Open Space Update – July 2021
So much has happened during this very busy month of July! Let’s dig in and see what Open Space has been up to!
1,192-ACRE GOLTRA ACQUISITION
Win-win is an understatement with this land conservation effort. After numerous discussions with the Goltra family, JCOS plans to permanently preserve 1,192 of the 4,800 acres they own just outside Golden adjacent to Mount Galbraith, Clear Creek Canyon and Centennial Cone Parks.
The acquisition of this beautiful property continues the nearly fifty-year-long legacy of preserving land for conservation and public enjoyment. JCOS has been working with the conservation-minded Goltra family and Martin Marietta Materials to bring this to fruition. This property preserves more than double the acreage acquired in the 2004 exchange with the prior mine owner, LaFarge. That exchange preserved 522 acres, primarily at North Table Mountain Park.
Next steps for the Goltra acquisition and HSE Agreement Amendment include consideration by the Jeffco Open Space Advisory Committee on August 5, 2021, for their recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners.
BEARS, BEARS, EVERYWHERE…
The Human-Wildlife Interactions 2021 Quarterly Report is in and it was a big quarter for bear sightings across our system of parks. 13 sightings were reported for a total of 17 individuals, including cubs. Here are some excerpts from the interactions as reported by our visitors:
WSP: Running on Gudy Gaskill Trail from the west today, I came down into a little draw and heard the “huff” sound of a bear and looked to see the bear running away from me directly down the draw. The bear stopped after a bit and watched to see what I would do. I stayed still for a while, then walked further on the trail, which put me above and farther from the bear. As I slowly climbed past (about 100 ft away at this point), the bear decided to leave, and turned and took off up the hill on the other side.
PVR: When walking back eastbound from the west termination of the Narrow Gage Trail, my wife and I sighted a black bear beside the fence along the trail about 50 or 60 yards ahead of us. The bear was on the opposite side (north) of the fence from the trail. The bear raised on its hind legs and balanced on a fence post with its front legs and stared at us for 10 or 15 seconds. This surprised us because with previous bear sightings, the bear has always immediately scampered away.
In both cases, no negative interactions were reported. If you sight a bear, or any other critter, for that matter, and you want to report the sighting, go to https://www.jeffco.us/3620/Human-Wildlife-Interactions and fill out the form. Jeffco Open Space staff strives to balance the protection and preservation of wildlife and their habitat while promoting a safe and positive visitor experience. Visitors that provide information on wildlife interactions play a critical role as stewards and partners in managing wildlife. All reports are anonymous.
ALDERFER/THREE SISTERS 2020-2023 PLANS
In April of this year, JCOS hosted a virtual community meeting to discuss proposed trailhead expansion, a parking management plan, and visitor management strategies. The results of the 30-day public comment period are in, check out the report at https://www.jeffco.us/DocumentCenter/View/28177/AlderferThree-Sisters-Park-Community-Meeting-Public-Comment-Report-2021.
CLEAR CREEK CANYON PARK – GATEWAY SEGMENT
The Trails Team continues to make great progress on construction of stairs and creek access points. The Buildings & Historic Sites Team is busy constructing the entry signs.
The Building and Historic Sites team finished up the restroom, it passed final inspection from the City of Golden.
The Trails Team completed construction of the beautiful timber stairs that links the main Trail to the Welch Ditch trail.
Final Update Video of the Gateway Segment
The JCOS contractor and staff are working towards completing finishing touches on the Gateway Segment, nearing the volunteer and employee preview days, and the official ‘cable cutting’, which is currently scheduled for August 25th. This part of the Clear Creek Trail has taken nearly 2-1/2 years to complete. You can view its progress on the Clear Creek Canyon Park Gateway Segment Construction Updates YouTube channel; it’s truly a wonderful project. The most recent video update is now available >> Watch the video
ELK MEADOW PARK – JENKINS PEAK
Trail construction to Jenkins Peak continues at Elk Meadow Park.
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN NATURE CENTER
The Nature Center at the Lookout Mountain Preserve is once again open after over a year of COVID shutdown. Check the schedule for all the upcoming educational programs and events at https://www.jeffco.us/1568/Educational-Programs.
SOUTH TABLE MOUNTAIN – FIRST T-REX TOOTH FOUND IN 1874
Back in June of 1874 a School of Mines geology class was hiking on South Table when a student found a large serrated tooth. Edward Berthoud, who was at the time a Geologist at the School of Mines, packed up the tooth and sent it to O.C.Marsh, a leading vertebrate paleontologist at Yale University.
The tooth lay unstudied, in the Yale collection, until 2000, when Dr. Kenneth Carpenter, a vertebrate paleontologist at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, identified it as Tyrannosaurus rex tooth. It only took 126 years to get it figured out, but the South Table Mountan tooth is the first fossil evidence of T. rex ever discovered.
The trail that will traverse the easement included in the DOE Land Exchange at South Table will be named “T. Rex Tooth”. Now it’s up to you to help protect South Table. Prospecting or collecting fossils is not allowed. If you spot a fossil that has weathered out after a rain or snow event, notify JCOS or DMNS immediately. Removing a fossil from a site without thorough documentation can compromise historical understanding. Illustration of the tooth is by Edward Berthoud.
MOUNT GALBRAITH – HEAT STROKE MEDICAL EMERGENCY
It’s true that (generally) air temperature decreases as you move up-elevation, and Mount Galbraith tops out at 7260 feet. But even the cooler air at elevation cannot guarantee protection from heat stroke. On 7/20, Jeffco Rangers assisted with a helicopter evacuation of a heat-related medical emergency on Mount Galbraith. A young man presented with symptoms of heatstroke – rapid pulse, disorientation, delirium, loss of consciousness, flushed skin, no perspiration.
You can prevent heat-related medical emergencies. Dehydration exacerbates heatstroke. Monitor for signs of heat stress including headache, nausea, poor coordination, and fatigue. Stay hydrated, drink plenty of water and take breaks in the shade before you think you need to.
HOT DOG IN THE SUMMERTIME
It’s hot out there, and as much as we all love to hike with our best fur-friends, maybe it’s better to leave them at home until the weather (and the surface of the trails) cools down a bit. Dogs don’t sweat like we do, so they can’t get rid of the excess heat that can build up to the point where it’s life-threatening. Do you know the signs of heatstroke in dogs? If you notice:
- Rapid panting
- Bright red tongue
- Red or pale gums
- Thick, sticky saliva
- Weakness/constant desire to sit or lie down
- Wanting to stop and lay down
- Vomiting/diarrhea
- Shock
Then you need to take immediate action:
- Seek shade immediately
- Wet dog with cool water or wet cloth on foot pads, groin, armpits, and ears
- Fan air on dog
- Take dog to vet as soon as possible
KEEP ONE EARBUT OUT!
Heatstroke isn’t the only danger to dogs in the parks. Rattlesnakes happen. Their home is the park; we are only visitors. KEEP DOGS ON LEAD. Keep one earbud out. Wear close-toed shoes. Be aware of your surroundings. Teach children how to be safe in rattlesnake country.
Do you know what to do when you encounter a rattlesnake? It’s something called the 30/30 rule:
- Back away by 30 feet;
- Give the rattler 30 decide to leave;
- Repeat as necessary;
- Do NOT throw rocks or try to move the snake, that only serves to make them defensive.
Do you know what to do if you get bitten by a rattlesnake?
- Call 911 immediately, give them an EXACT location;
- Keep the bitten area at or below the level of the heart;
- Take off jewelry or any other constricting item (anticipate swelling);
- DO NOT cut, suck, or ice the bite area.
Do you know what to do if your dog gets bitten by a rattlesnake?
- Know before you go – find the veterinary closest to the Park that stocks antivenom.
- Immediately transport your pet to that veterinary.
JEFFCO SLASH HELPS REDUCE WILDFIRE DANGER
SLASH means something other than twigs and brush – it stands for Sustainable Lands And Safer Homes. Jeffco Open Space is partnering with the County as they provide a rotating sequence of slash (the twigs and brush) locations for drop off over the summer.
What’s accepted? Tree debris, limbs up to 8 feet in length and a maximum diameter of 6 inches, loose pine needles, tree bark, and pine cones. Leaves are accepted at the Thunder Valley location only.
You can bag the little stuff, but be prepared to dump out the debris at the drop off site. Take the bags home, refill them, and come by again.
Don’t bring construction material or lumber, household trash, metal of any kind, rocks, tree stumps, yard waste or grass clippings.
The cost is modest, $20 a load (6 cubic yards, 162 cubic feet), credit cards only. For detailed information on what constitutes a “load” go to https://www.jeffco.us/2493/Slash-Collection. Check the Slash Collection Calendar for the date of the closest location to you.
TRAILS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
Applications for the Jeffco Open Space Trails Partnership Program (TPP) are available now! If you haven’t heard about this program, and you are part of an organization that could use financial support for trails and connectors, you may want to head on over to https://www.jeffco.us/4138/Trails-Partnership-Program and check it out.
The TPP provides financial support to partners seeking to meet the goals of the Jeffco Trails Plan: improve safety, provide equitable access, and increase connectivity of Jefferson County trails or greenspaces. Applications are due on September 20 with expected January 2022 funding.
During the first year of the TPP (2020-21), over $2.7M was gifted to partners who applied for the TPP. The projects ranged from trail bridge maintenance to trails several miles long, so no project is too small or too large. Apply now!
NEED A RIDE TO THE TRAILHEAD? CALL LYFT
Take advantage of JCOS’ pilot program that aims to shuttle visitors to and from the Open Space parks while avoiding the hassle of overcrowded trailhead parking. The pilot program is servicing three parks: North Table Mountain, west trailhead; South Table Mountain, Camp George West and the Golden Hills access points; White Ranch, east trailhead. Through the end of the year, Lyft users can take advantage of a $2.50 reduction in fare, each direction. Discounts will be valid during park hours, seven days a week, to these locations.
Going somewhere not serviced by the Lyft discount? Download the Lot Spot app and check for parking availability ahead of time. Fourteen (14) trailheads are Lot Spot enabled.
Don’t forget, some parks and trails may be closed for seasonal or construction reasons, so check before heading out. https://www.jeffco.us/1531/Alerts-Closures
IT’S FIRE SEASON: TIPS TO STAY SAFE
At Jeffco Open Space Parks:
No campfires, including at campgrounds.
No charcoal grills or open flames – visitors are allowed to use liquid or gas fueled grills or camp stoves in designated camping and picnic areas only.
No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or a developed trailhead area that is devoid of all vegetation. Visitors must safely and properly dispose of all cigarette butts.
In general and at your home:
Keep an eye out for Red Flag warnings and limit hazardous activity on those days.
Properly dispose of cigarette butts in receptacles.
Do not burn brush or trash.
Avoid parking in dry grass.
Do not operate machinery which could cause sparks or open flames (torches, chainsaws, etc.).
Keep trailer chains from dragging on the ground and sparking.
Create a defensible space around your home by using the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) zone concept.
Choose fire-resistant plants.
Regularly prune trees, mow grassy areas, and remove dead and dry plants that could fuel a fire.
Take advantage of the Jeffco SLASH program and recycle your slash at a safe facility.
RANGER TEAM – 2021 2ND QUARTER STATS
Let’s hear it for the Open Space Ranger team! In the second quarter of 2021, our Rangers made over 9,000 informal Stewardship Education contacts along our Open Space trails and at the trailheads. Rangers gave 550 verbal warnings to correct compliance concerns. Rangers issued 79 written warnings and 98 tickets in the 2nd Quarter. Top three offenses were Parking, Control of Pet, and Posted Notice. Rangers picked up 619 unattended poop bags and properly disposed of them in waste receptacles. Overall education contacts, including social media, traditional media and ranger programs totaled 675,658!
BRUSH TRUCK
Through an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) for interdepartmental transfer between JCOS and the Jeffco Sheriff’s Office, JCOS is now the proud manager of a Type VI Brush Truck. The truck will be used for fire suppression on JCOS managed lands. The truck will be utilized by a future JCOS Wildland Fire Team (WFT). The Ranger team is currently crafting safety, equipment, certification, and management trigger SOPs for the WFT. The WFT will comprise current JCOS employees authorized, through specific training and certifications, to respond at a higher level than routine operations to wildfires on JCOS lands or bordering lands that may impact JCOS property. When responding to a fire, the WFT will operate as a mutual aid resource under the command of the fire Incident Commander.
AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA)
It’s time to start sharing your ideas about how to spend the $$$ that will be flowing to Jefferson County through the American Rescue Plan Act. On the Jeffco website there’s a form through which the community can provide input to help develop funding ideas and prioritize community needs. This link to www.jeffco.us/ARPA will help those who would like to provide input on the Plan to make sure that all ideas and proposals get collected and reviewed. These digital entries and are much easier to organize and track than emails or voicemails coming in from many sources. Share your ideas now by going to www.jeffco.us/ARPA and taking the survey.
What a month! Miss Mountain Manners is astonished at how busy the Parks are in the summertime! It pays to check ahead, to confirm that you will be able to park safely and responsibly when you get there. The idea of having a chauffeur take you to the trailhead is intriguing. After a long and arduous experience in the park, the driver can pick you up and transport you to your favorite spot for a refreshing post-hike libation, then take you directly home. How much better could this get?
Miss Mountain Manners wants to let everyone at JeffCo Open Space know how proud we at PLAN Jeffco are of the terrific work that they’re doing. The next time you’re in one of our Parks and you see a JCOS Staffer or Volunteer, introduce yourself and say “thank you”.
Development of Beaver Ranch Park is moving ahead on schedule. The Trails Team used the new dozer to cut 1,100 feet of trail in one afternoon.
JCOS completed the purchase of the 58-acre Ramstetter property this week! The northernmost portion of the property can be seen from Golden Gate Canyon Road & Centennial Cone Park, and is part of a broader preservation effort planned for the Park and the Douglas Mountain Study Area. This acquisition is a strategic priority to ensure the viewshed to and from the property is preserved.
The Buildings & Historic Sites Team fabricated the steel hand railing along the stairs that the Trails Team constructed. The Trails Team cautiously removed large amounts of poison ivy and began trail construction to connect the Gateway Trailhead to the Creek access points. The BHS Team continues to put the finishing touches on the restroom. Opening ceremonies are planned for the end of August…
JCOS contractors completed the installation of metal railing at two locations within the Big Easy trailhead. The railing protects the federally threatened Ute ladies’ tresses (Spiranthes diluvialis), growing near the ADA picnic shelter, and discourages visitor shortcutting across riparian habitat on the south side of the parking lot.
In the second week of June a call came through Jeffcom Dispatch for two critical female patients who were each struck by rockfall at the Highwire Crag in Clear Creek Canyon Park. Rangers Krause, Joyce, Holzman, and Dargatz all responded to the scene and assisted in various aspects. The operation consisted of a low-angle belayed litter, with three litter attendants from Golden and West Metro Fire Departments tied in, near the entrance of Tunnel 2. Golden Fire also utilized a ladder truck to transfer the patient, and then lower the ladder with the patient to the ground, where a Flight for Life helicopter sat waiting on Highway 6 to transport the most critical patient to the hospital by air. JCOS Rangers were among the eight agencies that assisted in this rescue. Great job by all!
The BHS Team fabricated and installed a new chimney cap on the Hiwan Museum.
Thanks to the sharp eyes and quick action of Park Services Specialists Chad Vidas and Steven Fernandez, a potentially dangerous situation was averted. After spotting this three-foot rattlesnake near the door of the Golden Cliffs restroom, they called Jeffcom non-emergency and alerted visitors to the danger while they waited for a trained Animal Control officer to collect and move the snake to a safer location (for people and snake) in the Park. Photos are courtesy of artist and photographer, Chad Vidas.