired Adjutant General and Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, has been named as an Acting Director and the formal search for Director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife will begin soon.

(Denver) – The first meeting of the State Trust Lands Conservation & Recreation Work Group, established by the bipartisan action taken by the Colorado General Assembly and Governor Polis (HB25-1332), convened on Thursday, October 30.

(Denver) - Governor Polis, Colorado Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the Colorado Tourism Office (CTO), a division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), announced today that the State of Colorado is providing funds to keep two visitors centers open at Rocky Mountain National Park while the federal government remains shut down.

(Denver) - Governor Jared Polis and Attorney General Phil Weiser today urged the U.S. Supreme Court to reject a case about the South Platte River Compact and Nebraska’s efforts to build the Perkins County Canal. Colorado is complying with its obligations under the compact and not obstructing Nebraska’s efforts to build the canal, so there is nothing for the court to review at this time, according to a brief filed with the court.