Press Release

The Colorado Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced the addition of new staff members joining its Department to assist with its mission to manage and conserve Colorado’s natural resources. New staff members include Tim Brass, Assistant Director for Parks, Wildlife and Lands, Stacy Coleman, Tribal Liaison and Aaron Ray, Assistant Director for Energy Innovation.

Governor Polis and the Colorado Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced the 2023 release of the Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program’s Workforce Development Grant. This grant will provide funding to send forestry and mitigation crews from Colorado Youth Corps Association (CYCA) and State Wildland Inmate Fire Teams (SWIFT) within the Department of Corrections (DOC) to complete wildfire mitigation projects around the state.

The Colorado Department of Natural Resources and the Colorado Water Conservation Board announced that Lauren Ris has been selected as the next Director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board. 

The Governing Body of the Colorado Produced Water Consortium (Consortium) and leadership from the Colorado Legislature announced appointments of additional members . The Consortium was created by the Colorado General Assembly to help reduce the consumption of freshwater within oil and gas operations.

The Colorado Department of Natural Resources announced today that Rebecca Mitchell will become the State of Colorado’s first full time Commissioner to the Upper Colorado River Commission.

The Colorado Department of Natural Resources is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Director to manage the Colorado Water Conservation Board

Colorado Department of Natural Resources Executive Director Dan Gibbs announced the appointment of the Governing Body of the Colorado Produced Water Consortium. The Consortium was created by the Colorado General Assembly to help reduce the consumption of freshwater within oil and gas operations.

The Polis administration has set out a robust strategy to support the climate-smart management of forests, farms, ranches, grasslands, wetlands and riparian areas, and urban green spaces in the newly released Strategic Plan for Climate-Smart Natural and Working Lands.

This year, the Colorado General Assembly approved more than $130 million in investments to equip the state with the resources necessary to advance State energy goals, mitigate wildfire risk, and enhance water, wildlife, and outdoor recreation resources which were supported by Colorado Department of Natural Resources Director Dan Gibbs and Governor Polis signed into law.

The newly revised Colorado Republican River Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), now available through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, will offer producers a dryland crop production practice on eligible cropland. This option will give producers meaningful tools to continue farming as they work toward permanently retiring water rights and conserving the Ogallala Aquifer for future generations.