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Lower Colorado River Habitat Partnership Program

On January 15, 1993, the Lower Colorado River Habitat Partnership Program Committee (LCRHPP) was appointed by the CWC to resolve conflicts between the White River elk herd and livestock producers in game management units 25, 26 and 34. The LCRHPP Committee expanded in 2003 and now encompasses Game Management Units (GMU) 25, 26, 33, 34 35, 36, 43, 44, 45, 47, 444 and 471. Of the approximate 4,000 square miles in the program area, 23% is private owned lands, 17% is BLM, 58% is USFS and less than 1% is State of Colorado. Winter range for elk is split almost equally between public and private lands with 517 square miles located on private property and 532 on public property.



While conflicts between big game and livestock still exist, the LCRHPP committee remains focused on them and believes those conflicts have been reduced. Given the human growth in this area, their efforts have turned to improving remaining habitat in their area, which will help achieve and maintain herd objectives and hunting opportunities.

Upper Yampa River Habitat Partnership Program

The Upper Yampa River Habitat Partnership Program committee (UYRHPP) continues to provide an essential function of assistance to residents of the Upper Yampa River area in addressing and mitigating conflicts between agricultural producers and big game.



The shifting population in the region from primarily agriculture-based operations, to more urban and residential settings has created issues for wildlife and residents alike. The fragmentation of private lands into smaller acreages, the increased use of adjacent public lands, and varying local habitat conditions have effects on big game and their seasonal distributions. These effects are resulting in immediate and long-term consequences for land managers and producers.

​Republican Rivers​​ Habitat Partnership Program

Historically the RRHPP has had very few game damage projects and has had an emphasis on improving habit at and distribution of big game species in t he area. The addition of the South Platte corridor to the committee’s boundary in 2015 greatly increased HPP’s ability to help reduce long-term game damage claims along the Platte River. The committee will continue to focus on improving wildlife habit at while reaching out to landowners and wildlife managers along the Platte River to try and lesson the impacts of game damage caused by deer. A livestock grower representative from the South Platte River was also added to help reach landowners in that area and provide perspective to the challenges that they face. The NRCS representative position went away due to the retirement of that individual.



Operating guidelines have been established to help inform funding decisions and prioritization of projects. Budget guidelines show likely allocations of funds based on past projects. Budget allocations may change as new opportunities arise. The committee has identified current and foreseeable issues for the area and has specified project types and management strategies that are aimed at adapting to these issues in order to continue reducing wildlife conflicts and helping CPW in achieving game management objectives.

​​Mount Blanca​ Habitat Partnership Program

The Mount Blanca Committee area is comprised of large areas of contiguous private lands, which poses unique issues and conflicts with wildlife. The committee area has undergone changes to big game habitat and distribution. This has occurred as a result of precipitation and weather deviations and changes in agricultural production and land use. In the past, the committee has implemented some unconventional ideas and methods in order to resolve these issues as they arise. The committee will continue to monitor and adapt to these changes.



This committee and it's plan focuses on assisting CPW managers in working with federal land managers, owners of large private ranches, subdivision homeowner associations, and agricultural producers. We consider the goals, objectives and mandates of each of these entities when assisting with developing solutions and strategies to provide adequate habitat, reduce conflicts, and provide quality opportunities for sportspeople within the MBHPP area.

Middle Park​ Habitat Partnership Program

The Middle Park Habitat Partnership Committee (MPHPP) endeavors to work cooperatively with landowners and local, state, and federal agencies to establish strategies to resolve immediate fence, water and forage conflicts caused by big game; and to develop and implement long-term solutions to resolve conflicts while maintaining healthy sustainable rangelands. In addition to resolving wildlife conflicts, HPP is statutorily directed to "assist the division in meeting game management objectives..." The committee supports the idea of working as a partnership with other entities and landowners. We encourage interested parties to leverage monies from other available sources to implement as many projects as possible and to show broad reaching interest in managing conflicts.

Sangre de Cristo​ Habitat Partnership Program

The Sangre de Cristo committee area has seen many changes to wildlife habitat as a result of population growth, expansion of recreation, and subsequent habitat fragmentation. The committee will continue to monitor and adapt to these changes, and projects will be implemented wherever the committee believes that they will effectively reduce or eliminate big game conflicts and assist CPW in achieving game management objectives.



The committee has identified current and foreseeable issues for the area and has specified project types and management strategies that are aimed at adapting to these issues in order to continue reducing wildlife conflicts and helping CPW in achieving game management objectives.