State Trust Lands Conservation & Recreation Work Group
The State Trust Lands Conservation & Recreation Work Group was established by the Colorado General Assembly and Governor Polis (HB25-1332) to formulate recommendations to identify opportunities to advance conservation; climate resilience; biodiversity; and sustainable, equitable, and low-conflict recreation on state trust lands.
The legislation requires a number of bipartisan appointments from the Governor, State legislative leadership, and Tribal representatives, which are listed below.
The legislation requires the Work Group to submit recommendations to the Governor, the Department, the State Board of Land Commissioners, and the relevant committees of the House and Senate by September 1, 2026. By February 15, 2027, the State Land Board must take into consideration the work group's recommendations and adopt policies and or rules to establish a process for governing the implementation of conservation leases and related instruments on state trust lands; substantiate balancing revenue generation with conserving the long-term value of state trust lands; and create a schedule to review and update by December 2028, if necessary, all existing stewardship trust management plans or other applicable plans.
The Colorado State Land Board (Board), a Division of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, is a constitutionally created agency that manages a $6 billion endowment of assets for the intergenerational benefit of Colorado’s K-12 schoolchildren and public institutions. The Board is the second-largest landowner in Colorado and generates revenue on behalf of beneficiaries by leasing three million surface acres and four million subsurface acres for uses including agriculture, carbon sequestration,, ecosystem services, recreation, commercial real estate, rights-of-way, renewable energy, oil, gas, and solid minerals. The agency is entirely self-funded and receives no tax dollars.
Appointments to the State Trust Land Conservation and Recreation Work Group:
Appointed by Governor Jared Polis:
- Martin Herz, member with economic expertise related to issues the work group will study
- Steven Silverman, member with legal expertise, including knowledge of the state constitution, fiduciary duties, and statutes governing the issues the Work Group will study
- Chad Hixon, representative of motorized recreation
- Lloyd Athearn, representative of nonmotorized recreation
Appointed by the Speaker of the House:
- Matt Samelson, member of the Public School Capital Construction Assistance Board
- Aaron Citron, representative of an environmental organization with expertise In land conservation and stewardship
- Sean Chambers, member with water resource management experience
- Tyler Garrett, member who is an agricultural producer or representative of a statewide agricultural organization
Appointed by the President of the Senate:
- Drew McMahan, representative from the renewable energy industry with experience leasing renewable energy facilities on state trust lands
- Jason Dietz, member with experience in the affordable housing sector
- Jason Swann, member with a background in outdoor equity
- Steve Witte, representative of hunting or angling organization
Appointed by the Senate Majority Leader:
- Erika Brown, educational stakeholder representing rural schools
- Philip Courtney, representative of the mining industry with experience leasing property on state trust lands
- Taishya Adams, elected representative of a municipality
Appointed by the Senate Minority Leader:
- Nathan Bennet, oil and gas operator with experience leasing property on state trust lands
- Zandon Bray, member who is an agricultural producer or representative of a statewide agricultural organization
Appointed by the House Majority Leader:
- Commissioner Jonathan Houck, Gunnison County Commissioner
- Suzanne O’Neill, representative of a wildlife and habitat conservation organization
- Eric Komppa, representative of a commercial real estate entity with experience leasing property on state lands
Appointed by the House Minority Leader:
- Jamie Jost, oil and gas operator with experience leasing property on state trust lands
- Richard Holtorf, member who is an agricultural producer or representative of a statewide agricultural organization
Appointed by the Southern Ute Indian Tribe:
- Councilwoman Linda Baker
Appointed by the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe:
- Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk
Technical Advisory Members:
- Dan Gibbs, Executive Director of the Department of Natural Resources
- Nicole Rosmarino, Director of the State Board of Land Commissioners
- Fletcher Jacobs, Assistant Director of Outdoor Recreation, Colorado Parks and Wildlife
- Evanne Caviness, Conservation Services Division Director, Colorado Department of Agriculture
- Holly Norton, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer
- Mark Loveall, Supervisory Forester of Forest Planning & Implementation, Colorado State Forest Service
- Jill Corbin, Deputy Director, Destination Stewardship, Colorado Tourism Office
Contact
For media inquiries, contact Chris Arend.
Meetings
Meeting info coming soon.
Public Comment
Public comment is requested for future meetings.
All members of the public are encouraged to provide public comment.
Distribution List
Sign up to receive updates or press releases from the State Trust Lands Conservation & Recreation Work Group.