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Funding
Funding

​How is Colorado Parks and Wildlife Funded?

Although CPW became a merged agency in 2011, state statute and federal regulations require that the budgets for parks and wildlife remain separate.​ Annual revenue and expenditures for each budget are provided in the charts below. 

Additional detail regarding CPW’s sources and uses of funds can be found in the Sources & Use of Funds fact sheet.

Hunters and anglers primarily fund fish and wildlife conservation programs, while park visitors support the management of recreational​ lands. This funding is accomplished through purchases of park passes, hunting and fishing licenses, and habitat stamps.


Funding Sources

All Parks and Wildlife Revenue

FY 2019-20 Total Parks and Wildlife Revenue: $308 Million*



Severance Tax &
General Fund 2%

State & Local Grants 1%

Other Revenue & Donations 6%

Federal Grants 12%

GOCO 16%

Licenses & Passes 55%

Lottery 5%

Registrations 3%



Colorado Parks Revenue

FY 2019-20 Total Parks Revenue: $107 Million


Severance Tax &
General Fund 2%

State & Local Grants 1%

Other Revenue & Donations 6%

Federal Grants 7%

GOCO 26%

Licenses & Passes 35%

Lottery 14%

Registrations 9%



Colorado Wildlife Revenue

FY 2019-20 Total Wildlife Revenue: $189 Million


State & Local Grants 2%

Other Revenue & Donations 4%

Federal Grants 15%

GOCO 11%

Licenses & Passes 68%


*Almost 4% of Colorado Parks and Wildlife revenues are shared revenue sources.





Where the Money Goes

All Parks and Wildlife Expenditures

FY 2019-20 Total Parks and Wildlife Expenditures: $266 Million*


Environment &
Wildlife Education 2%

Fishing Recreation 7%

Habitat Management 20%

Hunting Recreation 7%

Law Enforcement 5%

Licensing, Registrations,
Policy & Regulations 4%

Organizational Support 27%

Park Recreation 6%

Payments to Other Agencies 8%

Public Information 2%

Trails Recreation 4%

Customer Service 4%

Species Conservation 4%



Colorado Parks Expenditures

FY 2019-20 Total Parks Expenditures: $109 Million


Environment &
Wildlife Education 2%

Habitat Management 21%

Law Enforcement 5%

Licensing, Registrations,
Policy & Regulations 1%

Organizational Support 33%

Park Recreation 14%

Payments to Other Agencies 9%

Public Information 2%

Trails Recreation 10%

Customer Service 3%



Colorado Wildlife Expenditures

FY 2019-20 Total Wildlife Expenditures: $151 Million


Environment &
Wildlife Education 2%

Fishing Recreation 10%

Habitat Management 19%

Hunting Recreation 12%

Law Enforcement 4%

Licensing, Registrations,
Policy & Regulations 7%

Organizational Support 24%

Payments to Other Agencies 7%

Public Information 3%

Customer Service 5%

Species Conservation 7%



*About 2% of Colorado Parks and Wildlife expenditures are for shared purposes.


How Y​o​​u Can Help​​

  • Spread the word! Make sure that your friends and neighbors realize how valuable license fees, parks fees and registrations are to CPW's operations. 
  • Step outside your comfort zone! Try a new CPW activity that you haven't tried before.
  • Continue to purchase your CPW products every year, and keep participating in the outdoor activities you love.  
  • Donate​ or volunteer.

​​Thank you for moving our programs forward with your fees and participation.​​