About Us

COFWCO staff and volunteers electrofishing a high mountain stream in Rocky Mountain National Park

Colorado Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office is part of a network of field stations located throughout the nation that works to conserve fish and aquatic resources. Biologists from the Arctic Circle to the Florida Keys work to restore native species, including protect imperiled species and their habitats; monitor and control invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

Learn more about invasive species
; evaluate native fish stocks and their habitats; and prescribe remedial measures to fix problems.

Our field stations provide technical assistance to tribes; collaborate on fishery restoration with the National Fish Hatchery System; supervise subsistence use by rural Alaskans on federal lands; conduct scientific studies into fishery problems; restore habitat through the National Fish Passage Program and the National Fish Habitat Action Plan; and they collaborate with partners to conserve migratory fishes that cross multiple jurisdictions.

The Colorado Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office works cooperatively with the Department of Defense, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Refuge System, and various state agencies to provide management of fish, wildlife and forest resources for the Mountain-Prairie region. Together with our partners, we are involved in natural resource management projects across Colorado, Kansas, and Wyoming, to accomplish restoration and conservation actions for Federal and State protected and trust species.  

Due to the diverse conservation projects of this office, we have staff located at the following locations:

Colorado Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office staff replace a remote fish detection antenna at the Baca National Wildlife Refuge after replacing the batteries. This antenna detects rare fish species as they move throughout the water system on the refuge.

Buckley Space Force Base, Aurora, CO

Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station, Colorado Springs, CO

F. E. Warren Air Force Base, Cheyenne, WY

Gunnison / San Luis Valley Fishery Office, Gunnison, CO

McConnell Air Force Base, Wichita, KS

Mountain-Prairie Regional Office, Lakewood, CO

Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado Springs, CO

Pueblo Chemical Army Depot, Pueblo, CO

Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, CO

Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado Springs, CO

U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO

Our Mission

Since 1871, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been applying science-based approaches to conservation challenges. We work with our partners and engage the public to conserve, restore, and enhance fish and other aquatic resources for the continuing benefit of the American people. Conservation is at the heart of what we do, and we recognize that we do this work for the American people–both the present generation who benefit today and future generations who will inherit our legacy of conserving America’s aquatic resources.

Our History

The Colorado Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office was originally established to provide technical support to tribes and other federal and state agencies. For nearly 40 years, our office has been involved with cutthroat trout recovery and military natural resource support under the Sikes Act. Our work has broadened over time to include a variety of other species and management projects including restoration and conservation of sagebrush sagebrush
The western United States’ sagebrush country encompasses over 175 million acres of public and private lands. The sagebrush landscape provides many benefits to our rural economies and communities, and it serves as crucial habitat for a diversity of wildlife, including the iconic greater sage-grouse and over 350 other species.

Learn more about sagebrush
and grassland ecosystems.