Apex Park Fully Reopens – All trails open to the public following flood recovery efforts

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by Tim Sandsmark, Lookout Region Supervisor, Jeffco Open Space

Apex Park fully reopened on Monday, Nov. 24 for the first time since the devastating floods of September 2013.

Apex Park Fully Reopens - All trails open to the public following flood recovery efforts Apex Park Fully Reopens - All trails open to the public following flood recovery efforts

Jeffco Open Space staff installed several bridges and abutments last week on lower Apex Trail, which was the only remaining area closed. To maximize efficiency and effectiveness, a helicopter was used to deliver the staff-built bridge decks to the park for final assembly and installation. Visitors can now access all 9.5 miles of trail at the popular 697-acre park.

With the full reopening, odd-day directional travel by mountain bikers will be reinstated on Apex, Argos and Enchanted Forest trails, as had been in effect prior to the flooding events.

The flood event severely damaged 3.8 miles – roughly 40 percent – of the trails at Apex Park, which was one of two Jeffco Open Space Parks closed in its entirety. Using a phased approach to recovery, staff and volunteers repaired washed-out segments of the Apex, Pick ‘N Sledge, Sluicebox, Enchanted Forest, Hardscrabble, Grubstake, Bonanza, Poco Calle and Argos trails.

Community support and staff dedication were vital to the recovery effort. Volunteers put in a total of 906 hours during 16 separate projects to reopen the Park for public enjoyment.

“We appreciate everybody’s patience and all the great support we’ve had from volunteers and trail users,” said Kim Frederick, Trail Services Supervisor for Jeffco Open Space. “We’re looking forward to completing flood recovery at other locations.”

Remaining repairs on the Mustang and Wrangler’s Run trails at White Ranch Park will continue during the winter as weather conditions allow. The projection to open those trails, as well as the Mesa Top Trail at North Table Mountain Park, is late spring or early summer 2015. Work is also ongoing on a formalized trailhead on the east side of Apex Park, which is slated to open in spring 2015.

Apex Park Fully Reopens Nov. 24 - All trails open to the public following flood recovery efforts

For a bird’s eye view of bridge installation, see www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Gp0CAeMoxA

MORE INFO:

Apex Park

Apex Park Closed Nov. 19-20 for Bridges Delivery; White Ranch Park Trail Closures Nov. 20 morning

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2014-Vicky-01_rider on Pick & SledgeApex Park is scheduled to be closed starting at 5 p.m. Wed., Nov. 19 and continuing all day on Thurs., Nov. 20. The closure will allow for safe and efficient staging and delivery of materials for new bridges along several sections of heavily damaged lower Apex Trail. Also on Nov. 20, from 7 a.m. to noon, portions of trails in the southwest section of White Ranch Park—Sawmill, Mustang and Upper Belcher Hill—will be closed for staging and delivery of materials to repair trail damage along Mustang and Wrangler’s Run. See map. The historic floods of September 2013 caused severe damage at both Jeffco Open Space Parks.

Jeffco Open Space plans to reopen all Apex Trail by November 26. Closed trail sections at White Ranch Park will be reopened in 2015. Since September 2013, there have been months of planning, labor by staff and volunteers, and a required review of major trail repair plans in order to receive Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood recovery funds. When Apex Trail reopens in its entirety, directional travel for mountain bikers—one-way travel on odd dates—will be reinstated.

Tim Sandsmark
Lookout Region Supervisor
Jeffco Open Space
720-497-7602 direct
303-916-6553 mobile

 

 

 

Trail Completed from Reynolds Park to South Platte

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Reynolds Park trailThe long anticipated connection from Reynolds Park, which is near Conifer, to the Colorado Trail opened October 11. The 9.3 miles of natural surface trail is open hikers, bikers and equestrians. For details see the news release at the Jeffco Open Space site, http://jeffco.us/parks/news/2014/north-fork-trail-opens-saturday,-october-11-in-south-jeffco/

Gunnison sage grouse gets federal protection

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Gunnison Sage Grouse_Wikipedia

The Gunnison sage grouse, which lives only in western Colorado and southeastern Utah, has been declared threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This classification triggers the Endangered Species Act, which is something that Colorado leaders, who insist that state-led voluntary protection is sufficient to save the bird, have been fighting.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service director Dan Ashe declared the grouse officially threatened, which triggers Endangered Species Act protection. Federal protection under the Act restricts development on grouse habitat. Listing grouse as threatened, rather than endangered, allows exceptions for accidental killing to reduce the liability of landowners.

Governor Hickenlooper insists that the State will sue the Federal Government, no matter how the grouse is listed.

At present it is estimated that there are fewer than 5,000 Gunnison sage grouse alive, surviving on roughly 7 percent of their original natural habitat.

To read the full story go to http://www.denverpost.com/environment/ci_26922049/gunnison-sage-grouse-get-federal-protection-prevent-extinction?source=bn_simplepie_widgets

Jeffco Open Space and Parks Receives National Agency Accreditation

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Matthews-Winters Jeffco Open Space & Parks has recently earned National Agency Accreditation from CAPRA, the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies. This accreditation is in recognition to JCOS’ commitment to excellence.

The accreditation process is a self-assessment which is then reviewed during a CAPRA on-site visitation, which was done last July. The CAPRA Commission rendered their decision on October 13, based on their assertion that JCOS met 143 of 144 established CAPRA standards. Jeffco Open Space and Parks is now CAPRA Accredited through 2018 when the agency must seek re-accreditation.

Read the full story at http://jeffco.us/parks/news/2014/jeffco-open-space-and-parks-receives-national-agency-accreditation/

 

Apex Park Update – Work Progresses on the New Trailhead

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by Tim Sandsmark, Lookout Region Supervisor, Jeffco Open Space

You may have noticed the flurry of activity happening at Apex Park. The large dirt mound from excavation and grading is now gone as work progresses on the new trailhead area. In addition, much work has occurred on the closed portion of the lower Apex Trail.

Trailhead Project

Jeffco Open Space and County Road and Bridge crews have been working steadily on completing the new restroom, walkways, grading of slopes for erosion control and construction of the new concrete trail extension. The current pace of activity is dependent on weather and barring other unforeseen circumstances.

Apex Park Trail Network

Most of Apex Park’s trails have been open since last winter, but a severely damaged section of the lower Apex Trail remains closed. State and local permits were obtained and final approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) occurred in October to make significant repairs. Efforts are progressing rapidly and require the installation of 3 bridges and a large culvert in the most heavily washed out areas. The bridges are being constructed off site and will be lifted into place by helicopter. Work is also taking place on trail erosion and maintenance efforts on the west section of Apex Trail.

Thanks to the efforts by our Open Space trails staff and many dedicated volunteers, we are still on track for the Apex Trail restoration efforts to be completed by November 26. Once the lower Apex Trail is reopened, the odd-day directional travel by mountain bike will be reinstated on Apex, Argos and Enchanted Forest Trails, as had been in effect prior to the flooding events.

Remaining activity will include repairs to the upper Apex Trail and the realignment of the damaged Pick N’ Sledge Trail which will continue into the Spring of 2015. Some limited trail detours or closures will occur for this remaining construction activity.

Apex Park Update - Work Progresses on the New Trailhead

Volunteers & Trails staff working on bridge abutments and trail repair on the lower Apex Trail on October 29th at Apex Park (Jefferson County Open Space).

MORE INFO:

Apex Park

DOUGLAS MOUNTAIN PROPOSED ACQUISITION CITIZEN SURVEY RESULTS & LISTENING LOG

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Douglas Mountain listening log_first page image

On the 22nd of October, Jeffco Open Space held a Community Meeting to discuss the proposed acquisition of 964 acres on the top of Douglas Mountain. This is the first page of the listening log — a summary of feedback from the audience. Click on the image to see a clearer copy; read the entire listening log here:  http://jeffco.us/parks/documents/douglas-mountain-documents/jcos-listening-log-douglas-mountain-community-meeting-final/

Tuesday Birder group visits Lair ‘o’ Bear Open Space Park

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Author: Ann Bonnell

 

Tuesday Birders lead by Dave Hill, Ann Bonnell and Mary Keithler, visited Lair ‘o’ Bear, a Jeffco Open Space Park, on November 4th for a three hour walk amidst 31 – 53° weather to record bird species and numbers.

The following is their report:

Leader(s): Dave Hill, Ann Bonnell and Mary Keithler

Observers: 27 (three groups)

Time: 0900-1215

Distance: 8.5 miles on foot

Habitat: Riparian, cottonwood, willow, mixed aspen and conifers, some Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir & blue spruce.

Elevation: 6427’-7361’

Weather: Mostly sunny; 31-53°F, SW wind, 0-8 mph

Totals: 19 species +3 taxa., 163 individuals

Summary:

Mallard 4
Red-tailed Hawk 3
Downy Woodpecker 4
Northern Flicker 4
Steller’s Jay 11
Western Scrub-Jay 3
Black-billed Magpie 8
American Crow 6
Black-capped Chickadee 36
White-breasted Nuthatch 5
American Dipper 1
Townsend’s Solitaire 2
American Robin 3
American Tree Sparrow 6
Song Sparrow 7
White-crowned Sparrow 7
Dark-eyed Junco 38 including:

“White-winged” race – 1

“Oregon” race – 2

“Pink-sided” race – 4

“Gray-headed” race – 4
House Finch 14
American Goldfinch 1

Copyright © 2014 Ann Bonnell

Tuesday Birder group visits Lair ‘o’ Bear Open Space Park

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Tuesday Birders lead by Dave Hill, Ann Bonnell and Mary Keithler, visited Lair ‘o’ Bear, a Jeffco Open Space Park, on November 4th for a three hour walk amidst 31 – 53° weather to record bird species and numbers.

The following is their report:

Leader(s): Dave Hill, Ann Bonnell and Mary Keithler

Observers: 27 (three groups)

Time: 0900-1215

Distance: 8.5 miles on foot

Habitat: Riparian, cottonwood, willow, mixed aspen and conifers, some Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir & blue spruce.

Elevation: 6427’-7361’

Weather: Mostly sunny; 31-53°F, SW wind, 0-8 mph

Totals: 19 species +3 taxa., 163 individuals

Summary:

Mallard 4
Red-tailed Hawk 3
Downy Woodpecker 4
Northern Flicker 4
Steller’s Jay 11
Western Scrub-Jay 3
Black-billed Magpie 8
American Crow 6
Black-capped Chickadee 36
White-breasted Nuthatch 5
American Dipper 1
Townsend’s Solitaire 2
American Robin 3
American Tree Sparrow 6
Song Sparrow 7
White-crowned Sparrow 7
Dark-eyed Junco 38 including:

“White-winged” race – 1

“Oregon” race – 2

“Pink-sided” race – 4

“Gray-headed” race – 4
House Finch 14
American Goldfinch 1

Copyright © 2014 Ann Bonnell

SINGLE USE TRAILS WORKING GROUP IN JEFFCO

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Aldefer Three SistersFrom: Thea Rock, Thursday, October 30, 2014
Jefferson County Open Space (JCOS) will be forming a working group to study the feasibility of single use trails within JCOS Parks. JCOS currently provides 236 miles of trail for outdoor, nature-based experiences. While the majority of these trails are open to hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian use under our multi-use definition, 21.5 miles offers an experience for specific user types. Today, JCOS offers 14 miles of hiker only, 7 miles of hiker and equestrian only and 0.5 miles of bike only trails. An additional 18.75 miles have some type of directional or alternating use management in place.
With the goal of being responsive to our user communities and reducing the potential for trail conflict, this working group will be assessing the effectiveness of our existing single use trails and exploring the possibility of providing this experience on new or existing trails.
This Working Group for Single Use Trails will be formed from JCOS staff, partner agencies, user advocacy groups and interested citizens. The purpose will be to explore the feasibility of single use trails in Jefferson County Open Space. The outcome of this working group will be a report on group findings that should include the pros and cons of providing single use trails in the Parks, and if applicable, indicate potential test sites with monitoring programs to gauge effectiveness. The Group will make a recommendation of action to JCOS management team.
The Group makeup will consist of 3 to 4 JCOS staff members, 9 to 10 representatives from user advocacy groups, reps from other partner agencies, and interested citizens. To apply, interested citizens must submit a resume and letter of interest to Dave Davenport, Outdoor Recreation Management Coordinator, by end of business, Friday, November 14, 2014 to ddavenpo@jeffco.us or 700 Jeffco Parkway, Suite 100, Golden, CO 80401.
Selection criteria of Working Group members will include but is not limited to: residency or business interest in Jefferson County; involvement with JCOS as a volunteer, advocate, or have conducted permitted activities in the Parks; and individuals who identify themselves with more than one user group.