Colorado Opens $1.2M in Wetlands Grants With Shifted Conservation Priorities

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is accepting applications for more than $1.2 million in wetlands restoration funding through Feb. 24, with newly updated state conservation priorities that could shift where grants flow across Colorado—and which public hunting areas benefit.

CPW Wetlands Program Coordinator Brian Sullivan explained why. "Wetlands are so important," he said. "They comprise less than 2 percent of Colorado's landscape, but provide benefits to over 75 percent of the species in the state, including waterfowl and several declining species. Since major settlement began, Colorado has lost half of its wetlands."

The new rankings stem from Colorado's updated State Wildlife Action Plan—with new Tier 1 and Tier 2 Species of Greatest Conservation Need designations, plus a new "Species of Greatest Information Need" category—that will shift where grant money flows, according to CPW.

The $1.2 million, drawn from Great Outdoors Colorado and Colorado Waterfowl Stamps, funds two goals: improving duck distribution, abundance, and public waterfowl hunting access; and improving habitat for declining or at-risk species. Duck-focused projects must improve fall and winter habitat on public lands or breeding areas like North Park and the San Luis Valley. Projects addressing at-risk species must document how they support species identified in the updated State Wildlife Action Plan.

Projects must now reference updated species lists and SWAP dashboards when applying. The new rankings will likely redirect grant money toward specific habitats and species CPW now prioritizes.

Northern Colorado hunters and conservationists should watch where the 2025-26 awards land to see how the new priorities affect local wetlands and hunting access.

Since 1997, the program has preserved or restored more than 220,000 acres of wetlands—part of over $40 million invested statewide in wetland and riparian work. Applications are due Feb. 24 at cpw.state.co.us/wetlands-wildlife-grants.

The Colorado Wetlands for Wildlife Program is a voluntary, collaborative and incentive-based program to restore, enhance and create wetlands and riparian areas in Colorado.