Open Space Update – December 2021

As 2021 winds to an end, it’s time to check in on Jeffco Open Space and see what they’ve been up to. This autumn has delivered exceptionally fine weather, and JCOS has been taking advantage of it…

Centennial Cone Park is closed for hunting 12/1-1/31

The late-season hunting access at Centennial Cone Park began December 1, closing the park to all other uses through the end of January. Mayhem Gulch parking lot along US Hwy 6 will remain open this year for access to the Peaks to Plains Trail and Clear Creek Canyon Park.

Hunting is allowed during a seasonal closure at Centennial Cone Park, and by permit only. The late season hunting access occurs December 1 through January 31 of each year. The Park is closed to all other use during this season. Permit applicants must hold a valid late season antler-less elk, female or either sex deer license issued by Colorado Parks and Wildlife for the Jefferson County portion of Game Management Unit 38. Private Land Only licenses are not valid at Centennial Cone Park. Colorado Parks and Wildlife provides a list of eligible hunters for this area to Jeffco Open Space. Jeffco Open Space will then notify these eligible hunters about applying for a Centennial Cone Park hunting access permit. Permits are not available to hunters that have not qualified through the appropriate licensing process.

• Centennial Cone Park Hunting Application Process
• State Hunting License Application
• Centennial Cone Hunting Access Permit 

Coal Creek Study Area Deer Hunt Ends

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) hosted guided youth and novice adult hunting in the Coal Creek Study Area over the past couple months. CPW Youth and Novice Adult Hunting Programs offer safe, educational, and ethical guided hunting with experienced CPW hunters. This year’s program had a 50% harvest rate, one hunter per group actually. All had samples taken to test for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) but none of the deer showed clinical signs of being sick. The group saw more bucks in that area than does and the does they did see were often accompanied by small fawns. They also spotted several small groups of bachelor bulls and four moose! Thanks to Pepper Canterbury and Bryan Posthumus from CPW for the wrap up and photos.

Elk Meadow Park Usability Project

Twenty volunteers helped remove noxious weeds and improve the usability of Painters Pause Trail at Elk Meadow Park on October 9. Participants spread four tons of road base material which will harden sections of the trail tread, making it more passable for visitors using mobility devices; which directly supports Goal 8 of the JCOS Conservation Greenprint – Easy and Equitable Access. Following a National Trails Day event in 2022, this effort will create a three-mile loop at Elk Meadow Park for visitors with mobility devices. A big thanks goes out to our Trails and Natural Resources Teams for leading our volunteers on project today.

Forest Restoration and Wildfire Mitigation at Meyer Ranch Park Begins This Winter

Starting this month (December), JCOS will treat approximately 37 acres of ponderosa, aspen, mixed conifer, and lodgepole forests in Meyer Ranch Park. This work will focus on healthy forest structure, aspen enhancement, and wildfire risk reduction. Work is scheduled for completion by the end of 2022 and will contribute to our Conservation Greenprint goal for improving forest health on 1,000 acres of JCOS lands by the year 2025.

Visitors should expect brief and rolling trail closures, loud equipment, and temporary impacts such as rutting on the south half of the park. Please give crews space, be aware of signs, and respect closures! Large trees will be removed in some areas to create healthy, natural forest conditions; mimicking natural events and creating valuable habitat for many important wildlife and plant communities. For more information: Meyer Ranch Park Forest Restoration Fact Sheet (PDF)

Hiwan Fall Program Season Short but Sweet

Volunteers and staff at Hiwan Museum welcomed over 300 students and teachers this fall for nine COVID-adjusted Pioneer History and custom programs. This included making 18 journey cakes (that’s 27 sticks of butter!) and some chilly mornings in the replica 1876 school room and 1895 mercantile. Though limited in number, these programs were meaningful, as evidenced by many behind-the-mask smiles and one teacher nearly in tears with joy about bringing her students once again.

GOCO Tests Trash Tactics

Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) has been testing a fun decal/sound combo that encourages folks to put trash in the trash can at five different trailheads, Meyer Ranch, Flying J, Lair O’ the Bear, west Mount Falcon Parks, and Dinosaur Ridge. Each can will be outfitted with decals that will give the can monster teeth and a motion-triggered sound device, so it makes a noise any time someone throws trash in it. We are a test lab for GOCO’s innovative “get trash in the can” initiative. If you are out at any of these parks, be sure to check out these fun, new stewardship additions!

Volunteer visit to bird banding station

Volunteers and Natural Resources staff recently visited the Barr Lake State Park bird banding station that is run by the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (BCR). Between two visits, they saw seven different species of migrating song birds. BCR manages over 20 mist nets at this location to capture and survey birds as they move through the area during their migration. Each bird receives a custom fitted identifying leg band and undergoes some body measurements.

Seed Collection at Coal Creek Canyon Study Area

The Natural Resources Team held a seed collection event to collect stiff sunflower (Helianthus rigidus) at Ranson Edwards in Coal Creek Canyon Study Area, with the Society of Ecological Restoration (SER) student chapter from CSU. This collection was a good educational event for these students to learn about the intricacies and nuances of collecting native ecotypic seed while learning about what the JCOS Natural Resources Team does on a day-to-day basis. Seed will be used in seed mixes to help revegetate and restore areas of disturbance.

Wildfire Season Is Now Year-round: Mitigation and Safety Reminders

With record low snowfall this year, fire danger remains a major concern across Jefferson County. As of November 19, the Jefferson County Sheriff implemented temporary Stage 1 Fire Restrictions for all lands in unincorporated Jefferson County. This means the use of fireworks, fire outside of a permanent fire grate, bonfires, certain types of shooting, and smoking outside of a vehicle, building, or barren area are all strictly prohibited. As always, Jeffco Open Space (JCOS) parks remain under a permanent, year-round fire ban.

You can reduce the risk of wildfire in the County by reporting fire restriction violations or suspected wildfire smoke, and by mitigating your own property by disposing of woody debris. Thank you to all Jeffco residents who mitigated their property and participated in the 2021 SLASH program. This year, nearly 28,000 cubic yards of woody material was removed from the land thanks to your hard work! Stay tuned for an upcoming schedule of 2022 SLASH collections.

Holiday Closures

Please know before you go as many of our facilities will be closed throughout the next couple of months.

Jeffco Open Space Headquarters, Lookout Mountain Nature Center, and Hiwan Museum Closed: December 24-25

Hiwan Museum Closed for Cleaning: January 1-21

Balloons & Parks Don’t Mix – So Don’t!

Did you know that when released balloons have been known to travel over 1000 miles? Or that latex balloons advertised as biodegradable can still take years to decompose due to chemicals added in the manufacturing process? Both latex and mylar balloons are often eaten by wildlife that mistake them for food, or break down into microplastics, which pollute our waterways and eventually make it into our food.  The next time you’re thinking of a celebratory or memorial balloon release consider some eco-friendly options like blowing bubbles, planting a tree or flowers, or flying a kite.

Now that autumn is upon us, Miss Mountain Manners wants to remind all Park Visitors to recreate responsibly. Be prepared. At any time, snow can fly and the trails can get icy, especially at the higher elevations. Make sure you check https://www.jeffco.us/1531/Alerts-Closures for trail conditions and closures before heading out, and pack for any type of weather. Don’t forget water; it’s easy to get dehydrated and disoriented at elevation.

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”.

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