Open Space Update, 1/7/2021

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

Miss Manners wants to apologize to her readers and to Jeffco Open Space for not reporting on the amazing work done in our Open Space Parks during the month of December. Too much Holiday, too many thoughts to process as 2020 winds down to an ignominious end. There’s been so much happening at Open Space, so let’s start 2021 with a recap of last December’s accomplishments and those of the first few days of January!

Apex Park – SWITCH GEARS for Winter Conditions

In the case of snow and ice conditions, a SWITCH GEARS announcement temporarily lifts the directional requirement on Enchanted Forest and Magic Mountain Trails. This will allow mountain bikers to ride up the gut in winter conditions. ALL OTHER TRAIL USE DESIGNATIONS REMAIN IN PLACE. Visitors who wish to be informed of the SWITCH GEARS condition can sign up for text alerts or check the JCOS alerts and closures web page. The SWITCH GEARS is in response to stakeholder feedback collected during the 2020 trail management process.

Clear Creek Canyon

Annual Bighorn Survey: three Natural Resources team members conducted bighorn sheep surveys in Clear Creek Canyon as part of Colorado Parks & Wildlife’s annual sheep survey.  Twenty-eight individual sheep were observed on Open Space property.

Tunnel 1 kiosk construction begins this month. Stay tuned for regular updates.

In the Gateway Segment: Check out the latest video update with a special guest appearance by Hank Mifflin.  https://youtu.be/O5vBFpqTmZE

Also in the Gateway Segment, the suspension bridge crossing Clear Creek in the Tunnel 1 oxbow is coming together.  This 69-foot-long pedestrian bridge is 4-feet wide and will connect visitors from the from the concrete Peaks to Plains Trail to the historic wooden flume of the Welch Ditch.

Crown Hill Park

Crusher Fine Installation: JCOS’ partners at Road & Bridge started to install a crusher fine trail along the eastern side of the Park next to the cemetery.  Many visitors were eager to experience the new trail surface, ignoring closure and warning signs, and walking next to heavy equipment while the new material was being applied. However, snow earlier in the month of December put a halt on the crusher fines installation project. The weather improved and work resumed toward the end of the month.

Hiwan Heritage Park

Hiwan from the Hearth: The Hiwan team made an innovative adjustment to Hiwan on the Porch for winter conditions. They have one tour guide on duty from noon – 4:00 p.m., Friday-Sunday.  They can greet visitors at the front door and provide basic information about Hiwan and the Hiwan story.  If weather permits, they can offer an outside tour.  For COVID safety reasons, visitors are not permitted inside the building, but visitors can peer into the front/sitting room, the great room and dining room through open doorways to see the holiday decorated rooms and furnishings.

Mount Galbraith Park

Multi-modal Trailhead Arrival and Congestion Management Pilot: On Tuesday, December 15, the JCOS Management Team approved a pilot project intended to study, and test the feasibility, logistical considerations, technology applications and effectiveness of multi modal trailhead arrival and other congestion management strategies at a new trailhead for Mount Galbraith Park (GAL). JCOS is working on alleviating parking and access concerns for GAL. As a part of this process, JCOS plans to relocate the existing main trailhead to improve visitor experience and visitor safety. Possible multi-modal and congestion management strategies the team will explore for the new trailhead include, but are not limited to: a shuttle, parking reservation system, carpool campaign, time-limited parking, ride-hailing partnerships, etc.

South Valley Park South

Earlier this year, the new South Visitor Center trailhead opened to much joy and appreciation.  In December the team applied a concrete stain to reduce the glare from the new, bright white surface and to better blend in with the surrounding landscape.  This will be a great addition to the trailhead.

Welcome Center Operations

Beginning December 14, the front doors to the Welcome Center will remain locked throughout the day.  To assist any walk-up visitors, Welcome Center staff will remain “On Duty” within the building and accessible by phone.  The phone number will be posted on the door during regular business hours.  This will allow the staff to meet the needs of our visitors, but free them up to accomplish tasks not easily performed while being at the Welcome Center.

Jeffco Board of Commissioners – Approvals

The Jeffco Commissioners approved Tincup Ridge Park and Internal Land Exchange.  This exchange will enable Open Space to develop a new regional park at Tincup Ridge.

The BCC also approved the IGA for the Rocky Mountain Greenway Trail Crossings.  This extension links the Greenway from where Phase One currently terminates in Broomfield’s Great Western Open Space, through Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge and into Boulder County.  The FLAP grant provides funding for trail crossings at Indiana Street and Colorado Highway 128.

Get to Know Our JCOS Staff…

Congratulations to Sean Perkins for passing the Cartegraph Administration Certification test. Passing this test means that Sean understands all the ins-and-outs, tips and best practices for managing our Cartegraph Asset Management Software.

Welcome North Region Coordinator, Dillon McBride, to the Visitor Services Team. Dillon reported to the Visitor Services Team Manager effective December 17.

Stewardship Changes: Kyle Andrews was hired as the Trails Team Senior Specialist, and his main focus will be the Trail Stewardship Team and the Annual Trail Assessments.  In January ,the Trails Team will be divided into a Trail Construction Team and a Trail Maintenance Team.  This move is intended to have team members focus on trail construction projects associated with Goal 9 of the Conservation Greenprint, while having separate team members focus on trail maintenance (taking care of what we have) and restoration projects to support Goal 7 of the Conservation Greenprint.

Evergreen Famous – Ranger Billy Hall: according to the December 2020 issue of Serenity Magazine, Colorado’s Premier Lifestyle Magazine, Ranger Billy Hall is most frequently sighted on the trails in Jeffco Parks. Fun fact: his favorite animal is a squirrel. Even more fun fact: Billy met the photographer while on duty. He introduced himself and checked to make sure she had a current JCOS commercial activity/photography permit. She did have a current permit and she offered to take a photo of Billy. This is how our rangers and volunteers turn a Stewardship Education Contact into positive press.

… and Our Invaluable JCOS Volunteers

Volunteer Training on Stewardship Contacts: On Tuesday, December 8, the Ranger and Volunteer Services Teams hosted more than 100 volunteers and gave them training on how to turn a greeting into a stewardship education contact. This is one of many steps taken to help achieve Goal #1 of the Conservation Greenprint.

Last But Definitely Not Least

We all loathe the unattended poop bag carelessly left along the trail.  Some visitors have the best intentions to pick it up and pack it out on their way back.  Others assume the poop fairy will pick it up and pack it out for them.  Either way, unattended poop bags are aggravating, visually awful, and against park regulations.  To get a better understanding of how bad the problem is, rangers elected to track the number of unattended poop bags they collected along our trails and at our trailheads in 2020.  The grand total was 2,996.  Before you become completely disgusted and depressed at this number, be sure you consider it in context.  We have an estimated canine visitation of at least three million dogs annually.  Say each one poops and there is an associated bag.  Because we are not seeing three million bags, but rather three thousand, it seems the norm is to doo the right thing and pack the bag out and dispose of it properly in a trash receptacle.  Now, if we can just get that last, stubborn .1% to doo the right thing….

If you’ve made it all the way to the end of this report, give yourself an ‘atta-person’, and another one to our Jeffco Open Space for the amazing job that they’ve done in just over one month! Keep all this mind when you next visit our Open Space Parks, and let’s give a (socially distanced) high five to the next Ranger or Volunteer you meet when you’re there!

As always, ladies and gents, friends and comrades, stay safe!

Miss Mountain Manners-PLAN Jeffco

 

 

Take Photos, Leave Only Footprints

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

Photo credit: Colorado Parks & Wildlife

Miss Mountain Manners has a question for you: have you ever heard of a “cursed rock”? One person who was gifted with a “keepsake rock” from Colorado believes that the rock is cursed. Last July, Colorado Parks and Wildlife received a handwritten letter claiming that a stolen Colorado rock, brought back as a souvenir three years ago, has been responsible for “bad things happening ever since.” The rock was included with the letter.

Whether or not you believe the legend that if you remove rocks from their natural outdoor location  you’ll bring bad luck to yourself, it’s a good idea to leave no trace when you’re in the Great Outdoors, and that includes leaving rocks where you found them. You’ll find breath-takingly beautiful rock formations in our Clear Creek Open Space Park, and thankfully, most of the rocks are far too large (and heavy) to end up in anyone’s collection. But even when you find small rocks, look at them, study them, take pleasure in their beauty, and then leave them behind for others to enjoy.

As Colorado Parks & Wildlife tweets, ““The best practice when visiting any park or wilderness is to take only photographs and leave only footprints”. Miss Mountain Manners agrees!

https://www.outtherecolorado.com/news/souvenir-taken-from-colorado-said-to-be-cursed/article_b98b8d3a-cb90-11ea-ad17-e3ab88678693.html

Miss Mountain Manners-PLAN Jeffco

 

Are You a “CARE” Person?

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

Are you a considerate and responsible, enlightened (“CARE”) person during these times of uncertainty? Do you stay home if you don’t feel well? Do

you wear a mask outside? When visiting the beautiful parks in Jefferson County, do you stay on the trail to minimize your environmental impact? Are you considerate of other hikers and Open Space staff? Is your dog leashed? Do you pick up after it? Do you only gather to hike with those with whom you share your home? Do you refrain from short-cutting trails, even to avoid other people?

So many things to think about these days, but these are just a few requirements of the current situation. We are in a different, delicate, hopefully short-term (but possibly longer than we think) era—particularly if we shun the experts’ guidelines. It requires more awareness of our responsibilities to ourselves, others and the land we love.

Today, Jefferson County Open Space Parks are being overwhelmed by all of us seeking respite from the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders and seeking exercise and relief from restrictive directives. For safety reasons there are no park volunteers to give us friendly reminders of proper behaviors, leaving the 12 full-time and 3 seasonal staff rangers the near impossible task of trying to cover 56,000 acres, and 244 miles of trails by themselves. We must each willingly embrace the responsibility of honoring the rules.  PLAN Jeffco respectfully offers these guidelines and thanks everyone, not only for following them but also for your support via the ½ cent sales tax collected for Open Space at Jeffco businesses:

* Walk close to home, enjoy your neighbors’ flowers, as well as your own.

* If you find the JCOS parking lot full, please, please move on to another park.

* Wear a mask.

* Stay on the trail whenever possible, while honoring social distances. Be careful where you step as there may be delicate new plant growth this time of the year, even snakes!

* The 6-foot social distance is in still air. If the wind is at your back, don’t walk more than 6 feet behind the person in front of you.

* To minimize interaction time consider giving downhill hikers the right-of-way.

* Step aside (find a rock or bare spot to stand on) and let equestrians pass, even if you’re on a bike.

* Observe park, trail or area closures.

* Visit at non-peak hours, such as before 10:00 AM and after 3:00 PM.

* Follow guidelines posted at trailheads.

Be a “CARE” person. 

PLAN Jeffco logo

Family hiking in a meadow of penstemmon.

The Increased Need for Open Space

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Hikers in a field of penstemmon, Jeffco Open Space

Today, Jefferson County Open Space Parks are being overwhelmed by all of us seeking respite from the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders and seeking exercise and relief from restrictive directives. People are being turned away from full parking lots while our government leaders urge us to remain close to home.  With so many people passing each other on narrow sections of the trails, our required social distancing is being compromised.  This suggests maybe we should leave the car in the driveway (save gas), and just walk out the front door to streets that are wider than trails, making social distancing easier. Remember that even out in the “fresh air,” pathogens can infect when in close proximity to others. Moreover, heavy park use also presents a strong likelihood of resource damage, particularly in this transitional “mud” season. We could give our open space parks a break.

With the need for social distancing, and heavily-used parks, do you wish there was MORE open space to go around now?? Forget the current health crisis and think ahead just 10 years when projections add another 600,000 people to the current 3 million metro population. Will the current amount of open space meet our needs or will we feel as restricted and crowded as we feel now with the COVID-19 situation?  The present realities highlight the importance of open space for our physical and mental well-being. We need to encourage Jefferson County Open Space to be proactive in the promotion and financing of additional open space acquisitions to meet future needs.

For safety reasons there are no park volunteers to remind us of proper behaviors, leaving the staff rangers the near impossible task of trying to cover 56,000 acres, and 244 miles of trails by themselves. We must each take on the responsibility of honoring the rules.  PLAN Jeffco respectfully offers these guidelines and thanks everyone, not only for following them but also for your support via the ½ cent sales tax collected for Open Space at Jeffco businesses:

  • Walk close to home.
  • If you find the JCOS parking lot full, please move on to another park.
  • Wear a mask.
  • Stay on the trail whenever possible, while honoring social distances. Be careful where you step as there may be delicate new plant growth this time of the year, even snakes!
  •  Observe park, trail or area closures.
  • Take note of and avoid early plant growth.
  • Visit at non-peak hours, such as before 9:00 AM and after 2:00 PM.
  •  Follow guidelines posted at trailheads.

In general, practice the kindergarten rules: Be nice to others – and respect the land you are enjoying.

PLAN Jeffco logo

South Table Park Plan 2020

2020 Draft Trails Plan for South Table Announced

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

PUBLIC COMMENT DUE APRIL 29, email ST*@****co.us

Jefferson County Open Space will reconfigure the South Table Mountain trail system to focus on 15.6 miles, consisting of 7.1 miles of existing designated trail and 8.5 miles of new and adopted undesignated trail.

The result will be to eliminate most of the 26.9 miles of undesignated and unmarked trails that criss-cross the top of the mesa. Prominent signage will encourage people to stay only on designated trails.

For comparison, North Table Mountain has 17 trail miles on 1,998 acres and South Table Mountain will have 15.6 trail miles on 1,484 acres. The work is to be done by the Open Space trail crew this spring, summer and fall, starting with the Dome Flow and Serpentine trails on the southwest side.

The plan was published online on You Tube March 27 under the title South Table Mountain Park Plan and 2020 Actions Presentation, after a March 25 public meeting was canceled due to health concerns. Senior Planner Kristina Duff is the video presenter. The video can be accessed here or click on the picture above.

Jeffco will build an improved path to the mesa’s protected raptor habitat, which is closed to the public from Feb. 1 to July 31, after which construction can take place. This summer, work will be done to create a connection to Golden-owned property on the west end of the park. The work on the east side will take place before the end of the year. Informational kiosks have been installed at nine location where people enter the park. The public is invited to volunteer for the 2020 National Trails Day June 6 and the 2020 Land Steward Program. The public comment period is open until April 29, email comments to st*@****co.us.

PLAN Jeffco logo

North Table OS Park

Let’s not love our wonderful Jefferson County Open Space to death!!

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

Jefferson County Open Space Parks are open and free to all. Even though they were already extremely popular prior to the COVID-19 crisis, they are now being overwhelmed on a daily basis by all of us seeking respite from our stay-at-home orders and seeking exercise and relief from restrictive directives. Children love the freedom that the parks provide, tending to frolic and rough-house in groups.  Furthermore, with so many people passing each other on narrow sections of the

North Table OS Park

Photo courtesy of CarbonFibrePhoto

trails, our required social distancing is being compromised.  Remember that even out in the “fresh air,” pathogens can infect when in close proximity to others.  Finally, the park parking lots are overflowing—every day!

This presents a strong likelihood of resource damage: How to enjoy our open spaces, yet give the wild denizens space, and preserve it all for those to who will come in the future.

For safety reasons there are no park volunteers to remind us of proper behaviors, leaving the staff rangers the near impossible task of trying to cover 56,000 acres, and 244 miles of trails by themselves. We must each take on the responsibility of honoring the rules.  PLAN Jeffco respectfully offers these guidelines and thanks everyone, not only for following them but also for your support via the ½ cent sales tax collected for Open Space at Jeffco businesses:

*If you find the parking lot overflowing onto the neighborhood streets, please move on to another park.

*Stay on the trail whenever possible, while honoring social distances. Be careful where you step as there may be delicate new plant growth this time of the year, even snakes!

* Observe park, trail or area closures.

* Uphill foot traffic has the right-of-way, although they may step aside, since it gives them a chance to rest.

* Take note of and avoid early plant growth.

* Visit at non-peak hours, such as before 11:00 AM and after 3:00 PM.

* Observe social distancing and follow guidelines posted at trailheads.

In general, practice the kindergarten rules: Be nice to others – and respect the land you are enjoying.

 

Tunnel Number One – Here We Come!!

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

Concrete Express backhoe cutting in the trail.

The cut-in trail looking back towards Golden.

Work on the trails at the mouth of Clear Creek Canyon began last fall. These photos show Concrete Express cutting the base for the trail along the south side of Clear Creek, so the trail construction crew will be able to build the abutment for the bridge crossing just east of Tunnel Number One. The bridge abutments will be the next major task. Stay tuned for regular reports on how the construction is progressing.

 

PLAN Jeffco will live on in history!!!!

/0 Comments/in , /by

It’s been over six months since PLAN Jeffco’s historical files were accepted into the Denver Public Library’s Western History and Genealogy Department as part of the historical record of the development of the Denver Metro Area.

This all started in 1971, when the originators of PLAN Jeffco started documenting the process of developing an open space program for Jefferson County. In addition to newspaper clippings and internal documents, PLAN Jeffco Board members collected posters and brochures and all manner of external documents from the many and varied projects they were involved in.

In time, these clippings and documents found their way into the file cabinets of three current Board members. The question then rose, what to do with them? Coincidentally, about this time, Denver Public Library, Western History and Genealogy Department, asked if they could be included in our newsletter distribution. Long story short, PJ and DPL entered discussions about the potential for the files being included in their archives. After a visit with the Library staff in which members of the Board brought samples to show what was available, DPL agreed that the entire archive of materials would be a valuable addition to their Western History collection.

John Litz took on the herculean task of combining the collections into a single, chronological file. After sorting, purging, and arranging, the files filled six 18-inch boxes. These were delivered to the Library in late May, 2019.  The Library staff cataloged the contents, creating a Finding Aid (Index) for each year. The Finding Aids for the 47 years total 14 pages. The files were officially gifted to the Library on July 19, 2019, and are identified for perusal and research as “PLAN Jeffco Records, WH2437.”

You can see and use these materials for research; they are available to the public but must be viewed in the Western History section of the library, 5th floor.  https://history.denverlibrary.org/

2020 Open Space Conservation Awards

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Jeffco Open Space hosts an annual volunteer and partner appreciation breakfast. Several PLAN Jeffco Board members were at the Lakewood Cultural Center to help celebrate this year’s recipients.

Aspen Rookie Volunteer Award – given to a first-year volunteer who epitomizes the enthusiasm of the Open Space Volunteer Program. This year’s recipient is Ian Francescato for his extraordinary work as a Trailhead Steward.

Rocky Mountain Juniper Stewardship Award – given to 6-year volunteer Tom Ging, who works with the Real Estate Group. He has developed a protocol for scanning and cataloguing real estate documents.

Douglas Fir Partnership Award – given to Mountainsmith, https://mountainsmith.com/ Mountainsmith has had an ongoing partnership with Open Space for many years. Formed in 1979, they manufacture and sell outdoor products and offer discounts on their product line for OS staff and volunteers. They participate in volunteer trail days and sponsor events that get people into the outdoors, as well as supporting the JCOS Adventure Club for foster children.

Blue Spruce Outdoor Connections Award – given to Great Outdoors Colorado for their quarter-century partnership with JCOS. They have awarded 176 grants, $47M, to conserve 6440 acres of land in Jefferson County alone.

Gambel Oak Pioneer Award – given to Denver Mountain Parks for their pioneering spirit and preservation efforts in the early 1900s that have influenced and helped guide Jefferson County Open Space.

John Litz Award – given to Jan Wilkins for her 15 years of service on the Jefferson County Open Space Advisory Committee and her other volunteer efforts in the realm of open space conservation. Jan chaired the committee that pushed for the Open Space bonds in 1997-98. Following passage of the bonds measure by 74% of the voters, Jan joined OSAC, served as Vice-Chair, and helped preserve nearly 20,000 acres of Open Space lands. She served on the committees for the Party for the Parks (2013) and 2014 OS Master Plan. Said John Litz, as he was presenting the award, “The main thing about Jan is that you could always count on her to be a solid performer and do everything that she possibly could to further the effort.”

Congratulations to all the recipients!

Jan Wilkins, when she accepted her award, said: “None of this (meaning the Open Space Program) would be possible if it weren’t for everyone else.” If you’d like to get more involved with Open Space, if you’re interested in learning more about the program, the annual Volunteer Fair will be held at the JCOS Headquarters, 700 Jefferson County Pkwy, Suite 100 Golden. You can check out all volunteer positions on Thursday, 2/20, from 4:30 to 6:30 PM and again on Saturday, 2/22, from 10 AM to 1:30 PM.

https://www.jeffco.us/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1070

You can view the award winners at https://bit.ly/2S982aS

Mountain Area Land Trust protects two mountain properties

/0 Comments/in , /by

Mountain Area Land Trust of Evergreen announced late last year, on December 12th, that it closed on “a 154-acre Conservation Easement on the Elk Meadow Ranch at Mt. Evans!  The property is located within the historic Evans Ranch in MALT’s Upper Bear Creek Priority Area.  Vance Creek runs through a majority of this scenic property providing for excellent wildlife habitat and a healthy forest ecosystem.  Appropriately named, the Elk Meadow Ranch is home to a large herd of elk as well as black bears, mountain lions, deer and a multitude of other wildlife.  Elk Meadow Ranch is adjacent to protected lands including the Mount Evans State Wildlife Area and a number of private voluntary land agreements.”

Separately on December 18th, the land trust announced closing on “a 52-acre Conservation Easement on the slopes of Conifer Mountain.  Known as The Sanctuary on Conifer Mountain, this voluntary land agreement will protect valuable open space and wildlife habitat in perpetuity.  In addition to forested land and rock outcroppings, a seasonal creek and wetland provide for a wide range of habitats on this now-protected property.  The Sanctuary on Conifer Mountain is highly visible from Highway 285 and its protection will preserve the scenic views on this highly-traveled corridor.  Kathy Estes and Rod Morgan are longtime supporters of MALT and are ecstatic to have left a conservation legacy with the donation of this easement!”

Founded in 1992, MALT is a nonprofit organization that primarily helps facilitate the conservation-easement process for private landowners. Since inception it has protected nearly 15,000 acres in Park, Jefferson and Teller counties.

For more information see SaveTheLand.org.

Land conservation and the ability to recreate in the great outdoors is important to Coloradans. We applaud the efforts of all our partner organizations.