We have a new addition to our Library, the Open Space 2022 Preservation Progress. It’s an update updates on how Open Space is doing with the Conservation Greenprint 2020-2025.
Apologies for not getting this added before now, it’s been available on the Jeffco Open Space website since sometime this spring. Our Librarian has been remiss.
Happy reading!
Twenty-five years ago, a group of volunteers formed an organization called the Jeffco Open Space Foundation, whose purpose was (and is) to raise funds for programs and initiatives that align with its vision, mission, beliefs and its focus areas.
From the beginning, the Foundation has been busy. They have provided partial funding for acquisition of Hildebrand Ranch, South Table, Alderfer/Three Sisters, and Elk Meadow Open Space Parks.
They funded improvements at Evergreen Lake, the Pioneer Trail in Evergreen, and Lair o’the Bear Open Space Park, as well as providing matching funds for the Open Space Grant program. Read more
If you’ve recently been out to Alderfer/Three Sisters Park recently, you’ll notice that there’s a lot of forestry activity happening, especially in the eastern one-third of the park.
Managing and maintaining forest health is incredibly important to the safety of everyone and everything, and so, after 100+ years of the forest overgrowth, JCOS is able to start work on this park.
Starting in August 2023, the JCOS Forest Management Team will remove seedlings, saplings, and even some larger trees – mostly Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir – so that the density of the forest will be reduced. Eventually some 240 acres throughout the entire park will be mitigated. This will result in a healthier ecosystem that will be far more resilient to wildfire than what is currently in place. Read more
Have you seen a moose in our Open Space parks yet? If you haven’t, you may soon. Moose, which was a rarity in Colorado only 50 years ago, are now routinely sighted in Clear Creek and Jefferson Counties since their introduction in 1978 — transplants from Utah and Wyoming. The transplants have delighted in their new home state. According to biologists from Colorado Parks & Wildlife, there are an estimated 3500 moose roaming the Rockies between Red Feather Lakes and Pagosa Springs. Read more
If you’re a regular — or even an occasional — visitor to our Jeffco Open Space Parks, you’ll know about the mud season routine. Walk through, not around the mud.
We’ve had a fabulous spring this year, the mud was intense for a while, but now that the daily rains have slackened off, is mud season really over?
I doubt it. Read more
On Tuesday, April 11th, 2023, a joint effort between Jeffco Open Space, The Conservation Fund, Colorado Parks & Wildlife, and Great Outdoors Colorado came to fruition with the conservation of some 2,000 acres within the Mount Tom Conservation Corridor area. This swath of land is located adjacent to the Ralston Creek State Wildlife Area, northwest of Denver and Golden.
The Mount Tom Conservation Corridor is comprised of fee-owned and conservation easements. It connects to other previously conserved areas, extending in a landscape-wide manner the natural resources for wildlife and Colorado communities while protecting floral and faunal species of special concern, as well as endangered species that live in this area, plus a critical watershed, the headwaters of Van Bibber Creek, a tributary of the South Platte River. The area is not yet open to the public, but following intensive monitoring, investigation and inventory of the future preserve, access for outdoor recreation for the publicly-owned sections are planned.
To read the entire press release, go to the JCOS News Flash here.
Another success for land acquisition! Let’s hear it for this quorum of conservation organizations — many thanks to all the fine folk who worked so long and so hard to make this happen.
Autumn – the leaves are turning gold and red and brown and falling to the ground. In some of the higher altitude parks the snows are accumulating, while the critters are getting ready for their long winter’s nap.
Let’s take a look and see what’s been going on at Jeffco Open Space these last two months…
NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY 2022 – A WHOPPING SUCCESS
The Clear Creek Trail Open Space Park got a thorough scrubbing on Saturday, September 24th, National Public Lands Day, when nearly 700 volunteers from Jeffco Open Space, the City of Golden and the City of Wheat Ridge cleaned up a 22-mile stretch of the Peaks to Plains Trail. Read more
Don’t waste this opportunity!
SLASH collections are winding down. Oct 6th through Oct 9th, SLASH will be at the Rainbow Hills Foothills Fire Station, 28812 Rainbow Hill Road, Golden.
SLASH will wind up the season at Blue Mountain Open Space, 1.5 miles west of the intersection of Coal Creek Canyon Rd (Hwy-72) and Hwy-93. SLASH will be at Blue Mountain every Thursday-Friday-Saturday-Sunday until November 6th, 2022.
Don’t waste this opportunity, get rid of that stuff that’s been hanging around the house!
What is SLASH?
Slash is debris from nature, such as tree limbs, prunings and pine needles. If not removed, slash can add to potential fire hazards on your property. The importance of mitigating and preparing your property for wildfire cannot be overstated – and again this year, Jefferson County is your partner in this effort. Following is the proposed schedule for SLASH collection during the Summer and Fall of 2022.
Not sure what qualifies as SLASH? Check below for what is acceptable and what’s not.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO. This posting will not be automatically updated if/when the schedule changes, so click the More Details link for the location/day you plan to contribute to the SLASH pile in your area to ensure they’ll be waiting for you.
SLASH Collection Calendar for Summer & Fall 2022
Slash Collection at Beaver Ranch Park
@ Beaver Ranch Park, 11369 South Foxton Road, Conifer, CO 80433
June 2, 2022, 9:00 AM - June 5, 2022, 4:00 PM
June 9, 2022, 9:00 AM - June 12, 2022, 4:00 PM
June 16, 2022, 9:00 AM - June 19, 2022, 4:00 PM
June 23, 2022, 9:00 AM - June 26, 2022, 4:00 PM
Slash Collection at Shaffer’s Crossing Aggregate Pile Site
@ Shaffer’s Crossing Road & Bridge Aggregate Pile Site – located at the intersection of Hwy 285 and Elk Creek Road, 12996 S Elk Creek Rd, Pine, CO 80433
July 1, 2022, 9:00 AM - July 3, 2022, 4:00 PM
July 8, 2022, 9:00 AM - July 10, 2022, 4:00 PM
July 15, 2022, 9:00 AM - July 17, 2022, 4:00 PM
July 22, 2022, 9:00 AM - July 24, 2022, 4:00 PM
Slash Collection at Settlers Drive Property
@ Settlers Drive Property, 8335 Settlers Drive, Morrison, CO 80465
July 28, 2022, 9:00 AM - July 31, 2022, 4:00 AM
August 4, 2022, 9:00 AM - August 7, 2022, 4:00 AM
August 11, 2022, 9:00 AM - August 14, 2022, 4:00 AM
Slash Collection at Marshdale Property
@ Marshdale Property is located near the intersection of Cty Rd 73 and N Turkey Creek Road, across the street from Marshdale Elementary School. 26624 N Turkey Creek Rd, Evergreen, CO 80439
August 18, 2022, 9:00 AM - August 21, 2022, 4:00 PM
August 25, 2022, 9:00 AM - August 28, 2022, 4:00 PM
September 1, 2022, 9:00 AM - September 4, 2022, 4:00 PM
Slash Collection at Tin Cup Ridge Park (Rooney Rd)
@ Slash collection at Tin Cup Ridge Park is located just south of the Rooney Road Sports Complex. 151 S Rooney Rd, Golden, CO 80401
September 8, 2022, 9:00 AM - September 11, 2022, 4:00 PM
September 15, 2022, 9:00 AM - September 18, 2022, 4:00 PM
September 22, 2022, 9:00 AM - September 25, 2022, 4:00 PM
September 29, 2022, 9:00 AM - October 2, 2022, 4:00 PM
Slash Collection at Foothills Fire Dept, Rainbow Hills
@ Foothills Fire Dept, Rainbow Hills Station, 28812 Rainbow Hill Rd, Golden, CO 80439
October 6, 2022, 9:00 AM - October 9, 2022, 4:00 PM
Slash Collection at Blue Mountain Open Space
@ Blue Mountain Open Space – This site is located approximately 1.5 miles west from the intersection of Coal Creek Canyon Road (Highway 72) and Highway 93. 23401 Coal Creek Canyon Road, Arvada, CO 80007
October 13, 2022, 9:00 AM - October 16, 2022, 4:00 PM
October 20, 2022, 9:00 AM - October 23, 2022, 4:00 PM
October 27, 2022, 9:00 AM - October 30, 2022, 4:00 PM
November 3, 2022, 9:00 AM - November 6, 2022, 4:00 PM
What is accepted?
Slash – limbs, branches and tree debris
Maximum length – 8 feet
Maximum diameter – 6 inches
Pine needles, tree bark and pine cones (unbagged)
What is NOT accepted?
Household trash
Tree stumps
Construction material and lumber
Metal material of any kind
Rocks
Yard waste/grass clippings
Bags of any kind
Fees for Slash Drop-off
Any size truck or trailer is welcome at Jefferson County Slash Collection sites. Dump fees are based on six cubic yards (162 cubic feet) of material: 6 yards = 1 load. The cost to drop off a single load is $20. Credit cards only.
This is equivalent to:
Truck bed full to truck cab height
Trailer up to 8′ l x 5′ w x 4′ h
Loads outside these parameters will be charged accordingly.
Miss Mountain Manners wants you to know that this is a public service announcement, and urges you to safeguard your home; fire season is year-round now. Take advantage of this excellent opportunity to clear out the flammable slash before it’s too late.
Nearly a year ago this article on the The Conservation Greenprint, the guideline by which JeffCo Open Space directs its parks and trails management and administration, was posted. It’s time to take a look at it again, and see what’s been accomplished, and what still needs to be done.
If you’re a frequent Open Space Park Visitor, maybe you’ve noticed there have been quite a few changes lately. If you’ve ever wondered why, and what’s happening to the Parks, here’s your chance to find out. There’s a document called The Jefferson County Open Space 2020-2025 Conservation Greenprint that lays out what the goals are for the next half-decade.
The Conservation Greenprint is part of a set of documents called the Jeffco Open Space 2020 – 2025 Conservation Greenprint References, which you can peruse by clicking here.
We have a summary copy of the Conservation Greenprint in our Library, which you can read and download by clicking here.
While you’re in reading mode, we also have downloadable copies of the Jeffco Open Space 2020 Preservation Progress Annual Report and the Dinosaur Ridge Master Plan 2019 in our Library — so stop and by and have a read!
Subscribe, share, follow us at @PLANJeffco, @MannersMountain, Facebook.com/PLANJeffco — we appreciate your support!
It’s the end of Summer 2022, and what a summer it’s been! So much has happened, from the last report on JCOS happenings until now. Let’s take a look and see what’s been going on at Jeffco Open Space this summer…
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
The “Know Before You Go” rule is the most basic and fundamental that any visitor to any park, not just Jeffco Open Space Parks, but to all parks along the Front Range and into the High Country, must follow. This summer has seen multiple unfortunate incidents, including deaths, some of which were avoidable, had the victims been adequately prepared and taken precautions appropriately. When you see the sign “Open Space Park”, do not confuse it with a city park. The Jeffco Open Space Parks, Boulder Open Space, state parks, national parks – these are wild places. Visitors to these places are expected to understand how to manage their own safety…thus the admonition, “Know Before You Go”. Read more
