Department of Natural Resources

CDPHE head Martin takes over for Sherman as natural resources director

Gov. Bill Ritter Monday announced Jim Martin, head of the Department of Public Health and Environment, will take over for Harris Sherman as executive director of the Department of Natural Resources.
Sherman earlier this month was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s undersecretary for natural resources and environment, with oversight of [...]

Wildfire fuels debate on state versus national roadless rules

By David O. Williams 8/11/09

VAIL — A small but scary wildfire that broke out in the national forest above West Vail Friday afternoon perfectly underscored the ongoing debate between the state’s Department of Natural Resources and environmentalists over Colorado’s controversial roadless rule.

Despite federal ruling, Colorado sticks to its guns on roadless rule

By David O. Williams 8/6/09

While conservation groups called Wednesday’s federal appeals court decision reinstating the Clinton-era roadless rule a major victory, the state of Colorado contends its own revised rule is still a far more practical way of managing the state’s 4.2 million roadless acres.

Mike King, deputy director of Colorado’s Department of Natural Resources, said Wednesday that the 2001 Clinton rule, which provided sweeping protections against road building on nearly 60 million acres of largely undeveloped public lands nationwide, did not take into consideration wildfire mitigation or other critical economic drivers.

Conservationists quick to criticize Colorado’s revised roadless rule

By David O. Williams 8/4/09

Starting Monday, environmentalists and sportsmen’s groups – as well anyone else concerned about Colorado’s roadless public lands– were given another 60 days to comment on the state’s latest protection plan. They only needed about 60 minutes.
The Pew Environment Group immediately charged that the latest revised plan is even less protective of Colorado’s more than 4 [...]

Sherman mentioned for USDA post, but roadless rule could be roadblock

By David O. Williams 6/12/09

Harris Sherman, director of Colorado’s Department of Natural Resources, is being floated as a possible candidate for a Department of Agriculture undersecretary post that oversees the U.S. Forest Service and the Natural Resources and Conservation Service.

But environmental groups are already casting doubt on the possible pick, questioning Sherman’s role in moving Colorado’s controversial roadless rule forward.