Fishing is Fun Grants Improve Fishing Opportunities at 7 Colorado Locations | Olathe

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has awarded $650,000 to seven Fishing is Fun (FIF) projects, all aimed at improving angling opportunities in the state of Colorado.

The Fishing Is Fun program provides matching grants each year to local and county governments, parks and recreation departments, aquatic districts, angling organizations and others for projects to improve angling opportunities in Colorado.

For 2022, angling improvements funded through approved projects include a new fishing pond, four fishing piers, four access trails, several new angler access points, in-stream habitat, shade shelters, an information kiosk and an extension to the wharf.

“This year’s projects represent the variety of ways the Fishing Is Fun program and CPW have supported angling statewide,” said Fishing Is Fun program coordinator Jim Guthrie. “Project funding will support new fishing opportunity in the Eastern Plains, safer access – including improved habitat in the channel – to a river on the western slope, and new fishing opportunities along the Front Tidy. Multiply that by the 35 years of the project’s existence and that’s a lot of angling improvements.

Projects approved for funding include:

River’s Edge at Loveland

The project will develop five angler access points and a fishing pier, on three ponds in the River’s Edge Natural Area in central Loveland. The area is the busiest angling spot in town and has extensive access by foot, bike and car.

Dolores River

The project will provide twenty-one in-stream habitat improvements and angler access improvements along 1.3 miles of the Dolores River above McPhee Reservoir in the town of Dolores. The angler access works on the north side of the river will allow much safer and easier access to the river. Habitat improvements include J-hooks, rock piles, and vortex weirs.

Bennett Pond

The grant will fund the development of angler amenities, including shade structures, fishing jetty and parking, in an approximately 2-acre fishing pond in a new 190-acre regional park on the Eastern Plains , about 35 miles east of Denver.

About the program

For 35 years, BIF has supported more than 390 projects in nearly every county across the state, improving stream and river habitats, expanding public access to angling waters, developing new angling opportunities, easier access to ADA and more.

The program typically provides up to $425,000 per year from the Federal Sport Fishing Restoration Program (SFR), funded by excise taxes on fishing equipment and motorboat fuel. This year, the program also awarded an additional $225,000 from revenue generated by the Colorado Wildlife Sport License Plate. The total of $650,000 will be achieved with more than $330,000 in matching funds for the seven projects approved in 2022.

Fishing alone contributes $2.4 billion in economic output annually, supporting more than 17,000 jobs in Colorado according to CPW’s 2017 Economic Study.

“The Fishing is Fun program plays an important role in revitalizing Colorado’s aquatic ecosystems while improving angling opportunities for residents and visitors,” said Heather Dugan, acting director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “Colorado’s waters and the fishing opportunities they provide are part of what makes this state so special and this program is one of the reasons.”

Additional Fishing is Fun program details and requirements are available on the CPW website.

Fishing is Fun 2022 grants include:

River’s Edge at Loveland

Creation of trails, fishing wharf, access points for fishermen

$64,000

Dolores River

In-stream habitat improvements, angler access

$53,250

Vallecito Reservoir

Expansion of the boat dock

$23,250

Bennett Pond

New fishing pond, fishing pier, shelters

$275,973

Brush Pond at Castle Rock

Access trail, fishing wharf

$51,700

eagle pond

Information kiosk, creation of trails

$10,000

monument lake

fishing pier

$171,427

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