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Section 4 <br />Delineating and Prioritizing Colorado's Environmental and Recreational Resources and Needs <br />4.4 Financial Subcommittee <br />4.4.1 Focus of Subcommittee <br />In addition to gaining an understanding of the <br />environmental and recreational economy, the <br />financial subcommittee answered the following <br />question: <br />What are the sources of funding and <br />payment for projects that enhance <br />environment and recreation needs? <br />In assessing financing options, it is important to <br />emphasize that there are opportunities to address <br />environmental and recreational needs for: <br />~ Those projects that are solely focused on <br />protection, improvement, or rehabilitation of <br />important environmental or recreational resource <br />areas. <br />~ Evaluation and assessment of environmental and <br />recreational needs in relationship to water <br />projects and/or other beneficial uses. <br />Moreover, the following points were raised at <br />subcommittee meetings: <br />~ Funding sources for water development projects <br />should focus on projects that provide <br />opportunities for competing interests to work <br />cooperatively to achieve multiple project goals. <br />~ Environment and recreation funding should <br />target both multi-purpose projects as well as <br />stand alone environment and recreation projects. <br />~ Funding may come from the federal, state, or local <br />level and may include existing, commonly used, <br />sources; existing sources that have not been <br />traditionally used for these types of projects as <br />well as new funding mechanisms. <br />This section first discusses the environment and <br />recreation economy and then identifies existing <br />federal and state level funding sources that could be <br />used for recreation or environment programs. It also <br />explores several possibilities for new types of <br />funding mechanisms. <br />4.4.2 Data Evaluation <br />Colorado Environment and Recreation <br />Economy <br />Section 2 of the 2004 SWSI Report summarized the <br />Colorado recreation economy and information on <br />other economic sectors and their role in Colorado's <br />overall economy. Although recreation economic data <br />was not used by the Finance Committee for any <br />decisionmaking purposes, it provided an overview of <br />the importance of recreation to Colorado's economy <br />and the necessity of maintaining recreational <br />activities as an integral part of the state economy. <br />Colorado was the third fastest growing state during <br />the 1990s and this high growth rate is projected to <br />continue. One of the important factors for this <br />growth rate is the quality of life in Colorado. In <br />addition to the attractive climate, the natural <br />environment of the Rocky Mountains and plains and <br />the wide array of recreation opportunities attract <br />new residents and businesses. Recreation <br />opportunities include skiing and snowboarding, <br />golf, hunting, bicycling, camping, hiking, <br />backpacking, reservoir-based recreation, stream and <br />lake fishing, wildlife viewing, rafting and kayaking, <br />boating, and water skiing. Many of these recreation <br />activities are water-based (fishing, boating, rafting, <br />kayaking, and water skiing) or rely on water to <br />support the activity (turf watering for golf and <br />snowmaking for skiing and snowboarding). <br />In addition to the recreation opportunities for <br />residents, recreation and the natural environment <br />support tourism, a major economic driver, in many <br />parts of the state. In many headwaters counties, <br />recreation and tourism are the largest industries. As <br />4-18 FINAL DRAFT <br />