Proposition 114 is an irresponsible statutory amendment that led the voters of Colorado to pass a harmful law upon the Western Slope of Colorado. Within the proposition, it directed Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) to develop a plan for introduction of the Canadian Gray Wolf into the West Slope. A draft and final plan was developed through a Technical Working Group (TWG) and Stakeholder Advisory Group (SAG) to provide a framework for reintroduction referred to as the CPW Plan..
The CPW Plan and public meetings history was very contentious because of political ideology pressures forced upon CPW and the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission (CPWC). On Feb. 22, 2023 CPWC removed any reference to controlling wolf populations in the future by lethal means. This blatant irresponsible action by the Governors’ appointed CPWC will lead to uncontrolled apex predator population with no management options. Colorado’s Governor also vetoed SB 256 10J critical to managing wolves which had bi-partisan support.
The Final CPW plan also circumvents a full NEPA process as required by law. NEPA was requested by the Colorado Cattlemen Association, Colorado Wool Growers, Colorado Farm Bureau, Colorado Outfitters, and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Sportsman Recreation and Conservation groups and private landowners to address their concerns. This deliberate exclusion must be met with legal challenge to protect those groups and mitigate damaging wolf depredation on Colorado’s Iconic and magnificent Elk, Deer, Pronghorn and Moose populations.
Colorado Conservation Alliance (CCA) is prepared to appeal and legally challenge on behalf of the citizens of Colorado.
OUR Mission Statement:
To protect Colorado’s outdoor heritage and wildlife habitats of life through responsible science based wildlife management and natural resource management. CCA is a coalition of Agricultural Producers, Landowners, Hunters, Outfitters, Conservation Organizations and Natural Resource Affiliations concerned about protecting our western way of life from irresponsible ballot box biology and non-consumptive agendas.
CCA will legally challenge CPW’s Plan, which has no lethal control of Wolves and will uphold the use of the USFWS 10 J Rule. CCA will challenge the plan because it fails to address the multitude of impacts that an uncontrolled wolf population has on Colorado’s Wildlife, Agricultural, Recreation Hunting, and businesses on the Western and Eastern Slope.
CCA will enforce in the courts that CPW comply with the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Rules and Regulations and prepare the required NEPA documents prior to wolves being released. CCA will place a demand that the plan address the negative economic impacts on both state and local economies and how those impacts will be mitigated.
CCA will insist CPW Plan follow their fiduciary duties as a State agency to address and protect the decades of work and investment by Sportsmen and the hundreds of millions of dollars spent on habitat improvements, wildlife restoration projects, endangered species, and conservation easements from the impacts of wolf introduction.
CCA will legally challenge CPW proposed plan to release wolves on private or state lands to avoid following NEPA and the 10 J Rule. CCA will insist through the courts that the required 10J Rule is in place prior to wolves being released in Colorado.
CCA is in full support of the Ute Tribes’ demands that CPW/USFWS honor their existing Treaties and that no wolves be released within designated tribal lands and the Brunot Treaty area.
CCA will require USFWS revise the Final Proposed EIS 10J (to be released) to include the whole state of Colorado, which the USFWS has already designated as Wolf Habitat. The CPW must be re-instate the SAG so that stakeholders from the eastern slope will be allowed to engage in a revised management plan, prior to release.