Colorado Wildlife Habitat Program

This video provides an overview of the Hale Ranch, a successful project that went through the Colorado Wildlife Habitat Program. This magnificent property, located in the San Luis Valley, offers public access for fishing and hunting on the Rio Grande.

CWHP Spotlight

Colorado Wildlife Habitat Program

The Colorado Wildlife Habitat Program (CWHP) offers funding opportunities for landowners who wish to voluntarily protect important wildlife habitat, provide wildlife-related recreational access to the public, and, if appropriate, sell their property to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Thanks to funding provided by the Habitat Stamp, Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) and some federal dollars, the Colorado Wildlife Habitat Program has made great strides in protecting critical wildlife habitat and enhancing public access. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) thanks hunters and anglers for their continued support of this vital conservation program.

$212,600,000

invested into the program by Colorado Parks and Wildlife

300,650

acres of conservation easements secured by the program

156,100

acres of public easement access secured by the program

34,950

acres with fee title secured

393

miles of river access along river bank secured by program

Apply to the Colorado Wildlife Habitat Program

Project Eligibility

The CWHP is a statewide program focused on habitat protection and public access. This voluntary, incentive-based partnership program supports CPW’s mission through acquisitions of conservation easements (CEs), public access easements (AEs), and occasionally fee title acquisitions. The CWHP is authorized by Colorado Statute and administered by CPW. Funding priorities and preferences are established by the Parks and Wildlife Commission. The 2025 CWHP budget is up to $11,000,000.

2025 CWHP Funding Priorities

Acquiring significant public access for hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing
Protecting big game winter range and migration corridors
Protecting habitat for species of concern (specifically those Species of Greatest Conservation Need, as identified in CPW’s State Wildlife Action Plan)
Protecting riparian areas and wetlands
Landscape-scale parcels
Parcels that provide connectivity to other conserved lands

2025 CWHP Funding Preferences

Properties that include Lesser Prairie Chicken habitat
Properties that exhibit biodiversity
Properties that fall within CPW’s Habitat Conservation and Connectivity Plan’s (HCCP) Priority Landscapes
Provides public Right of Way across private land to provide public access to landlocked public land
Working farms and ranches
Properties that support wildlife crossings

Applicants

The landowner is the applicant. A land trust, local government, conservation organization, or other representative (third party) may submit a proposal on behalf of a landowner. If the proposal involves a third party CE, the third party must be qualified to hold conservation easements under federal and state law.

Application Materials

The 2025 application is made up of the 3 parts listed below, and the two sets of instructions. Download each and complete Parts 1-3 before submitting a proposal. The deadline to submit is October 9, 2025 at 5:00pm MST.

Proposals are evaluated by CPW staff and the Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp Committee. The rigorous review process includes evaluating the proposal’s strategic conservation impacts, biological significance, public benefits, and project feasibility, amongst other criteria.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact their local CPW Area Wildlife Manager or appropriate designee for assistance describing the wildlife and habitat values accurately and to discuss the merits of their Proposal.

Proposals are recommended for funding based on approval by the Parks and Wildlife Commission. Applicants will be notified of the Commission’s final award decisions following the May 2026 Commission meeting.

2025

June:
RFP opens & materials posted to CPW website

October:
Proposal Deadline

October – February 2026:
CPW staff & Habitat Stamp Committee review, score, rank proposals

2026

January:
Commission receives update on proposals & program

February - April:
CPW Executive Management Team creates recommendations for Commission, additional review by CPW, final recommendations formed

May:
Commission reviews, votes on final recommendations

June:
CPW staff begins negotiations, due diligence

Contact the Program

Amanda Nims
Land Protection Specialist and Program Manager, Colorado Parks and Wildlife
303-291-7269
[email protected]

Funding

The CWHP leaves a lasting legacy that ensures Colorado’s natural resources and critical wildlife habitat are protected and that there will always be wildlife-related recreational opportunities available.

Program Funding

Funding for qualified projects comes from revenue generated by the sale of Habitat Stamps from sportspeople, from revenue generated by the sale of hunting and fishing licenses, from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), and occasionally from federal funding sources.

About the Habitat Stamp

Conservation Funding

The CWHP is an incentive-based, voluntary program that accomplishes strategic wildlife conservation goals and/or public access goals using conservation easements, public access easements, and in some circumstances, fee title purchases. Priority is given to conservation easements and public access easements over fee title per CPW policy and title 33-4-102.7 C.R.S.

List of Properties

Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp Committee

The Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp Committee annually reviews proposed projects for expenditure of Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp Funds and makes recommendations to CPW’s Director and the Parks and Wildlife Commission. Throughout the review process, the committee's goal is to select projects that reflect Habitat Stamp statute, including protecting big game winter range and migration corridors, acquiring public access for hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing, protecting habitat for species of concern; and preserving the diversity of wildlife enjoyed by Coloradans.

Meet the Committee