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Colorado State Land Board Celebrates 150 Years of Supporting Public Schools and Managing State Trust Lands

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Agency marks milestone with record Permanent Fund balance and a new vision for the next 150 years

DENVER – As Colorado celebrates 150 years of statehood, Governor Polis and the Colorado State Land Board are also commemorating 150 years of managing state trust lands for the benefit of public schools.

Created alongside the state in 1876, the State Land Board was entrusted with land granted by the federal government to generate revenue for public education. While Colorado and the ways people use its lands have changed dramatically since then, that essential purpose remains.

"For 150 years, the Colorado State Land Board has helped turn the value of our lands into opportunities and funding for Colorado students and educators," said Governor Jared Polis. "The Colorado State Land Board supports agriculture and rural communities, from conservation to helping advance clean energy. Importantly, the Land Board finds innovative ways and paths to better benefit our schools and build a stronger more robust Colorado."

Today, the State Land Board manages approximately 2.8 million acres of surface land and 4 million subsurface acres. Its nearly 7,600 leases support agriculture, renewable energy, recreation, ecosystem services, commercial real estate, mineral development, and other uses that generate revenue for public schools and additional trust beneficiaries.

"Congratulations to the State Land Board, the longest-standing division at the Department of Natural Resources, on its 150th anniversary,"  said Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Natural Resources. "Throughout 150 years the Board has ably managed Colorado's land for the benefit of all Coloradans particularly our schools. It also has evolved with Coloradans values preparing for additional success for the next 150 years through its stewardship mission, enhanced holistic land management, pursuit of renewable energy opportunities, and a partner in addressing Colorado's affordable housing needs."

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The agency's history reflects an evolving understanding of how to manage those assets for long-term value.

For its first 120 years, the State Land Board focused primarily on generating revenue from trust lands. In 1996, Colorado voters approved Amendment 16, directing the Board to produce reasonable and consistent income over time while protecting the long-term productivity and natural values of state trust lands. The amendment also created the 300,000-acre Stewardship Trust and established the modern five-member Board of Commissioners.

Now, the State Land Board is entering its next chapter with a new strategic plan focused on resilient lands, enduring revenue, and stronger connections among partners, trust lands, and public schools.

"Our history is not simply a record of where we have been. It is the foundation for where we go next," said State Land Board Director Nicole Rosmarino. "For 150 years, generations of employees, lessees, and partners have helped the State Land Board adapt to changing landscapes, economies, and public needs while remaining focused on our responsibility to Colorado students. As we enter our next chapter, we are building on that experience while continuing to evolve and improve."

Recent milestones demonstrate the breadth of the State Land Board's work:
  • The Mirasol Solar Project in Pueblo County helped the State Land Board toward its goal of achieving 750 megawatts of renewable energy capacity on state trust lands, a major clean-energy goal established by the Polis administration. The project combines solar generation and battery storage while producing long-term revenue for public schools.
  • Lowry Ranch in Arapahoe County demonstrates how multiple uses can coexist across a single trust property. The 26,000-acre ranch supports agriculture, recreation, renewable energy, water infrastructure, and mineral development, while approximately 80% of the property is included in the Stewardship Trust.
  • Emerging opportunities in geothermal energy, ecosystem services, sustainable recreation, and affordable housing are helping the agency diversify revenue and respond to Colorado's changing needs.

The anniversary also coincides with a historic financial achievement. According to the Colorado Department of the Treasury, the Public School Fund (also known as the Permanent Fund) crossed the $2 billion threshold as of July 2026, doubling in the last five years.

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"Surpassing $2 billion in the State Land Board's 150th year is a powerful example of history with purpose," Rosmarino said. "The value generated from these lands does not end with a single lease or a single generation. It becomes part of an enduring trust that will continue supporting Colorado students well into the future."

The State Treasurer serves as custodian of the Permanent Fund and manages its investments in partnership with the Public School Fund Investment Board. The fund's principal is protected by the Colorado Constitution, allowing the trust to benefit generations of public school students.

"As we look toward the next 150 years, our responsibility is clear," Rosmarino said. "We must manage these lands with ambition, care, and ingenuity, strengthen the partnerships that make our work possible, and keep Colorado's students at the heart of every decision."

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