Press Release

March 7, 2025 — The Colorado State Engineer officially designated the White River Basin above the Taylor Draw Power Conduit at Taylor Draw Reservoir, in northwest Colorado, as over-appropriated. A stream system is considered over-appropriated when at some or all times of the year, there isn’t enough water available to satisfy all the water rights within the system. The change will be effective May 1, 2025.

(DENVER) – Today, Governor Polis and the Colorado Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced today $8.4 million through the Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program (COSWAP), which accelerates forest restoration and wildfire risk reduction through targeted projects that protect communities, watersheds and critical infrastructure.

(BOULDER) – U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse and representatives from the Colorado Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the City of Boulder, and Mountain View Fire Rescue marked the completion of the Marshall Mesa Coal Fire Mitigation Project. This achievement represents a significant milestone in the long-term coordination between the state, the city, and Mountain View Fire Rescue to extinguish a coal seam fire that has been smoldering for more than 100 years.

Washington, DC – Colorado Department of Natural Resources Executive Director Dan Gibbs, appeared in front of the House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands to give testimony for an oversight hearing on public lands.

Denver – The Colorado Department of Natural Resources announced that Bill Ryan has resigned as Director of the State Land Board, the installation of current Deputy Director Nick Massie as Interim Director, and published a job posting to hire a full time State Land Board Director.

After 14 years of distinguished State service, Bill Ryan recently announced his resignation as Director of the State Land Board.

(Denver) - The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS) released a final report today regarding the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine (Mine) in Cripple Creek following a recent inspection of the Mine’s operations.

Colorado has officially reached the milestone of retiring more than 10,000 acres of farmland from irrigation in the southern Republican River basin. These efforts are necessary to stay in compliance with the Republican River Compact with Kansas and Nebraska.

Depleted groundwater in the Republican River Basin has impacted how much surface water flows east. To remedy this, the Republican River Compact Administration (“RRCA”) adopted a resolution in 2016 to retire 10,000 acres in this part of the basin by 2024.

(Denver) - The Colorado Department of Natural Resources expresses its appreciation on the U.S. Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) completion of the 2021 Greater Sage-grouse Land Use Plan Amendments.

(Denver) - The Colorado Department of Natural Resources expresses its appreciation on the U.S. Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) completion of multiple federal land management plans.

The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS) sent a cease and desist letter to the owners of the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine in Cripple Creek today after concluding an inspection following the fatal incident and mine rescue on Thursday, October 10, 2024.

The letter prohibits the Mine from re-opening until DRMS’ ongoing review of the operation has been completed.