C.R.S. Section 23-31-301
Legislative declaration

(1)

The general assembly hereby finds that:

(a)

The management of Colorado’s state-owned forested land has far-reaching impacts on overall forest condition, risk of wildfire, water quantity and quality, and wildlife habitat;

(b)

The unnatural condition of many forests throughout the state leaves them at great risk to catastrophic fires, invasion by exotic and native pest species, and other types of damage on a landscape scale;

(c)

As a result of the 2002 wildfire season, the worst in Colorado’s recorded history, in which two thousand twelve fires consumed over half a million acres of forested land:

(I)

Local, state, and federal agencies incurred one hundred fifty-two million dollars in suppression costs and at least fifty million dollars to date in rehabilitation costs on United States forest service land alone; and

(II)

Eighty-one thousand four hundred thirty-five residents had to be evacuated from their homes;

(d)

Excessive runoff and soil erosion that occurs following wildfires poses a substantial threat to water quantity and quality in areas dependent on forest watersheds, including water supplies and wildlife;

(e)

Since 1937, United States forest service scientists have been studying the relationship between forests and water yields in the Fraser experimental forest in western Colorado and have found that unnaturally overgrown stands reduce water yields and that carefully applied natural forest management practices can conserve a more natural water yield;

(f)

Decades of scientific research have built a foundation of knowledge and technologies to inform and implement sound forest management and conservation;

(g)

Robust, resilient forest conditions that sustain diverse forest stages are essential for productive habitat, healthy populations of wildlife, and improved water quality and quantity for Colorado’s fisheries;

(h)

Sound forest management activities, such as thinning, prescribed burning, and insect and disease treatments, improve the overall diversity and vigor of forested landscapes as well as the condition of related water, wildlife, recreation, and aesthetic resources;

(i)

The Colorado state forest service has worked cooperatively and successfully with the division of parks and wildlife and the state board of land commissioners to improve the condition of forested land and wildlife habitat in selected project areas;

(i.5)

These goals will be further advanced through the coordination of efforts to create community-based solutions to restore Colorado forest ecosystems, promote forest industries, and stimulate rural economies through the generation of clean energy from forest biomass;

(j)

The executive director of the department of natural resources is authorized to enter into an agreement with the board of governors of the Colorado state university system to work cooperatively with the Colorado state forest service and to provide staff for the division of forestry to carry out its mission of improving the health and sustainability of Colorado’s forested state land.

(2)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

The general assembly hereby declares that it is the public policy of this state to encourage the health of forest ecosystems through responsible management of the forest land of the state and through coordination with the United States secretary of the interior and the United States secretary of agriculture to develop management plans for federal lands within the state of Colorado pursuant to 16 U.S.C. sec. 530, 16 U.S.C. sec. 1604, and 43 U.S.C. sec. 1712, including the use of other pre-suppression activities, such as the harvest and profitable utilization of materials, in order to: Preserve forest and other natural resources; enhance the growth and maintenance of forests; conserve forest cover on watersheds; protect recreational, wildlife, and other values; promote stability of forest-using industries; and prevent loss of life and damage to property from wildfires and other conflagrations.

(b)

In addition to any other powers and duties conferred upon the Colorado state forest service by law, the Colorado state forest service may:

(I)

Value forest materials on state lands using lowest market value as an incentive to maximize the utilization of these products; and

(II)

Collaborate with the United States forest service and the bureau of land management to contract for a reliable source of feedstock consistent with Colorado communities’ plans for utilization of forest biomass described in section 23-31-312 (3.5).

Source: Section 23-31-301 — Legislative declaration, https://leg.­colorado.­gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-23.­pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).

23‑31‑101
University established - role and mission 23‑31‑102
Name changed 23‑31‑103
Board to control college and lands 23‑31‑104
Who shall constitute faculty 23‑31‑105
Duty of faculty 23‑31‑106
President - duties 23‑31‑107
President may remove officers 23‑31‑108
President may be professor 23‑31‑109
Report of experimental operations 23‑31‑110
Pledge of income from facilities or equipment 23‑31‑111
Rents or charges for buildings and facilities for research 23‑31‑112
Research building revolving fund - appropriation of fund 23‑31‑113
Anticipation warrants 23‑31‑114
Purchase of anticipation warrants 23‑31‑115
Warrants as security - when 23‑31‑116
Tax exemption 23‑31‑117
Borrowing funds 23‑31‑118
Advancement of moneys and pledge of income 23‑31‑119
Plant breeding programs 23‑31‑120
Cooperation with other agencies 23‑31‑121
Providing personnel, supplies 23‑31‑122
Agricultural extension service furnished counties 23‑31‑201
Transfer to board of governors of the Colorado state university system - exceptions 23‑31‑202
Powers and duties of board of governors of the Colorado state university system 23‑31‑205
Provisions of act of congress accepted 23‑31‑206
Cooperative agreements 23‑31‑207
Employees and personnel 23‑31‑208
Rights by succession to state board of land commissioners - transfers to division of fire prevention and control 23‑31‑301
Legislative declaration 23‑31‑302
Forestry function named 23‑31‑303
Funds available 23‑31‑310
Forest restoration and wildfire risk mitigation grant program - technical advisory panel - legislative declaration - definitions - repeal 23‑31‑311
Watershed protection projects and forest health projects 23‑31‑312
Community wildfire protection plans - biomass utilization plans - county governments - guidelines and criteria - legislative declaration - definitions 23‑31‑313
Healthy forests - vibrant communities - funds created - outreach working group - legislative declaration - definition - repeal 23‑31‑316
Colorado forest health council - legislative declaration - repeal 23‑31‑317
Biomass utilization study - legislative declaration - report - definitions - repeal 23‑31‑318
Wildfire mitigation incentives for local governments - grant awards - fund - reporting - definitions - repeal 23‑31‑319
Forest service seedling tree nursery - necessary upgrades and improvements - definition - funding - reports - repeal 23‑31‑320
Timber, forest health, and wildfire mitigation industries workforce development program - creation - policies and procedures - legislative declaration - definitions 23‑31‑401
Definitions 23‑31‑402
Owner’s permission required - when 23‑31‑403
Proof of ownership required - when 23‑31‑404
Violation - penalty - defense 23‑31‑501
Acceptance of congressional grant of 1862 23‑31‑502
Board of governors of the Colorado state university system to control fund 23‑31‑503
Acceptance of congressional act of 1883 23‑31‑504
Control, investment, and expending of funds 23‑31‑505
Other funds - investment 23‑31‑506
Report on condition - appropriation 23‑31‑507
Management of funds 23‑31‑508
Purpose of sections 23‑31‑509
Acceptance of congressional act of 1928 23‑31‑510
Control of funds 23‑31‑511
Congressional act of 1914 accepted 23‑31‑512
Board to receive and expend funds 23‑31‑513
Acceptance of congressional act of 1935 23‑31‑514
Control of funds from 1935 act 23‑31‑601
Acceptance of congressional act of 1862 23‑31‑602
Control of fund 23‑31‑603
Acceptance of congressional act of 1906 23‑31‑604
Board to control fund 23‑31‑605
Board to cooperate with counties 23‑31‑606
Employees and specialists 23‑31‑607
Stations established 23‑31‑608
Board to secure lands 23‑31‑609
Board to supervise 23‑31‑610
Objects of stations 23‑31‑611
Proceeds from station 23‑31‑612
Expenses - how paid 23‑31‑701
Short title 23‑31‑702
Acknowledgment of related federal laws 23‑31‑703
Responsibility and objectives 23‑31‑704
Organization - cooperative relationships 23‑31‑705
Authority to accomplish purposes of part 23‑31‑706
Reporting and accountability 23‑31‑707
Colorado AgrAbility project - extension program - creation - appropriation - legislative declaration 23‑31‑801
Colorado water institute - creation 23‑31‑802
Advisory committee on water research policy 23‑31‑803
Water research fund 23‑31‑804
Republican river groundwater economic study - reporting - legislative declaration - definitions - repeal 23‑31‑901
Legislative declaration 23‑31‑902
Annual project report - national western center trust fund - creation - use 23‑31‑903
Authorization for financed purchase of an asset or certificate of participation agreements 23‑31‑904
Cooperative agreements for regional economic development not limited 23‑31‑905
National western center partnership - open meetings and open records laws apply - audit 23‑31‑1001
Legislative declaration 23‑31‑1002
Definitions 23‑31‑1003
State veterinary education loan repayment council - creation - membership 23‑31‑1004
State veterinary education loan repayment program - creation - purpose 23‑31‑1005
Council powers and duties 23‑31‑1006
Program applicant eligibility - criteria 23‑31‑1007
Designated veterinary shortage areas - criteria 23‑31‑1008
Release from contract obligation 23‑31‑1009
Loan repayment 23‑31‑1010
Veterinary education loan repayment fund - creation - gifts, grants, and donations 23‑31‑1101
Legislative declaration 23‑31‑1102
Colorado food systems advisory council - created - membership - terms - vacancies 23‑31‑1103
Council - purpose and duties 23‑31‑1104
Subcommittees of the council 23‑31‑1105
Fund - acceptance of gifts, grants, or donations 23‑31‑1106
Reports - recommendations 23‑31‑1107
Repeal of part
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Current through Fall 2024

§ 23-31-301’s source at colorado​.gov