Speak Out to Oppose or Limit the CPW Commission’s Fur Ban

At the March 2026 Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Commission meeting, the Commission approved on a 6-4 vote advancing into rulemaking on a citizen petition calling for the ban of sale, trade or barter of furbearer fur and products. The petition was promoted by many of the same interests who brought forward the Denver Fur Ban ballot measure in 2024. The petition lacked scientific evidence showing that furbearer harvest or sale of fur in any way jeopardized sustainability of furbearer populations, and CPW staff recommended against the petition. Unfortunately, they were overruled by the Commission in a hearing and vote marked by significant confusion.

“Furbearers” under CPW regulations refer to the species traditionally hunted or trapped with fur of commercial value, such as mink, badger, beaver, coyote and fox. The petitioners’ proposal includes an exemption for finished hand-tied flies, but not for artificial lures nor for fly tying materials. As written, the proposal would ban something as simple as a legal hunter trading harvested fur with a fly-tying friend in exchange for some of the completed flies, or a Colorado fly-tyer purchasing a strip of mink fur sourced from out-of-state to use in tying streamers.

CPW is now working on an issue paper to present to the Commission as the first step toward adopting final rules for the fur ban. The paper will be presented at the Commission’s July meeting, with the final rulemaking hearing potentially taking place in September. To inform the issue paper, CPW is seeking public comment through May 3, through their web portal at: https://engagecpw.org/commercial-fur-sales

CPW staff have suggested that the fur ban be limited to the sale of furs hunted or trapped in Colorado and not applied to imported fur or materials. Consistent with statutory requirements allowing trapping and sale of fur from ‘nuisance’ animals taken by or on behalf of landowners to protect their property (under Title 35 and section 33-6-107(9) of the Colorado Revised Statutes), CPW also suggests that the rule not apply to fur harvested under those authorities.  Unfortunately, it does not appear that the Commission is inclined to accept these recommendations so public comment on these matters is very important. 

CTU opposes the proposed fur ban rule as it represents an anti-hunting, angling and trapping position without any basis in science and sound wildlife management. The ban is not needed to support sustainable furbearer populations, as Colorado’s harvest levels are an order of magnitude below those that the scientific literature indicates are sustainable. Simply put - the rule is not based on the conservation needs of Colorado wildlife. If the rule proceeds, however, we support the limitations proposed by CPW staff, and also suggest that the exemption for finished flies be broadened to include artificial lures and the materials used in making flies and lures.

You can weigh in with CPW through their Engage CPW portal to offer your comments. Points to consider raising:

·         CPW staff indicate that best available science shows that harvest is not threatening sustainable furbearer populations in Colorado, making this rule unnecessary and inappropriate

·         Natural furs have a long history of use in flies and lures used in fishing, and those uses should be exempted from any ban on sale of fur and fur products

·         Any CPW restriction on the sale of fur should be limited to fur harvested in Colorado; applying it to imports would do nothing to benefit Colorado wildlife

·         A fur ban cannot legally be applied to animals taken under Title 35 and section 33-6-107(9) of the Colorado Revised Statutes; asking wildlife officers to distinguish between fur taken under those authorities and those taken under recreational licenses poses an impossible enforcement challenge for CPW staff

·         In your comments, include any personal experience you have with furbearer furs and products as an angler or fly-tyer

Keep The Colorado River Flowing

Ask the CWCB to Keep the Colorado River flowing and accept the Shoshone Water Rights

Photo courtesy of Colorado River District

For more than 100 years, the Shoshone Hydropower Plant in Glenwood Canyon and its non-consumptive water rights have played a critical role in sustaining the Colorado River.  With two senior water rights (1902 and 1929), the Shoshone plant has ensured year-round flows through the Colorado River both upstream and downstream - calling water past upstream trans-basin diversions that could otherwise deplete the upper Colorado River even more heavily, and delivering flows that also maintain the Colorado River below the Shoshone outflow, in and below Glenwood Springs. Unfortunately, the power plant's infrastructure has been aging leading to periodic outages and highlighting the need for a more permanent solution for preserving the water rights whose operation has sustained the Colorado River, its gold medal fishery, endangered fish habitat, and communities and working lands that rely on the river. Shoshone is especially essential for keeping the Colorado River flowing in the winter non-growing season, when other senior irrigation water rights in the Grand Valley are not drawing water down the river. Shoshone is the essential senior right that keeps the Colorado flowing 12 months of the year.

The Colorado River District has entered into a $99 million purchase and sale agreement to acquire the water rights from Xcel Energy, and is working to establish instream flows in Glenwood Canyon as an additional use of those water rights - so that regardless of when and how the power plant can continue to operate, the Colorado River will continue to have water delivered as it has been for more than 100 years. By preserving that status quo on a permanent basis, the River District's proposal will benefit fish and other aquatic life, Colorado's outdoor recreation economy, and the communities that rely on continued historic flows along the Colorado River.  The only difference is that when the rights are exercised for instream flow, water will flow in the river channel in Glenwood Canyon from the existing Shoshone diversion to the powerplant outlet, rather than through the pipelines that would otherwise use the water for hydroelectricity generation through that reach.

The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) is the entity under state law that can hold water rights for instream flow purposes, including through acquisitions/donations/leases of senior water rights as would be the case with the Shoshone water rights. The CWCB is currently taking public comment through September 18 on whether it should accept donation of these water rights into the state Instream Flow Program. 

Please ask the CWCB to accept the donation of Shoshone flows in the State's Instream Flow Program and keep the Colorado River flowing year round. You can use the template comments provided here, but your comments will be most effective if you also add personal details about why the Colorado River and its health are important to you.

The Fight Isn’t Over: Tell the Senate to Protect Public Lands

In May, the House of Representatives passed their reconciliation bill. Thanks to many of you who spoke up, an amendment to sell half a million acres of public lands in Nevada and Utah was removed from the bill before passage. Unfortunately, the bill passed with other harmful provisions including efforts to do away with commonsense oil and gas reforms, greatly expand drilling on public land, eliminate critical agency funding and roll back protections for the Boundary Waters in Minnesota.  

Now, the Senate is drafting their own reconciliation budget bill, and we have a new need and opportunity to advocate to the Senate to drop these provisions and to ensure that public land sales are kept OUT of this and future legislation. 

With the lack of public process and transparency, budget reconciliation is not the right place to make consequential decisions about our public lands and watersheds. Please join Trout Unlimited in telling your Senators to stand up for public lands and coldwater resources. We've provided a draft message for your Senators, but please feel free to add or create your own personalized narrative.  

Take Action: Say “No” to Sell-Off of Public Lands

Public lands are core to who we are as Americans, and are especially critical in western states like Colorado where so much of our land base and watersheds are largely on Federal public lands. These are the places we hunt, fish, and recreate with our friends and families, provide vital habitat for fish and wildlife, and help drive our outdoor economy:

·       70% of remaining habitat for native trout in the Rockies is found on public land

·       72% of hunters in the West rely on public lands for hunting

·       $1.2 trillion in economic activity supported by outdoor recreation in the US

·       5 million jobs supported by outdoor recreation in 2023

In a late-night move during the May 6 House Natural Resources Committee markup on the budget reconciliation package, Reps. Mark Amodei (NV) and Celeste Maloy (UT) introduced an amendment to sell off hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands in Nevada and Utah. The committee voted to advance the reconciliation bill to the House floor. Among Colorado’s delegation, Representatives Hurd (3rd CD) and Neguse (2nd CD) opposed the amendment, while Representative Boebert (4th CD) supported it.

This amendment sets a dangerous precedent for the future of America’s public lands. Budget reconciliation isn’t the place to make decisions about public land sales—especially without transparency or public input. Existing laws, regulations, and processes in place already exist to facilitate the disposal of suitable parcels of public land when it is in the public’s interest. This amendment short-circuits those transparent and careful processes that ensure any sale of public lands is indeed in the public interest.

Additionally, under current law, most proceeds from BLM land sales go into the Federal Land Disposal Account where they can be used to purchase high-priority conservation lands, enter into access easements, and for other purposes benefiting public lands to reduce fragmentation and support access to those lands. The amendment instead directs proceeds from these sales to the general treasury.

Colorado Trout Unlimited strongly opposes efforts like this to sell off public lands, especially when those efforts lack transparency, disregard public process, and fail to reinvest in our treasured public lands heritage. While this amendment passed committee, the fight to stop the sale of public lands is far from over.
 
We need you now more than ever. You can help speak out for public lands now in two key ways:

You can take action here, contacting your US Representative and urging them to oppose the sell-off of public lands under the budget reconciliation bill.

Those close to Denver can join us and other conservation partners including The Wilderness Society at a rally for public lands this Saturday, May 17th, starting at 10 am on the west steps of the State Capitol.  You can see more details and RSVP here, and bring your signs supporting public lands in public hands, and join us on Colorado Public Lands Day to speak out for protecting our public lands!

Help Restore Federal Funding for Restoration and Rural Economic Development

Help Restore Federal Funding for Restoration and Rural Economic Development

Trout Unlimited’s restoration efforts in Colorado don’t just support the state’s working lands and waters, they are also a driving force behind rural economic growth. We’ve long recognized the importance of healthy rivers and fisheries for the outdoor recreation economy, which in Colorado generates $17.2 billion in economic activity and supports over 132,000 jobs.  TU’s projects are also generating high-quality jobs for contractors, engineers, and laborers, most of whom live and work in the very communities benefiting from these projects.

Many of TU’s efforts rely upon and help leverage federal dollars from agency partners such as the Bureau of Reclamation, US Forest Service, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. In Colorado alone, TU is managing more than $24 million in federally-funded projects, helping support more than 250 Colorado jobs through our contractors and partners. Federal dollars are critical to conducting projects like the Colorado River Connectivity Channel (pictured) - and they are multiplied, leveraging other state, local and private sector dollars to make a difference for our waterways and local communities.

The recent pause in government funding creates financial hardships for contractors, workers, farmers, ranchers and others who depend on restoration projects for income. The negative impacts in Colorado’s rural areas are especially devastating.

Looking forward, the future of restoration funding programs is in question as Congress takes up how to approach the next federal budget year - and continued funding for agency partnership grants is critical for needed projects from protecting water in the Colorado River, to reducing wildfire risks in our forests, to modernizing infrastructure for irrigators to benefit both farms and fish.

As Congress and agencies review these federally-funded programs, we urge you to reach out to your elected officials and ask them to restore - and sustain - critical federal funding for restoration projects and the rural communities they support.

Protecting the Miracle Mile - Here's How You Can Help

Credit Steven Brutger

The Miracle Mile is one of Wyoming’s most treasured trout fisheries, drawing anglers from across the country and generating millions in recreation-based revenue each year. But this world-class fishery, adjacent crucial wildlife habitat, and local communities and economies that depend on them are at risk. The proposed Seminoe Pumped Storage Project, a renewable energy storage project being developed by rPlus Hydro, could significantly alter the water quality, fish populations, and aquatic ecosystem of the North Platte River and wildlife habitat in adjacent uplands. To learn more about these potential impacts, please visit this link.

Despite these risks and uncertainties, the project is advancing quickly through the permitting process. A comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and stringent agency permit conditions are necessary to ensure that the irreplaceable fish and wildlife habitat, water quality, and recreation opportunities in and around the North Platte’s Miracle Mile and Seminoe Reservoir are adequately evaluated, monitored, protected, and mitigated (if the project is advanced). Join Trout Unlimited, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Wyoming Trout Unlimited, Wyoming Wild Sheep Foundation, and Wyoming Wildlife Federation in asking regulatory and management agencies as well as elected officials to ensure that the Seminoe Pumped Storage Project is only permitted if impacts are adequately studied and addressed. 

We need your help with 3 urgent actions by 4 PM on Friday, March 14th! 

1. Sign the petition to let agencies and elected officials know your concerns  

2. Share with your friends  

3. Submit your official public comments to FERC  

Take Action for the Miracle Mile!

A watershed moment: Congress passes legislation to address toxic legacy of abandoned mines

Colorado has approximately 23,000 abandoned mines throughout the state, of which, more than 230 are known as draining mines that are currently causing environmental damage. More than 1,600 miles of Colorado streams and rivers are impaired by acid mine drainage.

From Trout Unlimited

Bipartisan “Good Samaritan” legislation will pave the way for long-awaited cleanups of toxic mine waste 

Contacts: 

• Chris Wood, President and CEO, Trout Unlimited – chris.wood@tu.org 

• Corey Fisher, Public Lands Policy Director, Trout Unlimited – corey.fisher@tu.org 

• Zoe Bommarito, National Advocacy Communications Director, Trout Unlimited – zoe.bommarito@tu.org, 517-604-1844 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, in a historic bipartisan achievement two decades in the making, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act (S.2781 / H.R.7779). The legislation is expected to be signed into law by President Biden. This long-sought legislation will pave the way for Trout Unlimited, state agencies, and other third parties to increase the pace and scale of efforts to clean up abandoned hardrock mines, tens of thousands of which are polluting waterways across the country. 

The legislation was championed by U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Jim Risch (R-ID) and U.S. Reps. Celeste Maloy (R-UT), Mary Peltola (D-AK), and Susie Lee (D-NV). It cleared the Senate by unanimous consent in July. Congress has debated Good Samaritan legislation for more than two decades. Trout Unlimited thanks Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for their bipartisan support in bringing the legislation to the House floor.

“Today marks an important step toward cleaning up our nation’s rivers and streams,” said Chris Wood, President and CEO of Trout Unlimited. “Over 40 percent of small mountain streams in the West are polluted by heavy metals from abandoned mines. This bill is about clean water and healthy communities. It will make it possible for organizations that had nothing to do with the causes of pollution to make our rivers and streams cleaner. We commend Congress for taking this critical step, and especially thank Senators Heinrich and Risch, along with Representatives Maloy, Peltola and Lee, for their leadership in bringing Good Samaritan legislation over the finish line.” 

Abandoned mines are historic mine sites – often a century old or more – where there are no parties that can be held responsible for cleaning up mine waste. Current federal laws treat organizations that volunteer to clean up these abandoned mines—including state agencies and private non-profits groups like Trout Unlimited—as if they are the very polluters who left behind the mine waste.  

This creates daunting obstacles that prevent abandoned mine cleanups, including complicated permitting and long-term legal and financial liability for any remaining mine pollution.  

“Clean water and healthy fish and wildlife habitat are values that unite us,” said Corey Fisher, Public Policy Director at Trout Unlimited. “For too long, toxic hardrock mine waste has polluted rivers, causing downstream impacts to communities and wildlife. This common-sense law will give us a critical tool to turn the tide, restoring clean water to watersheds across the West and beyond.” 

The Good Samaritan legislation establishes a new program under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), providing limited liability protections for up to 15 low-risk abandoned mine cleanup pilot projects conducted by state agencies, tribes, and qualified volunteer parties.  

Trout Unlimited, the leading conservation organization dedicated to restoring America’s rivers, recovering trout and salmon, and conserving clean water, has long championed the need for Good Samaritan protections to accelerate cleanup efforts. The organization played a pivotal role in advocating for the legislation, drawing on decades of on-the-ground restoration experience to raise awareness about the urgent need for action. 

“Colorado voices have long called for legislation to empower Good Samaritans to conduct mine remediation projects, and with more than 23,000 abandoned mines statewide, the significance for our waters is clear. We look forward to seeing one or more pilot projects under this bill take place here in Colorado, so that we and our partners can finally roll up our sleeves and get to work improving water quality. Colorado’s U.S. Senators have been leaders on Good Samaritan legislation for decades, and we thank Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper for all their hard work and dedication in bringing this commonsense legislation to fruition,” said David Nickum, Executive Director, Colorado Trout Unlimited.

Learn more about Good Samaritan legislation at https://www.tu.org/good-samaritan. 

Denver Prop 308 a Threat to Fishing, and Not Only for Denver

Photo courtesy of Denver Trout Unlimited

In September, CTU noted that the Denver Fur Ban was a threat to fishing, but now more information is available about the proponents’ intentions. A recent Outdoor Life article has several concerning statements and quotes.

The author reports, “Natalie Fulton, a spokesperson for Pro-Animal Future, is aware that the ban would include some materials commonly used in fly fishing. She says fly fishermen and others just need to adapt. (Conventional anglers would be affected as well since some lures, like bucktail jigs, call for the same natural materials.)”

In addition, this may not just be about Denver. Fulton is quoted as saying, “We would love to go statewide. We’re not going to stop fighting until fur is a thing of the past.”

Colorado Trout Unlimited urges a NO VOTE on Initiated Ordinance 308! Live outside of Denver? Tell your friends and family to VOTE NO!

Colorado TU encourages a YES vote on Proposition JJ

The Colorado Water Plan embraces four key values for our state’s vital water resources – a productive economy supporting vibrant cities, agriculture, recreation and tourism; efficient and effective infrastructure; supporting healthy watersheds, rivers, and wildlife; and an informed public with creative solutions for sustainable and resilient water systems.

Through Colorado Water Plan grants, the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) has been able to fund important projects advancing these goals – including TU collaborations with water users. For example, water plan grants are helping with our work to restore cutthroat in the Poudre Headwaters, to improve efficiency and reconnect habitat on tributaries to the Colorado River, and to develop infrastructure improvements along South Boulder Creek that allow fish passage and delivery of low flow releases to preserve instream flows.

Key funding for these grants comes through voter-approved Proposition DD in 2019, which allocates funding raised from sports betting in Colorado to support the water plan.  Proposition DD has generated nearly $77 million new dollars for water plan efforts in the past five years – benefiting our watersheds, farms, and communities.

Today, funding from this initiative is exceeding all original expectations – with revenues going over the original cap of $29 million per year. Proposition JJ will allow those extra dollars to be invested in the water plan; if it does not pass, those extra dollars will be returned to casinos and sports betting companies.

The Colorado legislature with bipartisan and near-unanimous support referred JJ to voters so that funds from sports betting can provide much-needed support for our state’s precious water resources.

Colorado TU encourages a YES vote on Proposition JJ

Denver Fur Ban Initiative a Threat to Fishing

Colorado TU is urging its members and supporters in the City and County of Denver to vote no on Initiated Ordinance 308 this year, the proposed Denver Fur Ban. While farming of fur bearing animals and sale of luxury fur apparel are not coldwater conservation issues, the proposed fur ban is written broadly and vaguely enough that it puts at risk the purchase or sale of fly tying materials and many flies and lures. That poses a threat to our fishing and tying members in Denver, and to our business partners in the fishing industry.

Those industry members are not just important in sustaining angling, they are stalwarts in funding fish conservation. The fishing industry many years ago agreed to federal excise taxes that are charged on all fishing tackle items sold in the U.S., with the proceeds from those taxes earmarked for grants to state fish and wildlife agencies to support their fishery management programs. The program, popularly known as Dingell-Johnson, is a critical source of funding for Colorado Parks and Wildlife and its peer agencies across the country. Every time an angler purchases a rod, a reel, and yes, a fly or fly tying materials – a part of that purchase helps fund conservation through grants to those state agencies.

Unfortunately, under initiated ordinance 308, it appears that sale and purchase of flies, lures, or fly tying materials including animal fur would be prohibited in Denver – including delivery to a Denver address from retailers located outside of the city. If 308 passes – Denver anglers will no longer be able to purchase those flies and lures, or materials with which to tie them at home, within the City and County of Denver.

Other groups beyond the fly fishing community have expressed concern about the effects of 308 due to its broad and vague wording, including the National Western Stock Show (where exhibitors sell items that include fur, such as traditional cowboy hats); and tribal interests who note that 308’s exemptions for tribal cultural purposes are narrowly written and would not apply to the majority of Native Americans.

While the measure would apply only in the City and County of Denver, Colorado TU encourages members across the state to take note as proponents of the fur ban have previously voiced their interest in using passage of a ban in Denver as a stepping stone to seeking a similar statewide initiative.

If you live in Denver – VOTE NO on Initiated Ordinance 308!