This position exists to function as the Region’s Land Use Coordinator (LUC), a multi-disciplinary, fully-operational professional with little to no day-to-day supervision. Position serves as one of the region’s expert staff leads for reviewing, coordinating, and commenting on large-scale, complex, and often controversial land development proposals involving numerous stakeholders and multiple jurisdictions. The LUC will identify potential impacts to wildlife, engage with local subject matter experts, and summarize science-based recommendations to avoid, minimize, and mitigate adverse impacts to wildlife resources resulting from development activities. The position collects and verifies field data and other information necessary to comply with program and regulatory standards and requirements for wildlife conservation. While the general program or system exists the application must be individualized for each project or situation. Examples include but are not limited to: coordinating with multiple CPW areas to develop recommendations for USFS Forest Plan and BLM Resource Management Plan revisions; large-scale (multi-CPW area) Environmental Impact Statements and Environmental Assessments; and landscape-scale developments such as regional recreation trail systems, oil and gas developments, renewable energy projects, transmission lines, timber sales, water developments, wetland mitigation banks, grazing allotment permit renewals, commercial and residential developments, mines and gravel pits, railroads, highways and wildlife transportation projects.
The position applies a combination of various scientific principles and theories in natural resource and wildlife management in order to avoid, minimize, and mitigate adverse impacts to habitat resources, and monitor, protect and conserve wildlife species and habitats. The position is responsible for identifying regional habitat conservation and restoration priorities and synchronizing existing plans and strategies. This position ensures communications exchange statewide both internally and externally among stakeholders as well as interested publics to ensure and optimize the long-term perpetuation of wildlife habitat and populations throughout Colorado.
The position works with CPW staff to identify general and specific threats to big game winter range and migration corridors, threatened and endangered species, SWAP species including rare plants and invertebrates. Using available science, this position coordinates and recommends conservation actions directed at avoiding, minimizing, and mitigating threats to big game winter range and migration corridors, threatened and endangered species, SWAP species including rare plants and invertebrates. The position advises the CPW SE Region Leadership on development trends, research, regulatory and policy changes occurring in Colorado. Provides recommendations to Senior leadership on how those changes may impact CPW operations and policy.
The position works with public and private organizations (e.g. municipalities, counties, state agencies, industrial businesses, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Army Corps of Engineers, Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission, Bureau of Reclamation, Division of Mining, Reclamation & Safety, Colorado State land Board, etc. regarding impacts of development on wildlife. The position also serves as the primary contact for land use comments above the county level, in accordance with CPW’s Land Use Directive (OG-1), specifically serving as the team leader directly influencing management decisions within the agency in commenting on regional projects that cross area boundaries. Examples would be Environmental Impact Statements, Environmental Assessments, other NEPA documents, Forest Resource Plans, Resource Management Plans, Grazing Plans, County Master Plans, Watershed Plans, and Travel Management Plans; and coordinating between CPW regions when project proposals cross regional boundaries. Additionally, the position will help develop and implement trainings related to land use reviews and commenting for other staff members who engage with land use activities. Finally, the land use specialist will monitor the effectiveness of CPW’s land use commenting process, best management practices, and compensatory mitigation strategies and methodologies.
Serves as the lead for coordinating land use development comments and consultations for SE Region on federal guidance, implementation, and planning efforts such as Resource Management Plans, Forest Plans, Environmental Impact Statements, Environmental Assessments, and other federal evaluation documents required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This position serves as one of the primary liaisons with other state agencies (CO State Land Board (SLB), Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC), Department of Agriculture (CDA), etc.), and acts as one of the primary liaisons with County and municipal land use planning staff to coordinate CPW input as appropriate. This position is CPW’s regional expert on many types of development and associated impacts on wildlife. As such, this position is responsible for providing internal and external land use-related presentations, trainings, and testimony, as appropriate.
Specific job duties include but are not limited to:
Land Use Development Consultation
Apply theories, principles and practices of natural resource and wildlife management, physical sciences and life sciences (e.g., geology, earth science, engineering, hydrology, soil science, botanical science, biology) in working with federal, state, and local agencies and industry to evaluate potential development proposals and land use change impacts, along with the relevant policy, law, and regulation and how those policies, regulations and laws can be used to further the wildlife conservation mission of CPW:
Utilize knowledge, data, expertise, judgment and resourcefulness to interpret circumstances and establish guidance and best management practices for avoidance, minimization, and mitigation of adverse impacts to wildlife and habitats, including recommendations to protect, conserve and enhance land areas and their wildlife habitat resources that can be implemented by CPW and/or other regulatory agencies.
Review large-scale, complex, and often controversial land development proposals involving numerous stakeholders and multiple jurisdictions (such as travel management plans, resource management plans, forest plans, watershed plans, water developments, state or interstate highways, commercial developments, and other proposals similar in nature and scope) to determine potential impacts on wildlife and habitats through research, data collection, studies, analysis, etc.
Guide and facilitate the land use commenting process at the regional level, prepare comments, and provide testimony during public hearings as needed.
Perform complex analyses of data and utilize knowledge of environmental laws and policies, environmental systems and wildlife management to formulate, guide, and coordinate recommendations to regulatory agencies to avoid, minimize and mitigate impacts to wildlife and habitats.
Coordinate and direct wildlife impact comments on Federal NEPA documents (EA's, EIS's, RMP's, Forest Plans, etc.) utilizing guidelines related to land use on Federal lands within the region.
Monitor for compliance with permit guidelines which are governed by CPW or other agencies for which CPW has submitted recommendations as conditions of approval for an issued permit as well as for other applicable laws and regulations related to wildlife impacts (e.g., ECMC SB-181, Army Corps of Engineers 404 permits, CDOT SB-40 certifications, DMRS Mining Permits, highway development permits, county regulations, state engineering requirements).
Assesses research and data and applies the principles of geology and wildlife biology to develop and negotiate avoidance, minimization, and mitigation strategies that consistently address direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts to wildlife and their habitats within the assigned region. Coordinates the regional process and implementation for determining the short and long-term impacts of development including, but not limited to, the development of species-specific and habitat-specific mitigation models, programs, and strategies.
Land Use Development Negotiation and Mitigation
The position evaluates, plans, and implements natural resource protection, recovery, remediation and reclamation projects. In that regard, the position’s responsibilities are to:
Serve as one of the agency’s primary points of contact, often designated as a Cooperating Agency lead and expert for land use proposal reviews and assessments of habitat protection measures.
Formulate, compose, facilitate, guide and compile CPW’s recommendations for response to large-scale land development proposals.
Assist in the coordination and implementation of proposals to address research and data needs identified in CPW’s Big Game Policy Report.
Formulate, compose, facilitate, guide and compile CPW’s recommendations for wildlife movement mitigation and enhancement measures in collaboration with CPW’s Wildlife Movement Coordinator, CDOT, and the Wildlife Transportation Alliance (WTA).
Correspond and coordinate with a wide variety of state and federal land management agencies, permitting and regulatory agencies, local governments, private entities, landowners, CPW staff and public interest groups.
Evaluate the information collected to formulate a plan of action to mitigate impacts on the environment, wildlife and people who participate in wildlife activities, including determinations of what hazards exist, what resources need to be addressed, and recommending action to be taken against violators.
Conduct consultations related to land use applications, including consultation with developers, energy companies, federal, state, local, and tribal entities, and landowners on-site and coordination with other CPW field operations and biological personnel on development, and negotiation of site-specific mitigation measures with operators.
Correspond and coordinate with Regional Energy Liaisons and other CPW staff to guide the planning and implementation of habitat related projects utilizing SB-181 compensatory mitigation funds and to implement local Secretarial Order 3362 conservation plans.
Develop and maintain expertise on impacts of development and recreation and related infrastructure; develops and maintains expertise on mitigation and best management practices to minimize impacts from development and recreation.
Develop species-specific best management practices (BMPs) for inclusion into CPW’s standardized comment table for impacts to wildlife and habitats. In many cases, these BMPs constitute CPW’s official position concerning land use disturbance and recommendations to avoid, minimize, and mitigate.
Develop recommendations regarding negotiation strategies to address wildlife-related land use issues, and provide expertise, guidance, and assist in the development and implementation of CPW’s Statewide Habitat Conservation and Connectivity Plan.
Attend and participate in various meetings, committees, roundtables and working groups with government agencies and private interests as CPW’s representative on the impacts of land use and development on regional natural resources, wildlife, and habitats.
Provide testimony, presentations, and case studies on effective strategies and positive outcomes to staff, other agencies, and the public.
Help maintain the regional database of land use resources including but not limited to, annotated literature bibliographies, training resources, presentation materials, draft comment letters/templates, and other relevant land use documents including MOUs, legislation, agency planning documents, and policy/guidance documents.
Land Use Development Resources
The position serves as the land use expert for the region and performs outreach to the public and other agencies on protecting natural resources, habitat, and wildlife from environmental degradation as the result of land uses and development activities.
Develops and maintains expertise on impacts of development and recreation and related infrastructure; develops and maintains expertise on mitigation and best management practices to minimize impacts from development and recreation.
Develops species-specific best management practices (BMPs) for inclusion into CPW’s standardized comment table for impacts to wildlife and habitats. In many cases, these BMPs constitute CPW’s official position concerning land use disturbance and recommendations to avoid, minimize, and mitigate.
Develops recommendations regarding negotiation strategies to address wildlife-related land use issues.
Attends and participates in various meetings, committees, roundtables and working groups with government agencies and private interests as CPW’s representative on the impacts of land use and development on regional natural resources, wildlife, and habitats.
Provides testimony, presentations, and case studies on effective strategies and positive outcomes to staff, other agencies, and the public.
Helps maintain the regional database of land use resources including but not limited to, annotated literature bibliographies, training resources, presentation materials, draft comment letters/templates, and other relevant land use documents including MOUs, legislation, agency planning documents, and policy/guidance documents.
Land Use Planning, Regulatory, and NEPA Coordination
This position prepares, coordinates, and reviews draft CPW responses to large-scale, long-term land use project and planning proposals with county governments, state agencies, and federal land management and regulatory agencies within CPW’s broad agency guidelines. This position often serves as the agency’s lead while participating in large resource management planning processes and attends cooperating agency meetings as the lead representative for the agency. The position will be the primary lead for the NW Region when reviewing federal NEPA documents to identify appropriate wildlife stipulations during public comment and cooperating agency comment periods. The position also develops and implements training programs and materials to make staff’s jobs more efficient and technically sound by providing a broader staff understanding of various land use planning processes (HB1041, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), EA/EIS, Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety (DRMS), USFS and BLM RMPs, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) licensing, Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) 404 wetland permitting, Senate Bill 40 Certifications, etc.).
Colorado Wildlife Transportation Alliance
This position coordinates with CDOT and other stakeholders to design and implement strategies to mitigate the direct mortality and migration impacts to big game from Colorado’s highways. The position serves as the SE Region’s representative on the Steering Committee for the CWTA., on the CWTA Technical Team, and the CDOT Region 5 Wildlife mitigation Implementations Team. In addition, this position works with a broad range of agencies and stakeholders to identify, prioritize, and implement mitigation strategies to maintain and enhance migration movements and seasonal habitat use for big game in Colorado.
Other duties as assigned.