Colorado Announces New Statewide Agreement to Strengthen Backcountry Search and Rescue Operations

Description: Colorado launches a new interagency agreement to improve backcountry search and rescue coordination, boosting public safety and emergency response statewide. Read the full Press release from Colorado Parks and Wildlife...

State of Colorado announces interagency agreement on backcountry search and rescue operations to advance public safety

DENVER – The State of Colorado through Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM), in collaboration with the County Sheriffs of Colorado (CSOC) announce the signing of a State of Colorado Interagency Agreement (IAA) on the coordination and response to Colorado backcountry search and rescue emergencies.

Backcountry search and rescue (BSAR) teams throughout Colorado are a network of first responders who provide critical, life-saving services to the public. These teams are affiliated with county sheriff’s offices and are composed of dedicated, highly skilled professionals and volunteers. 

The IAA provides for mutual cooperation, coordination, and support among DHSEM, CPW and CSOC when responding to BSAR incidents, in alignment with the Colorado State Emergency Operations Plan. It also establishes expectations through the Office of Emergency Management when the federal government, a state government, a tribe, or a county sheriff's office requests assistance. The agreement goes into effect on Aug. 1, 2026.

The purpose of this interagency agreement is to: (1) identify responsibilities of each of the state agencies pertaining to backcountry search and rescue activities within the state of Colorado, and in support of other states and the federal government; (2) Establish expectations for state backcountry search and rescue coordination of small and large scale emergency operations; and (3) acknowledge limitations of authority and delegation of responsibilities. 

As outlined in the IAA, DHSEM’s statutory authority (CRS 24-33.5-705(2), (4)) is delegated to CPW to coordinate BSAR response when local resources are exceeded. County sheriff's offices will continue to have statutory authority for SAR (CRS 24-33.5-707 (10)) in their counties. CPW will provide additional statewide BSAR support upon a sheriff’s request. This could include CPW deploying enforcement officers to assist the neighboring BSAR team or providing additional resources, such as drones, trained K9 dogs or aircraft. 
“Search and Rescue is a critical component of the Colorado State Emergency Operations Plan (SEOP), ensuring specialized, high-risk rescue capabilities are available across the state when needed,” said Colorado DHSEM Director Kevin Klein. “The Colorado Search and Rescue Association is an invaluable resource, and we are extremely grateful to the teams in the state for the work that they do.  Although we will continue to partner with the association, it is our responsibility to continually review and improve the effectiveness of the State EOC response when needed. The new partnership with CPW will help us meet the increasing search and rescue needs of Coloradans and visitors to the state.”

“CPW is committed to supporting BSAR teams across the state so they can feel confident when responding to incidents in their local communities,” said Jim Hawkins, Assistant Chief of Law Enforcement, Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “We’re incredibly grateful for our working relationships with DHSEM and our county sheriffs' offices, for their dedication to public safety and desire to work with our skilled enforcement officers if needed to respond to emergencies in our state’s backcountry.”

Colorado is known for world-class outdoor recreation. However, knowing how to navigate Colorado’s extreme weather, cold waters, wildlife and avalanche terrain with the proper gear and training is paramount to a safe outdoor experience. Those who get caught in avalanches, suffer from hypothermia, get lost on trails, or fall through ice call their local BSAR teams for help. As the demand for outdoor recreation increases in Colorado, so does the need for BSAR services.

“On behalf of the County Sheriffs of Colorado, we support this agreement as a critical step toward strengthening search and rescue coordination across our state,” said CSOC Board of Director President and Mesa County Sheriff Todd Rowell. “Sheriffs are responsible for SAR operations in our counties, and this partnership ensures we have a reliable, accountable system to support those efforts when incidents exceed local capacity. By aligning with our state partners, we are improving coordination, enhancing resource availability, and ultimately delivering better outcomes for the people we serve.”

Through this interagency agreement, Colorado is ensured of transparency and accountability for the timely fulfillment of resources to support local jurisdictional requests for BSAR support. It also streamlines potential use of CPW and other state resources for BSAR emergencies, both in Colorado and nationally. 

Since the Backcountry Search and Rescue Fund (BSAR Fund) was moved to CPW in 2023, CPW has awarded $6.8 million to BSAR teams throughout the state for equipment and training. BSAR county teams have used these funds to purchase equipment, training, vehicles, small capital improvement projects, mental health services and computer software.

To help bring in more BSAR funding for the state, CPW offers a Keep Colorado Wild Pass to residents, which allocates $2.5 million of annual sales to Colorado BSAR programs and includes a $1.25 Colorado Backcountry Search and Rescue (BSAR) fee with the purchase of CPW registrations and licenses.

To learn more about CPW’s Backcountry Search and Rescue Program and county grant opportunities, visit cpw.state.co.us/backcountry-search-and-rescue-program

About Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
DHSEM leads and supports Colorado's effort to prevent, protect, mitigate, respond to and recover from all hazards events to create a prepared, safe and resilient Colorado. DHSEM manages the Colorado State Emergency Operations Center and the state’s response to emergencies and disasters. 

About Colorado Parks and Wildlife
CPW is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 43 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.

Follow SECO News on Facebook.
Subscribe to the SECO News YouTube Channel.

Press releases Sponsor