Dear Open Space and Art Lovers, For more than 40 years PLAN Jeffco has worked for the protection and conservation of our open spaces. Because of our initiatives, Jefferson County established the first county-wide Open Space lands program and has protected more than 55,000 acres of open space lands with outstanding scenic, natural or recreational […]
PLAN Jeffco 2015 Annual Dinner with the County Commissioners to Celebrate 43 years of Conserving Jeffco’s Open Spaces “Celebrating Jeffco Land Trusts” Date: September 21, 2015 Location: The Vista at Applewood Golf Course, 14001 W 32nd Ave, Golden, CO 80401 Honorees: Clear Creek Land Conservancy, Colorado Open Lands and Mountain Area Land Trust. Their efforts have protected over […]
On September 29, seventeen members of the “Tuesday Birders” spent four and one-half hours looking for and counting birds at the West (upper) end of Mount Falcon Open Space Park. One hundred ninety-five individual birds, representing 31 species, were sighted. At the upper park’s elevation, about 7800 feet, both plains and mountain species can be […]
by Vicky Gits Mountain Area Land Trust’s first success was helping to preserve Elk Meadow Open Space Park near Evergreen, one of the most visible and most loved scenic parks in the foothills area. Mountain Area Land Trust Location: Evergreen Year founded: 1992 Executive director: Jeanne Beaudry Conservation easements in Jefferson County: 47 Acres preserved in Jefferson County: 7,567 Total […]
by Vicky Gits Clear Creek Land Conservancy works in the Clear Creek drainage basin from the Continental Divide to Golden, covering parts of Clear Creek, Gilpin and Jefferson counties. Its focus is Clear Creek Canyon, a ruggedly beautiful and historically development-threatened area. Clear Creek Land Conservancy Location: Golden Year founded: 1986 Executive director: Claire Riegelman Jefferson County: 1,901.7 Gilpin […]
by Vicky Gits “Colorado Open Lands was an experiment. It was the incorporation of a citizens effort to save what Coloradans love about Colorado,” wrote former Gov. Richard Lamm (1975 to 1987) in an introduction to COL’s 30th anniversary report in 2011. Colorado Open Lands Location: Lakewood Year founded: 1982 Executive director: Tony Caligiuri Conservation easements in Jefferson […]
This morning, Governor Hickenlooper signed Colorado Senate Bill 15-206 into law, providing greater financial return to landowners who wish to protect their land and water with a conservation easement. Effective January 1, 2015, the bill increases the amount of the individual conservation easement tax credit in Colorado to 75% of the first $100,000 of the […]
Open Space held their Second Trails Talk program at the Mountaineering Center April 29. Trails Talks are planned for the spring and fall of each year to make the public aware of the trails activities and to obtain feedback from the public. About 40 public and 15 staff were present. Tom Hoby, Open Space Director, […]
Image: Great-horned owlets in the nest, sighted at Chatfield State Park. Photo by Rob Raker. Hiking, biking and horse-back riding are not the only things that you can do in the open spaces of Jefferson County. Ann Bonnell, long-time PLAN Jef fco Board Member and volunteer naturalist (and inveterate birder) for Roxborough State Park, South […]
Tuesday Birders, led by Ann Bonnell, Dave Hill, and Phil Gerkin, visited Bear Creek Lake Park, a City of Lakewood Park, on March 31st for a four-hour walk amidst 58° – 75° weather to record bird species and numbers. The following is their report: Leader(s): Ann Bonnell, Dave Hill, Phil Gerkin Observers: 30 (three groups) Time: 0845-1300 Distance: 7.25 […]