Open Space Update – September 2021
September, glorious September! September is Miss Mountain Manners’ favorite month, a time when the flaming hot of summer is on retreat while the Northern Hemisphere prepares itself for the long, quiet days and nights of the season of rest.
This transition hasn’t slowed down the Jeffco Open Space crews, however… look at what they’ve been doing this month!
The Apex Park Management Pilot is Over
The pilot year for the new management plan at Apex Park is officially over, and it’s been an overall success. The management system will remain in place permanently, beginning September 10, 2021.
- Even Calendar Dates (2nd, 4th, etc.) = Bikes only, no hikers or equestrians
- Odd Calendar Dates (1st, 3rd, etc.) = Hikers and equestrians only, no bikes
For more information go to https://www.jeffco.us/1190/Apex-Park
Busy Beavers at Beaver Ranch Park
The Open Space Trails Team has completed the cutting of Phase 2 at Beaver Ranch Park. They were able to connect into an existing trail (Screech Owl) that they are keeping just upstream of a bridge that crosses over Coyote Creek. The team is currently compacting the six turns and preforming the finish tread work needed on this section of trail. Kyle Newmyer, South Region Coordinator, also went out with Trails Team Specialists Chris Smith and Kaleb Anzick to walk and talk sign plans for the latest sections of finished trail. They hope to have this segment of trail completed by September 10. Once this work is done there will be four new miles of trail for folks to enjoy!
Trail Runner Volunteer Project at South Table Mountain Park
Nine volunteers were out for 2.5 hours on August 30 working on the drainage on Olivine trail, cleaning out rocks and sand from the grade dips and drains as they went. They also collected about 10 pounds of noxious weeds and general debris. A big rounds of thanks to this group for the community effort and strengthening the partnership with runners and neighbors like NREL (the National Renewable Energy Lab). Photos courtesy of NREL.
North Table Curfew with Volunteers on Patrol
North Table Mountain Park in the autumn months is notorious for visitors recreating after curfew. Special thanks go out to two volunteer Park Patrollers, Barbara Decet and Sylvan Ruud, who will be helping the Ranger Team with curfew/full moon popups at the park. They were on duty in August and are scheduled for more during the busy coming months. Having these volunteers help in delivering the importance of following the curfew will have a huge impact on the safety of Park visitors and the health of North Table Mountain. Photo by Anne Friant, illustrative editing by Photoshop.
White Ranch Trail Partnership
The Open Space Trails Team, Colorado Mountain Biking Association (COMBA), and other volunteers have been instrumental in the maintenance and reroute at Mustang Trail at White Ranch Park over the past few weeks. COMBA has also been volunteering to help keep Middle Longhorn Trail at White Ranch Park in good shape as well. Thanks to all the participation and input from members of the mountain biking community.
Burro Patrollers
The Park Ranger Team has worked to create the Burro Patrollers, a group of teens with adult leaders who volunteer for Jeffco Open Space. Burro Patrol conducts service-based projects and also assists at various trail courtesy popups. So far this year they have helped with trash pick-up, trimming emergency access routes, removal of trees over trails, and assisting the Natural Resources team in deployment of research traps. Be on the lookout for burros on your favorite trails.
Fall Stewardship Webinar Series
Jeffco Invasive Species Management and CSU Extension (Boulder, Jeffco, and Larimer Counties) are hosting a four week speaker series from September 15 through October 6. Register here for talks that will educate and inform property owners about land stewardship for small acreages and the latest trends. The talks are geared for owners of 2-10+ acres but all are welcome. Sessions will be held virtually from 6:00–7:30 pm.
Help Reduce Wildfire Danger with SLASH
Protect your home and community from wildfire by creating defensible space around your home to reduce the risk of total devastation by wildfire! Jeffco SLASH will be operational every weekend through the end of October, at various locations around the county, from 9:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. Bring your tree debris to Jeffco SLASH on weekends during the months of September and October.
National Public Lands Day Brought Out JCOS Volunteers
Saturday, September 25th, was National Public Lands Day along Clear Creek Trail near the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt. Jeffco Open Space Volunteers swarmed to help with trash cleanup, vegetation trimming, noxious weed removal, planting and seeding, beaver tree painting, gold panning mitigation, and graffiti removal in the Golden Cliffs climbing area. They ended the day with a celebration at Anderson Park, with free food and fun. This event happens every year, so if you missed it this year, mark your calendars for next year’s event, Saturday, September 24, 2022!
Historic Building Visit
Architectural historians from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) came to see historic buildings at Hiwan, Pine Valley, Reynolds, Beaver Ranch, and Meyer Ranch Parks this month. The Midway/Meyer House and the Hiwan Museum are already listed in the National Register of Historic Places, while the Baehrden Lodge is listed in the State Register of Historic Properties. These designations can provide opportunities for grants and other incentives for preservation and education.
Reminder: the Jeffco Bike Plan
Jeffco Transportation and Engineering is in the process of updating the Bicycle Plan for the county, focusing on unincorporated Jeffco and linking to Open Space or other popular destinations. Please let them know what you think: More info on the Jeffco Bike Plan Update
Reminder: Prepping for Snow Removal
September is Snow Removal Preparedness Month. The Park Services, Rangers, and Trails Teams commit to keeping the Open Space trailheads, facilities, and paved trails accessible and safe during snowy weather, and what an amazing job the do! When it snows two inches or more, JCOS deploys eight plow routes with shovel teams to complete snow removal activities at 53 trailhead, trail, and bikeway locations. This consists of 2,810,880 square feet of surface covered by plowing and 92,731 square feet of surface covered by hand shoveling. This is comparable in size and scope to 10 of our Courts and Administration buildings (TAJ). Crown Hill Park alone makes up almost 1/10th of our total snow removal operations. Snow removal occurs seven days a week and often takes reaching out to additional field staff/teams for support during heavier snow events. To assist with this effort, field staff not typically assigned can receive training to help cover these events. Do your part, give these people a chance to remove the snow before heading out to the Parks, Know Before You Go, https://www.jeffco.us/1531/Alerts-Closures
Photo of the Month
Every summer the Natural Resources Team assists Colorado Parks & Wildlife with the bighorn sheep survey in Clear Creek Canyon Park. This year the sheep did not disappoint! The team saw a total of 20 individuals throughout the canyon, including a large group of rams near Tunnel 1 and a group of ewes and yearlings just north of the Big Easy Trailhead. This monitoring not only provides a seasonal estimation of individuals and important age group and sex ratios, but it’s also a great opportunity to help our state wildlife agency and be a partner in conservation. Photo by Natural Resource Specialist, Michelle Desrosiers.
Now that autumn is upon us, Miss Mountain Manners wants to remind all Park Visitors to recreate responsibly. Be prepared. At any time, snow can fly and the trails can get icy, especially at the higher elevations. Make sure you check https://www.jeffco.us/1531/Alerts-Closures for trail conditions and closures before heading out, and pack for any type of weather. Don’t forget water; it’s easy to get dehydrated and disoriented at elevation.
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”.
Subscribe, share, follow us at @PLANJeffco, @MannersMountain, Facebook.com/PLANJeffco — we appreciate your support!
Sylvia Brockner, author, long-time nature columnist for the Canyon Courier, co-founder of the Mountain Area Land Trust and the Evergreen Audubon Society, passed away on September 3rd, 2021, just shy of her 102nd birthday.