Species Conservation Measures

2026 Regular Session

SB 165 directs a $5 million, one-year appropriation to Colorado conservation programs for threatened, endangered, or candidate species, coordinated by DNR and partners.

Governor Signed

#naturalresources&environment

Purpose and Intent

The bill authorizes a $5,000,000 appropriation from the Species Conservation Trust Fund (SCTF) for fiscal year 2026-27 to support wildlife conservation programs targeting native species that are:

listed as threatened or endangered under state or federal law, or
candidates or likely to become candidate species as determined by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The goal is to fund programs designed to conserve these species and prevent their status from deteriorating.

Key Provisions and Funding Details

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR), after consultation with:

Colorado Water Conservation Board
Parks and Wildlife Commission
Director of the Division of Parks and Wildlife must submit to the General Assembly a list of eligible programs and their associated costs.

The proposed expenditure plan (the “Species Conservation Eligibility List”) includes:

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program: $2,380,000
Rio Grande native fish protection and habitat improvements: $60,000
Selenium management, research, monitoring, evaluation, and control: $60,000
Native terrestrial wildlife conservation: $1,250,000
Native aquatic wildlife conservation: $1,250,000

Total proposed appropriation: $5,000,000 for FY 2026-27.

Funding Availability:

The $5,000,000 is available in the 2026-27 state fiscal year and remains available until fully expended.
The Executive Director of DNR is authorized to obligate and expend the funds for the designated activities and programs.

Affected Entities and Impacts

State agencies:

Department of Natural Resources (administrative authority to allocate funds)
Colorado Water Conservation Board
Parks and Wildlife Commission
Division of Parks and Wildlife

Programs/Projects:

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program
San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program
Rio Grande native fish protection and habitat improvements
Selenium management, research, monitoring, evaluation, and control
Native terrestrial wildlife conservation
Native aquatic wildlife conservation

Beneficiaries:

Native fish and wildlife species in Colorado
Ecosystem health and potentially downstream water users benefiting from habitat and species conservation efforts

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Legislative mechanism:

The General Assembly authorizes a specific appropriation from the SCTF and approves the associated eligible programs and costs.
The eligibility list is prepared by the DNR in consultation with relevant agencies and codified via SB 26-165, with changes potentially incorporated into the bill.

Effective date:

The bill becomes law upon signature by the Governor or upon becoming law without signature.

Fiscal note overview (for context):

No new revenue is created; the measure provides spending authority for the SCTF.
The $5 million is a one-year appropriation for FY 2026-27, to be spent over multiple years as designated.

Quick Take

SB 165 directs $5 million from the Species Conservation Trust Fund in FY 2026-27 to specific conservation programs for threatened, endangered, or candidate species in Colorado.

It outlines the programs and approximate funding levels, with the DNR coordinating implementation in consultation with key conservation agencies.

The funds are intended to support long-term conservation outcomes and remain available until exhausted.

Bill