Colorado Parks and Wildlife “Fishing is Fun” Program Awards $600,000 in Grants
OutdoorHub 09.27.13
Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced $650,000 in funding awards for 17 fishing and shooting range improvement projects across the state. Funding was provided through the agency’s Fishing is Fun and Shooting Range Development Grants programs.
“The 17 projects supported through the two programs represent a significant investment in creating new fishing and recreational shooting opportunities in the state,” said Steve Yamashita, Acting Director for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “New access and youth and family opportunities are a high priority for our agency and for sportsmen and women throughout Colorado. The projects initiated this year continue our efforts to expand Colorado’s outdoor recreation foundation.”
Angling improvement projects awarded funding include $120,000 to develop in-stream habitat and angler access on Clear Creek adjacent to the on-going Twin Tunnels highway project near Idaho Springs, $80,000 towards a new fishing pond and angler access at the 88th Avenue Open Space in Thornton, $40,000 to establish fishing access on the North Fork of the Gunnison River in Paonia, and $25,000 for aquatic habitat improvements on Henson Creek in Lake City.
Shooting range projects awarded funding include $100,000 for safety upgrades and an expansion of the Summit County Shooting Range just south of Dillon, $21,000 for safety and access improvements at the Pikes Peak Gun Club in Colorado Springs, $13,000 for a new shooting range near the town of Campo in southeast Colorado and $17,000 for a shooting education trailer for the eastern plains sponsored by Pheasants Forever.
Funding for the Fishing Is Fun and the Shooting Range Development Grants programs – two of the largest programs of their kind in the country — comes from fishing and hunting license fees and federal funds derived from a federal excise tax on fishing and hunting equipment. Colorado Parks and Wildlife receives no state General Funds. Local matching funds must cover at least 25 percent of project costs. However, historically local funds have covered nearly 50 percent of project costs, leveraging angler and hunter dollars.
A complete list of angling and shooting range projects that were awarded funding follows:
Fishing is Fun grant program
Clear Creek Habitat Improvement/Clear Creek County/Old Game Check Station-Twin Tunnels $120,000 In-stream habitat and angler access improvements on .4 miles of Clear Creek, in conjunction with Twin Tunnels project.
88th Avenue Open Space/Adams County Open Space/Thornton
$80,000
Open up new 10 acre pond with excellent access for youth in heavily populated area.
Hudson Pond/Town of Hudson
$47,500
Install riprap to protect against erosion on pond bank, install fishing pier.
Centennial Pond/Canon City
$7,500
Dredge pond to improve aquatic habitat in centrally located town park.
Henson Creek/Lake City/Lake Fork Valley Conservancy
$25,000
In-stream habitat and angler access improvements along .5 mile of creek in town.
Golden Gravel Ponds/Longmont
$20,000
Remove aquatic and shoreline vegetation that has significantly reduced angler access and angling quality, and install fishing jetty at centrally-located 48-acre ponds.
Hidden Mile/San Luis Valley Trout Unlimited/San Luis Valley
$50,000
In-stream habitat and access improvements along .75 mile of Conejos River.
Recycling Center Pond/Loveland
$10,000
Install aerator in town pond to address low oxygen and high pH conditions.
Paonia River Park/West Slope Conservation Center/Paonia
$40,000
Improve in-town access to N. Fork of the Gunnison through trail and ramp.
Shooting Range Development Grants
Campo Shooting Range/Town of Campo
$13,000
Establish new shooting range. Will be only established shooting range within 40 miles.
Columbine Rifle and Pistol Club/City of Greeley
$9,000
Address lead issues at indoor centrally-located shooting range.
Youth Shooting Education Trailer/Pheasants Forever/Eastern Plains
$17,000
Acquire and equip trailer for use on shooting education programs on eastern plains.
Lead Valley Shooting Range/Deer Trail
$20,000
Establish a new sporting clay range. Will help develop competitive shooting programs at area eastern plains schools.
Pikes Peak Gun Club/Izaak Walton League/Colorado Springs
$21,000
Construct new and upgrade existing berms, increase electrical power, ADA access.
Summit County Shooting Range/Summit County
$100,000
Upgrade, expand and make safety improvements at existing range.
Wray Shooting Range/Wray Police Department
$45,000
Add new pistol and archery range, install lighting for night shooting, upgrade building to allow for hunter education training.
La Junta Shooting Range/ La Junta Shooting Club
$25,000
Install berms to separate skeet and trap ranges, construct concrete shooting lines at pistol and skeet ranges, ADA access paths.
