DENVER -- Colorado has used more than $60 million in funds from Colorado Lottery purchases this year to support a variety of conservation and public recreation efforts across the state.
Lottery money is tied to the state's Conservation Trust Fund, which helps governments pay for maintenance and improvement of conservation and public recreation sites, The Denver Post reports. Officials say the $60 million distributed so far in 2016 marks the largest amount distributed in at least five years. It also tops last year's amount by nearly $10 million.
This year's conservation funds went to 476 counties, cities, towns and special districts.
State officials say the boost in Colorado's trust fund distribution this year was partly due to the record $1.5 billion Powerball jackpot in January.
