Archive for category: Featured

So much has happened during this very busy month of July! Let’s dig in and see what Open Space has been up to!

1,192-ACRE GOLTRA ACQUISITION

Win-win is an understatement with this land conservation effort.  After numerous discussions with the Goltra family, JCOS plans to permanently preserve 1,192 of the 4,800 acres they own just outside Golden adjacent to Mount Galbraith, Clear Creek Canyon and Centennial Cone Parks.

The acquisition of this beautiful property continues the nearly fifty-year-long legacy of preserving land for conservation and public enjoyment.  JCOS has been working with the conservation-minded Goltra family and Martin Marietta Materials to bring this to fruition.  This property preserves more than double the acreage acquired in the 2004 exchange with the prior mine owner, LaFarge.  That exchange preserved 522 acres, primarily at North Table Mountain Park.

Next steps for the Goltra acquisition and HSE Agreement Amendment include consideration by the Jeffco Open Space Advisory Committee on August 5, 2021, for their recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners.

 

BEARS, BEARS, EVERYWHERE…

The Human-Wildlife Interactions 2021 Quarterly Report is in and it was a big quarter for bear sightings across our system of parks.  13 sightings were reported for a total of 17 individuals, including cubs.  Here are some excerpts from the interactions as reported by our visitors:

WSP: Running on Gudy Gaskill Trail from the west today, I came down into a little draw and heard the “huff” sound of a bear and looked to see the bear running away from me directly down the draw.  The bear stopped after a bit and watched to see what I would do.  I stayed still for a while, then walked further on the trail, which put me above and farther from the bear.  As I slowly climbed past (about 100 ft away at this point), the bear decided to leave, and turned and took off up the hill on the other side.

PVR: When walking back eastbound from the west termination of the Narrow Gage Trail, my wife and I sighted a black bear beside the fence along the trail about 50 or 60 yards ahead of us.  The bear was on the opposite side (north) of the fence from the trail.  The bear raised on its hind legs and balanced on a fence post with its front legs and stared at us for 10 or 15 seconds. This surprised us because with previous bear sightings, the bear has always immediately scampered away. 

In both cases, no negative interactions were reported. If you sight a bear, or any other critter, for that matter, and you want to report the sighting, go to https://www.jeffco.us/3620/Human-Wildlife-Interactions and fill out the form. Jeffco Open Space staff strives to balance the protection and preservation of wildlife and their habitat while promoting a safe and positive visitor experience. Visitors that provide information on wildlife interactions play a critical role as stewards and partners in managing wildlife. All reports are anonymous.

 

ALDERFER/THREE SISTERS 2020-2023 PLANS

In April of this year, JCOS hosted a virtual community meeting to discuss proposed trailhead expansion, a parking management plan, and visitor management strategies. The results of the 30-day public comment period are in, check out the report at https://www.jeffco.us/DocumentCenter/View/28177/AlderferThree-Sisters-Park-Community-Meeting-Public-Comment-Report-2021.

 

CLEAR CREEK CANYON PARK – GATEWAY SEGMENT

The Trails Team continues to make great progress on construction of stairs and creek access points. The Buildings & Historic Sites Team is busy constructing the entry signs.

The Building and Historic Sites team finished up the restroom, it passed final inspection from the City of Golden.

The Trails Team completed construction of the beautiful timber stairs that links the main Trail to the Welch Ditch trail.

Final Update Video of the Gateway Segment
The JCOS contractor and staff are working towards completing finishing touches on the Gateway Segment, nearing the volunteer and employee preview days, and the official ‘cable cutting’, which is currently scheduled for August 25^th.  This part of the Clear Creek Trail has taken nearly 2-1/2 years to complete. You can view its progress on the Clear Creek Canyon Park Gateway Segment Construction Updates YouTube channel; it’s truly a wonderful project.  The most recent video update is now available >> Watch the video

 

ELK MEADOW PARK – JENKINS PEAK

Trail construction to Jenkins Peak continues at Elk Meadow Park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN NATURE CENTER

The Nature Center at the Lookout Mountain Preserve is once again open after over a year of COVID shutdown. Check the schedule for all the upcoming educational programs and events at https://www.jeffco.us/1568/Educational-Programs.

 

 

 

 

 

SOUTH TABLE MOUNTAIN – FIRST T-REX TOOTH FOUND IN 1874

Back in June of 1874 a School of Mines geology class was hiking on South Table when a student found a large serrated tooth. Edward Berthoud, who was at the time a Geologist at the School of Mines, packed up the tooth and sent it to O.C.Marsh, a leading vertebrate paleontologist at Yale University.

The tooth lay unstudied, in the Yale collection, until 2000, when Dr. Kenneth Carpenter, a vertebrate paleontologist at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, identified it as Tyrannosaurus rex tooth. It only took 126 years to get it figured out, but the South Table Mountan tooth is the first fossil evidence of T. rex ever discovered.

The trail that will traverse the easement included in the DOE Land Exchange at South Table will be named “T. Rex Tooth”. Now it’s up to you to help protect South Table. Prospecting or collecting fossils is not allowed. If you spot a fossil that has weathered out after a rain or snow event, notify JCOS or DMNS immediately. Removing a fossil from a site without thorough documentation can compromise historical understanding.  Illustration of the tooth is by Edward Berthoud.

 

 

 

MOUNT GALBRAITH – HEAT STROKE MEDICAL EMERGENCY

It’s true that (generally) air temperature decreases as you move up-elevation, and Mount Galbraith tops out at 7260 feet. But even the cooler air at elevation cannot guarantee protection from heat stroke. On 7/20, Jeffco Rangers assisted with a helicopter evacuation of a heat-related medical emergency on Mount Galbraith. A young man presented with symptoms of heatstroke – rapid pulse, disorientation, delirium, loss of consciousness, flushed skin, no perspiration.

You can prevent heat-related medical emergencies. Dehydration exacerbates heatstroke. Monitor for signs of heat stress including headache, nausea, poor coordination, and fatigue. Stay hydrated, drink plenty of water and take breaks in the shade before you think you need to.

 

HOT DOG IN THE SUMMERTIME

 It’s hot out there, and as much as we all love to hike with our best fur-friends, maybe it’s better to leave them at home until the weather (and the surface of the trails) cools down a bit. Dogs don’t sweat like we do, so they can’t get rid of the excess heat that can build up to the point where it’s life-threatening. Do you know the signs of heatstroke in dogs? If you notice:

• Rapid panting
• Bright red tongue
• Red or pale gums
• Thick, sticky saliva
• Weakness/constant desire to sit or lie down
• Wanting to stop and lay down
• Vomiting/diarrhea
• Shock

Then you need to take immediate action:

• Seek shade immediately
• Wet dog with cool water or wet cloth on foot pads, groin, armpits, and ears
• Fan air on dog
• Take dog to vet as soon as possible

KEEP ONE EARBUT OUT!

Heatstroke isn’t the only danger to dogs in the parks. Rattlesnakes happen. Their home is the park; we are only visitors. KEEP DOGS ON LEAD. Keep one earbud out. Wear close-toed shoes. Be aware of your surroundings. Teach children how to be safe in rattlesnake country.

Do you know what to do when you encounter a rattlesnake? It’s something called the 30/30 rule:

• Back away by 30 feet;
• Give the rattler 30 to decide to leave;
• Repeat as necessary;
• Do NOT throw rocks or try to move the snake, that only serves to make them defensive.

Do you know what to do if you get bitten by a rattlesnake?

• Call 911 immediately, give them an EXACT location;
• Keep the bitten area at or below the level of the heart;
• Take off jewelry or any other constricting item (anticipate swelling);
• DO NOT cut, suck, or ice the bite area.

Do you know what to do if your dog gets bitten by a rattlesnake?

• Know before you go – find the veterinary closest to the Park that stocks antivenom.
• Immediately transport your pet to that veterinary.

 

JEFFCO SLASH HELPS REDUCE WILDFIRE DANGER

SLASH means something other than twigs and brush – it stands for Sustainable Lands And Safer Homes. Jeffco Open Space is partnering with the County as they provide a rotating sequence of slash (the twigs and brush) locations for drop off over the summer.

What’s accepted?  Tree debris, limbs up to 8 feet in length and a maximum diameter of 6 inches, loose pine needles, tree bark, and pine cones. Leaves are accepted at the Thunder Valley location only.

You can bag the little stuff, but be prepared to dump out the debris at the drop off site. Take the bags home, refill them, and come by again.

Don’t bring construction material or lumber, household trash, metal of any kind, rocks, tree stumps, yard waste or grass clippings.

The cost is modest, $20 a load (6 cubic yards, 162 cubic feet), credit cards only. For detailed information on what constitutes a “load” go to https://www.jeffco.us/2493/Slash-Collection. Check the Slash Collection Calendar for the date of the closest location to you.

 

TRAILS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM

Applications for the Jeffco Open Space Trails Partnership Program (TPP) are available now! If you haven’t heard about this program, and you are part of an organization that could use financial support for trails and connectors, you may want to head on over to https://www.jeffco.us/4138/Trails-Partnership-Program and check it out.

The TPP provides financial support to partners seeking to meet the goals of the Jeffco Trails Plan: improve safety, provide equitable access, and increase connectivity of Jefferson County trails or greenspaces. Applications are due on September 20 with expected January 2022 funding.

During the first year of the TPP (2020-21), over $2.7M was gifted to partners who applied for the TPP. The projects ranged from trail bridge maintenance to trails several miles long, so no project is too small or too large. Apply now!

 

NEED A RIDE TO THE TRAILHEAD? CALL LYFT

Take advantage of JCOS’ pilot program that aims to shuttle visitors to and from the Open Space parks while avoiding the hassle of overcrowded trailhead parking. The pilot program is servicing three parks: North Table Mountain, west trailhead; South Table Mountain, Camp George West and the Golden Hills access points; White Ranch, east trailhead. Through the end of the year, Lyft users can take advantage of a $2.50 reduction in fare, each direction. Discounts will be valid during park hours, seven days a week, to these locations.

Going somewhere not serviced by the Lyft discount? Download the Lot Spot app and check for parking availability ahead of time. Fourteen (14) trailheads are Lot Spot enabled.

Don’t forget, some parks and trails may be closed for seasonal or construction reasons, so check before heading out. https://www.jeffco.us/1531/Alerts-Closures

 

IT’S FIRE SEASON: TIPS TO STAY SAFE

At Jeffco Open Space Parks:

No campfires, including at campgrounds.

No charcoal grills or open flames – visitors are allowed to use liquid or gas fueled grills or camp stoves in designated camping and picnic areas only.

No smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle or a developed trailhead area that is devoid of all vegetation. Visitors must safely and properly dispose of all cigarette butts.

In general and at your home:

Keep an eye out for Red Flag warnings and limit hazardous activity on those days.

Properly dispose of cigarette butts in receptacles.

Do not burn brush or trash.

Avoid parking in dry grass.

Do not operate machinery which could cause sparks or open flames (torches, chainsaws, etc.).

Keep trailer chains from dragging on the ground and sparking.

Create a defensible space around your home by using the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) zone concept.

Choose fire-resistant plants.

Regularly prune trees, mow grassy areas, and remove dead and dry plants that could fuel a fire.

Take advantage of the Jeffco SLASH program and recycle your slash at a safe facility.

 

RANGER TEAM – 2021 2ND QUARTER STATS

Let’s hear it for the Open Space Ranger team!  In the second quarter of 2021, our Rangers made over 9,000 informal Stewardship Education contacts along our Open Space trails and at the  trailheads.  Rangers gave 550 verbal warnings to correct compliance concerns.  Rangers issued 79 written warnings and 98 tickets in the 2^nd Quarter.  Top three offenses were Parking, Control of Pet, and Posted Notice.  Rangers picked up 619 unattended poop bags and properly disposed of them in waste receptacles.  Overall education contacts, including social media, traditional media and ranger programs totaled 675,658!

 

BRUSH TRUCK

Through an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) for interdepartmental transfer between JCOS and the Jeffco Sheriff’s Office, JCOS is now the proud manager of a Type VI Brush Truck.  The truck will be used for fire suppression on JCOS managed lands.  The truck will be utilized by a future JCOS Wildland Fire Team (WFT).  The Ranger team is currently crafting safety, equipment, certification, and management trigger SOPs for the WFT.  The WFT will comprise current JCOS employees authorized, through specific training and certifications, to respond at a higher level than routine operations to wildfires on JCOS lands or bordering lands that may impact JCOS property. When responding to a fire, the WFT will operate as a mutual aid resource under the command of the fire Incident Commander.

 

 

 

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA)

It’s time to start sharing your ideas about how to spend the $$$ that will be flowing to Jefferson County through the American Rescue Plan Act. On the Jeffco website there’s a form through which the community can provide input to help develop funding ideas and prioritize community needs.  This link to www.jeffco.us/ARPA will help those who would like to provide input on the Plan to make sure that all ideas and proposals get collected and reviewed. These digital entries and are much easier to organize and track than emails or voicemails coming in from many sources. Share your ideas now by going to www.jeffco.us/ARPA and taking the survey.

 

What a month! Miss Mountain Manners is astonished at how busy the Parks are in the summertime! It pays to check ahead, to confirm that you will be able to park safely and responsibly when you get there. The idea of having a chauffeur take you to the trailhead is intriguing. After a long and arduous experience in the park, the driver can pick you up and transport you to your favorite spot for a refreshing post-hike libation, then take you directly home. How much better could this get?

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”.

 

 

Despite a cold and snowy start to the month of May, JCOS was able to make good progress on many project fronts…read on!

Beaver Ranch Park

Trail construction is underway, and the Trails Team is making great progress.

Through an extensive community engagement process, the Beaver Ranch Park Master Plan was completed in 2017 and includes an outline for park-wide improvements.  The primary focus of the proposed improvements is to create a main trailhead at the Park’s entrance and limit the vehicular access beyond this new space.  The trailhead will become the primary parking destination for most visitors, and most amenities not included in the new trailhead design will be accessed on foot.

As a part of park-wide improvements included in the Master Plan, Jefferson County Open Space is considering a relocation of the dog off-leash area.  To get a better understanding of the community needs, a Beaver Ranch Dog-Off Leash survey was issued, which ran from April 1 – April 30.  To follow what’s happening at Beaver Ranch, click the link to the Open Space Beaver Ranch Park page.

Peak to Plains Trail

The Buildings & Historic Sites Team repaired railing along the trail damaged from a rockslide in early May (freeze-thaw, anyone?).

Lots of great progress happening in Clear Creek Canyon as JCOS races towards the Grand Opening in August.

The entire trail segment south of Clear Creek has been poured and awaits stain in late July.  The concrete entry drive for the Gateway Trailhead was poured in late May and the permeable pavers were scheduled to be completed by the end of that week.

At the Tunnel 1 Trailhead, the last lift of asphalt in the parking lot as well as the two new deceleration lanes were completed.  There’s still a lot of work to do, but JCOS is on track to open on August 5!

P2P Trail – Clear Creek Canyon Park Gateway Segment

Wet and cold temperatures in the early part of May allowed interior work to continue with electrical, plumbing fixtures and finishes installed.  Warmer temperatures in mid-month allowed for the installation of exterior stone, window manufacturing, more concrete and pavers.

As of the end of May, restroom roofing was completed and the roofing and rough plumbing both passed inspection.

 

South Valley Park – Raptor Report

One of the many reasons why South Valley Park is STAY ON TRAIL and STAY OFF ROCKS is to protect excellent raptor nesting habitat.

This year, the Natural Resources team has observed FIVE different species of raptors actively nesting in the Park, including golden eagles, prairie falcons, red-tailed hawks, great-horned owls and the smallest falcon, the American kestrel.

The hogback rock formations offer protected locations for nests and the surrounding grass/shrublands provide plenty of hunting habitat to feed young.  In the photo, a male (right) and female (left) kestrel share a small mammal snack.  Photo by volunteer raptor monitor, Audrey Boag.

Van Bibber Park

The Trails Team prepared for the Earth Day volunteer project on Saturday, April 24.  The focus of the project was natural surface trail construction, unauthorized trail restoration, fence installation and shrub/forb plantings.

Land Acreage Verification Project – Complete!

The Land Acreage Verification Project (LAVP) began with the need to understand the different types of acreage Jefferson County Open Space has contributed to preserving. Through an exhaustive and meticulous three-year collaboration between the Real Estate and GIS Teams, each JCOS land record was examined and its acreage verified, which has led to an accurate count of the preserved acreage: 54,318 acres. Moving forward, the Real Estate and GIS Teams will work together to ensure this number is accurate and up-to-date, and have developed processes to ensure that whenever someone asks how many acres JCOS is preserving, they can answer that question with confidence.

One of the later ideas that came of the LAVP was to create a simplified list of our land association types. The list below, called Land Preservation Types, is intended to make the information more easily understood, both internally and by the public. It will eventually make its way into our public-facing maps and applications.

 JCOS Owned in Fee

JCOS Jointly Owned in Fee

JCOS Owned in Fee Managed by Others

JCOS Conservation Easement

JCOS Easement

Agreement Held by JCOS (licenses/leases)

Deeded to Local Governments

Partners in the Outdoors 2021 Virtual Conference Details and Registration

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Partners in the Outdoors Conference unites partners in the outdoors community as they continue to explore the complicated relationship between conservation and recreation in our state.

This year’s virtual conference continued efforts to advance the priorities identified in Colorado’s Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP), while also supporting Colorado’s Outdoor Principles.  Conference sessions began April 22 and continued through June 3.  JCOS was a conference sponsor and a presenter, specifically highlighting the May 20 session, “Effectively Managing Increasing Visitation to Colorado’s Public Lands”.

2020 Preservation Progress

In the week of May 13^th, JCOS posted the 2020 Preservation Progress. This year’s addition is a reflection of the Conservation Greenprint 2020-2025, a strategic framework for the preservation of open space and parkland, protection of park and natural resources, and provision of healthy, nature-based experiences in Jefferson County. This document outlines the ten goals for the next five years and provides accomplishments from 2020. The 2020 Preservation Progress document can be found on the Reports page of the Open Space website.

Rachel Brenna – New Trails Program Manager

Welcome Rachel Brenna to the Open Space team as the New Trails Program Manager.  She started in this position in late May.

“I am inspired by the beauty of the landscape and the richness of human connections.  As I have moved through my life in Colorado, Mississippi, and the Mid-West, I continue to be amazed by the power of connecting people to each other and their environment.  These inspirations ground me as a person and inform my career as a landscape architect. I have worked at many levels of detail – from creating community-wide park and trail master plans to construction detailing for public art installations – all to provide opportunities to make the environment a part of people’s daily experience.

Aside from brief stints at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the National Park Service, I have been in the private sector for most of my career and am excited to return to public service working on one of the most essential parts of our communities – trails!…”

Miss Mountain Manners agrees completely with Rachel, without the beautiful and responsibly planned and maintain trails, how would we be able to enjoy our Open Space parks? Thank you, Rachel, for agreeing to join JCOS!

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”.

 

If March saw a lot of snow, it seems like April saw just as much if not more! However, that didn’t seem to slow down the teams at our Jeffco Open Space Parks:

 

North Table Mountain Park – West Trailhead

The entry sign received a new sign face with updated trailhead name and new timbers.

 

 

 

Clear Creek Canyon Park Gateway Segment

The Gateway Segment is getting some new steps leading down to the Peaks to Plains Trail. The contractor is installing steel stairs, steel shade structures, and pavers, while the Trails Team is constructing timber stairs.

The Buildings & Historic Sites Team has installing interior plumbing and a snow melt system, while the contractor has installed concrete in front of the restroom.

 

 

Peak to Plains Trail

JCOS staff is currently in the midst of a listening tour with Peaks to Plains Trail partners and stakeholders for the Plains Segment from Golden to Adams County.  The objective of the effort is to identify and act on opportunities for improvement in this trail corridor of statewide significance.  Download the Peak to Plains Collaborative Fact Sheet for more detailed information.

The Buildings & Historic Sites Team repaired railing along the trail damaged from a rockslide.

Van Bibber Park

The Trails Team prepared for the Earth Day volunteer project on Saturday, April 24.  The focus of the project was natural surface trail construction, unauthorized trail restoration, fence installation and shrub/forb plantings.

Beaver Ranch Park

Through an extensive community engagement process, the Beaver Ranch Park Master Plan was completed in 2017 and includes an outline for park-wide improvements.  The primary focus of the proposed improvements is to create a main trailhead at the Park’s entrance and limit the vehicular access beyond this new space.  The trailhead will become the primary parking destination for most visitors and most amenities not included in the new trailhead design will be accessed on foot.

As a part of park-wide improvements included in the Master Plan, Jefferson County Open Space is considering a relocation of the dog off-leash area.  To get a better understanding of the community needs, a Beaver Ranch Dog-Off Leash survey has been issued.  The survey can be accessed by scanning the QR code with the on-site signage or by clicking the link to the Beaver Ranch Park page.  The survey ran from April 1 – April 30.

Wednesday Forums Are Back

For the first time in more than a year, the Planning Team hosted the first of the virtual Wednesday Forums of 2021 in early April.  More than 70 attendees joined the forum to learn about the South Table Mountain Park Land Exchange and park improvements, as well as the work that’s happening at Beaver Ranch Park.  The following week the Planning and Projects Teams discussed the latest developments for Alderfer/Three Sisters and Tincup Ridge Parks. Want to get notifications prior to the meetings? Go to the Open Space Calendar Page and click the “Notify Me” icon at the top of the page.

South Table Mountain Park – Department of Energy (DOE) Land Exchange

On April 8, JCOS held a virtual community meeting to discuss the proposed DOE land exchange and planned access and trailhead updates to South Table Mountain Park.  Over 100 community members attended the live virtual meeting, which is available for viewing on our STM park page. The public comment period runs through May 12. If you are interested in providing feedback, please send comments to

ST*@je****.us











.

Trails Partnership Program 2021 Success! 

As a part of Conservation Greenprint Goal #8, Easy and Equitable Access, JCOS created the Trails Partnership Program to help support our partners who are interested in building and improving the greater Jefferson County Trail System.  Partners were required to apply for funding, and a review team of JCOS staff and Open Space Advisory Committee members decided on the following projects to receive funding:

City of Arvada – A new trailhead at Standley Lake Library providing an outdoor classroom for the library and an ADA accessible connection from Kipling Parkway to the Rocky Mountain Greenway.

Buffalo Park Improvement Association – A permanent vault restroom will replace the current port-o-lets at the Buffalo Creek Trailhead.

City of Lakewood – Maintenance to Bear Creek Trail and the construction of a parallel crusher fine trail to relieve visitor conflict.

Leawood Metro Rec & Park District – Bridge maintenance at Weaver Park.

City of Wheat Ridge – The addition of two trail connections from the sidewalks on either side of Wadsworth Boulevard down to the Clear Creek Trail.

All of these projects will add great value to our Jefferson County community, and we are looking forward to the next four years as we continue the Trails Partnership Program and help more of our partners achieve their goals.

Abandoned Mine Closures

The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS) has begun an abandoned mine reclamation project on JCOS properties, which will run through the end of June.  There are 14 stopes or adits that will be closed and/or fenced at no expense to JCOS.  All of the sites have been evaluated for bat habitat and will be remediated accordingly.  Please note that the conditions when mines may open, enlarge, or reopen continue to change, so operate with extreme caution when in the vicinity of former mining locations.  Just to be on the safe side, please report any unsecured mine openings to the closest Park Ranger or Volunteer.

First Quarter Camping Reservations

With camping reservations already being scheduled through the beginning of July at all three Open Space campgrounds, the word is out.  Below are the year-to-date camping reservation totals and the 10-year comparison for the first quarter of 2021.

 

 

 

Land Acreage Verification Project – Complete!

The Land Acreage Verification Project (LAVP) began with the need to understand the different types of acreage Jefferson County Open Space has contributed to preserving. Through an exhaustive and meticulous three-year collaboration between the Real Estate and GIS Teams, each JCOS land record was examined and its acreage verified which has led to an accurate count of the preserved acreage: 54,318 acres. Moving forward, the Real State and GIS Teams will work together to ensure this number is accurate and up-to-date and have developed processes to ensure that whenever someone asks how many acres JCOS is preserving, that question can be answered with confidence.

Partners in the Outdoors 2021 Virtual Conference Details and Registration

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Partners in the Outdoors Conference unites partners in the outdoors community as we continue to explore the complicated relationship between conservation and recreation in our state.  This year’s virtual conference will continue efforts to advance the priorities identified in Colorado’s Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) while also supporting Colorado’s Outdoor Principles.  Consider registering (required) for a session to learn about key issues in the industry while generating innovative solutions to advance and balance both recreation and conservation in Colorado.

Conference sessions began April 22 (Earth Day) and will continue through June 3.  JCOS is a conference sponsor and we are specifically highlighting the May 20 session, “Effectively Managing Increasing Visitation to Colorado’s Public Lands”. Expanded conference details can be found here: Colorado Parks & Wildlife – Partners in the Outdoors Conference (state.co.us)

 

There’s always a lot going on in our Open Space Parks! The to-do list must be longer than any of us could imagine!

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”.