It’s that time again, when — every few years — Jeffco Open Space elicits feedback from the public on issues like planning for the parks, and improving and maintaining not just the Open Space Parks, but also shared parks, trails and open spaces. Here’s your chance to voice an opinion on our Jeffco Open Space Parks. The survey will be open for just a short time, so go to this page and start engaging!
In a seven to zero unanimous decision, last night the Jeffco Planning Commission denied Resolution 23-102980RZ, the Special Use request from the Shadow Mountain Bike Park.
If you’ve been following this development, or if you’re an avid downhill mountain biker, then you’re already aware of the decision – but for everyone else, here’s a bit of background and why the request was denied… Read more
This is a repost of the article written in April 2021 by D. Jean Tate. Riley is no longer with us, but Jean and Leia, her new trekking companion, continue to visit the Parks. The information and lessons learned are as important today as they were in 2021. We hope you appreciate the reminder and enjoy the read.
Sharing the outdoors with your dog—it’s one of the most enjoyable things I know! For that reason—and because our open lands and trails are used by wildlife plus an ever-increasing number of people for a variety of activities, and also because of dogs’ natural inclinations—there are rules to be followed when you and your dog are outdoors, outside the bounds of your private property. Those rules vary by location based on political boundaries, land ownership, and land management. Read more
SLASH – Sustainable Lands And Safer Homes — is back for 2024, and the full schedule, with all relevant information (where, when, cost, what constitutes a truckload, etc) is available at https://www.jeffco.us/2493/Slash-Collection
Th 5/23 – Su 5/26
Th 5/30 – Fr 5/31
Th 6/06 – Fr 6/07
Th 6/13 – Fr 6/14
Th 6/20 – Fr 6/21
Th 6/27 – Fr 6/28
Th 7/04 – Fr 7/05
Th 7/11 – Fr 7/12
Th 7/18 – Fr 7/19
Sa 6/01 – Su 6/02
Sa 6/08 – Su 6/09
Sa 6/15 – Su 6/16
Sa 6/22 – Su 6/23
Sa 6/29 – Su 6/30
Sa 7/06 – Su 7/07
Sa 7/13 – Su 7/14
Sa 7/20 – Su 7/21
Th 7/25 – Su 7/28
Th 8/01 – Su 8/04
Th 8/15 – Su 8/18
Th 8/22 – Su 8/25
Th 8/29 – Su 9/01
Th 9/05 – Su 9/08
Saturdays and Sundays, June 1 through October 27
Site hours: 9AM to 4PM except for the Marshdale Property. Please plan to arrive no later than 1/2 hour before closing.
Miss Mountain Manners wants to thank everyone who will take part in the 2024 SLASH program. Removing slash and creating a defensible space around your home is the first line of defense against wildfires, which are a consistent cause for concern in Jefferson County. You can create zones around your home, removing any fire fuels, such as tree debris, to create a properly mitigated property. This doesn’t mean that wildfire will pass you by, but it gives the fire department a better opportunity to save your home when it does happen. Great tips on how to protect your home and property can be found on the Jeffco Sheriff’s hazard mitigation page and at FireWise website. Jeffco’s CSU Extension also has a factsheet that can help homeowners plant low-flammability gardens.
SLASH – Sustainable Lands And Safer Homes — is back for 2024! The anticipated start date for the opening of the first SLASH site is May 23rd, and the program is scheduled to continue through the end of October. At the time of this writing, the location schedule has not been published, but we will advise when it’s available.
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: six yards is one load. The cost to drop off a single load is $24. Credit cards only. This is equivalent to:
For additional clarification on what’s accepted and what’s not, or how to better calculate costs, go to https://www.jeffco.us/2493/Slash-Collection
For more information and to stay up-to-date, sign up for Alerts. It’s free, non-intrusive, and you’ll be notified of schedule changes, closures of SLASH sites, and updates to the SLASH program. Enter your email address at the top of the page, scroll down to the Alert Center section, look for Jeffco SLASH and choose the email or cell phone icon — or both — to receive alerts.
Miss Mountain Manners wants to thank everyone who will take part in the 2024 SLASH program. Removing slash and creating a defensible space around your home is the first line of defense against wildfires, which are a consistent cause for concern in Jefferson County. You can create zones around your home, removing any fire fuels, such as tree debris, to create a properly mitigated property. This doesn’t mean that wildfire will pass you by, but it gives the fire department a better opportunity to save your home when it does happen. Great tips on how to protect your home and property can be found on the Jeffco Sheriff’s hazard mitigation page and at FireWise website. Jeffco’s CSU Extension also has a factsheet that can help homeowners plant low-flammability gardens.
Editor’s note: This is a reprint of the original article published by Ann Bonnell, June 1st, 2011. Rest in peace, Ann, we will never forget you or the expertise in bird life that you were so fond of sharing.
— Steller’s Jay, photo by Matthew Olson
The Corvids are probably the most notable family of birds with an attitude. They are loud, pushy and act like they are the boss, running off other bird species and often eating other birds’ eggs and hatchlings. The Corvids found in our area include Common Raven, American Crow, Western Scrub-Jay, Pinyon Jay, Blue Jay, Steller’s Jay, Gray Jay, Clark’s Nutcracker and Black-billed Magpie. Read more
Ann Bonnell’s death on December 26th, 2023, at the age of 85, left a gaping hole in the heart of the Jefferson County birding community and in the hearts of her fellow PLAN Jeffco Board members.
Ann’s life was focused on family and service. As a high school biology teacher and volunteer Water Safety Instructor for those with special needs, she was able to reach into the lives of many, passing along her belief in service, empathy, and passion for the outdoors and all that it encompasses. Her specific focus, as we at PLAN Jeffco knew her, was birds – birding, leading Tuesday Birders, and teaching about bird life. Read more
Pioneer PLAN Jeffco Board Member John Litz Served 51 years
By Vicky Gits
John Litz’s death on Dec. 29 at 87 marked the end of an epic career in the service of PLAN Jeffco and the cause of preserving natural lands in general.
A metallurgical engineer by profession, John was a remarkably prolific volunteer who donated most of his free time over the years to various charitable organizations and land stewardship causes.
He is survived by three daughters, Kari Litz, Kirstin Litz, and Denise Litz and by three grandchildren. His wife of 49 years, Karen, died in 2007.
He was a member of nonprofit PLAN Jeffco for 51 years from 1972 to 2023 and treasurer for most of that time, working closely with longtime chair Margot Zallen. He was a member of the Jefferson County Open Space Advisory Committee for 30 years, from 1993 to 2023.
John was known for his spreadsheets and mastery of finance and operations, said Ralph Schell, executive director of the open space division from 1998 to 2009. But he was also approachable. “John was just someone that everyone could appreciate and get along with.”
He was a tireless workhorse on behalf of the outdoors and a living history record of the open space saga.
At the beginning Read more
EAGLE’S NEST OWL’S ROOST (ENOR) Environmental Discovery Camp of Colorado State University Extension in Jefferson County celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2024.
The camp began in the 1970’s and has pioneered education for over 20,000 children in 4th through 8th grade, in outdoor skills and stewardship of the local open spaces and trails. Read more
By Vicky Gits and Bette Seeland, Nov 26, 2023
Early this year Jefferson County Open Space quietly removed without replacing an interpretive sign that had stood for about 20 years as a tribute to the visionaries whose genius and hard work launched PLAN Jeffco and created the Open Space Park system.
Now that the sign is gone, it is probably gone for good, according to Matt Robbins of the Open Space department. Positioned in Elk Meadow Open Space in Evergreen, the sign was removed because it had fallen into disrepair after weathering outdoors for so long.
Evergreen resident Joe Mackey brought the missing sign to the attention of the Open Space Advisory Commission in October at a regular meeting. A former member of OSAC in the ‘70s, Mackey thinks the sign should be preserved. Read more
