DENVER – After nearly a decade of service within the Department of Natural Resources – serving under three governors – executive director Mike King is stepping down.
King – a Western Slope native – leaves a legacy of work on oil and gas, water and wildlife issues, navigating a quickly evolving political landscape.
During his time, the state tackled controversial issues, including regulating hydraulic fracturing and mapping the future of water in the state – both historical endeavors.
King has served as the department’s director since 2010, first under former Gov. Bill Ritter, a Democrat, and then under Gov. John Hickenlooper, also a Democrat. Before that he served as deputy director for the department under Republican Gov. Bill Owens.
“We’ve moved the ball an incredible amount,” King told The Durango Herald on Wednesday. “Maybe it’s time for someone else to bring their energy and a new perspective in to those discussions; a fresh perspective would be good for the state of Colorado right now.”
Most recently, King spent his time working to bridge divides over the oil and gas industry, attempting to bring local governments, industry executives and environmentalists together. The thrust of the conversation revolves around fracking and whether local governments should have authority to enact stricter rules and regulations.
The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission – on which King serves – is currently weighing rules that would offer local governments greater input. King says he will see the rule-making through.
“I wish I could have seen complete harmony ... We made great strides in that direction, but it would have been nice to put a bow around it,” King said.
He will leave the department at the end of January to take a role as the director of planning for Denver Water. It’s not in his nature to sit still, so King will take only a brief week off between jobs, with a stint first down in Cancun, Mexico, to clear his head.
“It’s been said perseverance is the secret of all triumphs, which embodies the leadership of Mike King,” Hickenlooper said of his departing director. “It doesn’t hurt to be wicked smart, and have a casual charm that makes him a joy to work with.”
The governor’s office continues to look for King’s replacement.
During his time with the department, King also oversaw the creation of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, a merger of two previously stand-alone divisions.
He also led a lengthy and controversial process between the public and the U.S. Forest Service to develop the Colorado Roadless Rule. The effort aimed at increasing safeguards and preservation of Colorado’s national forests.
A testament to his ability to work with all sides, even the environmental world had praise for King as news of his departure broke.
“We have appreciated Mike’s sophisticated understanding of these very complex issues and support on environmental priorities,” said Pete Maysmith, executive director of Conservation Colorado.
King recently found himself at odds with the Environmental Protection Agency following the August Gold King Mine spill. He wrote a letter questioning the EPA’s account of the incident. But King said his departure has nothing to do with that.
“There is no epic clash between the state and the EPA,” he clarified.
Even though King is walking away for another role working on natural resources, he said it is difficult to close the door on the department at a pivotal time.
“It’s in my DNA,” King said. “There’s no question about that. Walking away from the grand sphere of this is hard.”
pmarcus@durangoherald.com
