New pass to access State Wildlife Areas available May 1

SWA pass aims to address growing use of properties

As of May1ofthis year,there will be anew way for those who wanttoenjoy natural areas to access state wildlifeareas (SWAs). ColoradoParks and Wildlife anages morethan 350 SWAs, which areacquired using hunter and angler dollars for theexpress purpose of conserving wildlife habitat and providing wildlife-related recreation. These funds are matched by federal dollars from the excise taxes collected on the sale of hunting and fishing equipment.

But the growth of thestate’s population and aboom in tourism and visitation to Colorado in recent years haveresulted in a growing number of peopleusing these properties for activities that runcounter to theirintended purpose. These issues runthe gamut from illegal campingtoengaging in recreational activities that disturb anddisplacewildlife, thus disrupting the huntersand anglers whose contributions werecritical

to acquiring these properties.

While hiking, for example, has been allowedonSWAs, itwas never an intended use of the properties. And manySWAsare closed periodically during the year when wildlifeare reproducing and nurturing their young or on critical winter range.

To address this trend and ensureSWAscontinuetoexist for the benefit of wildlife, the Colorado Parks and Wild¬life Commission voted in 2020 torequire

everyone 18 and older who enters an SWAtopossess avalid license to hunt or fishinColorado. That regulationwent into effect in July 2020.

Late last year,CPW received approval from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for anew accounting approach that is allowing the state to provide another kind of pass to access these areas feasible. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had historically set stringentguid-

ance on how CPW could account for the income earned from SWAs as aconditionofthe federal funding the state uses to acquirethem.

In November 2020, an SWA Working Group wascreated with PW staffand stakeholders from round the state to determine what anew pass might look like. Atits January2021 meeting, the CPW Commission heardrecommendations from theSWA Workng Group on creating anew Coloado SWAPass. The group recommended pricng the annual pass at asimilar levl to theannual fishinglicense, ffering discounted passes to youth and seniors priced comparaly to youthand senior fishing icenses, offering a1-day pass ption priced comparably to the -day parks pass, requiring aHabiat Stamp and asurcharge for the Wildlife Management Public Education Fund in addition to the pass, and offering adiscounted low-inome annual pass option. Theage t which ahunting license, fishing icense or SWApassisrequired to ccess SWAs was reduced to all ersons 16 years and older to beter correspond to the youth pass and license options.

The Commission then voted to add aColoradoSWA Pass as an option to access these areas for those whoare unable or unwilling to purchase ahunting or fishing license.

The new pass, which will be available starting May1,will range in price from $9 for aone-day pass to $36.08 forthe annualpass. It is validfromMarch 1toMarch 31 of the following year,aligningwith the 13-month season forfishing licensesinColorado.

To purchase an SWAPass, you can visit anyCPW office or go online at cpwshop.com. Thepass will be priced similarly to aresient annual fishing license and revenue from the new SWApass willbeused to manage andmainain SWAs. “This is an important stepin nsuringeveryone who visits our tate wildlife areas is contributing o their management and maintenance,”

said CPW Director Dan Prenzlow.

Wildlife management in Colorado is notatax-fundedendeavor. CPW relies on thesale of licenses and passes to preserve these important areas. Just as visitorsto aColorado State Park arerequired to possess astateparks pass,visitors to SWAs arenow required to possess avalid license or SWA pass. Requiring alicenseorSWA pass to access SWAs reinforces the primaryintentofthese properties, and ensures users arecontributingtotheirmaintenance.

Now that the Colorado SWA Pass is available, the SWAWorking Group will move into Phase II of its work, completing an audit of all Colorado’s SWAs to determine which properties mayrequire additional restrictionsonallowed activities, seasonal closures for wildlife, and reviews to determine if the property isstill meeting its intended purpose as awildlife area.

Moreinformation andSWA FAQ about CPW’s statewildlife areas is available on CPW’s website.