Open Space Update – Feb-Mar 2021

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February was a short month, and with all the snow that fell in March, it seemed reasonable to pair the reports for these two months together. Despite the time limit and the weather interruptions, JCOS got a lot done!

 

Centennial Cone Park – 2020-2021 Hunting Numbers

During this past hunting season, there were a total of 225 unique hunter sign-ins, the majority of whom had a companion with them.  A total of 15 deer and two elk were harvested.  Two hunters called to report that their harvested deer tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease.  Based on hunter observations, as many as 50 elk were observed in the Park at one time during the two month period.

 

 

 

Clear Creek Canyon Park Improvements – Gateway to Huntsman Trail Segment

In preparation for design of the next trail segment in Clear Creek Canyon, a drone flew through the Canyon in early February to collect more accurate survey data to help with the design phase of the project.  The steep canyon walls, dense trees and rocky overhangs led to some inaccuracies with the plane-based LiDAR survey data which was originally gathered for the project. The weather and the light were so perfect that the drone survey was finished in two days instead of the four that was originally planned.

Clear Creek Canyon Park, Gateway Segment

The Gateway Trailhead is inching closer to completion.  The crews continue to make great progress as they get closer to opening this summer.

Restroom Update

The Building & Historic Sites Team has completed installing drywall and the drywall has passed inspection.  HVAC layout and installation has begun, with lots of piping and a boiler for in-floor heating. The roofing was completed just before the big March snow. Interior wall finishes are being completed. Way to go Buildings & Historic Sites Team!

Stairs

The Trails Team completed the timber stairs and retaining walls that connect the Peaks to Plains Trail to the east side of the wooden flume.

Permeable Paver Install

Installation of the interlocking concrete permeable pavers at the Gateway Trailhead began in early March.  These pavers are very similar to the trailhead surface at Hildebrand Ranch Park and allow surface water to seep back into the ground instead of being carried into a traditional storm water system.  This not only eliminates the need for a storm water quality pond and frees up space for more parking, the pavers are a key piece in low-impact development. Check out the latest update video to learn how interlocking concrete permeable pavers are installed.  https://youtu.be/4M0XVveM35o

Board of County Commissioners Approves Design Contract for Next Segment

The next segment of the Peaks to Plains Trail and the continued development of the Clear Creek Canyon Park cleared a major hurdle in early March.  The BCC approved the contract with the Design-Build team led by Concrete Express and Muller Engineering.  This 3-mile segment is funded by $10.25M from the Denver Regional Council of Governments’ Transportation Improvement Program, and will run from where the Gateway Segment ends at the west portal of Tunnel 1 to Huntsman Gulch.  It will include two new trailheads, multiple bridges and numerous creek access points.  Design has begun, with construction to commence in 2022.  The entire project should open to the public in 2024.

Mount Falcon Park – Entry Sign Update

The entry sign at the West Mount Falcon Trailhead has been updated to provide clear direction to Park visitors.

 

Matthews/Winters Park – Dakota Ridge Trail Fencing

Thanks to the collaboration of the Trails and Park Services Teams, 56 feet of high tensile fence was installed on a portion of the Dakota Ridge Trail for visitor safety and resource protection.

Preparation for Unauthorized Trail Restoration – Log Harvesting

The Trails Team has finished harvesting and peeling lodgepole pine for buck-n-rail fencing material used to close unauthorized trails.

 

Snow Removal Operations

Great pride, appreciation and respect towards the field staff and the efforts taken toward an efficient response to Winter Storm Zylia.  Without hesitation the Park Services, Ranger, Trails, Community Connections, Buildings & Historic Sites and Natural Resources teams collaborated to both prepare for and respond to the Metro Area’s fourth largest snowstorm in recorded history.  This effort enabled JCOS to restore access to all of the main trailheads, provide at least 50% available parking at those locations, clear the paved trails and ensure the functionality of the facilities in just two days!  Huge thanks and appreciation to Jeffco Road and Bridge and local transportation departments for maintaining the roads and assisting with some of the more challenging trailhead locations.  Same for the Facilities Department who worked towards having the JCOS office open and available.  Following on the heels of Zylia, additional snowfall has pushed full recovery into subsequent weeks as JCOS staff continues to open trailheads, improve access and further clear parking lots and other trailhead amenities.

Beaver Ranch Park – Jeffco Open Space Foundation/Hanna Trust Property

Thanks to the persistence of the Real Estate Team and a little help from the Jeffco Open Space Foundation, JCOS can finally provide legal access to the south entrance of the Valley Trail at Beaver Ranch Park!  The addition of this 0.44-acre property eliminates the gap between the Park and neighborhood access from Black Hawk Drive and will enable JCOS to install visitor information at this entry point.

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North Table Mountain – Spring Snake Emergence

With the official start of spring just around the corner and two feet of snow on the ground, the Front Range is sending its usual mixed seasonal signals, including the first reported snake sightings of 2021. Garter snakes have been observed crossing trails at a few locations along the Front Range, and JCOS herp volunteer Ryan Borgmann photographed this bull snake parked at the entrance of its hibernaculum on March 7th at North Table Mountain Park.  Snakes are not likely to venture far from the shelter of their wintering den, but warm, sunny spring days may bring them out for a healthy bask.

Apex Park – Mountain Lion Encounter

March 13, 2021: From the HWI (Human-Wildlife Interaction) reporting app: “I (adult female) was hiking down Paydirt Trail and noted an adult mountain lion walking down the hill, about 50-75 yards away.  It heard me, turned and looked at me, but continued to descend towards Magic Mountain Trail.  I took a short video since it appeared uninterested in me.  I was still and just watching, and when it disappeared from view, I noticed a trail runner above me on the Hardscrabble. I yelled “mountain lion, mountain lion, cougar, puma!  Careful!  I just saw it go down this hill!” and the runner turned around.  I continued to descend slowly and saw another trail runner coming up the Apex/Magic Mountain towards where I had last seen the lion, yelled to alert them, and they also turned around.  I was afraid I’d see it as I got on Magic Mountain back to the trailhead and walked slowly backwards on the trail until it curved.  I did not see the lion again.  A few minutes later two trail runners were coming up the trail towards me.  I warned them I had just seen it disappear in this area, they said they knew about it, and (foolishly) decided to continue running onwards towards where I had last seen it.  I got to the parking lot, saw a ranger’s truck and told Adam Campbell about it.  He gave me his business card and I emailed him the video.”

Stormwater Operations and Cartegraph

Storm water operations are evolving thanks to leadership, team effort and Cartegraph. JCOS is starting to get a bird’s eye view of its assets and a good overall understanding of their condition.  The Park Services Team completed their first round of field collecting and test inspections, entering assets and essential details into the asset management system, Cartegraph.  The GIS Team has done an amazing job giving teams the tools needed to inventory the system, discover concerns and plan strategic repairs.  This improves collaboration with Planning and Zoning, supporting MS4 permit compliance.  It also improves the ability to prepare for and respond to disasters. It may not seem important to know how many culverts there are and where they’re located, until a catastrophic flood happens.

Colorado Front Range Trail

A Request for Proposal was advertised last week to find a design team to complete a Feasibility Study for the northern Jefferson County segment of the Colorado Front Range Trail.  This multi-modal segment will connect North Table Mountain Park to the border with Boulder County. The Feasibility Study will identify the most feasible trail alignment, develop a preliminary design of this alignment, and create design/construction cost estimates.  The Study is funded by the Trust for Public Land, City of Arvada, JCOS, and the Denver Regional Council of Governments’ Transportation Improvement Program. More to come in the near future as the selection process moves forward!

JCOS Fun Fact – Pavement

Thanks to recent GIS and Cartegraph efforts JCOS has been able to quantify many assets, including pavement. JCOS maintains 3.8 million square feet of paved surfaces including concrete, asphalt, recycled asphalt, road base, crusher fines, and pavers. That is equivalent to 89.7 acres or 31 miles of a two-lane roadway.

Forest Health Successful Grant Award

JCOS received notice in February that they had been awarded $47,653.70 to help purchase a second masticator (also called a forest brush cutter).  For those who are keeping track, the Natural Resources Team is 2-for-2 on grant applications this year.

Invasive Species 101 Webinar Series Receives More Than 430 Registrations

Jeffco Invasive Species Management and Jeffco CSU Extension have partnered with Boulder and Larimer County CSU Extension to present a webinar series focused on invasive species issues along the Front Range.  This four session speaker series aims to educate and inform landowners on invasive species terminology, identification, treatment, and latest trends.  Sessions are held virtually from 6:00–7:30 pm from late March until early May. The first session had 181 attendees and to date, a total of 432 registrations.  More information can be found on Jeffco CSU Extension’s webpage https://jeffco.extension.colostate.edu/2021/02/03/upcoming-webinar/

Whew! Despite the short month of February and the very snowy month of March, it’s readily apparent that JCOS has been busy!! Even throughout the winter and all this construction, visitor numbers in the Parks are above what they have been historically, so keeping the Parks maintained for everyone’s enjoyment has been a priority. And JCOS has risen to the challenge!

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”.

Miss Mountain Manners-PLAN Jeffco

 

MISS MOUNTAIN MANNERS INVITES YOU TO GO BIRD WATCHING

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                        Are you looking to try something new to fill these long COVID days?

                        MISS MOUNTAIN MANNERS INVITES YOU TO GO BIRD WATCHING  

But it’s the middle of winter, why would I do that now?

  1. With fewer leaves on the deciduous trees and bushes it makes it easier to spot the birds.
  2. Many ducks and geese are at their most colorful in the winter, in preparation for the coming mating/nesting season.
  3. Birds are everywhere, from your backyard and neighborhood, through the flatlands, and into the foothills and mountain parks. Note that bird species—in fact all species of flora and fauna—are most numerous near water. The riparian areas (along streams and lake shores) provide the lushest vegetation, satisfying birds’ needs for sustenance, and cover for their nests.
  4. Birding satisfaction merely requires a little patience and time to watch and listen for them, while being quiet and mindful of the area. You’ll be amazed at how many of the sounds of birds—and in fact the natural world in general–are revealed when you stand quietly. Eventually, you’ll be able to identify different types of birds not only by sight, but also be their calls and songs.
Mountain Chickadee, photo courtesy of eBird

Mountain Chickadee, photo courtesy of eBird

The Jeffco Open Space Bird Species Checklist lists 388 possible species present in Jefferson County. For example, in September, 2015, 195 individual birds, representing 31 species, were sighted over four and one-half hours by a small group of bird watchers at the West end of Mount Falcon Open Space Park. Go to the ebirdhotspots website for lists of birds currently being viewed in various park areas in Jefferson County.

So, has Miss Mountain Manners tweaked your interest?  If so, here are some of the many birds you might find as Spring progresses in the following parks:

Crown Hill–in the lake: Ring-billed Gull, Common Merganser, Mallard, Coot, Goldeneye; in the reeds at the water’s edge: Red-winged Black Bird; in the trees: American Kestrel, Red-Tailed Hawk.

Stellar's Jay, photo courtesy of Boulder Audubon

Stellar’s Jay, photo courtesy of Boulder Audubon

South Valley Park: Mallard (in the pond near the main entrance), Mountain and Western Bluebird, Red-tailed Hawk, Magpie, Prairie Falcon, Scrub Jay, Towhee.

White Ranch: Steller’s Jay, Mountain Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Dark-eyed Junco.

Mount Falcon: Pygmy Nuthatch, Black-capped and Mountain Chickadee, Common Raven, Townsend’s Solitaire.

Walk a mile: the paved path that circles the lake at Crown Hill is 1.2 miles long, while the Coyote Song/Swallow trails loop at South Valley is 2 miles. Miss Mountain Manners says, “Get out there and watch for our feathered friends,” you will not be disappointed! Be sure to stay on designated trails to protect the habitat and animals.

How do you identify a bird? First, get your general impression, the size and shape of the bird (“giss” in bird watcher talk). Then, look for the color of the bill, marks around the eyes, breast color, wing bars, and tail markings. Now refer to your guide book.

As it warms up: Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory’s Hawk Watch is a volunteer program to monitor the migration of raptors along the Dakota Hogback of Dinosaur Ridge in Jeffco, from mid-March through mid-May. Visitors are welcome. Parking is across the road from Mathew-Winters Park.

Pygmy Nuthatch, photo courtesy of eBird

Pygmy Nuthatch, photo courtesy of eBird

Portions of several JCOS parks are closed to protect ground-nesting bird habitats, nesting birds of prey, and nesting and brooding waterfowl: Clear Creek Canyon Park, Deer Creek Canyon Park/Hildebrand Ranch Park, North Table Mountain Park, South Table Mountain Park, and Cathedral Spires Park (generally from February 1 – July 31, but check each park site for specific details). Miss Mountain Manners reminds you to respect the closures, they mean more birds in the future. (Parks may also be closed due to mud.)

Grab your binoculars, a bird book (David Sibley’s “Field Guide to Birds of Western North America” is recommended), and maybe a bird app for your phone (Merlin, eBird, Audubon Birds, iBird Pro, National Geographic), then enjoy the quietness of the natural world and a new sense of connection with the wild.

Miss Mountain Manners-PLAN Jeffco

Open Space Update – January 2021

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It’s been a busy start to 2021, let’s take a look at what’s been happening at Open Space during January… 

Crown Hill Park – Kestrel Pond & Park Plans

A collaborative effort between Park Services, Natural Resources and the Trails Teams started the process of removing two of the three old, deteriorated wildlife viewing blinds in the Kestrel Pond area of Crown Hill Park.

Elizabeth O’Brien, JCOS Planner Extraordinaire, narrates an update on the Park Plan & 2020-2023 actions at Crown Hill Park.  Sincere thanks to all staff involved in the improvements to this much-loved Park.  Check out the video for details! https://youtu.be/dZINHajMMM8

 

Clear Creek Canyon Park: Gateway Segment Update – Stairs, Restrooms & Park Video

The Trails Team is constructing timber steps leading from the Peaks to Plains Trail to the east side of the wooden flume.

The Building & Historic Sites Team is installing siding, roofing and plumbing and electrical to the restroom during the month of January.

Check out the great progress being made in Clear Creek Canyon in this month’s video update. https://youtu.be/QgPYGt0g2C0

Dinosaur Ridge – Rockfall Mitigation

Rockfall mitigation at the upper curve of Dinosaur Ridge began during the week of 1/18 and continued through nearly the end of January.  Mitigation efforts at the project area included removal of loose rock on the rock slope and installation of rock mesh, which is now draped over the rock face and secured with a steel cable and steel bars which are anchored five feet into bedrock. This mesh is meant to direct future rockfall to the toe of the slope, improving overall visitor safety.

Pedestrian and cycling traffic on the Ridge did remain open during construction but the Arthur Lakes Lookout was temporarily closed during construction.

Reynolds Park – Fuel Break

This project began in the spring of 2019, with the JCOS forestry team operating large equipment and the youth contractor, TeamWorks, providing most of the labor.  We created a 10-acre, 200-foot fuel break along Foxton Road.  The 10 acres managed in this project were identified as the most hazardous section of JCOS property along Foxton by our partners at Elk Creek Fire Protection District.  The fuel break is part of a larger effort to create safe ingress and egress for emergency response and evacuation for residents along the entirety of Foxton Road.  Jefferson Conservation District, the Colorado State Forest Service, Denver Mountain Parks, Beaver Ranch Community, Inc., and several private residents have worked together on this landscape-scale effort.

South Table Mountain – Russian Olive Removal

Natural Resource Team members will complete Russian Olive removal work along the Welch Ditch on the north side of South Table Mountain this week.  The team is timing this important invasive species removal work to be completed before the Golden Eagle nest protection closure. Russian Olive is native to Eurasia and is a Colorado List B noxious weed; containment is required in Jeffco.

Elk Meadow Park Improvements Planning – the Open Space Planning Team has been hard at work for the last year, putting together a proposed series of improvements for Elk Meadow OS Park, which are detailed in this memo, Greenprint Implementation Details. If you’re familiar with the Jeffco Open Space 2020-2025 Conservation Greenprint, this memo falls in line with implementing Goal 10, trailhead improvements to help improve the visitor experience. 2021 will be the design year, 2022 the implementation and construction year.

On December 8, 2020, the Planning Team proposed series of improvements to Management Team for Elk Meadow Park.  These improvements were proposed after a series of meetings, site visits and discussions with Open Space staff throughout 2020 and can be found detailed in this memo.  The recommendation included is the culmination of that work related to enhancing the visitor experience through trailhead improvements.   Design is planned for this year and construction in 2022.

Clear Creek Canyon Park Gateway Restroom Update – the electrical work for the restroom has passed rough-in inspection and drywall installation has begun.

Undesignated Trail Restoration Preparation – You know that spring is on its way when the Trails Team starts harvesting and peeling logs for new buck-n-rail fencing, which will be used to help with restoration of all the undesignated trails in all the Open Space Parks.

Miss Mountain Manners wants to let everyone at JeffCo Open Space how proud we 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”.

Miss Mountain Manners-PLAN Jeffco

 

Open Space Trail Closures 2021

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Regular followers of Open Space news have seen the notices about the recent trail closures at various Open Space parks. These closures are to protect birds of prey (eagles, falcons) and other wildlife (elk, deer) during their birthing and nesting seasons.  Park visitors are strongly encouraged to adhere to these restrictions, as violators will face fines of up to $100,000 and/or imprisonment.

As of Monday, February 1, 2021, the following trails will be closed until further notice:

Centennial Cone Park – Elk Range Trail at Centennial Cone Park, including the interior of the park, is closed from February 1 through mid-June to protect elk during their calving season. All other trails remain open.

Clear Creek Canyon Park – portions of Clear Creek Canyon Park near Mile Marker 270 are closed to all public use uphill of US Highway 6 from February 1 through July 31 to protect raptor nesting territory. This closure includes the following rock climbing sites: Bumbling Stock, Stumbling Block, Skinny Legs, Blonde Formation, and Ghost Crag. The Fault Caves are also included in this closure.

Portions of Clear Creek Canyon Park, near Tunnel 2, are closed to all public use uphill of US Highway 6 from February 1 through July 31 to protect nesting eagles. This closure includes the following rock climbing sites: Highlander, Evil Area, and Tetanus Garden.

Deer Creek Canyon Park/Hildebrand Ranch Park – the entirety of Black Bear Trail, which connects Deer Creek Canyon Park and Hildebrand Ranch Park, is closed from February 1 through July 31 to protect nesting birds of prey.

North Table Mountain Park – Rim Rock Trail at North Table Mountain Park is closed from February 1 through July 31 to protect ground-nesting bird habitat and nesting birds of prey.

South Table Mountain Park – Lava Loop Trail at South Table Mountain Park is closed from February 1 through July 31 to protect ground-nesting bird habitat and nesting eagles.

Cathedral Spires Park – The entirety of Cathedral Spires Park is closed from March 1 through July 31 to protect nesting birds of prey.

Crown Hill Park – The Crown Hill Park Wildlife Sanctuary  in the northwest quadrant of the park is closed from March 1 through June 30 to protect nesting and brooding waterfowl.

Miss Mountain Manners advises you respect these trail closures, and to report violations of these closures by calling the Jefferson County Dispatch at 303-980-7300.

For more information go to Jeffco Open Space.

Miss Mountain Manners-PLAN Jeffco

 

Open Space Update, 1/7/2021

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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

 

 

Peaks to Plains Trail Gateway Takes Shape

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Can you recognize where you are? Look through the framing, do you recognize Castle Rock on South Table Open Space Park?

Construction on the Peaks to Plains Trail continues. This location is called the “Gateway Segment”, it’s just west of Golden. Eventually, you will be able to walk from the Library, the History Museum, or even the Golden Visitors Center, head west along the Clear Creek Trail, cross highway 93, and you’ll be on this portion of the Peaks to Plains Trail, inside the Clear Creek Canyon Open Space Park. The portions that are already open are stunning; we anticipate that this segment will be no less so.

Take 5 minutes and enjoy Scott Grossman as he describes the construction that’s happening at the Gateway Segment.

Miss Mountain Manners reminds you to stay safe during this time of COVID, and even when you’re in the Open Space Parks remember to wear your mask and stay 6 feet away from those who are not in your personal “bubble”. Follow Miss Mountain Manners at @MannersMountain

Miss Mountain Manners-PLAN Jeffco

Share the Trail COVID Campaign Off To A Good Start – Shaun Howard

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Last year, Jeffco Open Space Parks received approximately 7 million visitors. This year, with the pandemic, we have seen a drastic increase in people finding much-needed stress relief while enjoying our parks. For several years, Rangers and Volunteers have collaborated to host dozens of Share the Trails pop-up events. What’s a pop-up you ask? A pop-up is a focused low-key event where volunteers and staff talk with visitors at the trailheads regarding various pertinent park issues. For example, if a park has an increase in dogs off leash, rangers and volunteers will staff a Love Em’ Leash Em’ table and talk to visitors about dog safety messages (i.e. leashing, picking up waste, providing for dog safety in hot weather, etc). Over the years, pop-ups topics have covered living with wildlife (rattlesnakes, bears, lions, coyotes, etc), share the trails, dog safety and education regarding park management changes. The goal is to educate visitors BEFORE they enter the park and BEFORE they make a mistake. Feedback from visitors has been extremely positive. They seem to really appreciate the one-on-one contact with representatives of Jeffco Open Space.

 

As I write this article in mid-November, rangers have already responded to more than 1000 calls for service. Some of these calls have been responding to visitor courtesy complaints on North Table Mountain. While rangers routinely patrol the park, a few of our volunteer equestrian Park Patrollers recognized our stretched staff resources and approached me to request they would like to help out by hosting several Share the Trails events at North Table Mountain. These pop-ups generated 550 conversations with our park visitors. Volunteer Frank Blaha, said “often all of us were fully engaged” in conversations with several visitors. He goes on to say, “many people seemed appreciative of us being out, and a few commented it is good to know Rangers and Volunteer Patrollers were working to keep Jeffco Open Space in good shape.” Special thanks go out to Volunteer Patrollers who were instrumental in moving this series of pop-ups along: Dan B., Frank B., Jack M., Jan K., Lydia M. and Sylvan R. Thanks also go out to the many volunteers who dropped by and who spent over 725 hours in 2020 routinely patrolling North Table Mountain Park. I am privileged to work with such an amazing group of volunteers. Jeffco Open Space truly appreciates all they do to support the Jeffco Open Space mission in caring for our parks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shaun Howard, Ranger Lead
Jeffco Open Space
303-271-5909

Miss Mountain Manners extends great thanks to Shaun Howard, JCOS Ranger, for sharing the story about these pop-up events. Communication, cooperation…if everyone tried a little harder, imagine what a great world this could be!

Miss Mountain Manners-PLAN Jeffco

 

 

Open Space Update 11/22/2020

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Let’s see what’s happening during the month of November at Jeffco Open Space:

 

Clear Creek Canyon Park – Stair Construction

Timber stair and retaining wall construction continues on the east side of the wooden flume leading up from the P2P Trail.  This is going to be an amazing trail experience for our visitors.

 

 

 

Matthews/Winters Park – Fire

At approximately 5:50 a.m. on Monday, November 9th, Jeffco Sheriff’s Office reported Golden Fire was on scene for a small fire in the area of Dakota Ridge Trail north of the intersection with Zorro Trail.  It appears the fire was wind and utility structure related as the top of one of the transmission poles was snapped.  For visitor safety reasons, the trail was closed north of Zorro Trail through the day and night to allow Xcel Energy access to the area for repairs.  The trail re-opened on Tuesday the 10th at noon.

 

 

COVID-19 – Jefferson County Dial Status, Moves to Level Red

Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) has been notified by the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) that Jefferson County is among the counties that will be moved to Level Red on the state’s Dial Framework, effective Friday, November 20th at 5:00PM.  As Governor Polis announced, the state has made some adjustments to the Dial and Level Red, especially as it relates to gatherings and spaces where people congregate. We are awaiting final details on those changes, as well as an associated public health order, and will share more information when available.

Major changes include:

o   The Dial adds a sixth level, Purple, and revises Level Red accordingly.

o   Individuals at risk of severe illness from COVID-19 remain advised to stay in their residence at all levels of the Dial.

o   Remote working is strongly encouraged.

What is not changing:

o   Our parks and restrooms will remain open.

o   Our group size will remain at 10 and we will continue to monitor JCPH for the current information.

 

Camping Relaunch – Reservations Live in CivicRec

After a hiatus due to COVID-19, we are excited to bring back camping to our visitors.  A diverse team of staff came together to figure out how to best provide camping again.  In conjunction with only allowing 4 campers per site, the team decided that providing parking hang tags on site in a lock box was the best option over having visitors trying to print and bring them to their site (as too often they forget).  Thank you to Parks Services, OSIT, Rangers, Community Connections and others for your hard work and contributions to the re-launching of camping permits.  The first reservable date for White Ranch (Sawmill) and Reynolds Park campsites is November 27, 2020.

 

Mount Falcon Morrison Trailhead – Temporary Parking Expansion

Things are wrapping up at Mount Falcon Morrison Trailhead this week and we are planning on opening the new, temporary lot to the public this Friday, November 13. We will have 56 more spots to offer visitors and the entry road will no longer allow parking on either side.  Big thanks to Road and Bridge, T&E, Scott Timmons and Park Services for making this a reality!

 

South Table Mountain Park – Carl’s Point

Carl's Point on South Table MountainWho is Carl of Carl’s Point? If you’ve visited the scenic overlook on the east side of Basalt Cap Loop, you may already know.  The trail sign includes a QR code that transports you to Carl’s story.  In short, Carl F. Eiberger helped preserve South Table Mountain (STM) and at least 11 other parks in the Golden/Applewood/Prospect area by donating expert legal services.  The point of Carl’s Point is to encourage our visitors to pause and think about what they can do to help preserve places and experiences like Basalt Cap Loop on STM.  Mary Eiberger, daughter of Carl Eiberger, visited the site for the first time on Saturday, November 7th.  She was accompanied by her husband Tito and their two rescue dogs, Lucky and Shadow.

 

 

 

 

South Table Mountain Park – Trail ConstructionTrail Building on South Table Mountain

Trail construction on Croc Tooth Trail is in the final stages and will be complete before the end of November.  This trail will help connect Carl’s Point to Ancient Palms Trail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hildebrand Ranch Park – Water Monitor

water monitor at Hidebrand Ranch

 

 

New water monitoring devices, called stilling wells, are being installed to keep us in compliance with State of Colorado Water Commission requirements.  These new monitoring units will more accurately record water flow and use.

 

 

 

 

Miss Mountain Manners thanks all the staff and volunteers at JeffCo Open Space for the wonderful work that they do and are continuing to do during this time of COVID.  Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Miss Mountain Manners-PLAN Jeffco

 

Open Space Update 10/18/2020

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Miss Mountain Manners here…wonder what’s been going on at Jeffco Open Space? Here ya’ go, the latest and greatest, from our Director, Tom Hoby:

Deer Creek Canyon Park – Mountain Lion Incident

Mountain lion, photo courtesy of all-free-download.com

Mountain lion, photo courtesy of all-free-download.com

On Friday, October 9th, about 5 p.m., an adult female mountain biker encountered an adult mountain lion on the Red Mesa Loop Trail.  The lion emerged from the vegetation and was traveling “about 2 feet away” from her on her right.  She immediately dismounted and put her bike between her and the lion.  As she shouted and used the bike to clear a safe zone between her and the lion, she made one 11-mintue call to her boyfriend, who coached her to remain strong and continue to fight back while attempting to back away.  After that call dropped, she called 911 and a JeffCom dispatcher coached her through an additional 22 minutes of vigilantly keeping the lion away from her while she attempted to back away.  The lion would disappear into the shrubland cover and then reappear on the trail.  It would also lie on the trail, sphinx-style and make deep, loud purring sounds.  At one point, the lion made contact with her bike tire with its nose, but never made physical contact with her.  The incident ended when two additional riders arrived on scene, apparently startling the lion out of the area.  CPW and JCOS interviewed the reporting party and one thing she indicated was that she “had seen and read the mountain lion signs” and knew mountain lions were in the area and what to do if she sees one.

JCOS closed the Park while CPW officers conducted an investigation.  The Park re-opened on Tuesday with enhanced safety signage, enhanced safety messaging on social media and a schedule of ranger and volunteer-staffed mountain lion safety and awareness education pop ups for the trailhead.

Clear Creek Canyon Park – BCC/Advisory Committee Tour

As part of their yearly meeting the Board of County Commissioners and the Open Space Advisory Committee toured Clear Creek Canyon Park to check out progress on the Gateway Segment.  It was great to showcase all the progress we have made on the project thus far!   Check out Commissioner Dahlkemper’s Twitter feed for pictures of the tour.

https://twitter.com/LDahlkemper/status/1311813207590232065

Mount Falcon – Morrison Trailhead

Road and Bridge broke ground at the Mount Falcon – Morrison Trailhead last week and they are currently grading the site for the temporary expansion lot.  There will be no parking along the stretch of Vine Street that is on our property, or between the neighborhood and the existing parking area, for the duration of the project AND moving forward.  The completion of construction is scheduled for the end of October/early November.  Big thanks to Park Services, Road and Bridge and Transportation and Engineering for coordinating another inter-divisional project.

Cathedral Spires Park - climbing access trail

Cathedral Spires Park – climbing access trail

Cathedral Spires Park- Climbing Access Trail Constructed

Front Range Climbing Stewards (FRCS) completed contract work for 2020!  Stone steps and plenty of rock work help formalize a climbing access trail.  The JCOS Trails Team also performed tread work and stone walls on switchbacks to clean up the access trail and make it more sustainable.

Lot Spot: Additional Parks

Over the last 1.5 years or so, many visitors and staff have enjoyed using the Lot Spot application to see how many parking spaces are available at specific parks. This application is a great tool for our visitors to help plan their visit before they leave home.

We currently have 7 parks that have Lot Spot cameras installed.  Open Space will be adding the following 10 parks to Lot Spot:

    • Pine Valley Ranch
    • Deer Creek Canyon Park
    • Crown Hill Park
    • Lookout Mountain Nature Preserve
    • Matthews/Winters Park
    • Elk Meadow Park
    • South Valley Park
    • Meyer Ranch (South Parking Lot)
    • Flying J Ranch
    • Apex Park

Stay tuned for more information to come on when the installation will begin on the ground!

Miss Mountain Manners again — I hope you’re following Park regulations for safety and distancing while you’re enjoying the Open Space experience. As always, fellow visitors, stay well, stay safe.

Miss Mountain Manners-PLAN Jeffco

 

Open Space Update 10/02/2020

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It’s Miss Mountain Manners again. Lots has been happening behind the scenes at our Open Space program. Here’s the word from our Director, Tom Hoby, in his own words:

South Valley Park, South Trailhead restrooms.

COVID – KN95 Masks Are Now Available for Staff

Please stop by the shop and see Dave Smith, our Shop Coordinator, who will gladly provide you a new mask.  The KN95 is the cousin to the N95 and both masks are rated equal in capturing micron particles.

South Valley Park, South Trailhead is Open!

The trailhead is open to the public as of Wednesday morning, September 23rd!  This is a great example of what Open Space, Road and Bridge and Transportation and Engineering can accomplish when we put our heads together.  Great partnerships and team collaboration!  A big shout-out to Buildings & Historic Sites, Park Services and Ranger Teams, as well as Region Coordinators, Daniel Rubenstein and Scott Timmons for all the help to complete this project swiftly.

North Table Mountain Park – Mud Lab Complete

North Table Mtn Park mud lab.

The Mud Lab Extension on North Table Loop is officially complete!  If you’re at NTM, give it a ride, run or walk and let us know what you think.

Clear Creek Canyon Park – Gateway Restroom Foundation Poured

The foundation has been successfully poured at the CCC Gateway restroom and soon it will be out of sight and out of mind once the walls start going up.  What lies beneath will be ½ mile of in-floor heat pipe and over 2 tons of reinforcing steel (which is more weight than Mary Ann’s Mini & Pedro combined!).

Firewood Sale – Last Weekend

Preparations are underway to host the last firewood sale of the year.  The team will be logging a few hours this weekend to help residents remove the remaining wood.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee

With the increased news and cultural conversations around equity and racial justice, many staff members recognize that it is past time that we bring these conversations to JCOS.  The ideals of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are important to our staff, volunteers and visitors in the parks. A new JCOS DEI Committee is being established with the goal of fostering a diverse visitor base that feels empowered to be lifelong stewards of the outdoors and a workplace that is comfortable and welcoming for everyone.

What is diversity, equity, and inclusion?

  • Diversity is welcoming of differences between people that may include gender, religion, race, sexual orientation, nationality, socioeconomic status, age, disability, or political views.
  • Equity is the promotion of justice, fairness and lack of judgement within the processes, procedures and the dissemination of valuable resources within an institution.
  • Inclusion is the outcome of people of diverse backgrounds being and feeling welcomed.

Do you want to join the JCOS Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee? Contact Lilly Bock-Brownstein –

lb******@je****.us











All are welcome, whether you are committed to helping long-term or are just curious and want to sit in on one meeting!  If you have any specialized skills, education, or experiences that may help in this effort, please mention it, but it is not required.

Camping Will Resume November 27

The current plan is to resume camping at Sawmill and Idylease campgrounds beginning November 27.  Additional enhancements include a minimum seven-day reservation window and improved method for campers to secure hangtags.  More information will be available as we move closer to the date.

Park Ranger Mark Oline Retirement

Following 37 years of exemplary service as a Resident Ranger (Elk Meadow) and Lead Ranger, Mark Oline retired yesterday. To say that Mark was an institution is understated. His dedication to service, compassion, wisdom, and stewardship set the compass for the Jeffco Ranger culture as it is today. His work will continue in the daily accomplishments of the Jeffco Ranger Team.

As part of his retirement send off, this is the script that JeffCom dispatch read yesterday when Mark went end of watch for the last time. This message reached all law enforcement and first responders throughout Jefferson County.

“End of Watch for 1-Ranger-2. Thank you for 37 years of exceptional service to Jeffco Open Space as a leader, mentor, and friend. You will leave a lasting legacy with your commitment to protect the residents of the community, our natural resources, and heritage. You will be missed by everyone that had the honor to work with you. We have the watch from here. Happy Retirement!”

Mount Falcon Park – Parking Expansion at Mount Falcon – Morrison Trailhead

Mount Falcon parking lot expansion

Mount Falcon parking lot expansion

Temporary expansion of the parking lot at Mount Falcon Park – Morrison Trailhead will start early next week. Following in the success of the South Valley Park South Trailhead expansion, this is another Open Space, Road & Bridge and Transportation & Engineering special. The project will take 2-3 weeks and once complete, will roughly double the available parking spaces to 113. We hope to relieve the neighborhood parking on Vine Street before we design and construct a new entrance from Highway 8.

Alderfer/Three Sisters Park – Boardwalk Complete

The new boardwalk construction is complete and is receiving a lot of positive feedback from park visitors.

Alderfer/Three Sisters Park – Overflow Parking

To help with congestion at the East Trailhead at Alderfer/Three Sisters Park, JCOS finalized a parking agreement with Jeffco Schools that allows visitors to park at Wilmot Elementary School during non-school hours. Visitors can now park at the school and take a 10-minute walk along the Wilmot Trail to access the Park.

Deer Creek Canyon Park – Visitors Report Mountain Lion Activity

The following are excerpts from actual reports submitted through the Human-Wildlife Interactions portal on our website:
Thursday, September 24th: “Running on Red Mesa Loop. Ran up onto cat on blind corner past the tight switchback. I think it surprised the both of us as the cat initially had its back to me. Roughly 10ft distance. Cat spun around and crouched down and had its ears back. I started throwing rocks and yelling. Cat didn’t move until I made contact with a rock then it slowly walked off the trail to the north. It walked off trail maybe 30ft around me. I kept throwing rocks and yelling, but it didn’t move away further. Through the entire encounter, the cat didn’t make any noise or show teeth. I continued clockwise down the loop but walking sideways to keep an eye it. It didn’t seem to pursue me, at least not that I saw.

Mountain lion, photo courtesy of all-free-download.com

Thursday, September 24th: “I was descending Red Mesa Loop, after the first switchback. The trail bends to the left and I heard a rustling in the bushes next to me. Out of my peripheral I saw brown on the trail between the bushes and at first, I thought it was a squirrel. Then it jumped and landed just behind me, within 1-2ft. My first thought was could this be a lost dog? Should I stop? I looked over my shoulder and saw the cat with a big tail. Between looking back and realizing what it was I almost crashed in a small rock garden, but I saved it and kept riding. I looked back once and still saw it. I started yelling and screaming at the top of my lungs and pedaling harder. I knew I couldn’t outrun it and if I looked back one more time and saw it, I would have to stop, lift my bike up to make myself bigger, and face it. I didn’t see it so I kept going as fast as I could, pedaling and looking over my shoulder over and over.”

Sunday, September 27th: “Two different sets of hikers reported that a trail runner told them she had encountered a mountain lion while running on the Homesteader Trail at about 7 am. According to both sets of hikers, the runner reported that the lion was about 100 yards off the trail and went away after being spotted.”

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) responded to the Park on the evening of the 24th, on the 25th and again on the 27th to monitor the situation. JCOS placed a mountain lion advisory sandwich board at the trailhead and Open Space Rangers hosted mountain lion safety and awareness pop ups throughout the weekend. CPW determined that the animal did not act aggressively, and the behavior may have been due to a kill site or cache being located near the trail.

Do you know what to do if you encounter a mountain lion? Stop. Make yourself look big. Shout forcefully at the lion. Slowly back away. Do not turn and run. If approached, wield a walking stick, throw rocks or use your bike to create a zone of safety. If attacked, fight back.

3rd Annual Colorado Trails Symposium

JCOS staff played a key role in helping to plan and organize this year’s virtual event. The symposium was held on September 30th and included fifteen land management agencies from across the state. Participants heard an array of topics including: Rebuilding the Historic Notch Trail, Best Practices for Partnering with Land Managers, Design & Construction for Resilient Vehicle-Accessible Trails and a Roundtable Discussion on COVID and Trails. By all accounts, this was a big success.

Exploring the Hiwan – Denver Art Museum Connection

In case you don’t know your Hiwan history, Eric’s House was built for Frederick (Eric) Douglass, grandson of Mary Neosho Williams, who purchased the original barn that has transformed into the Hiwan Museum.

In 1929, Eric Douglass joined the Denver Art Museum (DAM) as Curator of Indian Art, with an objective to define the manner in with American Indian objects were re-contextualized in a museum setting. Eric was considered the contemporary expert in Indian Art and Culture. Eric served as curator until 1946 and went on to be the Director of the Museum from 1940-1942. He was also a Trustee of the museum and in 1947 became curator of Native Art, until his death in 1956. Eric acquired thousands of objects with his own funds and most were given outright to the DAM. Through his efforts, Eric created “a whole new and universal approach to the subject of art, Native American peoples and the necessary contextual relationships between societies. He utilized the resources of his Native American relationships and the depth of the DAM collection to reintroduce historical skills and pride in material culture.” (Friends of Native Arts, DAM) Eric would often spend months re-educating the women of a reservation on how to create traditional beadwork with the help of the authentic examples of beadwork provided by the museum. Want to learn more? Visit the indigenous arts page https://denverartmuseum.org/collections/indigenous-arts-north-america

Congratulations to the Advisory Committee Reappointments

On Tuesday September 29th, the Board of County Commissioners took action to reappoint the three expired term Open Space Advisory Committee members. Congratulations and thank you to John Litz, Kathleen Staks and Sarah Gomach.

2020 National Public Lands Day

National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort. This past Saturday, JCOS hosted 24 volunteers along the Clear Creek Trail where we were able to remove over 900 lbs. of trash, spread over 60 yards of crusher fines and trim back 1,024 feet of vegetation to improve line-of-site for our visitors. A huge shout-out to the Trails and Park Services Teams for keeping our volunteers safe and providing stellar leadership.

Now that you know how hard our dedicated Open Space staff, volunteers and partners work to make these parks such special places, the next time you see a Ranger, Park Host or Patroller, take a moment to say “thank you”. And don’t forget your mask!

Miss Mountain Manners-PLAN Jeffco