The December 2020 PLAN Jeffco newsletter is available online. Jump over to our Library and see what’s new, or download from the embedded reader below.
1 Dec 2020 1-12 final
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Miss Mountain Manners here. I want to talk to you about something very important, and I want you to pay attention. Wildfire!
The elements are all here. We live in an arid region, and the wildland/urban interface is known as the geographic “red zone” for wildland fires. It predominates in the foothills of Jefferson County, where most of our beloved Jeffco Open Space Parks are located. Evergreen and Conifer are #1 in Colorado and in the top 10 nationally for risk of property loss to wildfire. Due to our recent persistent dry weather there is an increasingly potent risk of wildfires.
Currently there are four major fires in Colorado. With over 56,000 acres of Open Space Parks in Jefferson County, we must all be ever alert to prevent wildfires here. Nearly 85 percent of U.S. wildfires are human caused.
Recent events: The fire at Deer Creek Canyon Park in August of 2019 burned 20 – 25 acres and was human caused. It required evacuations and six fire agencies to fight the blaze. In July, 2020, the “Elephant Butte Fire” west of Alderfer/Three Sisters Park, due to lightning, burned about 50 acres. A heavy rain helped that firefighting effort. In April, 2020 the “560 Fire” in the Pike National Forest in Jeffco burned at least 83 acres in the Hayman burn scar. Looking further back, in 2012, the “Lower North Fork” fire turned deadly, claiming 3 lives and torching thousands of acres in the Conifer area. We probably all remember the massive Hayman fire in 2002, which burned 138,114 acres across four counties including Jefferson. It can happen again.
The increased use of our Open Space Parks due to persons seeking COVID-19 relief increases wildfire risks. Many park visitors are unfamiliar with (and/or are disinclined to familiarize themselves with) the park regulations, and are not mindful of the close proximity of the parks to home developments.
Here are the rules:
* It is unlawful to smoke or use an electronic smoking device on Open Space Lands, except within an enclosed vehicle or on a portion of a parking lot or developed trailhead that is devoid of all vegetation.
* Any fires are unlawful except liquid or gas fueled grills or camp stoves in designated camping and picnic areas.
* It is unlawful to ignite or discharge fireworks or other explosive or incendiary devices. (From Jefferson County Open Space Lands Rules and Regulations C.12.a. &b.)
Please be sensible and comply with these very logical restrictions. Also, when you encounter someone violating park regulations, call the Jeffco Dispatch non-emergency number, 303-980-7300 to report it. It is the best way to get a park ranger on the scene in a timely manner.
Wildfire mitigation work (careful forest thinning) has been ongoing at Jeffco’s Flying J Ranch Park since 2019. Fire mitigation work along Buffalo Park Road has been completed. (JCOS Director’s Report, 9/3/20) This 34-acre project will create safer ingress and egress for firefighters and evacuees in the event of a wildfire. The Conservation Greenprint 2020-2025 has $3 million dedicated to Forest Health by reducing tree density and fuel sources on 1,000 of JCOS 17,000 acres of forested lands. Priority parks are Reynolds, Alderfer/Three Sisters, Elk Meadow, Meyer Ranch, White Ranch, Lookout Mountain Preserve and Coal Creek Canyon Study Area.
Now it is your turn. Do your part and fire won’t start.
by Richard Sugg
In July of 2015 the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) told the WestConnect Coalition Steering Committee that the proposed 10.5 mile Jefferson Parkway (JP) toll road is a privately funded project. The Coalition’s members include Jefferson County, City of Arvada, City and County of Broomfield, City of Golden, City of Lakewood, and Town of Morrison. The Coalition was formed to study options for completing a “Western Beltway” that includes segments from C-470 in Golden along the SH-93 corridor and through north Jeffco to the NW Parkway. Since the inception of the JP project the Jefferson Parkway Public Highway Authority (JPPHA); whose members are Jefferson County, Arvada, and City and County of Broomfield; have said that it would be built by private investors and that state taxpayer money would not be used for the new highway. Most new lanes in Colorado will have to be paid for with toll revenue; if that is not sufficient, additional money will have to be raised from bonds, new taxes and/or fees. Because of a very low projection of traffic volume the JPPHA and prospective private bidders concluded that toll revenue will not come close to paying for the project, such that additional sources of money will be required to implement it.
The Charter for the WestConnect Corridor Coalition states its Purpose is “to improve mobility for the C-470 (Segment 2), 6th Avenue, State Highway 93, Jefferson Parkway, and Interlocken Loop Corridors from Kipling Parkway to Northwest Parkway.” The length of the corridor from C-470 through Golden via US-6 and SH-93 to the west end of the NW Parkway is 26.5 miles, of which the proposed JP toll road is 10.5 miles. Adding new lanes including the JP and improving intersections on that 26.5 mile corridor would close the “gap”” in a complete Denver Beltway, the goal of the Jeffco-led WestConnect project. In January, 2012 a CDOT representative reported that “CDOT has other priorities” than completing the beltway through Golden. CDOT is supporting WestConnect and paying the most ($1.6 million) for the Western Beltway Study.
The initial Jeffco website introduction to WestConnect was, “the County’s desire to facilitate construction of the Jefferson Parkway [toll road].” CDOT policy requires that managed/tolled lanes be considered when new lanes are needed to increase capacity on “state highways that are or will become congested.” Other segments of the proposed Western Beltway will be widened by adding a toll lane in each direction; the four lanes of the JP would be all new toll lanes. Much of C-470 meets the criteria for adding tolled lanes, as does US-36 between Denver and Boulder. However, there is no current or projected congestion along the route proposed for the JP toll road in Jeffco that requires an increase in capacity. Free SH-93, SH-72, SH-128 and Indiana can get drivers anywhere that the JP could and are not congested, except for current rush hour traffic on SH-93. Also, the JP will have no parallel free lanes and no free use of tolled lanes by HOV-3 vehicles or buses like those for the added managed/tolled lanes on US-36 and C-470.
The Jeffco County Wide Transportation Plan (CWTP) has called for widening Indiana to four lanes since 1998. The 2000 Report of the NW Quadrant Transportation Feasibility Study concluded that a single high-speed, limited access highway through northern Jefferson County and Golden was not needed to meet the demands of future traffic and that improving existing arterials would be better and more cost-effective. All three JPPHA partners approved the recommendation of the NW Quadrant Transportation Feasibility Study to widen Indiana and SH-93 to four lanes. That increase in capacity on an Indiana alternative to the JP toll road, however, will not happen if the JP is built as proposed. As the planned JP route along the east side of Rocky Flats is parallel to Indiana, and Arvada and Broomfield do not plan to widen free Indiana to compete with the toll road.
The 2014 CWTP does not describe the JP as a “Needs Based Project.” There would be no access from the JP to the fast growing Arvada communities of Leyden Rock, Leyden Ranch, and the residential section of Candelas. There are already four entrances to Candelas off the nontolled SH-72. The JPPHA has said that building the toll road would provide an improved route between Golden and Boulder. However, it is questionable that drivers would leave SH-93 that has no tolls, to go onto the JP that would be tolled and then drive miles out of the way to a congested and tolled US-36 to reach Boulder. The Jefferson Economic Council produced a study pointing out how building the JP would produce great economic wealth for northern Jeffco; the study said nothing about economic growth without the JP. The study also was based on the incorrect assumption that the JP would not be a tolled road.
The December OSAC meeting was devoted to hearing presentations from cities, park districts, and non-profits to receive grants in 2016. The grants then were discussed during the January meeting Study Session and then considered for approval at the January Regular meeting.
There was $453,000 available for grants from the Jefferson County Conservation Trust Fund (Colorado Lottery Proceeds). The grants approved by OSAC and later by the Commissioners included:
Evergreen Audubon Society
Evergreen Nature Center. $9,000 – Improvements (new heater).
Friends of Dinosaur Ridge
Dinosaur Ridge. $20,000 – West Entry sign.
Buffalo Park Improvement Association
$8,000 – resurfacing Buffalo Creek trailhead parking lot, a major trailhead for the Pike National Forest trails.
Beaver Ranch
$20,000 – Implementation of 1st Phase of Master Plan. Priority will be selected when the plan is completed. Have $25,000 remaining from the 2015 grant as National Park Service is doing the Master Plan.
City of Lakewood
Carmody Park Phase I additional amenities. $265,000, Second year of funding for remodel of Carmody Park including an accessible playground. Note that GOCO also gave Lakewood a grant for Carmody Park in 2016.
City of Wheat Ridge
$88,000 – Picnic Shelters along Clear Creek Trail.
Ken-Caryl Ranch Metropolitan District
$43,000 – Community Center Outdoor Restrooms; hikers, tennis players, and playground users do not have to come into the Community Center.
The funds available for 2016 Local Park and Recreation Grants Funded with Jefferson County Open Space Sales Tax Fund totaled $1,200,000. The grants approved by OSAC included:
City of Arvada
Terrace Park Renovations. $200,000 – Trail Connection. This is an underdeveloped and underused park between Carr, Estes, 53rd Ave and the railroad tracks. Total project is $653,000 and includes trail, fitness stations, shelters, lighting, etc.
Apex Park & Recreation District
$430,000 – Final Phase of Simms Street Center Pickleball Courts and Demonstration Garden. This adds 8 more pickleball courts (bring the total to 16) and landscaping around the court area. Apex will not be eligible for a new grant until 2019.
Evergreen Park & Recreation District
$95,000 – Marshdale Park Improvements; will replace 20-year old playground equipment and centralize the equipment.
Foothill Park & Recreation District
$300,000 – Clement Park Renovations (from the 2016 budget Balance, $2,700,000, from JCOS reserves and Foothills will not be eligible for a new grant until 2027.)
Clement Park was developed about 30 years ago by JCOS and leased to Foothills. The contract specifications for the development were less than they should have been. Ground settling has caused breaks in the irrigation system, settling of buildings (up to 8 or 9 inches), corrosion of the lamp posts. Foothills did a Master Plan for the park that indicated up to $20,000,000 was required to implement. JCOS asked for an estimate of what was required to make the present facilities sustainable. Foothills came up with about $6,000,000 in immediate needs. They had some Certificates of Participation (COP’s) expiring such that they could issue $3,000,000 in new COP’s.
Renovations include:
1) replacing the core building (at the ballfield complex), the fountain, and plaza;
2) improvements at the amphitheater including widening of the walks to allow vehicle access without driving on the grass;
3) replacing most of the road and parking lighting;
4) restoration of the restroom adjacent to the tennis courts;
5) level and re-sod field 5 to make it rentable;
6) Johnson Lake stabilization of the North bank and general clean up so it could be used for boating; and
7) replace the present playground with a destination style playground near the shelters. Note that GOCO has given Foothills a grant for the fountain replacement.
Prospect Recreation & Park District
$100,000 – Applewood Golf Course Acquisition (from the 2016 budget if negotiations with Molson-Coors are successful. Balance, $1,000,000, from the JCOS fund balance. Prospect would not be eligible for a new grant until 2027.)
The grant to Prospect was approved by OSAC but the Commissioners chose to table it pending the results of the negotiations with Molson-Coors.
The above grants were all approved by the Commissioners.
On December 15, 2011 Open Space closed on the 613-acre Booth-Rogers property. The Northeast portion of the property is adjacent to the undeveloped Coal Creek Canyon Park and the South boundary connected to White Ranch Park via two trail easements. The property at one time was much larger and served as a cattle ranch. It had been in the Booth family for 127 years. In the early days, a wagon road passed through the property as an alternate route from Denver and Boulder to Central City. Open Space had an easement on 619 acres adjacent to the west of the property which is adjacent to Golden Gate Canyon State Park, see map.
The easement, a 344 acre strip through the center of the Booth-Rogers property, and 119 acres adjacent to the north of the property were owned by a single ownership who were planning development. After years of negotiation, Open Space was able to get the ownership to agree to sell all but a 10-acre buffer around some ranch buildings on the North piece.
The sale was completed early this year and adds 1076 acres to Coal Creek Canyon Park. Most of the 1689 acres represented by the two purchases are South-facing slope that is moderately wooded, with large meadows, some springs and ponds. Wildlife is abundant.
The property is part of the Ralston Creek Uplands. Comments from the 2011 study by the Colorado Natural Heritage program. The rugged uplands are covered largely with forests and woodlands and include steep granite outcrops. The forest can be extremely dense in places (a sign of past logging), but has been thinned out in others due to spruce bud worm and pine beetle kills. The areas that are less densely forested have a more diverse understory and herbaceous layer. Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) are dominant tree species on the steep and rocky slopes. In some areas the ponderosa pines form savannahs that include spike fescue grass (Leucopoa kingii) forming a rare plant community in the southern section of the site. Common shrubs include mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus montanus), Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum), common juniper (Juniperus communis), Boulder raspberry (Oreobatus deliciosus) and wax currant (Ribes cereum). The shrublands also contain rare plant communities dominated by mountain mahogany and needle-and-thread grass (Hesperostipa comata). Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum) and mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus montanus) dominate large sections forming a matrix with ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir and very healthy and diverse native grassland communities.
Road access is difficult as the Brumm Trail from the East is very narrow and steep. Alternate access from Highway 72 on the North is by an access easement limited to maintenance vehicles.
The preparations for the In Plein Sight series of events this September and October are proceeding rapidly. We are anticipating up to 27 artists painting in Jefferson County Open Space during the week of October 4 to 8.
The week of painting will be proceeded by a three week exhibit of paintings of Jefferson County Open Space parks from a private collection in the Government Center Rotunda.
The paintings by the Plein Air artists will be available for viewing and purchase at the Golden Community Center on October 8 and 9.
PLAN Jeffco will be previewing the events with a booth or information at:
| June 9, 2016 | Taste of the West Jeffco Fairgrounds |
| July 16 – 17, 2016 | Summerfest Center for the Arts, Evergreen – |
| August 6, 2016 | A Night in the Park (MALT) |
| August 20 – 21, 2016 | Golden Chamber of Commerce Arts Festival 11th Street, Golden |
| August 27 – 28, 2016 | Evergreen Fine Arts Festival Evergreen |
| September 17 – 18, 2016 | Golden Giddyup Lions Park, Golden |
Plein Air painting opening event:
The ‘In Plein Sight’ events begins with the display of a private collector’s commissioned paintings of Jefferson County Open Space Parks in the County Administration Building Rotunda. The display will open the afternoon of September 19 with a reception and will remain available for viewing weekdays through October 7.
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Plein Air painting in the parks will begin October 4, from dawn to dusk:
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Plein air painting at
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Plein air painting at
Thursday, October 6, 2016
Plein air painting at
Friday, October 7, 2016
Plein air painting at
Saturday, October 8, 2016
Plein air painting along
(from the Washington Street Bridge into Clear Creek Canyon)
click for park info & map »
The finished paintings will be available for viewing and purchase in the Clear Creek and Coal Creek Rooms on the Second Floor of the Golden Community Center on October 8 and 9.
The PLAN Jeffco Board of Director’s thank the following businesses, organizations, and individuals who have become sponsors to date:
Martin Marietta
240 Union
Kentwood City Properties – Ann Lenane & Angela Beldy
First Bank
Holley, Albertson & Polk PC
Applewood Plumbing, Heating & Electric
LIV Sotheby’s International Realty
Bandimere Speedway
Pickard & Ross PC
Tueller & Gibbs, LLP
Onsight Public Affairs
Mount Vernon Data Systems
Jeffco Outdoors Foundation
Denver Mountain Parks Foundation
The Tuesday Birders
Jefferson County Nature Association
William K. Coors
Greg & Sue Stevinson
Joe & Gail Coors
Jan & Ross Wilkins
Margot & Richard Zallen
Maryanne Bach Andrie
Paige & William Alread
Beverly Lipman
Bob & Margie Howe
Nancy & George Crego
T.J. & Deb Carney
Kitty & Rock Pring
Dana Jacobsen
Ann & Mike Moore
Rachel & Andrew Price
Cindy Estrada & Ned Connolly
Liz Wald & Wayne Forman
Ralph Morgenweck
Steve Hoffman
Ken Morfit
Elizabeth Moore
Michael Lancaster
The PLAN Jeffco Board of Director’s also thank the following organizations that so far have offered to assist us in disseminating information about the events:
Clear Creek Land Conservancy
Colorado Open Lands
ENABLE
Evergreen Artists Association
Center for the Arts Evergreen
Foothills Arts Center
Foothills Running and Cycling Club
Golden Giddyup
Golden Chamber of Commerce
Mountain Area Land Trust
Colorado Native Plant Society
Trust for Public Land
American Association of University Women
Audubon Society
Tuesday Birders
Jeffco League of Women Voters
Mount Vernon Country Club
Harmony Village HOA
Ruby Ranch HOA
Governor’s Ranch HOA
Ridge HOA
COHOPE
Just Around Here
Golden Newsletter
by John Litz
By the end of 2015, Jefferson County Open Space will have closed on three parcels of land totaling 1,036 acres that include the summit of Douglas Mountain. The map shows that most of the three properties are located west of the intersection of Golden Gate Canyon and Robinson Hill Roads. The small acreage to the north of the intersection contains the Centennial House, which was built of stone between 1872 and 1876. The building served as a stage stop for travelers along the historic Gregory Toll Road between Golden and Central City.
PLAN Jeffco has advocated for the acquisition of properties on Douglas Mountain for more than 20 years. We are pleased that the owners have allowed Open Space to preserve them.
The upper slopes of the southern part of the property have numerous locations that provide scenic views to the east and south – Mount Tom and Centennial Cone. The northeast side of the property is adjacent to 573 acres owned by Open Space that abuts the wildlife preserve portion of Golden Gate State Park. The southern boundary is about one mile north of Centennial Cone Park.
The property is part of the ecosystem that contains drainage to both Clear Creek and Ralston Creek. Parts of the ecosystem were included in the “2010-2011 Survey of Critical Biological Resources in Jefferson County by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program”. The property on the west, Blackhawk Mountain, is forested with Douglas fir and aspen and supports a small, montane grassland. It was rated at “B-5 – General Biodiversity.” The property to the east, Mount Tom, supports limber pine, ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, and Douglas fir. It was rated “B-3 – High Biodiversity.” The southern extent of the Douglas Mountain property was certified for the previous owners, through the American Tree Farm System, as a sustainable Tree Farm. A site visit by Open Space staff identified heartleaf arnica (Arnica cordifolia), which is an indicator of a healthy, highly functioning ecosystem.
The properties are included in the North Mountain Community Plan, which recommends preserving as much open space as possible, especially along the Golden Gate Canyon Road Corridor. The Plan also recommends diffusing the impacts of recreational development throughout the area. Public access probably will be from points on both Golden Gate Canyon and Robinson Hill Roads.
Open Space will take two years or so to study and understand the natural resources on the property. Then the planning group will look at the recreational possibilities of the property. Any development, probably, is at least five years away.
by John Litz
The Fall Trails Talk was held November 10 at the Buchanan Recreation Center in Bergen Park.
Unfortunately the attendance was poor with more staff there than public.
Tom Hoby opened with a quick review of accomplishments over the summer (mainly completing the repair of the flood damage with the help of many volunteers.) He also discussed the climbing management guidelines, the revised activity permits, and the results of surveys where designated trail use was evaluated. In this case, the trails were designated for all users uphill with a separate downhill trail for cyclists. The results are still being evaluated as to whether it would be appropriate when designing trails on new parks.
After a few questions from the audience, those in attendance were able to talk with staff at various table stations that included:
Climbing management guidelines
Completed flood recovery work
Designated use trails survey
Revised activity permits
Revised activity permits
Trail volunteer projects
Safe winter outdoor experiences
Your trail experience
by John Litz
In the summer of 2015, Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), solicited proposals for a grant program designed to get low-income children and families more involved in the outdoors. The program consisted of two phases:
1) grants up to $100,000 for planning during 2015 and 2016
2) and grants in 2016 for implementing from a $5 million pool.
Jeffco Open Space was made aware of the program early in 2015 and gathered a group of 31 agencies to assist in developing the grant application. The proposal criteria were not available until June, but that did not keep the agencies from regular meetings and developing ideas for the proposal. The proposal was submitted in mid-August and awards were made in October. Jeffco received a planning grant of $75,000.
The objective of the “Be Wild Jeffco” proposal is to increase access to and availability of outdoor programs to residents along the Eastern Corridor of Jeffco—essentially Sheridan to Wadsworth and north of Hampden, plus a node going west of Wadsworth between 6th and 26th avenues. Arvada already has a program in place serving the southeast corner of the city and Lakewood had a program this summer focused on the area surrounding Mountair Park (14th and Depew).
The 31 agencies, ranging from the city park departments to the Forest Service and Denver Zoo, will be working on developing a detailed proposal to present to GOCO in August 2016. The proposal then will serve as basis of GOCO making an implementation grant.
by John Litz
Congress allowed the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to expire Oct. 1. With it could go thousands of projects nurtured along by people who had hoped that the chaos of a political party in a high fever would not reach into their favorite places. But it has. Neighborhood playgrounds, walking trails bordering bustling cities, national parks, beaches, bridges, bike paths and birding sites are all imperiled by a handful of Congresspersons. For a half century, everything including the hugely popular Appalachian Trail and the memorial in Pennsylvania where Flight 93 went down Sept. 11, 2001, has relied on money from this fund, generated by revenues from oil and gas leases.
Representative Rob Bishop of Utah, R, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee is the primary impediment. He clearly doesn’t like public land or parks. If Bishop would only get out of the way and let renewal of this popular fund come up for a full vote, it would pass with bipartisan support, as evidenced by commitment letters from members of both parties. The fund was last renewed 25 years ago, and sailed through with nary a complaint. This money has helped to protect places in all 50 states and 98 percent of American counties. Bishop has complained that the money is a “slush fund,” misused by those who want to help expand the public land footprint.
More than 40 percent of the National Parks contain privately owned inholdings. The LWCF is the main source of funds used to acquire these inholdings. The Fund has been used to acquire more than 7,000 acres in Zion National Park and about 5,000 acres in Dinosaur National Monument.
Much of the fund has been spent assisting in providing conservation easements on private lands. It has been used by many states, counties, cities, and districts as a source of matching funds for park, trail and similar projects. In Jefferson County the LWCF provided Open Space with part of the funding for the acquisition of Clement Park.
From 2011 through 2014, 29,200 acres were conserved in Colorado with the help of LWCF dollars. The total spent on all of the projects within the state was $26,300,000.
