Habitat stamp aims to help wildlife

The Colorado Division of Wildlife will begin a new program in 2006 to help raise money to protect wildlife habitat.

Division officials expect the Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp Program to raise $2.3 million next year.

The division will raise the money through the sale of a $5 mandatory habitat stamp sold to hunters and anglers. The state will require sportsmen to buy a stamp with the first two licenses they purchase during each calendar year.

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The governor will appoint a citizens committee to recommend how the state should spend the money raised by the stamp sales.

Until 2010, 60 percent of the money the state collects through the program must be spent on big-game winter range and big-game migration corridors. The state will use the balance on other habitat types critical to animal species in Colorado.

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Stamps are available wherever hunting or fishing licenses are sold. The stamps also are for sale on the division’s Web site, http://wildlife.state.co.us/licensefee/habitat_stamp.asp, or by phone at (800) 244-5613.

Licenses won’t be available for purchase at State Wildlife Areas.

Need legal advice?

Free services offered

The Northwest Colorado Legal Services Project and the Moffat County Library will sponsor a “Ask a Lawyer Night” at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday.

The groups will offer the services at the Moffat County Library, 570 Green St. The service is a first-come, first-serve private consultation for 10 to 15 minutes with a member of the Northwest Colorado Bar Association.

“Ask a Lawyer Night” is a free service for low-income residents. The service does not accept appointments. For more information, call (970) 276-2161.

Park plans ski, skate open house event

Yampa River State Park will host a Full Moon Ski and Skate Open House from 2 to 8 p.m. Jan. 14.

Several activities are available at the park, two miles west of Hayden on U.S. Highway 40, including cross-country skiing, skating on the pond and roasting hot dogs. Hot cocoa and coffee also will be available. Visitors are encouraged to bring ingredients to make s’mores so they can roast marshmallows around the fire.

Also, Colorado State Parks annual passes will be for sale, and visitors can register snowmobiles, off-highway vehicles and boats at the park.

For more information on Colorado State Parks, visit http://www.parks.state.co.us.

Commission will reconsider runoff rules

The Colorado Water Quality Control Commission, at a meeting next month, will consider changes to the state’s stormwater runoff from petroleum drilling operations.

The meeting will be at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South in Denver.

Commission officials will reconsider last year’s decision to require drilling companies to file for permits for stormwater runoff.

Group offers 10 free flowering trees

The National Arbor Day Foundation will give 10 flowering trees to each person that joins the organization next year.

The free trees are part of the nonprofit foundation’s “Trees for America” campaign.

The offer includes a variety of dogwoods, crab apples and Washington hawthorns.

“These compact trees were selected for planting in large or small spaces,” said John Rosenow, the foundation’s president. “They will give your home the beauty of lovely pink, white and yellow flowers — and also provide winter berries and nesting for sites.”

The foundation will ship, postage paid, between Feb. 1 and May 31, which is considered the right time for planting.

To become a member of the foundation and to receive the trees, send a $10 contribution to Ten Free Flowering Trees, National Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Ave., Nebraska City, NE, 68410, by Jan. 31, or go to arborday.org.