Pronghorn jumping over a fence
Habitat Partnership Program (HPP)
The Colorado legislature created HPP in 1989 to reduce conflicts between big game ungulates (deer, elk, moose, and pronghorn) and agricultural operations. HPP is not a compensatory program, but rather relies upon conflict reduction and relationship building between agricultural operators, sportspersons, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). Colorado statutes define the following program objectives:
- Working with private land managers, public land management agencies, sports persons, and other interested parties to reduce wildlife conflicts, particularly those associated with forage and fence issues related to big game ungulate species.
- Assisting CPW in meeting game management objectives.
- Assisting with private land conservation efforts.
- Enhancing wildlife migration corridors.
HPP is funded by 5% of the revenue from deer, elk, pronghorn, and moose hunting licenses in areas of the state covered by a local HPP committee. Matching contributions from project applicants are required for every project.
Join the Program
State Council and Local Committee Information
Local committees are made up of local representatives, including livestock growers, sportspersons, employees of federal land management agencies, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. They meet periodically in their areas to review project proposals and to discuss current issues that could affect the people they represent. All meetings are open to the public, and anyone interested is encouraged to attend. Meeting notices and meeting minutes are available on the HPP website. Committee meeting notices are also posted at the local CPW offices.
Lower Colorado River Committee
Committee for Eagle, Garfield, Pitkin, and Routt Counties
Find out moreSan Luis Valley Committee
Committee for Conejos, Mineral, Saguache, and Rio Grande Counties
Find out more
Exerpt of Habitat Partnership Program Committee Boundaries Map
Committee Boundaries
Anyone within a committee area can propose a project to their local committee. The best way to gain committee approval is to have the support of the local CPW District Wildlife Manager or another committee representative before you present your idea.
Committees are made up of local livestock growers, sportspersons and employees of the United State Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. They meet periodically in their areas to review project proposals and to discuss current issues that could affect the people they represent. All meetings are open to the public and interested people are encouraged to attend. Upcoming committee meetings and minutes of prior meetings are always posted on the website, and local committee meeting notices are posted at the local CPW office.
Typical HPP projects
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Habitat Improvement
HPP may participate in seeding, weed control, brush control, tree and shrub thinning, prescribed burns, water developments, and grazing management. The intent is to reduce big game conflicts with agricultural operations by improving wildlife distribution with water sources and forage opportunities.
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Fence improvement, repair, or removal
Recognizing big game can cause significant and repetitive damage to agricultural fences, HPP may participate in constructing wildlife-friendly fences, repairing fences needed for effective livestock grazing management, or removing unnecessary fences detrimental to wildlife. See CPW’s Fencing with Wildlife in Mind brochure below.
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Game Damage Issues
In unique situations, HPP may assist landowners with materials or the construction of stack yards. HPP does not participate in any other exclusionary fences. Typically, this is handled through CPW’s Game Damage program.
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Research & Monitoring
HPP may participate in research activities for wildlife and range purposes, such as monitoring the outcome of habitat projects or documenting big game movement patterns and habitat use.
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Conservation Easement
Working with a local land trust, HPP may pay some transaction costs to help a willing landowner establish a conservation easement on their property. Such costs include appraisals, surveys, baseline plans, mineral reports, and legal reviews.
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Information & Education
HPP may utilize outreach to increase agricultural operators' awareness of the program's solutions for reducing conflicts. Brochures, signage, seminars, and field trips are often used to accomplish this.
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Minor Repair Projects
Many committees have simplified applications and processes for landowners with minor fence repair and weed control projects. Committees that offer these have specific requirements.
Note: Projects listed are not all encompassing of the projects HPP can assist with, but the most common ones.
Fencing with Wildlife in Mind
The Habitat Partnership Program can help fund "wildlife-friendly" fence projects.
Read more about how fencing impacts wildlife in the Fencing with Wildlife in Mind brochure.
Contact Your Local DWM
Discuss your situation and ideas with your local district wildlife manager (DWM). They can help explore a feasible project if your situation fits within the program objectives. They can help you get in touch with your local HPP committee, or the HPP State Council for those from areas of the state not covered by a local committee.
Submit a Project
Prior to submitting an application, discuss your proposal with your local district wildlife manager or reach out to the specific committee contact.
Applicants will need to fill out a project proposal form and attend the committee meeting to discuss their proposal.
Project Application
Download ApplicationYour DWM and HPP Administrative Assistant can help you complete an HPP project application and schedule you to present your proposal.
The following items should be included with your proposal:
- Maps of the project area.
- Photographs.
- Material quotes.
- Contractor bids.
- Any required permits
Annual Reports
Each annual report consists of a cover memo, a project highlight, HPP statutes, an HPP organizational chart, and a summary of committee finances, program costs and project cooperators.
Historic Documents
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Contact Us
- Habitat Partnership Program Staff
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife
- [email protected]