Conservation Smart Brief 12/14/2021
PLAN Jeffco started with an idea that open spaces are vitally important to the health and welfare of all, and since 1972 has been building on that idea. Time brings change, and so PLAN Jeffco has had to consistently adjust as change occurs.
PLAN Jeffco tries to keep its thumb on the pulse of the conservation community. Every month, as part of our regular Board meetings, there’s a “President’s Report”, which records the activities of various conservation groups that PLAN Jeffco feels are community leaders. We’ve decided to share as much of this information with you, dear reader, as we can, so that you can understand where we’re going, and why.
Conservation Smart Brief, December 14, 2021:
Recently posted to our website blog:
Jeffco Open Space News & Events
https://www.jeffco.us/1523/News-Events
NOTE: Despite information on various hiking and trails apps, the trails at Meyer Ranch OS Park are NOT scheduled be closed on the weekends during forestry and wildfire mitigation operations unless specifically posted at this website…
JCOS News Releases: https://www.jeffco.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?CID=25
JCOS Event Calendar: https://www.jeffco.us/1541/Event-Calendar
JCOS Newsletters: https://www.jeffco.us/1564/Newsletters
Jeffco Fairgrounds – calendar
https://www.jeffco.us/calendar.aspx?CID=27
Colorado Open Lands
https://coloradoopenlands.org/ https://www.facebook.com/ColoradoOpenLands
Fall 2021 Newsletter is downloadable here:
40th Anniversary, 590,000 acres of open space conserved to date. Halfway through the current 10-year plan, there are a waiting list of projects that, when completed, will allow COL to meet its goal of 800,000 acres of land conserved in Colorado.
CONSERVATION PROJECTS COMPLETED SINCE THE SPRING 2021 NEWSLETTER:
Lake County, Shawn Andrick Memorial Preserve – 103 acres. This public open space was protected in partnership with the Central Colorado Conservancy and Lake County. The property is a narrow canyon along the Arkansas River between Buena Vista and Leadville with wetlands, a gold-medal trout fishery, and great habitat for elk and bighorn sheep. The Top of the Rockies / Collegiate Peaks Scenic Byway winds through the canyon with open views of this property. The preserve will open to the public in 2022.
Sedgwick County, Petersen Bend – 100 acres. Ducks Unlimited purchased this farm a few years ago and converted some of the fields to seasonal shallow-water wetland compounds to support migratory waterfowl during the prime flyover periods in the spring and fall in Eastern Colorado and Nebraska. The property includes a mixture of upland and wetland habitat as well as foraging areas for white-tail deer, pheasant, turkey and pronghorn.
Hinsdale County, Slumgullion Center – 58 acres. This property outside of Lake City is owned by Lake Fork Valley Conservancy and comprises part of the Slumgullion Earthflow, an active landslide that moves as fast as 7 meters per year on the most active portions. It’s been slowly flowing down the mountainside for 1,200 years! The earthflow is recognized by scientists and government agencies as a site rich in research opportunity and of high conservation importance. Additionally, the Slumgullion Center property includes Lake Fork of the Gunnison River frontage and unique forests, as well as habitat for bald eagles, bighorn sheep, black bear, elk, mule deer, moose, and mountain lions. It is visible from the Silver Thread National Scenic Byway and the Alpine Loop Colorado Scenic Byway coming out of Lake City.
San Luis Valley: The following four projects are a part of our Acequia Initiative, which is funded by Natural Resource Conservation Service, Great Outdoors Colorado, the LOR Foundation, the Gates Family Foundation, the Trinchera Blanca Foundation, and the Colorado Conservation Partnership.
San Luis Valley, Aragon Ranch – 198 acres. Located at the base of the 14,000-foot Culebra Peak, Aragon Ranch has a long history in agriculture. This fifth-generation ranch is located just east of San Luis. Three acequias (historic irrigation ditches) irrigate the property. The family raises mixed-breed cows and grows native grass and alfalfa hay to feed the herd in the winter. In addition to the cattle, the ranch provides critical winter habitat for elk herds that migrate through the Sangre de Cristo mountains.
San Luis Valley, Quintana Ranch – 146 acres. This historic ranch supports a family cattle operation, but it is also important to many species of wildlife that utilize this area as a migration corridor as they travel to and from the mountains in the spring and winter. Conservation of this property also protects important cultural resources in this historic community.
San Luis Valley, R&R Family Farms – 348 acres. This 348-acre property is home to a stretch of the beautiful Culebra River and is a testament to the commitment the community shares to keep the land and water together. As a result, key habitat for elk, deer, turkey, bald eagles, and Rio Grande cutthroat trout is protected.
San Luis Valley, Roybal Ranch – 215 acres. This historic ranch is irrigated by two historic acequias, the San Acacio and Francisco Sanchez. The ranch supports grass-fed cattle and sheep, while the livestock share the ranch with many species that utilize this critical wildlife corridor as they travel to and from the mountains in the spring and winter.
South Park, Private Ranch – 1,291 acres. We have accepted a very significant conservation easement on a ranch in South Park, protecting a key elk migration corridor and a rare fen wetland, as well as protecting an iconic view of the Mosquito Range for travelers along Highway 285 in South Park. The easement was essential for the owners to retain family ownership of the land. We are respecting the landowners’ wishes for privacy by keeping the name and location anonymous.
South Park, Buckskin Gulch – 74 acres. The Buckskin Placer property lies between the Alma Cemetery and Pike National Forest west of the Town of Alma. This property was the historic townsite of Buckskin Joe, the original mining district in the area and one-time county seat. The property includes one mile of Buckskin Creek, wetlands, open meadows, aspen and conifer forests, and has been used by the public for camping. Park County Road 12 traverses the property as the route for travelers visiting 14ers Mt. Lincoln, Mt. Bross, and Mt. Democrat. The Town of Alma’s water supply system, including a pond and infiltration gallery, is located on an inholding within the property, so this easement also serves as water supply protection for the Town. One year ago, this property was up for sale with likely development for custom lots with stream frontage, when two community members purchased the property to hold until the Town could buy it. They, along with the Alma Foundation, have saved the property for public open space. The Town of Alma raised funds needed for the purchase and expenses from a GOCO Resilient Communities Grant, the Park County Land & Water Trust Fund, and the Alma Foundation.
Larimer County, Dakota Ridge – 245 acres. COL has partnered with the City of Loveland, Larimer County, and Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) to protect 245 acres along the iconic hogback ridge that stretches between Loveland and Fort Collins. Dakota Ridge will soon include public trail access that will be incorporated into the regional trail system, providing more equitable access to open space across the community.
Larimer County, Table Top – 158 acres. The Preble’s meadow jumping mouse is federally designated as threatened, and worldwide, its only habitat exists in a few counties on the Colorado/Wyoming border. Colorado Open Lands has just protected the first phase of the 222 acres of this habitat with a conservation easement, with the second phase to be completed later this year.
Gunnison County, Ocate Property – 157 acres. The Ocate Property is located within the Cebolla Creek valley. It is bisected by County Road 27 and consists of irrigated meadows and pasture, sagebrush shrublands, and more than one mile of frontage along Cebolla Creek. Habitat is provided for Colorado River cutthroat trout, elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, moose, black bear, mountain lion, and Gunnison Sage-grouse. The landowners are committed to improving the natural resources on the property and have many restoration and enhancement projects occurring on the land. This project was completed in partnership with Gunnison Ranchland Conservation Legacy, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Gunnison Valley Land Preservation Fund.
Gunnison County, Weidler Property – 178 acres. This property east of Gunnison fronts on County Road 46 and is visible by travelers along US Highway 50 on route to Gunnison. The property consists of open irrigated meadows and pasture and contains one-half mile of frontage along a channel of the Tomichi Creek. Wildlife habitat is provided for bald eagle, ferruginous hawk, greater sandhill crane, as well as bighorn sheep, elk, moose, mountain lion, mule deer, and pronghorn. The project was completed in partnership with Natural Resources Conservation Service, Gunnison Valley Land Preservation Fund, and Gunnison Ranchland Conservation Legacy.
San Miguel County, TL Bar Ranch – 9,111 acres. This remarkable ranch with phenomenal scenic views near Telluride includes very important wildlife habitat, and includes over four miles of local creek frontage. Protection of this property increases the amount of protected land within this sage-grouse population by 30%. Many other species migrate through the ranch or make it their home, including elk, mule deer, black bear, mountain lion, bald eagle, and peregrine falcon.
Mountain Area Land Trust
https://www.savetheland.org/ https://www.facebook.com/MountainAreaLandTrustCO/
Conserved, Flying J Ranch private land & historic ranch house: Mountain Area Land Trust (MALT) is pleased to announce the completion of a voluntary private* Conservation Easement on 32 acres in Jefferson County with the landowners of the historic Flying J Ranch. This ranch has been owned by the same family since the 1940’s when Highway 73 was still a dirt road. A large section of the ranch was sold to Jefferson County Open Space in several transactions beginning in 1995, creating the popular Flying J Ranch Open Space. MALT has worked with the landowners to protect the remaining private land surrounding the historic ranch house.
Keep It Colorado, The Source Oct 2021 (news & updates for the conservation community)
Colorado’s Private Lands Conservation Plan ~ Listening Tour: Keep It Colorado is developing the Statewide Private Lands Conservation Plan, a collaborative plan that rallies land trusts and partners around a unified vision for the future of private lands conservation in Colorado. Providing a set of concrete objectives, strategy and vision, the plan will identify urgent areas for protection and create a roadmap for on-the-ground conservation the private lands conservation community wants to achieve in the next 10 years. KIC is reaching out, seeking thought leadership to help guide Colorado’s Statewide Private Lands Conservation Plan and would greatly appreciate taking the time to share your ideas. Please RSVP for one of the dates (Nov. – Jan.) listed on this website for a two-hour virtual Zoom listening session to help in the early design of this plan. https://www.keepitco.org/private-lands-plan
Advisory council launches in October: Keep It Colorado recently formed an advisory council to help guide and shape the development of their Statewide Private Lands Conservation Plan and launched the council with its first meeting this month.
A glimpse at our regrant program for transaction cost assistance: At Keep It Colorado we’re currently busy reviewing grant applications for our Transaction Cost Assistance Program. TCAP provides grants for shovel-ready conservation projects – helping landowners overcome a significant financial barrier associated with voluntarily conserving land. We look forward to sharing details about the lucky recipients in next month’s edition of The Source! In the meantime, read a 2-pager about our accomplishments with this program so far.
A powerful tool for land trusts: The Fall 2021 edition of Saving Land Magazine features a story about using remote monitoring technologies – like satellite and aerial imagery – to monitor conserved lands. The story dives into the many ways remote monitoring creates a multi-layered win for land trusts, how far satellite imaging technology has come, and what’s in store for land monitoring in the future. It mentions Keep It Colorado and our remote monitoring regrant program and highlights our partners Colorado Open Lands and Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT).
Tipping our hat to GOCO for naming Jackie Miller as ED: Keep It Colorado was very excited to hear the news that Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) named Jackie Miller as its new executive director. Jackie has been a valuable partner to Keep It Colorado in her previous role as GOCO’s director of programs, and a stalwart advocate of conservation and stewardship. Now she’ll put her talents, vision, and leadership to a new use as GOCO’s head. Read more here.
Thank you, Governor Polis for making it a priority to protect Colorado’s big game wildlife: Governor Polis’s administration published a report late last month titled Opportunities to Improve Sensitive Habitat and Movement Route Connectivity for Colorado’s Big Game Species. We applaud this report. The big-game wildlife species that call Colorado home and move through our state – such as bighorn sheep, pronghorn, elk, moose, and mule deer – are not just icons. Their health and survivability are essential to a healthy and well-balanced ecosystem and to our state’s economy. Governor Polis’s report is an important action toward protecting big-game wildlife in our state. The private lands conservation community has a role to play – and we look forward to advocating for policy that advances the governor’s vision of habitat management and connectivity across Colorado’s public and private lands.
Water, water everywhere, Resources from our land trusts: Water. It’s a topic that (rightly) concerns every Coloradan. Land trusts are doing their part to address Colorado’s water challenges with water conservation strategies and conservation solutions that address climate change. Interested in learning more? Download these resources: Colorado Open Lands/Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust, “Groundwater Conservation Easements for Aquifer Recovery in the San Luis Valley“; Colorado Open Lands, “Sharing Water to Save the Farm: A Guide to Agricultural-Municipal Water Sharing for Colorado’s Land Conservation Community“.
PROJECT SPOTLIGHT: Sweetwater Lake: Colorado’s 43rd state park. Sweetwater Lake Park is not only Colorado’s newest state park, it is the first state park in the nation to open on land owned by the U.S. Forest Service. The area is a former ranch. The Forest Service bought the ranch this summer from The Conservation Fund, which purchased the property in 2021, partly through a fundraising campaign organized by the Eagle Valley Land Trust. Huge kudos to these coalition members for a stellar win – and thank you to all of the community members who helped make this vision possible! Learn more in this Colorado Public Radio story and on Eagle Valley Land Trust’s website.
PROJECT SPOTLIGHT: A piece of Smith Hill is saved. Thanks to a partnership between the Town of Crested Butte and Crested Butte Land Trust, a 59-acre parcel known as Kikel Lot 3 on Smith Hill, between Lupine 2 and Gunsight Connector trails, will be conserved forever. This scenic stretch of land provides important wildlife habitat and historic cattle grazing lands, and its local trails will remain accessible to the public for continued recreation. Recognizing how important conservation and stewardship are to the Crested Butte area’s local lands and natural environment, the community came together to swiftly save this parcel of land from development. Congratulations, Crested Butte Land Trust!
MEET YOUR LOCAL LAND TRUST: Colorado West Land Trust. Region: Western Colorado. Mission: To protect and enhance agricultural land, wildlife habitat and scenic lands in western Colorado to benefit the community at large, enrich lives, provide opportunities for outdoor recreation, and ensure our connection to land for generations to come. Thanks to the work of Colorado West Land Trust and partners, middle school students are learning and engaging in the Monument Corridor Restoration Project, restoring native vegetation along No Thoroughfare Wash and the paved Monument Trail. Read more.
Follow the postings from other Conservation Groups, listed at the bottom of our web pages:
Colorado Open Space Alliance (COSA)
Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust
Jefferson County – Sustainability Commission
Do you have questions about the County Climate Action Plan? Meetings, members and resources? Sustainability awards and the Sustainability Foundation? Find out more at https://www.jeffco.us/3406/Sustainability-Commission
Jefferson County – COVID-19 Updates
Confused about COVID? Find out the latest alerts, recommendations and requirements at https://www.jeffco.us/3999/Coronavirus-Disease-2019-COVID-19
Denver – Park Hill Golf Course and Growth
Denver ballot measures 301 and 302: Voters favor open space over development at Park Hill golf course. Read the full story at https://www.denverpost.com/2021/11/02/denver-election-results-2021-ordinance-301-302-park-hill-golf-course/
Gross Reservoir Updates
Boulder County Commissioners accept Gross Reservoir settlement
Boulder County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to accept a settlement agreement from Denver Water, giving up the county’s right to review the controversial Gross Reservoir expansion in exchange for $12.5 million in mitigation for nearby residents and the environmental impacts of the project.
Denver Water had sued Boulder County in federal court in July, claiming that because it already had federal permits to begin construction on the Gross Reservoir expansion, it was exempt from the county’s land-use review process. County commissioners had hoped to use that process to alter or stop entirely a project that has been unpopular with local residents and environmentalists.
“I hope the public knows that this decision is so complex,” Commissioner Marta Loachamin said. “If we could stop the expansion, that would be my vote.”
The $12.5 million includes $5 million to mitigate construction impacts on nearby residents, $5.1 million to Boulder County Open Space to purchase new land or repair trails, $1.5 million to mitigate construction greenhouse gas emissions and $1 million for South St. Vrain Creek Restoration. Denver Water will also transfer 70 acres of land near the reservoir to the county to be added to Walker Ranch Open Space.
County commissioners unanimously said that they did not like the settlement agreement or the project as a whole, but felt they could not win in court. And because of the construction timelines imposed by its federal permit, Denver Water said it would pull the settlement offer and continue with litigation if the commissioners did not accept it Tuesday.
https://grossreservoir.org/news-and-updates/
https://www.bouldercounty.org/property-and-land/land-use/planning/denver-water-gross-reservoir/
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/gross-reservoir-and-dam-expansion-2428685/
Climate Change Articles of Interest
Bees, sheep, crops: solar developers tout multiple benefits: Integrating solar farms and agriculture can be a win-win for all. AP News, https://tinyurl.com/4du6tdy7
This story aired on NPR 11/14/21 https://www.npr.org/2021/11/14/1054942590/solar-energy-colorado-garden-farm-land
Amazon birds are shrinking as the climate warms, prompting warning from scientists NPR 11/15/21 https://www.npr.org/2021/11/15/1055928174/birds-in-brazilian-amazon-shrinking-climate-change-study-shows
Fire Season Updates
DNR announces Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program & specialcCollaboration with the Dept. of Corrections Wildland Inmate Fire Teams. The Colorado Department of Natural Resources announced the launch of the Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program and highlighted the special collaboration with their partners, the Department of Corrections (DOC), State Wildland Inmate Fire Team (SWIFT) https://www.thefencepost.com/news/dnr-announces-colorado-strategic-wildfire-action-program-special-collaboration-with-dept-of-corrections-wildland-inmate-fire-teams/
And there you have it. This is part of what we do, who we follow, what we’re interested in, because Conservation just doesn’t happen by itself…it takes a community to make it work. And as always, stay well, stay safe, be conservation-minded at all times.
