Colorado Parks and Wildlife to consider fee increase to better support Backcountry Search and Rescue teams across the state

Colorado Parks and Wildlife to consider fee increase to better support Backcountry Search and Rescue teams across the state

While Colorado’s backcountry search and rescue missions have increased significantly in the past few decades, statewide funding for the volunteer-staffed programs across the state has struggled to keep up with the growth.  A proposed fee increase before the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission next week aims to rectify this. As contemplated, it would increase a $0.25 surcharge — applied to most Parks and Wildlife licenses and registrations, in…

Colorado Proposes Quadrupling Backcountry Search and Rescue Surcharge to Support Volunteer Teams - SnowBrains

A surcharge increase is being proposed to help fund Colorado’s search and rescue teams. | Photo: Grand County Search and Rescue The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission is considering a significant increase in the surcharge that funds volunteer backcountry search and rescue (BSAR) teams, reflecting the rising demand and costs of these critical services. Currently, a $0.25 surcharge is assessed on the majority of wildlife licenses and registrat…

Who Pays for Backcountry Search and Rescue in Colorado? - Colorado Search & Rescue Association

Cover photo by Cameron Torrens of Chaffee County SAR North Backcountry search and rescue (BSAR) services in Colorado are provided free of charge to rescue subjects, including concerned family members and friends who may call to report a subject missing or injured in the backcountry.  BSAR teams are staffed by volunteers who generously give their time to save lives, but that doesn’t mean there are no costs involved.  The roughly 50 BSAR teams acr…