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.
Aspen Grove in Autumn, photo courtesy of Peter Morales, PLAN Jeffco Co-President
Conservation Smart Brief, September 23, 2021:
Recently posted to our website:
https://planjeffco.org/2021/09/07/sylvia-brockner-1919-2021-in-memoriam/
https://planjeffco.org/2021/08/31/open-space-update-aug-2021/
https://planjeffco.org/2021/08/31/conservation-smart-brief-8-26-2021-2/
Jeffco Open Space News & Events
Sept 25th (Saturday), National Public Lands Day Volunteer Project Spend the day giving back to your public lands by volunteering with Jeffco Open Space and The City of Wheat Ridge to clean up Clear Creek and Peaks to Plains Trails. Join us along Clear Creek Trail near the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt 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. End the day with a celebration at Anderson Park, FREE FOOD & FUN!
Sept 25th (Saturday), Fall Colors Enjoy a late afternoon walk with a Native Plant Master along easy trails. Discover the importance of our native plants to wildlife and humans while strolling through fall colors. Geared for ages 13+.
Oct 7th (Thursday) Open Space Advisory Committee Meeting
Parks & Trails Current Alerts – Know before you go!
Jeffco Fairgrounds
https://www.jeffco.us/calendar.aspx?CID=27
COVID-19 Testing September 22-25, and 27-30, 7AM – 5PM @ Campground More Details
JCPH Vaccine Clinic September 22, 23, 29, 30, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM @ Parking Lot – Rodeo Arena More Details
Safety in Faith Summit September 23, 2021, 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM @ Exhibit Halls 1, 2, 3, North & South Kitchen, More Details
Transportation & Construction GIRL Day September 28, 2021, 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM @ Exhibit Halls and Parking Lots
Posted September 14th on FB: These moose [mom and twins] were spotted this weekend at Kenosha Pass! As you embark on your leaf-peeping trips this autumn, keep in mind that much of the expansive view into the valley floor from the top of Kenosha Pass is preserved forever with land conservation work by COL! https://fb.watch/8ble2uvLFF/
Posted September 13th on FB: TL Bar Ranch conserved in perpetuity. The 9,111-acre TL Bar Ranch property is located in San Miguel County, about 18 miles northwest of Telluride and 8 miles south of Norwood. This productive agricultural ranch includes sagebrush rangelands, irrigated meadows, aspen and pine forests, and also includes over four miles of local creek frontage. The scenic values are phenomenal, heightened by the abutting U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands and conserved private property. … Homesteaded as early as 1894, the ranch has been a productive commercial livestock operation since that time. From the 1920s under her passing in 1979, much of the ranch was owned by Marie Scott, as part of her 100,000-acre ranch operation stretching from Ridgway to Utah. This project was completed in partnership with Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Event: For Love Of The Land, Thursday evening 10/14/21. Location: Seawell Ballroom at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Keynote Speaker will be Kirk Johnson, Sant Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and former VP/Chief Curator of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. For more information and ticket purchase go to https://coloradoopenlands.org/the-q-for-conservation/.
Posted 9/08/21: Job Opening – Stewardship Director. The Stewardship Director will coordinate the management of MALT’s four Fee Title Properties. In addition, the Director will coordinate and direct all stewardship activities for the 80 plus conservation easements held by MALT and assist the Land and Water Conservation Director with the development of conservation easements and public projects. Details and how to apply, https://savetheland.org/jobs-opportunities/
Keep It Colorado, Member Matters Newsletter, August 12, 2021 (members-only news & updates) https://www.keepitco.org/
Report published August 2021: This month Keep It Colorado and the Land Trust Alliance published a study about a pilot initiative Keep It Colorado launched last year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study outlines in-depth 12 land trusts’ use of remote sensing technologies, such as satellite imagery, to remotely monitor properties as an alternative to in-person monitoring in 2020. Through focus groups, surveys and interviews with the participating land trusts, we discovered that by and large, remote technologies help reduce the costs, personnel hours and carbon emissions typically associated with observing and documenting changes to conserved landscapes. We were thrilled to be able to offer this pilot program to our members. Many thanks to Great Outdoors Colorado and the Gates Family Foundation for generously funding Keep It Colorado’s regrant program – which enabled us to offer $205,000 in grants to our land trusts!
2021 summer regional meetings: Coming together for conservation: As we mentioned in last month’s The Source, this summer Keep It Colorado staff have had the tremendous opportunity to travel around the state to convene with our members face-to-face. These regional meetings were packed with conversation, learning and sharing, as well as some social time and visits to conservation projects. We capped off the regional meeting season with a virtual gathering for those who were unable to travel. In all, 86 individuals attended, representing 30 of our member organizations from across the state. We had the distinct pleasure of welcoming GOCO’s new regional officers to these meetings as well – thanks for your ongoing support, GOCO!
PROJECT SPOTLIGHT: Our coalition members conserve and steward thousands of acres of land across the state. Each month we’ll celebrate this work by featuring 1-2 completed projects.
Slumgullion Center: At the toe of an earthflow
Working in partnership, Colorado Open Lands (COL) and the Lake Fork Valley Conservancy (LFVC), have permanently protected the Slumgullion Center property in Hinsdale County, between Lake San Cristobal and Lake City. This 58-acre property owned by LFVC comprises the toe of the Slumgullion Earthflow, an active landslide that moves as fast as seven meters per year on the most active portions. It’s been slowly flowing down the mountainside for twelve hundred years! The unique name, “Slumgullion,” comes from miners that used to live in the area. They said that the distinctive colors in the rocky debris looked just like the stews they fed themselves, which contained anything and everything they had in the kitchen at any one time.
Event October 13th: Fall Policy Summit in partnership with Colorado Open Space Alliance (COSA)’s annual conference in Vail, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, 1300 Westhaven Drive, Vail, Colorado. The Keep It Colorado policy summit will be on Day 3 of COSA, Wed. Oct. 13. Note that we’re currently planning this event to be in-person, and will also be offering the option to attend virtually. As COVID infections continue to surge, we recognize a need to stay flexible, so will be closely monitoring state and local guidelines around vaccinations, masks and social distancing, and will be prepared to make adjustments as needed over the coming months. In the meantime, we hope you’ll plan to attend this important annual convening!
Land Trust Alliance’s annual Rally conference is taking place virtually again this year, Oct. 5-7. Below are just a few planned topics. Learn more and register at www.alliancerally.org.
- Through the Looking Glass and Back with Syndicated Conservation Easements: Halting Abuse and Managing the Ugly Legacy | Speakers: Jessica Jay, Conservation Law, P.C.; Cheryl Cufre, Colorado Open Lands; Melissa Daruna, Keep It Colorado; Erik Glenn, Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust.
- What is so Special about Grasslands and How Can Carbon Offsets Help Protect Them? | Speakers: Kelly Watkinson, Land Trust Alliance; Nicole Rosmarino, Southern Plains Land Trust; Kyler Sherry, The Climate Trust.
- Divide and Conserve? Preventing Multiple Ownership of Conservation Easement Property | Speakers: Tiffany Edwards, Peninsula Open Space Trust; Tamara Galanter, Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger LLP; Joel Nystrom, Colorado Open Lands
AVLT Closes on Purchase of 141-acre Coffman Ranch near Carbondale, Pitkin County to hold the conservation easement. (8/31/2021, The Aspen Times) The Coffman Ranch is located 1.5 miles east of Carbondale, along the Roaring Fork River. Rex and Jo Coffman have owned the ranch since the 1950s. Now in their 90s, they agreed to transfer the ranch to the Aspen Valley Land Trust, with life rights to stay in residence. Funding support came from Great Outdoors Colorado, Pitkin County, Garfield County, the town of Carbondale, River Valley Ranch’s Open Space Fund (held by AVLT) and numerous individual contributions. AVLT is launching a $7M public capital campaign, funds to be used over the next few years to invest in land management, restoration, regenerative agriculture, public access, and outdoor education – space for local schools and nonprofits to teach about ranching and conservation, as well as quiet open space close to town for the public to use. The ranch will become a permanent home for the nonprofit organization.
Maintaining a united front in Congress: Partnership for Conservation, a group also known as P4C, has hired public relations firms to recruit conservationists to work in opposition to the Charitable Conservation Easement Program Integrity Act, legislation pending in Congress that is strongly endorsed by the Land Trust Alliance. This critical legislation would effectively halt abuse of the federal conservation easement tax incentive and may be considered by Congress in the coming weeks. Partnership for Conservation may appear to have a name and goals that are compatible with our community. However, its federal policy agenda is at odds with that of the Alliance and our members. If you have been or are approached by P4C or someone representing P4C interests, please immediately email po****@*ta.org. We all have a role to play in protecting the integrity of this important conservation program.
Barr Lake State Park banding station: Visit our Bird Banding Station for an up close and personal experience with birds! You will have a unique opportunity to experience science in action and observe a wildlife biologist banding and collecting important scientific data on live, migrating birds. You will also learn about specialized bird adaptations and behavior, annual migration, crucial habitat requirements, and key conservation issues. Bird banding data increases our knowledge and understanding of birds and is often utilized in management and conservation projects! The Banding Station is open from August 28th – October 23rd, 2021 and one hour programs are available Tuesdays – Fridays from 7:30-8:30a, and Saturday-Sunday from 8-9a, 9-10a, and 10-11a (closed Mondays). Registration is required for all timeslots and is $6/participant. Click Here To Register
Jefferson County – Sustainability Commission
https://www.jeffco.us/3406/Sustainability-Commission
Jefferson County – COVID-19 Updates
https://www.jeffco.us/3999/Coronavirus-Disease-2019-COVID-19
Denver – Park Hill Golf Course and Growth
https://denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Community-Planning-and-Development/Plans-in-Progress/Park-Hill-Golf-Course#section-3
Gross Reservoir Lawsuit
https://grossreservoir.org/?utm_source=Online&utm_medium=GooglePaidSearch&utm_campaign=2018ExpansionProject
Highlander Monthly September 2021: Gross Dam Expansion Update – Last September (2020), Denver Water submitted an Areas and Activities of State Interest (1041) application to Boulder County Community Planning & Permitting (CPP) for its Gross Reservoir Expansion project. Since that time, CPP requested additional information from Denver Water. On June 29, 2021, the CPP Director acknowledged Denver Water’s intent to not provide additional requested information, and determined the 1041 review will move to public hearings. Denver Water filed a lawsuit against the county in July 2021. The lawsuit alleges that the county does not have the authority to regulate the project because the project requires a permit from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Because of the lawsuit, on July 26, Denver Water’s attorney requested that the CPP Director place the 1041 application on hold, and CPP Director Dale Case granted the request the next day, July 27. Consequently, public hearings that were set for August and September have been canceled.
Climate Change Articles of Interest
Denver Post, Sunday 9/19/2021 – From Western Slope to Eastern Plains, Colorado agriculture under pressure to adapt to warming world. Cutbacks in herd size, irrigation, wildfires, dried-up ponds: Farmers, ranchers experiencing the impacts of climate change. https://www.denverpost.com/2021/09/19/colorado-agriculture-grapples-with-climate-change/
SLASH Collection: September 25-26 @ Jeffco Shaffer’s Crossing Road & Bridge Shop
SLASH Collection: October 2-3 @ Beaver Ranch Park
SLASH Collection: October 9-10 @ Beaver Ranch Park
SLASH Collection: October 16-17 @ Mount Vernon Country Club
SLASH Collection: October 23-24 @ Jeffco South Road & Bridge Shop
SLASH Collection: October 30-31 @ Thunder Valley
RSS Feeds
The following conservation organizations now have RSS feeds at the bottom of each of our own PLANJeffco web pages, so you can follow their postings at any time…
Douglas Land Conservancy, https://douglaslandconservancy.org/
Land Trust Alliance, www.lta.org
Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, https://www.birdconservancy.org/
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.
Conservation Smart Brief 12/14/2021
/0 Comments/in Articles That Educate, Conservation Smart Brief, Land Preservation, Uncategorized /by BlogMasterPLAN 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 Read more
The Secret Is Out! Park Overcrowding!
/0 Comments/in Calls to Action, Featured, JeffCo Open Space, Park & Trail Courtesy, Parks, Parks & Trails, Uncategorized /by BlogMasterMiss 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???
In Memoriam – Sue Davis, JCOS Volunteer
/0 Comments/in Featured, In Memoriam, JeffCo Open Space, Uncategorized /by BlogMasterSue 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.
Rideshare Adds New Parks
/0 Comments/in Articles That Educate, Calls to Action, Featured, JeffCo Open Space, News & Views, Parks, Parks & Trails, Uncategorized /by BlogMasterJCOS’ 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!
What the Poo, and Socks, Too?
/0 Comments/in Calls to Action, Featured, JeffCo Open Space, News & Views, Park & Trail Courtesy, Parks, Parks & Trails, Uncategorized /by BlogMasterRecently, 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: Read more
Open Space Update – September 2021
/0 Comments/in Featured, JeffCo Open Space, News & Views, Parks, Parks & Trails, Uncategorized /by BlogMasterSeptember, 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.
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
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!
Conservation Smart Brief 9/23/2021
/0 Comments/in Articles That Educate, Conservation Smart Brief, Featured, Land Preservation, News & Views, Uncategorized /by BlogMasterPLAN 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.
Aspen Grove in Autumn, photo courtesy of Peter Morales, PLAN Jeffco Co-President
Conservation Smart Brief, September 23, 2021:
Recently posted to our website:
https://planjeffco.org/2021/09/07/sylvia-brockner-1919-2021-in-memoriam/
https://planjeffco.org/2021/08/31/open-space-update-aug-2021/
https://planjeffco.org/2021/08/31/conservation-smart-brief-8-26-2021-2/
Jeffco Open Space News & Events
Sept 25th (Saturday), National Public Lands Day Volunteer Project Spend the day giving back to your public lands by volunteering with Jeffco Open Space and The City of Wheat Ridge to clean up Clear Creek and Peaks to Plains Trails. Join us along Clear Creek Trail near the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt 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. End the day with a celebration at Anderson Park, FREE FOOD & FUN!
Sept 25th (Saturday), Fall Colors Enjoy a late afternoon walk with a Native Plant Master along easy trails. Discover the importance of our native plants to wildlife and humans while strolling through fall colors. Geared for ages 13+.
Oct 7th (Thursday) Open Space Advisory Committee Meeting
Parks & Trails Current Alerts – Know before you go!
Jeffco Fairgrounds
https://www.jeffco.us/calendar.aspx?CID=27
COVID-19 Testing September 22-25, and 27-30, 7AM – 5PM @ Campground More Details
JCPH Vaccine Clinic September 22, 23, 29, 30, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM @ Parking Lot – Rodeo Arena More Details
Safety in Faith Summit September 23, 2021, 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM @ Exhibit Halls 1, 2, 3, North & South Kitchen, More Details
Transportation & Construction GIRL Day September 28, 2021, 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM @ Exhibit Halls and Parking Lots
Colorado Open Lands, https://coloradoopenlands.org, Follow on Facebook
Posted September 14th on FB: These moose [mom and twins] were spotted this weekend at Kenosha Pass! As you embark on your leaf-peeping trips this autumn, keep in mind that much of the expansive view into the valley floor from the top of Kenosha Pass is preserved forever with land conservation work by COL! https://fb.watch/8ble2uvLFF/
Posted September 13th on FB: TL Bar Ranch conserved in perpetuity. The 9,111-acre TL Bar Ranch property is located in San Miguel County, about 18 miles northwest of Telluride and 8 miles south of Norwood. This productive agricultural ranch includes sagebrush rangelands, irrigated meadows, aspen and pine forests, and also includes over four miles of local creek frontage. The scenic values are phenomenal, heightened by the abutting U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands and conserved private property. … Homesteaded as early as 1894, the ranch has been a productive commercial livestock operation since that time. From the 1920s under her passing in 1979, much of the ranch was owned by Marie Scott, as part of her 100,000-acre ranch operation stretching from Ridgway to Utah. This project was completed in partnership with Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Event: For Love Of The Land, Thursday evening 10/14/21. Location: Seawell Ballroom at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Keynote Speaker will be Kirk Johnson, Sant Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and former VP/Chief Curator of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. For more information and ticket purchase go to https://coloradoopenlands.org/the-q-for-conservation/.
Mountain Area Land Trust, https://www.savetheland.org, Follow on Facebook
Posted 9/08/21: Job Opening – Stewardship Director. The Stewardship Director will coordinate the management of MALT’s four Fee Title Properties. In addition, the Director will coordinate and direct all stewardship activities for the 80 plus conservation easements held by MALT and assist the Land and Water Conservation Director with the development of conservation easements and public projects. Details and how to apply, https://savetheland.org/jobs-opportunities/
Keep It Colorado, Member Matters Newsletter, August 12, 2021 (members-only news & updates) https://www.keepitco.org/
Report published August 2021: This month Keep It Colorado and the Land Trust Alliance published a study about a pilot initiative Keep It Colorado launched last year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study outlines in-depth 12 land trusts’ use of remote sensing technologies, such as satellite imagery, to remotely monitor properties as an alternative to in-person monitoring in 2020. Through focus groups, surveys and interviews with the participating land trusts, we discovered that by and large, remote technologies help reduce the costs, personnel hours and carbon emissions typically associated with observing and documenting changes to conserved landscapes. We were thrilled to be able to offer this pilot program to our members. Many thanks to Great Outdoors Colorado and the Gates Family Foundation for generously funding Keep It Colorado’s regrant program – which enabled us to offer $205,000 in grants to our land trusts!
2021 summer regional meetings: Coming together for conservation: As we mentioned in last month’s The Source, this summer Keep It Colorado staff have had the tremendous opportunity to travel around the state to convene with our members face-to-face. These regional meetings were packed with conversation, learning and sharing, as well as some social time and visits to conservation projects. We capped off the regional meeting season with a virtual gathering for those who were unable to travel. In all, 86 individuals attended, representing 30 of our member organizations from across the state. We had the distinct pleasure of welcoming GOCO’s new regional officers to these meetings as well – thanks for your ongoing support, GOCO!
PROJECT SPOTLIGHT: Our coalition members conserve and steward thousands of acres of land across the state. Each month we’ll celebrate this work by featuring 1-2 completed projects.
Slumgullion Center: At the toe of an earthflow
Working in partnership, Colorado Open Lands (COL) and the Lake Fork Valley Conservancy (LFVC), have permanently protected the Slumgullion Center property in Hinsdale County, between Lake San Cristobal and Lake City. This 58-acre property owned by LFVC comprises the toe of the Slumgullion Earthflow, an active landslide that moves as fast as seven meters per year on the most active portions. It’s been slowly flowing down the mountainside for twelve hundred years! The unique name, “Slumgullion,” comes from miners that used to live in the area. They said that the distinctive colors in the rocky debris looked just like the stews they fed themselves, which contained anything and everything they had in the kitchen at any one time.
Event October 13th: Fall Policy Summit in partnership with Colorado Open Space Alliance (COSA)’s annual conference in Vail, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, 1300 Westhaven Drive, Vail, Colorado. The Keep It Colorado policy summit will be on Day 3 of COSA, Wed. Oct. 13. Note that we’re currently planning this event to be in-person, and will also be offering the option to attend virtually. As COVID infections continue to surge, we recognize a need to stay flexible, so will be closely monitoring state and local guidelines around vaccinations, masks and social distancing, and will be prepared to make adjustments as needed over the coming months. In the meantime, we hope you’ll plan to attend this important annual convening!
Land Trust Alliance, https://www.landtrustalliance.org, Follow on Facebook
Land Trust Alliance’s annual Rally conference is taking place virtually again this year, Oct. 5-7. Below are just a few planned topics. Learn more and register at www.alliancerally.org.
AVLT Closes on Purchase of 141-acre Coffman Ranch near Carbondale, Pitkin County to hold the conservation easement. (8/31/2021, The Aspen Times) The Coffman Ranch is located 1.5 miles east of Carbondale, along the Roaring Fork River. Rex and Jo Coffman have owned the ranch since the 1950s. Now in their 90s, they agreed to transfer the ranch to the Aspen Valley Land Trust, with life rights to stay in residence. Funding support came from Great Outdoors Colorado, Pitkin County, Garfield County, the town of Carbondale, River Valley Ranch’s Open Space Fund (held by AVLT) and numerous individual contributions. AVLT is launching a $7M public capital campaign, funds to be used over the next few years to invest in land management, restoration, regenerative agriculture, public access, and outdoor education – space for local schools and nonprofits to teach about ranching and conservation, as well as quiet open space close to town for the public to use. The ranch will become a permanent home for the nonprofit organization.
Maintaining a united front in Congress: Partnership for Conservation, a group also known as P4C, has hired public relations firms to recruit conservationists to work in opposition to the Charitable Conservation Easement Program Integrity Act, legislation pending in Congress that is strongly endorsed by the Land Trust Alliance. This critical legislation would effectively halt abuse of the federal conservation easement tax incentive and may be considered by Congress in the coming weeks. Partnership for Conservation may appear to have a name and goals that are compatible with our community. However, its federal policy agenda is at odds with that of the Alliance and our members. If you have been or are approached by P4C or someone representing P4C interests, please immediately email po****@*ta.org. We all have a role to play in protecting the integrity of this important conservation program.
Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, https://www.birdconservancy.org, Follow on Facebook
Barr Lake State Park banding station: Visit our Bird Banding Station for an up close and personal experience with birds! You will have a unique opportunity to experience science in action and observe a wildlife biologist banding and collecting important scientific data on live, migrating birds. You will also learn about specialized bird adaptations and behavior, annual migration, crucial habitat requirements, and key conservation issues. Bird banding data increases our knowledge and understanding of birds and is often utilized in management and conservation projects! The Banding Station is open from August 28th – October 23rd, 2021 and one hour programs are available Tuesdays – Fridays from 7:30-8:30a, and Saturday-Sunday from 8-9a, 9-10a, and 10-11a (closed Mondays). Registration is required for all timeslots and is $6/participant. Click Here To Register
Jefferson County – Sustainability Commission
https://www.jeffco.us/3406/Sustainability-Commission
Jefferson County – COVID-19 Updates
https://www.jeffco.us/3999/Coronavirus-Disease-2019-COVID-19
Denver – Park Hill Golf Course and Growth
https://denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Community-Planning-and-Development/Plans-in-Progress/Park-Hill-Golf-Course#section-3
Gross Reservoir Lawsuit
https://grossreservoir.org/?utm_source=Online&utm_medium=GooglePaidSearch&utm_campaign=2018ExpansionProject
Highlander Monthly September 2021: Gross Dam Expansion Update – Last September (2020), Denver Water submitted an Areas and Activities of State Interest (1041) application to Boulder County Community Planning & Permitting (CPP) for its Gross Reservoir Expansion project. Since that time, CPP requested additional information from Denver Water. On June 29, 2021, the CPP Director acknowledged Denver Water’s intent to not provide additional requested information, and determined the 1041 review will move to public hearings. Denver Water filed a lawsuit against the county in July 2021. The lawsuit alleges that the county does not have the authority to regulate the project because the project requires a permit from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Because of the lawsuit, on July 26, Denver Water’s attorney requested that the CPP Director place the 1041 application on hold, and CPP Director Dale Case granted the request the next day, July 27. Consequently, public hearings that were set for August and September have been canceled.
Climate Change Articles of Interest
Denver Post, Sunday 9/19/2021 – From Western Slope to Eastern Plains, Colorado agriculture under pressure to adapt to warming world. Cutbacks in herd size, irrigation, wildfires, dried-up ponds: Farmers, ranchers experiencing the impacts of climate change. https://www.denverpost.com/2021/09/19/colorado-agriculture-grapples-with-climate-change/
Slash Collection Calendar – https://www.jeffco.us/2493/Slash-Collection
SLASH Collection: September 25-26 @ Jeffco Shaffer’s Crossing Road & Bridge Shop
SLASH Collection: October 2-3 @ Beaver Ranch Park
SLASH Collection: October 9-10 @ Beaver Ranch Park
SLASH Collection: October 16-17 @ Mount Vernon Country Club
SLASH Collection: October 23-24 @ Jeffco South Road & Bridge Shop
SLASH Collection: October 30-31 @ Thunder Valley
RSS Feeds
The following conservation organizations now have RSS feeds at the bottom of each of our own PLANJeffco web pages, so you can follow their postings at any time…
Douglas Land Conservancy, https://douglaslandconservancy.org/
Land Trust Alliance, www.lta.org
Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, https://www.birdconservancy.org/
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.
August 2021 Newsletter
/0 Comments/in Featured, News & Views /by BlogMasterInside this issue: Clear Creek, Goltra Acquisition, Stewardship Academy, OSAC Notes
Download your copy of the August 2021 newsletter here.
Sylvia Brockner, 1919-2021, In Memoriam
/0 Comments/in Featured, In Memoriam, Uncategorized /by BlogMasterAn Evergreen resident since 1965, she and her husband Bill, who pre-deceased her in 2008, founded the Evergreen Naturalists, which eventually became Evergreen Audubon. She was instrumental in founding the Evergreen Nature Center and in assisting Jeffco Open Space when they acquired the 319 acres of land that became Lair O’the Bear Open Space park. She was a founding member of Mountain Area Land Trust in 1992 and fought to ensure that the wetlands north of the Evergreen Lake House weren’t destroyed when the building was constructed in 1993.
Sylvia was an avid writer, authoring a weekly column on birds, flowers, and the natural areas around Evergreen for the Canyon Courier for 45 years. She also authored two books on bird life and nature in the Colorado Mountains. The first one, published on January 1, 1974, titled Birds in Our Evergreen World: A Layman’s Guide to the Mountain Area, is still available in paperback at Amazon. The second book, Mountain Birds of Colorado: A Layman’s Guide to Birdwatching in Colorado’s Mountain Areas, published in 2017(?), doesn’t seem to be available from any online vendor at the time this article was written.
There is a video interview of Sylvia, done to celebrate her 100th birthday, available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/CVmxrc842mc
It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to this pioneer of conservation and environmentalism.
Open Space Update – August 2021
/0 Comments/in Featured, JeffCo Open Space, Parks, Parks & Trails, Uncategorized /by BlogMasterIn case you haven’t heard, there’s a new trail in town! Here’s the full story, plus an amazing list of other projects which are on-going or have been completed…what a busy summer!
Clear Creek Canyon Park- Gateway Segment Open
Finally! The Gateway Segment of the Clear Creek Canyon Trail, that you’ve been reading about and heard so much about for months now, is open! It opened on August 25, following a 4 P.M. “cable cutting” ceremony, which was held at the Gateway Trailhead.
This 1.75-mile trail connects with downtown Golden along Clear Creek via the Grant Terry Trail and continues west to Tunnel 1 alongside US 6. The two new trailheads – one at the entrance to the canyon and one east of Tunnel 1 – feature more than 170 parking spaces, permanent restrooms, and shade structures. The parking area at the Gateway Segment Trailhead has the added features of a bike repair station, a bike rack with metal frame crafted from the parts of cars retrieved from the canyon during construction, and a drinking fountain that includes a ground-level fountain for four-legged hiking companions.
This project also includes the first suspension bridge in Jefferson County. This pedestrian-only crossing of Clear Creek near Tunnel 1 connects hikers with the restored wooden flume of the Welch Ditch on the south wall of the Canyon. Water access is also improved with rock staircases along the trail. This Gateway Segment – part of the Peaks to Plains Trail – honors the area’s mining history with materials and treatments like stained concrete and bridge railings that are designed to help the trail blend in with the canyon.
Access this new segment by parking at the Gateway Trailhead located at 20050 US Highway 6, in Golden at the intersection of US 6/HWY 93/HWY 58. The trail will be open from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset, with electronic gates at both parking facilities closing at those times to prohibit overnight parking. With the opening of this new trail, park visitors are reminded to recreate responsibly.
Crown Hill Park Concrete Trail Replacement
Have you been to Crown Hill Park lately? JCOS is replacing big sections of the concrete trail on the south and west sides of the park. The cumulative effects of time, weather and traffic have taken a toll. Anticipate seeing trail detour signs and respect them. The affected trails will be closed for the duration of the work. Reconstruction is currently slated for September 20-27, but this may change, based on contractor availability and the weather. The project should take a full week to complete. No vehicle traffic will be allowed on the trails until October 18, to allow for some extra curing time.
White Ranch Park
The Trails Team & the Trails Stewardship Team, along with COMBA (Colorado Mountain Biking Association), are working on a small reroute of the Mustang Trail. The reroute will replace the current section of Mustang Trail, which has deteriorating wooden ramps and parallels a drainage. The new route will move the trail away from an adjacent riparian area, up onto the hill side. COMBA has also been volunteering to help keep the Middle Longhorn Trail in good shape, as it tends to develop erosional dips and swales from overuse. The Trails Team is targeting the opening of the rerouted Mustang Trail by the end of September.
Deer Creek Canyon Park
Scott Waters, Trail Services Team Lead, has a volunteer trail project every Tuesday & Thursday from April-November in Deer Creek Canyon Park. In August, Scott and eight volunteers worked on a section of trail on Rattlesnake Gulch. They worked on cutting back vegetation, worked on treading the trail, and enhanced the functionality of a switchback by widening it into more of a climbing turn.
Fairgrounds Trail
Elk Meadow Park
Mechanical trail construction wrapped up at Stagecoach South. The finished tread work will be completed in the future.
Beaver Ranch Park
Trail construction continues at Beaver Ranch. The Trails Team cut roughly 2 miles of trail in August, and finished off about 1.5 miles of trail! Work has started on the section of a new trail from Coyote Creek down to the bridge crossing. Huge thanks to the Trail Services Team for the assistance in knocking out the tread work after the Sutter went through.
Lair o’ the Bear Park
Park Services and Cory Marusin, Region Coordinator for Open Space, worked together to add material and grade the parking lot. There are many more spaces now, a big improvement!!
Burro Patrol Team Unite!
Meet the Burro Patrollers, a volunteer group of teens and adult leaders assembled by Shaun Howard, Park Ranger. The Burro Patrol patrols the trails, looking for park visitors who are doing “the right thing”, such as dog-on-leash, bagging out trash, and staying on trail. When found, the Burro Patrollers give out small gifts and giant thank-yous. The Burro Patrol is also involved in service-based projects and assists at the trail courtesy popups. This summer, the Burro Patrol has helped with trash pickup, trimming emergency access routes, removing trees over trails, and assisting natural resources in deployment of research traps – specifically for the Natural Resources Team study of the Preble’s meadow jumping mouse. Keep an eye out for the burros and their pack goat assistants, coming to a park near you!
Photos by Chelsea Beebe and Shaun Howard
Help Reduce Wildfire Danger
Don’t forget the SLASH collection program, it’s happening now until the end of October, at rotating locations every weekend. Protect your home and community from wildfire by creating defensible space around your home to reduce risk of wildfire. Bring your tree debris to Jeffco SLASH this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, 9AM to 4PM each day. More info: https://www.jeffco.us/slash
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. For more information go to the Jeffco Bike Plan Update
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. This free program will educate and inform small acreage property owners on the latest trends in land stewardship. The talks are geared for owners of 2-10+ acres but all are welcome. Virtual sessions, from 6:00–7:30 pm. register here.
Volunteers Wanted for National Public Lands Day
Register: offero.jeffco.us/Calendar
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
What a month! Miss Mountain Manners is astonished at how busy the Parks are in the summertime! There’s so much that needs to get done before the snow flies, and in the higher elevation parks, that will happen before you know it. Recreate responsibly, check https://www.jeffco.us/1531/Alerts-Closures for trail conditions and closures before heading out.
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”.