Open Waters and Lands Initiative
Our Approach
Welcome to OWLI, where passion for the great outdoors meets strategic policy consulting. At the intersection of outdoor recreation and governance, we specialize in harnessing the power of advocacy to protect and promote the places we love. With a deep-rooted commitment to preserving natural spaces and enhancing recreational opportunities, OWLI blends expertise in policy development, lobbying, coalition building, and public relations to drive positive change.
Policy Consulting
At OWLI, we craft policies that open access to recreational opportunities across the West. With a keen understanding of legislative landscapes, our team develops forward-thinking policies that address complex challenges and drive positive change. We're dedicated to shaping solutions that make a lasting impact from inception to implementation. Explore how our expertise in policy development can help you navigate the Gold Dome and achieve your objectives.
Coalition Management
Unlock the power of community with OWLI. We specialize in coalition building, bringing together diverse stakeholders around shared goals and driving collective action. Our strategic approach fosters collaboration, amplifies voices, and strengthens advocacy efforts, leading to impactful outcomes. Discover how we can help you build stronger alliances and achieve lasting change.
Lobbying Services
Where strategic lobbying meets impactful advocacy. Our seasoned team specializes in navigating the intricate realm of policy and regulation, empowering clients to shape legislative outcomes. Focusing on integrity, transparency, and results, we offer tailored lobbying solutions designed to amplify your voice and drive meaningful change. Explore how our expertise can propel your agenda forward.
Public Relations
Our public relations expertise is your gateway to cultivating a compelling narrative, enhancing visibility, and building meaningful connections with your audience. Public relations is more than just publicity – it's about fostering trust, credibility, and engagement. Let us help you tell your story, engage your stakeholders, and achieve your communication goals with confidence.
Campaigns
Fix CRUS Coalition
In 2023-2024, we took a policy that had lost twice at the legislature, reworked the details, engaged the opposition, secured bipartisan sponsorship, grew and led a 50-organization coalition with over 4,500 grassroots activists, secured over 50 media mentions, including front page coverage by the Washington Post, and lobbied for unanimous passage through the Colorado Legislature. This effort reopened free public access to popular 14er Mt Lincoln and helped safeguard the Leadville 100 foot and bike races.
Bill Language: SB 24-058: Landowner Liability Recreational Use Warning Signs
Website: Fix CRUS Coalition
Colorado Stream Access Coalition
The Colorado Stream Access Coalition advocates for legal public access to the state's rivers, emphasizing that Colorado’s constitution designates natural streams for public use. Despite federal law guaranteeing access to navigable streams for wading, Colorado remains an outlier among western states by failing to recognize this right.
This campaign is ongoing. Track progress on our website.
Website: Colorado Steam Access Coalition
Endorsements
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“Three words come to mind from my experience working with Anneliese Steel; Professional, Driven, Results. When the legislature set out to resolve complex liability matters to re-open hiking trails across private land in Colorado, Anneliese gathered a coalition of over 20 recreation organizations to provide testimony at the State Capitol. Special interests defeated our bill but Anneliese doubled down. Thanks to her measured persistence, the coalition returned with a creative approach the 2nd year. And after two years of strategic stake holding, the bill passed unanimously in both the House and in the Senate and Governor Polis signed it into law. I would leap at any opportunity to work with Ms. Steel again.”
MARK BAISLEY
Colorado State Senator, District 4
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"Anneliese was absolutely one of the primary reasons why we were able to pass our bill to fix the Colorado Recreational Use Statute. She worked tirelessly to assemble and manage a coalition of supporters, negotiate with opponents, craft the legislative language, and work with legislators. This all resulted in a bill being swiftly passed, unanimously, and signed into law."
DYLAN RBERTS
Colorado State Senator, District 8
Anneliese Steel
Founder and Principal
Anneliese Steel is a seasoned government affairs and public policy professional with a proven track record in legislative strategy, public relations, and lobbying. With extensive experience in coalition building, stakeholder engagement, and policy development, she has successfully led high-impact initiatives, including spearheading multimillion-dollar funding efforts and drafting key legislation. Anneliese specializes in recreation access and economic policy, leveraging her expertise to navigate complex political landscapes and drive meaningful change. She has a Masters of Public Administration from University of Colorado Denver, and a Bachelors of Arts from Sarah Lawrence College.
