Taking into account the possibility of state budget cuts during 2006, Colorado State Parks on Friday announced a plan that includes full closure of 11 state parks and seasonal closure on 15 others. In the course of trimming $2.6 million in a projected budget shortfall, the agency might close Spinney, Crawford, Barr Lake, Lory, Bonny, Roxborough, Harvey Gap, Sweitzer, Mancos and San Luis. Seasonal closures are pondered on Castlewood Canyon, Golden Gate, Jackson, North Sterling, State Forest, Highline, Rifle Gap, Stagecoach, Sylvan, Vega, Yampa River, Elevenmile, John Martin, Lathrop and Trinidad. Three new parks not yet open may receive delays in development.
Poaching reward
The Colorado Division of Wildlife has joined with Williams Energy in offering a $4,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the poacher who shot several deer and elk off Rio Blanco County Road 5 in the Piceance Creek Basin between Rifle and Meeker on Oct. 9 or 10. Calls should be directed to Operation Game Thief, 1-877-265-6648, or the DOW Meeker office, 970-878-6090.
