Open Space Update – June 2021

Let’s see what JCOS has been up to in the month of June…

ALDERFER/THREE SISTERS PARK, WEST TRAILHEAD – MOUNTAIN LION KILL SITE

A park visitor alerted Ranger Billy Hall to an Elk carcass in the meadow near Silver Fox Trail. When Billy inspected it, it was covered with dead grass, a sure sign of a mountain lion kill site. According to the Santa Cruz Puma Project (UC Santa Cruz and CA Fish & Game), here are some additional ways to discern a mountain lion kill: Lions tend to eat the chest-area organs first (lungs, heart, liver). Lions remove the stomach (called the rumen) when they first open the chest cavity and bury it a few feet away from the body.  This prevents stomach acids from spoiling the meat over the 3-5 days it will take the lion to finish eating. Lions will nip or “shave” the hair off the body with their incisors before they start chewing into it.  Think of a surgeon shaving the patient before cutting.  The clumps of nipped hair are about 1” across – the distance between the lion’s canine teeth.

BEAVER RANCH PARK TRAIL CONSTRUCTION

Development of Beaver Ranch Park is moving ahead on schedule. The Trails Team used the new dozer to cut 1,100 feet of trail in one afternoon.

CENTENNIAL CONE PARK – RAMSTETTER ACQUISITION

JCOS completed the purchase of the 58-acre Ramstetter property this week!  The northernmost portion of the property can be seen from Golden Gate Canyon Road & Centennial Cone Park, and is part of a broader preservation effort planned for the Park and the Douglas Mountain Study Area.  This acquisition is a strategic priority to ensure the viewshed to and from the property is preserved.

CLEAR CREEK CANYON GATEWAY SEGMENT

The Buildings & Historic Sites Team fabricated the steel hand railing along the stairs that the Trails Team constructed. The Trails Team cautiously removed large amounts of poison ivy and began trail construction to connect the Gateway Trailhead to the Creek access points. The BHS Team continues to put the finishing touches on the restroom. Opening ceremonies are planned for the end of August…

CLEAR CREEK CANYON PARK, BIG EASY TRAILHEAD – PROTECTING THREATENED SPECIES

JCOS contractors completed the installation of metal railing at two locations within the Big Easy trailhead. The railing protects the federally threatened Ute ladies’ tresses (Spiranthes diluvialis), growing near the ADA picnic shelter, and discourages visitor shortcutting across riparian habitat on the south side of the parking lot.

CLEAR CREEK CANYON, COLLABORATIVE RESCUE

In the second week of June a call came through Jeffcom Dispatch for two critical female patients who were each struck by rockfall at the Highwire Crag in Clear Creek Canyon Park.  Rangers Krause, Joyce, Holzman, and Dargatz all responded to the scene and assisted in various aspects. The operation consisted of a low-angle belayed litter, with three litter attendants from Golden and West Metro Fire Departments tied in, near the entrance of Tunnel 2. Golden Fire also utilized a ladder truck to transfer the patient, and then lower the ladder with the patient to the ground, where a Flight for Life helicopter sat waiting on Highway 6 to transport the most critical patient to the hospital by air. JCOS Rangers were among the eight agencies that assisted in this rescue.  Great job by all!

HIWAN HERITAGE PARK

The BHS Team fabricated and installed a new chimney cap on the Hiwan Museum.

NORTH TABLE MOUNTAIN, GOLDEN CLIFFS TRAILHEAD – RATTLESNAKE AT THE RESTROOM

Thanks to the sharp eyes and quick action of Park Services Specialists Chad Vidas and Steven Fernandez, a potentially dangerous situation was averted.  After spotting this three-foot rattlesnake near the door of the Golden Cliffs restroom, they called Jeffcom non-emergency and alerted visitors to the danger while they waited for a trained Animal Control officer to collect and move the snake to a safer location (for people and snake) in the Park. Photos are courtesy of artist and photographer, Chad Vidas.

RATTLESNAKE ACTIVITY SEASON IS HERE!

The 2021 rattlesnake activity season is off to a severe start.  There have been two reported bites to dogs at North Table Mountain Park, one bite to a park visitor at East White Ranch Park, and numerous reports of snakes parked on or next to busy trails.  Please be aware of your surroundings and, when you have the chance, be sure you are sharing our most important rattlesnake safety messages: stay on authorized trails, wear closed-toe shoes, keep one earbud out, and always keep dogs on a leash.  These behaviors do not completely prevent bites, but they go a long way toward mitigating the risk of a bite.  If you encounter a snake, give it space and time to leave the area.  Do not approach it, poke it, throw things at it or attempt to move it.

PILOT PROGRAM OFFERS DISCOUNTED LYFT FARES TO FOUR OF JCOS’ BUSIEST TRAILHEADS

Jeffco Open Space (JCOS) is excited to announce a pilot program giving park visitors the opportunity to take advantage of reduced fares from rideshare company Lyft, in hopes of helping with parking congestion at four of our busiest Front Range trailheads and access points.  The pilot program will serve North Table Mountain Park – West Trailhead, South Table Mountain Park – Camp George West Trailhead, South Table Mountain Park – Golden Hills Access and White Ranch Park – East Trailhead.  Beginning June 28 through December 31, Lyft users can take advantage of a $2.50 reduction in their fare each direction.  Discounts will be valid during park hours, seven days a week, to the four locations listed above.  https://www.jeffco.us/civicalerts.aspx?AID=1592

WINDY SADDLE PARK, BEAVER BROOK TRAIL SEARCH & RESCUE

Jeffco Open Space Rangers were involved in a search and rescue operation on the Beaver Brook Trail in early June. All ended well when the young man was found, safe and sound.

SUMMER TRAIL COURTESY EDUCATION CAMPAIGN AT FRONT RANGE TRAILHEADS

Jeffco Open Space (JCOS) is partnering with City of Lakewood, Gilpin County and Clear Creek County land managers and FRONT (Front Range Optimized and New Trails) to provide informal trail courtesy education pop-ups at select trailheads this summer.  Specific topics will include passing on trails, sharing the trail, pet safety and management, and minimizing visitor impact.  The pop-ups will be staffed by paid marketing professionals who also love trails.  JCOS staff provided basic training that included key stewardship messages, basic incident response and trailhead behavior expectations.  You will see the FRONT pop-ups at Apex, North Table Mountain (west trailhead) and White Ranch (east trailhead) Parks.   The first JCOS pop-up will be this weekend at Apex (June 12-13). This effort will continue through September 26.

2022 Trails Partnership Program

Applications for the 2022 Trails Partnership Program are now available.  The purpose of the Trails Partnership Program is to provide financial support to partners seeking to meet the goals of the Jeffco Trails Plan: improve safety, provide equitable access, and increase connectivity of Jefferson County trails or greenspaces.  Applications are due on September 20 with expected January 2022 funding.  Anyone who manages public land and/or provides public park and recreation services in Jefferson County and has a construction-ready project is eligible to apply. Check out the website at https://www.jeffco.us/4138/Trails-Partnership-Program and the Info Sheet for more details on the application process or contact Trails Program Manager, Rachel Brenna rb*****@co.us, with any questions.

Colorado Front Range Trail (CFRT)

The CFRT Feasibility Study was kicked off the end of June in order to identify an alignment completing the regional trail connector through northern Jefferson County. Over the next year, the study will evaluate several alignment alternatives between North Table Mountain and the Boulder County line to identify a safe, enjoyable, and constructable trail connection for both community and regional use. The study is made possible through strong support from several area partners including DRCOG, City of Arvada, the Trust for Public Land, and CDOT. We are so excited to be leading these efforts in helping to improve safe access to recreation along the Front Range!

Burro Patrol – A New Way to Volunteer

The Burro Patrol is a pilot program to utilize specially trained adult volunteers that lead youth and pack burros in public outreach, education, and stewardship projects. They will help by collecting and packing out trash/cleanup bags in hard-to-reach areas with the hope of being a visible presence in parks.  The educational expectation will be to interact with visitors around trail courtesy and the importance of sharing the trail.

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”.