§ 24-33-113 — Landowner incentive conservation programs - definition

Colorado § 24-33-113

• Jurisdiction: Colorado
• Title 24: Government
• Art.: Department of Natural Resources

Text

(1) The
general assembly finds, determines, and declares that current federal programs
exist in which Colorado landowners, in exchange for monetary compensation or
other financial assistance, abide by various practices related to conservation for
lands enrolled in the programs. The general assembly further declares that lands,
waters, and wildlife in Colorado have derived enormous benefits as a result of such
programs. However, such federal programs may be reduced or eliminated, and
similar federal or state programs may exist or be created, in the near future.
Therefore, the general assembly declares that a study conducted by the
department of natural resources concerning such programs, including the types of
lands desirable for the programs, the cost to administer the programs, and the
value of the programs to public and private interests, would assist the general
assembly in assessing whether and how the implementation of such programs in
Colorado can be improved and, where possible, supplemented through new federal
or state programs.

(2) (a) The department shall compile information regarding participation by
Colorado landowners in landowner incentive conservation programs. As used in this
section, landowner incentive conservation program, also referred to in this section
as a program, means any federal or state program that provides monetary
compensation to landowners who agree to set aside lands or apply land
management strategies or conservation practices to lands enrolled in the program.
A program may also directly or incidentally protect, enhance, or otherwise provide
benefits to the environment, wildlife, or wildlife habitat. In gathering information
pursuant to this paragraph (a), the department shall review any federal or state
programs that currently exist or are created prior to February 1, 2010. The
information gathered by the department shall include data regarding the amount
and types of Colorado lands enrolled in a program, methods and costs to administer
the programs, and the benefits to lands, the environment, or wildlife realized
through the programs.

(b) The department shall study the information obtained pursuant to
paragraph (a) of this subsection (2) in order to assess the feasibility of
administering such a program in Colorado if the federal programs are eliminated or
reduced. In assembling this information, the department shall consult with any
potentially affected groups or entities, including:

(I) Federal agencies that administer programs;

(II) Any potentially affected state agencies;

(III) Landowners or entities representing landowner interests;

(IV) Groups organized for the purpose of wildlife conservation; and

(V) Repealed.

(c) The data compilation and study efforts required by this subsection (2)
shall be funded with moneys appropriated to the department from the operation
and maintenance account of the species conservation trust fund created in section
24-33-111 (2) for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2009.

(3) Repealed.

(4) Information gathered by the department pursuant to this section that
allows any Colorado landowner or land to be specifically identified shall be exempt
from inspection pursuant to section 24-72-204 (3)(a)(XXI), provided, however, that
summary or aggregate data that does not specifically identify individual
landowners or specific parcels of land shall not be subject to such exemption.

Legislative History

Source: L. 2009: Entire section added, (SB 09-158), ch. 387, p. 2092, � 1, effective August 5. L. 2022: (2)(b)(V) and (3) repealed, (SB 22-212), ch. 421, p. 2977, � 54, effective August 10.