Archive for category: Featured

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, November 17, 2022:

Recently posted to our website blog:

2020-2025 Conservation Greenprint – September 2022

Open Space Update – August 2022

Jeffco Open Space News & Events

https://www.jeffco.us/1523/News-Events

Know before you go! Check these sites for additional information on Park and Trail closures, openings, and other operations that may impact your Jeffco Open Space Park experience…

JCOS Alerts & Closures

JCOS News Releases

JCOS Event Calendar

JCOS Newsletters

Jeffco Fairgrounds – calendar

https://www.jeffco.us/calendar.aspx?CID=27

Denver Area Mineral Dealers Gem & Mineral Show, Exhibit Halls, November 18th & 19th, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM, November 20th, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Summit School of Chess Youth Chess Tournament, Exhibit Halls, December 3, 2022, 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Westernaires Holiday Party, Exhibit Halls, December 11, 2022, 1:00 PM - 9:00 PM

4-H Ring Rides, Event Center, December 13, 2022, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Convenience Pet Hospitals’ Golden Holiday Pet Bazaar, Exhibit Halls 1 & 2, December 17 & 18, 2022, 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM

…and much more. Please check the Fairgrounds website calendar for detailed information for these events.

Colorado Open Lands

https://coloradoopenlands.org/                               https://www.facebook.com/ColoradoOpenLands

Arkansas River Community Preserve in southern Lake County adds 100 acres, thanks to a decade-plus collaboration between Central Colorado Conservancy, Lake County, Colorado Open Lands, funders and other partners.  The ARC Preserve protects important wetlands and wildlife habitat for bighorn sheep, elk, beaver, and many bird species. The public will be able to access the area in about a year to hike, fish, and more.

Big Country Ranch, 698 acres in Grand County, connects a portion of Arapahoe National Forest to large swaths of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land and other private conservation easements. The property is a known winter range for elk, and habitat for Columbian Sharp-tailed grouse, bighorn sheep, black bear, pronghorn, mule deer, and numerous songbirds, raptors, small mammals, amphibians and lizards.  Wetlands and several small ponds and a reservoir provide additional habitat value. The water rights are tied to the land with the easement as well. The Grand County Open Space, Rivers, and Trails program was a project partner.

Big Bend Pasture, located in the upper Tomichi Creek Valley, east of the City of Gunnison, is part of the Irby Ranch cattle and hay operation. The property, which provides summer and fall grazing ground for the family’s cattle, consists of irrigated meadows, sagebrush shrublands, subalpine forest, and ¾-mile of frontage along Big Bend Creek and 1.75 miles of frontage along Marshall Creek. The property is habitat for bald eagle, ferruginous hawk, greater sandhill crane, northern leopard frog, bighorn sheep, black bear, elk, moose, mountain lion and mule deer. It was the largest previously unprotected private property in the Marshall Creek drainage. This project was completed in partnership with Trust for Public Land.

Mountain Area Land Trust

https://www.savetheland.org/           https://www.facebook.com/MountainAreaLandTrustCO/

November 2, 2022: MALT has closed on a conservation easement in Boulder County. This 12-acre property is located west of Boulder, along Sunshine Canyon Drive. This CE is a connector between Boulder County Open Space and BLM lands. It ensures that scenic views of the Bighorn Mountain Natural Landmark are permanently protected, and is recognized by Colorado Parks and Wildlife as habitat for many large mammals, including mule deer, elk, black bear and mountain lion.

November 4, 2022: MALT, Keep It Colorado and Park County Land and Water Trust Fund have joined forces to enable the Sacramento Preserve Conservation Easement, 56.5-acres in Park County near the town of Fairplay. This area features a rich riparian and wetlands habitat, beaver ponds, wildlife and a small cabin. The owners, Tri-Walk LLC, Lynn Grams and Christine Smith, wish to preserve their families’ legacy with this Conservation Easement.

Keep It Colorado                                        

https://www.keepitco.org/

Our mission is to unite, elevate and empower Colorado’s conservation community to protect the lands and waters that define our state.

Great Podcasts to Check Out     https://www.keepitco.org/podcasts

Stewards of Golden Open Space

https://stewardsofgolden.org/

2022 Accomplishments…

 SOLVE(Save Open Lands, Vistas and the Environment)

http://www.solveccc.org

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

https://landtrustalliance.org/land-trusts (to search for a specific land trust organization)

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

Watch This Space…

Update on Denver Golf Course

Park Hill golf course’s redevelopment just got a step closer to reality. But the deal is far from done If Westside redevelops the Park Hill golf course, a long-desired grocery store in Northeast Park Hill is not guaranteed. https://denverite.com/2022/10/20/park-hill-golf-course-redevelopment/

Hogback mine expansion in North Golden gets State approval.

To get more information on the Protect The Hogback group, go to https://www.protectthehogback.com/

 Bear Creek Reservoir Expansion Proposal

https://www.lakewood.org/Government/Departments/Community-Resources/Projects/Bear-Creek-Reservoir-expansion-proposal

Gross Reservoir Updates

https://www.denverwater.org/grossreservoir

10/01/2022 – Boating season at Gross Reservoir has ended for 2022. There is no on-water recreation between Oct. 1 and May 26. Other recreation activities, including hiking, fishing and picnicking, are permitted year-round, sunrise to sunset. Click here for additional information about recreation at Gross Reservoir.

Climate Change Articles of Interest

How to buy a San Luis Valley reservoir. A local water district, a federal land agency, a state wildlife group and a national environmental nonprofit partnered on a creative water deal with multiple benefits for the valley. https://coloradosun.com/2022/11/02/shaw-reservoir-new-owners/?mc_cid=21b1b3f453&mc_eid=7396f15ef3

Fire Season Updates

Foothills Fire Protection District Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP)

The Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) was updated in December 2020. The plan in its entirety is posted at this link: https://foothillsfire.colorado.gov/cwpp

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.