Parks-wildlife merger aimed at 'bringing DOW to heel'
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- Created on Wednesday, 13 April 2011 15:43
- Written by Dena Rosenberry
I'm passing along this essay by David Lien, a Colorado Springs resident and outdoors enthusiast.
By David Lien, co-chairman, Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers
Gov. Hickenlooper and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently proposed a merger of two agencies, the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) and Colorado State Parks, in the (purported) interest of promoting efficiency and cost savings in state government. The bill to create this merger would combine the agencies now and set up a process to work out the details later, which seems a little odd.
Hunting and angling groups such as the Colorado Wildlife Federation, Trout Unlimited, Colorado Bowhunters Association, and Colorado Backcountry Hunters & Anglers have all questioned the need for a merger, as have former Division of Wildlife directors.
Although the current merger is being sold to the public under the guise of “streamlining” and operating “efficiencies,” no one seems to be able to identify what those efficiencies will be. According to the DNR, “Combining the divisions in DNR is expected to reduce overall state expenditures, but the actual impact is unknown.” The DNR goes on to state, “It is not possible at this time to quantify what any cost savings will be.”
According to a former DOW employee, “This is, pure and simple, the latest effort — from the usual suspects — to bring the DOW to heel, to get even with the DOW for its independence and willingness to stand up for wildlife amid the rush to privatize hunting and fishing and open prime wildlife habitat to any and all energy development and urban growth.”
As another lifelong hunter recently said, “I knew a farmer once who had a dog that would keep his distance of people, until they turned away and let down their guard. Then, he would sneak up and bite them in the back of their leg. He was very successful.”
This proposed DOW-State Parks merger is much like that dog. On its face, it might sound good to the general public, but just wait. While everyone understands the need to tighten the budget belt in these difficult times, we shouldn't let the belt become a noose, in this case around DOW's neck.
Dav
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