Miss Manners – Winter Contemplation 2022

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Hygge: Hot Chocolate in front of fireplace

It’s called hygge, defined as a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being. It’s a defining characteristic of Danish culture, where winters can be long and dark and cold.

Here in the middle of a North American winter, we’ve been experiencing some pretty darn chilly days.  A little bit of hygge (purse your lips and say hu-gue) might feel pretty good right now, so I invite you to join me in front of the fireplace. 

A few reminders that I hope you take to heart:

  • It’s time for the earth, its flora and its fauna, to conserve energy and renew;
  • Most plants are dormant, they take this opportunity to rest up for renewed activity in the warmer days ahead;
  • Many animals are in a survival mode, on minimum rations, so leave them alone.

If you can’t resist venturing out into the parks at this time of year:

  • Dress in layers, stay hydrated, take along a snack, and wear water-proof boots;
  • When meeting others on the trail, keep your distance, announce your presence as appropriate, and wear a mask if you need to;
  • When in the parks, stay on the trail. If the trail is muddy, hike in the mud, don’t start a new parallel trail, or just turn around and fine another trail in better condition;
  • Know before you go.

 

Alternatively, give Nature the chance to restore itself. Put on your warmest socks, make yourself some hot chocolate (or pour a glass of wine), turn on your favorite music and enjoy the quiet time at home.

Winter by Rick Warr, June 2017

time to stop
hunker down
withdraw
think
reflect
celebrate silence
hibernate
conserve
hug
roast
contemplate
regenerate
sleep
dream
breathe fresh air
enjoy winter
the quiet season

 

Looking forward to seeing you in the 2022 springtime. Until then, stay safe!
Miss Manners

Miss Mountain Manners-PLAN Jeffco

Open Space Update – January 2022

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It’s a new year,  with all manner of new adventures waiting for us at our Open Space Parks. Let’s see what JCOS has been up to over our mid-winter holidays…

 

BOETTCHER MANSION INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS

Boettcher Mansion pergola being disasembled by Open Space Park Construction Team.

The loading dock at Boettcher Mansion underwent an infrastructure improvement during the month of December. The 14-year-old pergola was showing signs of wood rot in the overhead beams. Since it was a safety hazard, it had to be removed. The pergola was not an original part of the building, so the decision was made to remove rather than repair/rebuild. Instead of using outside contractors for this task, Boettcher Mansion partnered with the Open Space Park Construction Team and saved nearly $7,000 in cost, according to Jeffco Open Space & Parks. Photo by Boettcher Mansion Supervisor, Megan Kreutzer.

 

CATHEDRAL SPIRES PARK GETS SOME ROCK WORK

Cathedral Spires Park gets new rock work.

Cathedral Spires Park got a facelift, thanks to the Front Range climbing Stewards and the Boulder Climbing Community. The two groups improved 2800 feet of trail and built multiple sculpted and shaped rock staircases to enhance the hiking experience.  Reminder: Cathedral Spires closes on March 1st to protect nesting raptors. The seasonal closure will be lifted at the beginning of August.

 

COAL CREEK CANYON BIGHORN SHEEP COUNT

Coal Creek Canyon bighorn sheep count winter '22

The Open Space Natural Resources team assisted Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) in their Winter Bighorn Sheep Count on December 16th of last year. This part of the count was in Clear Creek Canyon, and it yielded very interesting results – 25 bighorn sheep in total. The largest group, 14 in size, was a mix of rams, ewes and yearlings, browsing and sunning near Tunnel 3. The CPW annual count provides valuable information on the extent of the bighorns’ winter range and population demographics. Thanks to Pepper Canterbury and Bryan Posthumus from CPW for the wrap up and photos.

 

COAL CREEK CANYON HUNTING MENTOR PROGRAM

Coal Creek Canyon hunting mentor program participants, winter '22.

The Coal Creek Canyon Study Area is still under study and development, but JCOS does host a game management mentor hunt each year. This program teaches proper hunter stewardship to mentees, one of whom had this to say:

“I am really appreciative and thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the mentored hunt program. I was interested in hunting but was really overwhelmed with how to get started and what to do on my first hunt. The mentored hunt program was a chance of a lifetime and I learned so much from my mentors. Not only did I learn about hunting, but some of the most important lessons were about ethics and what it means to be a responsible and safe hunter. I have shared my experience with many people and have encouraged the new hunters who are interested to look for similar programs. I plan to continue hunting and hope to pass on the lessons I learned to other new hunters. I think this program is really important especially [sic] to ensure that new hunters are safe and ethical. Really appreciate the folks at Jeffco for allowing us to hunt on the public space.”

 

ELK MEADOW – STAGECOACH TRAILHEAD IMPROVEMENTS ARE BEGINNNG

Schematic of the proposed improvements to the Elk Meadow Park Stagecoach Trailhead.

The Stagecoach Trailhead at Elk Meadow Park is finally getting an upgrade. Improvements will include increased parking, a new restroom, and a safe road crossing to connect to the (future) trails at Jenkins Peak. The project is in design mode right now, with construction beginning as soon as possible. The expected completion date will be the end of 2023.

 

PINE VALLEY RANCH HOSTS ICE RESCUE CERTIFICATION FOR JCOS RANGERS

JCOS Rangers at Pine Valley Ranch Park, ice rescue training.

Our JCOS Rangers are not just a group of good-looking faces, they work hard, and they have special skills. Here at Pine Lake, at the Pine Valley Ranch Park, Rangers are in the final phases of their initial Ice Rescue Certification training.

We highly recommend that you do not test these Rangers’ new skills. As per the posting at https://www.jeffco.us/1428/Pine-Valley-Ranch-Park

“As of 1/7/22 winter activities (skating and fishing) are allowed on Pine Valley Lake until the ice melts to less than 8″ thickness at any of the 14 tests sites. Ice is never safe, recreate at your own risk.”

 

JCOS AND SCHOOL OF MINES ARE BUILDING BRIDGES

Colorado School of Mines Senior Capstone project, a modular, packable bridge.

For a few years now, JCOS has been sponsoring a Senior Capstone Project at the Colorado School of Mines. It’s not unusual for a corporate or governmental organization to partner with educational institutions this way – the students get to engage in real-life problem-solving, while the partner organization can reap the benefits of the students’ work.

This year the CSM students were tasked with designing a modular trail bridge, light enough to be backpacked, expandable enough to span 40 feet, and strong enough to support 1700 pounds.

The students produced a lightweight bridge made of multiple 4-foot-long, 45-pound segments. The photo above is a 16-foot-long prototype that was assembled at the December OSAC meeting. The bridge will be deployed and tested in the parks as soon as weather permits.

 

LEAVE NO TRACE – A REMINDER

Respect the boundaries established at the Open Space Parks.

Leave No Trace is a set of outdoor ethics created by the Leave No Trace Center of Outdoor Ethics promoting conservation in the outdoors. It consists of seven principles:

  • plan ahead and prepare,
  • travel and camp on durable surfaces,
  • dispose of waste properly,
  • leave what you find,
  • minimize campfire impacts,
  • respect wildlife,
  • be considerate of other visitors.

These principles have been adapted to different activities, ecosystems and environments. https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/

When you see signs like the one above in our Open Space Parks, be respectful. If the trail is closed, don’t walk it. There’s a reason the trail is closed, so stay out of the area. When you’re hiking on open trails, stay on the trails, even if they’re muddy. Staying on designated trails will avoid damage to the vegetation and will reduce fragmentation of habitat.

 

VIRTUAL LAND STEWARDSHIP SPEAKER SERIES

Mary Ann Bonnell, author, speaker, JeffCo Open Space Ranger1

Each month, on the evening of the 3rd Wednesday of the month, JCOS hosts a Land Stewardship speaker, who talks about something pertinent to the Open Space parks. This year, in 2022, the speaker series is going virtual.

The series will open on February 16, 6:00-7:30 PM, with Mary Ann Bonnell, Jeffco Open Space Visitor Services Director, who will provide information, data-driven tips, tricks, and trends that will help you minimize the impact of your next park visit.

For information about upcoming events go to https://www.jeffco.us/1986/Land-Stewardship-Series.

 

TOILET PAPER FUN FACTS

If you’ve done any hiking or biking or riding in our Open Space Parks, you know how welcome those restrooms can be.  Do you have any idea how much toilet paper is used in a year? Here’s a fun fact…in 2021, the Park Services Team, with an assist from the Ranger Team, supplied over 300 miles of TP to the Parks facilities.

Next time you encounter a Park Services Team member, or a Ranger who is servicing the rest rooms at a park, say thank you for a job well done!

It’s definitely winter in the Parks. Miss Mountain Manners wants to remind all Park Visitors to recreate responsibly. Be prepared. Wintertime weather can be fickle. It can be sunny and dry at the trailhead while the trails at altitude can be icy and treacherous, with mud in between. Know before you go, 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; even in the winter 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!

Miss Mountain Manners-PLAN Jeffco

 

Open Space Update – December 2021

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As 2021 winds to an end, it’s time to check in on Jeffco Open Space and see what they’ve been up to. This autumn has delivered exceptionally fine weather, and JCOS has been taking advantage of it…

Centennial Cone Park is closed for hunting 12/1-1/31

The late-season hunting access at Centennial Cone Park began December 1, closing the park to all other uses through the end of January. Mayhem Gulch parking lot along US Hwy 6 will remain open this year for access to the Peaks to Plains Trail and Clear Creek Canyon Park.

Hunting is allowed during a seasonal closure at Centennial Cone Park, and by permit only. The late season hunting access occurs December 1 through January 31 of each year. The Park is closed to all other use during this season. Permit applicants must hold a valid late season antler-less elk, female or either sex deer license issued by Colorado Parks and Wildlife for the Jefferson County portion of Game Management Unit 38. Private Land Only licenses are not valid at Centennial Cone Park. Colorado Parks and Wildlife provides a list of eligible hunters for this area to Jeffco Open Space. Jeffco Open Space will then notify these eligible hunters about applying for a Centennial Cone Park hunting access permit. Permits are not available to hunters that have not qualified through the appropriate licensing process.

 

Coal Creek Study Area Deer Hunt Ends

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) hosted guided youth and novice adult hunting in the Coal Creek Study Area over the past couple months. CPW Youth and Novice Adult Hunting Programs offer safe, educational, and ethical guided hunting with experienced CPW hunters. This year’s program had a 50% harvest rate, one hunter per group actually. All had samples taken to test for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) but none of the deer showed clinical signs of being sick. The group saw more bucks in that area than does and the does they did see were often accompanied by small fawns. They also spotted several small groups of bachelor bulls and four moose! Thanks to Pepper Canterbury and Bryan Posthumus from CPW for the wrap up and photos.

 

Elk Meadow Park Usability Project

Twenty volunteers helped remove noxious weeds and improve the usability of Painters Pause Trail at Elk Meadow Park on October 9. Participants spread four tons of road base material which will harden sections of the trail tread, making it more passable for visitors using mobility devices; which directly supports Goal 8 of the JCOS Conservation Greenprint – Easy and Equitable Access. Following a National Trails Day event in 2022, this effort will create a three-mile loop at Elk Meadow Park for visitors with mobility devices. A big thanks goes out to our Trails and Natural Resources Teams for leading our volunteers on project today.

 

Forest Restoration and Wildfire Mitigation at Meyer Ranch Park Begins This Winter

Starting this month (December), JCOS will treat approximately 37 acres of ponderosa, aspen, mixed conifer, and lodgepole forests in Meyer Ranch Park. This work will focus on healthy forest structure, aspen enhancement, and wildfire risk reduction. Work is scheduled for completion by the end of 2022 and will contribute to our Conservation Greenprint goal for improving forest health on 1,000 acres of JCOS lands by the year 2025.

Visitors should expect brief and rolling trail closures, loud equipment, and temporary impacts such as rutting on the south half of the park. Please give crews space, be aware of signs, and respect closures! Large trees will be removed in some areas to create healthy, natural forest conditions; mimicking natural events and creating valuable habitat for many important wildlife and plant communities. For more information: Meyer Ranch Park Forest Restoration Fact Sheet (PDF)

 

Hiwan Fall Program Season Short but Sweet

Volunteers and staff at Hiwan Museum welcomed over 300 students and teachers this fall for nine COVID-adjusted Pioneer History and custom programs. This included making 18 journey cakes (that’s 27 sticks of butter!) and some chilly mornings in the replica 1876 school room and 1895 mercantile. Though limited in number, these programs were meaningful, as evidenced by many behind-the-mask smiles and one teacher nearly in tears with joy about bringing her students once again.

 

GOCO Tests Trash Tactics

Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) has been testing a fun decal/sound combo that encourages folks to put trash in the trash can at five different trailheads, Meyer Ranch, Flying J, Lair O’ the Bear, west Mount Falcon Parks, and Dinosaur Ridge. Each can will be outfitted with decals that will give the can monster teeth and a motion-triggered sound device, so it makes a noise any time someone throws trash in it. We are a test lab for GOCO’s innovative “get trash in the can” initiative. If you are out at any of these parks, be sure to check out these fun, new stewardship additions!

 

Volunteer visit to bird banding station

Volunteers and Natural Resources staff recently visited the Barr Lake State Park bird banding station that is run by the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (BCR). Between two visits, they saw seven different species of migrating song birds. BCR manages over 20 mist nets at this location to capture and survey birds as they move through the area during their migration. Each bird receives a custom fitted identifying leg band and undergoes some body measurements.

 

Seed Collection at Coal Creek Canyon Study Area

The Natural Resources Team held a seed collection event to collect stiff sunflower (Helianthus rigidus) at Ranson Edwards in Coal Creek Canyon Study Area, with the Society of Ecological Restoration (SER) student chapter from CSU. This collection was a good educational event for these students to learn about the intricacies and nuances of collecting native ecotypic seed while learning about what the JCOS Natural Resources Team does on a day-to-day basis. Seed will be used in seed mixes to help revegetate and restore areas of disturbance.

 

Wildfire Season Is Now Year-round: Mitigation and Safety Reminders

With record low snowfall this year, fire danger remains a major concern across Jefferson County. As of November 19, the Jefferson County Sheriff implemented temporary Stage 1 Fire Restrictions for all lands in unincorporated Jefferson County. This means the use of fireworks, fire outside of a permanent fire grate, bonfires, certain types of shooting, and smoking outside of a vehicle, building, or barren area are all strictly prohibited. As always, Jeffco Open Space (JCOS) parks remain under a permanent, year-round fire ban.

You can reduce the risk of wildfire in the County by reporting fire restriction violations or suspected wildfire smoke, and by mitigating your own property by disposing of woody debris. Thank you to all Jeffco residents who mitigated their property and participated in the 2021 SLASH program. This year, nearly 28,000 cubic yards of woody material was removed from the land thanks to your hard work! Stay tuned for an upcoming schedule of 2022 SLASH collections.

Holiday Closures

Please know before you go as many of our facilities will be closed throughout the next couple of months.

Jeffco Open Space Headquarters, Lookout Mountain Nature Center, and Hiwan Museum Closed: December 24-25

Hiwan Museum Closed for Cleaning: January 1-21

Balloons & Parks Don’t Mix – So Don’t!

Did you know that when released balloons have been known to travel over 1000 miles? Or that latex balloons advertised as biodegradable can still take years to decompose due to chemicals added in the manufacturing process? Both latex and mylar balloons are often eaten by wildlife that mistake them for food, or break down into microplastics, which pollute our waterways and eventually make it into our food.  The next time you’re thinking of a celebratory or memorial balloon release consider some eco-friendly options like blowing bubbles, planting a tree or flowers, or flying a kite.

 

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!

Miss Mountain Manners-PLAN Jeffco

 

Conservation Smart Brief 12/14/2021

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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:

The Secret is Out! Park Overcrowding!
In Memoriam: Sue Davis, JCOS Volunteer

 

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)

https://www.keepitco.org/

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)

Colorado Native Plant Society

Douglas Land Conservancy

Land Trust Alliance

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

https://www.dailycamera.com/2021/11/02/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.

 

The Secret Is Out! Park Overcrowding!

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Miss Mountain Manners here. THE SECRET IS OUT. Everyone seems to know that the place to be is outside in our Open Space parks. How did that happen, and how do we deal with the fact that there are toooo many people out there: hikers, bikers, riders, runners – you name it. Can we live with each other? What about 50 years from now?? (The open space program will be 50 years young in 2022.) What are the alternatives???

Rocky Mtn National Park overcrowdingWe aren’t alone. The national parks are being overrun. National Park attendance has spiked since 2019 (327 million visitors) with usage of many parks doubling (2020 use was down due to COVID and park closures). Rocky Mountain National Park was one of the parks to have been heavily impacted.*

Almost 5 million people entered RMNP in 2019. In a 5280 article, September 2020, Elizabeth Kwak-Hefferan listed “8 Ways To Ease Overcrowding At Our National Parks”.

 

1) Shut the Gates – require advanced reservations; a timed-entry permit system.

2) Ditch the Cars – off park parking/shuttles. (Build more parking lots? – but, if you build them, they will come)

3) Alter Pricing – charge more at high demand times: but this raises the issues of fairness and equity.

4) Point out the Road Less Traveled – direct visitors to our less-crowded areas.

5) Manage the Ick – modernized toilets can reduce waste build-up by 40%.

6) Ask People Not to Do It for the ‘Glam – omit the specific location details of your photos.

7) Spread the Love – e.g. Black Canyon of the Gunnison ranks 45th out of 62 national park units in recreation visits.

8) Do Your Part – don’t be part of the traffic. Follow solutions 2, 4, and 7.

While not as overwhelmed as our National Parks, Jeffco Open Space saw more than 8 million visitors in 2020. Will heavy traffic and overuse force us to try some of these tactics at our Jeffco Open Space Parks? We now have 28 Open Space Parks spread out over 55,000+ acres. Acquisition is still a high priority, with many additional acres preserved in 2020 and 2021 (with more coming in 2022). Many of these additions will not be open to public for quite a while (and in some cases never, in order to protect sensitive flora and fauna), so it will be hard to develop or “buy” our way out of the overuse dilemma.

Miss Mountain Manners wants you to “Do Your Part” – Be a wise and considerate user of Open Space. Follow the rules: Leave no Trace – pack out all trash and dog waste, and place in the proper receptacles at the trailheads; Be courteous and inclusive – slow down and announce your presence when passing other visitors on the trail; Don’t park illegally – use shuttles, Lot Spot or Lyft; Stay home if sick, Keep your distance, Carry a mask – just in case you get too close to strangers; Stay on the trail – avoid vegetation if you need to step off-trail.

Understand that Natural Areas have a maximum carrying capacity; do your part to protect our Open Space Parks!

 

*Update: Rocky Mountain National Park will be resuming its reservation system in 2022. “Rocky Mountain National Park was the third-most visited national park in the country in 2019, with over 4.6 million visitors. Visitors experience a high level of congestion in many areas of the park from late May through early October.” For more information on the RMNP reservation system go here.

Miss Mountain Manners-PLAN Jeffco

In Memoriam – Sue Davis, JCOS Volunteer

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Sue Davis, a long-time Jeffco Open Space Volunteer, passed away this last summer.  She will be sorely missed by her many OS colleagues. Teddy Newman, Senior Customer Service Representative and one of those colleagues, wrote a lovely tribute to Sue and her accomplishments:

“We learned yesterday afternoon that one of our volunteers, Sue Davis, passed away. As an Open Space volunteer for 20 years & 7 months, Sue is a member of our Open Space family who will be missed by many. She served as a Park Patroller, an Information Specialist & Nature Educator at the Lookout Mountain Nature Center & as a Welcome Center Information Specialist.

From her home on Lookout Mountain, Sue had incredible views of some of our parks and she never tired of pointing them out to her visitors. Sue had a great love of & passion for all things Jeffco Open Space. I’m sure she & her honey Jake, who was also one of our volunteers, will be keeping a watchful eye over our parks.”

Teddy Newman

Customer Service Representative, Senior

 

Rest in Peace, Sue.

 

2020-2025 Conservation Greenprint

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If you’re a frequent Open Space Park Visitor, maybe you’ve noticed there have been quite a few changes lately.  If you’ve ever wondered why, and what’s happening to the Parks, here’s your chance to find out. There’s a document called The Jefferson County Open Space 2020-2025 Conservation Greenprint that lays out what the goals are for the next half-decade.

The Conservation Greenprint is part of a set of documents called the Jeffco Open Space 2020 – 2025 Conservation Greenprint References, which you can peruse by clicking here.

We have a summary copy of the Conservation Greenprint in our Library, which you can read and download by clicking here.

While you’re in reading mode, we also have downloadable copies of the Jeffco Open Space 2020 Preservation Progress Annual Report and the Dinosaur Ridge Master Plan 2019 in our Library — so stop and by and have a read!

Subscribe, share, follow us at @PLANJeffco, @MannersMountain, Facebook.com/PLANJeffco — we appreciate your support!

Miss Mountain Manners-PLAN Jeffco

 

 

Rideshare Adds New Parks

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JCOS’ pilot program shuttles visitors to and from the Open Space parks while avoiding the hassle of overcrowded trailhead parking has expanded!

Partnering with Lyft, new Parks have been added to the Rideshare Discount. Now hikers can ride to the following Park trailheads with reduced fare:

North Table Mountain Park – West Trailhead
White Ranch Park – East Trailhead
South Table Mountain Park – Camp George West Trailhead
South Table Mountain Park – Golden Hills Access
Mount Falcon Park – Morrison Trailhead
Van Bibber Park – East & West Trailheads
Matthews/Winters Park
Dino Ridge Visitor Center
Crown Hill Park

Through December 31, Lyft users can take advantage of a $2.50 reduction in their fare each direction by using code JCOS2021 in the “rewards” section of the Lyft app. Discounts will be valid during park hours, seven days a week, to the locations listed above.

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!

Miss Mountain Manners-PLAN Jeffco

 

What the Poo, and Socks, Too?

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Welch Ditch Bridge with fall colorsIsn’t this a gorgeous sight? Here we are at the Welch Ditch Bridge, the third and western-most of the three bridges that cross Clear Creek between the Gateway Segment Trailhead and the Tunnel One Trailhead.

Recently, Miss Mountain Manners was walking the Clear Creek Gateway Segment Trail, and what a beautiful experience that was. She was just past the Tough Cuss Bridge (the middle bridge), when she ran into this:

Miss Mountain Manners wants to thank the person who did 2/3 of “the right thing”. First, that person brought their own poo bag (poo bags provided at the Trailhead that day were bright orange). Next, that person bagged their puppy’s poo. But then Miss Mountain Manners got confused: why leave the poo bag on the trail? Why not carry it out?

I know what some of you are thinking — that person left the bag and was going to pick it up on the way back. Turns out, that was not the case — this trail is out and back again. Miss Mountain Manners decided to give this person the benefit of the doubt and walked all the way to trail’s end, but did not see anyone walking a dog. Sadly, this poo bag was left behind for the Poop Fairy to collect.

Miss Mountain Manners has news for this person: THERE IS NO POOP FAIRY. Two-thirds of “the right thing” is a good start; next time let’s take it all the way to the finish line and carry it out! Leave no trace; pack it in, pack it out!

Poo bags abandoned along trails are a persistent problem in almost all our Open Space Parks. Miss Mountain Manners should be grateful that most of our visitors do bag their pup’s poo and indeed, pack it out (kudos to the several puppy-walkers she saw with poo bags on their belts), but it’s truly discouraging that some dog-people cannot be bothered to carry out their bags — or even to bag the poo, but that’s another topic for another day.

Miss Mountain Manners was in for another surprise. Continuing on, just west of the Welch Ditch Bridge she found that someone had left behind a pair of stinky socks, hung on one Poo bag and dirty socks collected during the walkof the wire fence rails.  To the young man who left those behind, did you really think that the Sock Fairy was going to wash them and darn the hole in the toe for you? Did you not have a pocket to stuff them in so you could carry them out? Leave no trace; pack it in, pack it out!

By the time Miss Mountain Manners got back to the Gateway Segment Trailhead, she was glad for all the very polite and well-behaved Visitors she’d encountered (although she wasn’t sure that letting an 8-year walk along the top of the stone walls was a good idea!). She hopes that Visitors who walk or hike with their pups will be more mindful of their behaviour — after all, if your pup had an “accident” in a friend’s house, surely you’d clean up after your fur-baby, wouldn’t you? Our Open Space Parks are home to the wild things who live there, and we should respect that. Leave no trace; pack it in, pack it out!

As to that young man who left his socks hanging on the fence rail, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!?

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!

Miss Mountain Manners-PLAN Jeffco