by Vicky Gits
Mountain Area Land Trust’s first success was helping to preserve Elk Meadow Open Space Park near Evergreen, one of the most visible and most loved scenic parks in the foothills area.
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Mountain Area Land Trust
Location: Evergreen
Year founded: 1992
Executive director: Jeanne Beaudry
Conservation easements in Jefferson County: 47
Acres preserved in Jefferson County: 7,567
Total conservation easements: 68
Total acres in conservation easements: 14,707
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Still a viable elk grazing area today, 23 years ago, the land previously known as Noble Meadow was on track to become a high-end housing development.
Under a cooperative land-purchase agreement, the developer/owner Hiwan Ridge Development donated the 281-acre conservation easement to MALT; Jefferson County Open Space purchased 117 acres, Evergreen Park and Recreation District purchased 10 acres for athletic fields and the community raised $200,000 toward the purchase price of $2.28 million.
Six counties
Based in Evergreen, MALT is active in the mountain areas of Boulder and Jefferson counties, as well as Clear Creek, Park, Gilpin and Teller counties.
It currently has about a dozen active conservation efforts in progress, said executive director Jeanne Beaudry, who joined the organization in January 2009.
In its focus area of Jefferson County, MALT holds 47 conservation easements over 7,567 acres. In total MALT has conserved 14,707 acres in 68 private conservation easements and one fee-held property from 1992 through December 2014 in six counties.
Saving the aspens
Exemplifying its spirit of stewardship, in 2014 MALT spearheaded a project that fenced off a dying grove of aspen saplings on one of its large properties in Clear Creek County. Known as a desirable bird habitat, the trees were being overgrazed by mule deer and elk. MALT provides long-term monitoring as well.
High-altitude research
This summer MALT is partnering with Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado and others to design and build a one-mile loop trail at Pennsylvania Mountain Natural Area. The site has been used for scientific research for more than 37 years.
Beaudry said preserving an area on Pennsylvania Mountain was one of her most memorable and significant efforts to date. “Pennsylvania Mountain Natural Area is so biologically significant. It encompasses research, 1,800-year-old bristlecones and recreation.”
“There are only two other high-altitude research areas where they study climate change and effects on trees, animals and pollinators. It was private property and slated to be sold for building large homes.”
MALT purchased 92 acres of the 500-acre site in 2014 as part of a multiphase project.
Nationally accredited
MALT earned national accreditation from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission of the Land Trust Alliance in September 2012. Achieving national accreditation is a documentation process requiring years of effort and means a group meets the highest professional standards.
MALT was certified by the Colorado Conservation Easement Oversight Commission in March 2010, as required by state law.
A few of MALT’s successes are:
North Fork of the South Platte River near Bailey, 71 acres, 2015. Conservation easement on scenic property formerly used as a retreat owned by a bicycling club in the early 1900s. Preserves half mile of river frontage.
The Nicholas Family Mountain, 50 acres, 2014, Bailey, near the Mount Evans Wilderness. Includes several rustic cabins from the early 1900s and mountaintop views. Family-owned for three generations, it was the family’s dream to see it conserved forever.
Bristlecone view Horizon and Bristlecone View Horizon South Park County ranch near Fairplay, 1,400 acres, 2011. Visible from both U.S.285 and Highway 9, this large conservation easement by a single owner preserves views on the way to mountain resorts in Summit County.
Long Meadow Ranch, Park County, 240 acres, 2013 Historic ranch on U.S. 285 on the North Fork of the South Platte River.
Public-private projects in Jefferson County, (partially owned and managed by other public entities):
Elk Meadow Open Space
Beaver Brook Watershed
Bergen Nature Trail
Blair Ranch
Owen property Upper Bear Creek
Conservation easements in Jefferson County include the following:
Chatfield Turkey Farm, 43 acres, Jefferson County, 2013. Historically part of a turkey farm. Today provides habitat for big-game including elk, mule deer, black bear, turkey and mountain lion.
Roller-Roller estate, 57 acres, 2013, near Conifer and U.S. 285, the Roller-Roller estate is adjacent to the James Q. Newton Park on the south. Current and proposed use is outdoor recreation and outdoor education. Access will be provided through outdoor and conservation classes.
Upper Bear Creek near Evergreen, 2013, 70 acres. Habitat for mountain lion, black bear, turkey, mule deer and more. Preserves scenic enjoyment along upper Bear Creek Road.
Mission statement: “Our mission is to save scenic vistas, natural areas, wildlife habitat, water resources, working ranches and historic lands for the benefit of the community and as a legacy for future generations.”
MALT Preservations:
Elk Meadow. Photo by Linda Besler (April 2015)
Columbines. Photo by Allan Casey (July 16, 2015)
Be Wild
/0 Comments/in Features & Opinions Archive /by BlogMasterby John Litz
In the summer of 2015, Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), solicited proposals for a grant program designed to get low-income children and families more involved in the outdoors. The program consisted of two phases:
1) grants up to $100,000 for planning during 2015 and 2016
2) and grants in 2016 for implementing from a $5 million pool.
Jeffco Open Space was made aware of the program early in 2015 and gathered a group of 31 agencies to assist in developing the grant application. The proposal criteria were not available until June, but that did not keep the agencies from regular meetings and developing ideas for the proposal. The proposal was submitted in mid-August and awards were made in October. Jeffco received a planning grant of $75,000.
The objective of the “Be Wild Jeffco” proposal is to increase access to and availability of outdoor programs to residents along the Eastern Corridor of Jeffco—essentially Sheridan to Wadsworth and north of Hampden, plus a node going west of Wadsworth between 6th and 26th avenues. Arvada already has a program in place serving the southeast corner of the city and Lakewood had a program this summer focused on the area surrounding Mountair Park (14th and Depew).
The 31 agencies, ranging from the city park departments to the Forest Service and Denver Zoo, will be working on developing a detailed proposal to present to GOCO in August 2016. The proposal then will serve as basis of GOCO making an implementation grant.
Land and Water Conservation Fund Expires
/0 Comments/in Features & Opinions Archive /by BlogMasterby John Litz
Congress allowed the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) to expire Oct. 1. With it could go thousands of projects nurtured along by people who had hoped that the chaos of a political party in a high fever would not reach into their favorite places. But it has. Neighborhood playgrounds, walking trails bordering bustling cities, national parks, beaches, bridges, bike paths and birding sites are all imperiled by a handful of Congresspersons. For a half century, everything including the hugely popular Appalachian Trail and the memorial in Pennsylvania where Flight 93 went down Sept. 11, 2001, has relied on money from this fund, generated by revenues from oil and gas leases.
Representative Rob Bishop of Utah, R, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee is the primary impediment. He clearly doesn’t like public land or parks. If Bishop would only get out of the way and let renewal of this popular fund come up for a full vote, it would pass with bipartisan support, as evidenced by commitment letters from members of both parties. The fund was last renewed 25 years ago, and sailed through with nary a complaint. This money has helped to protect places in all 50 states and 98 percent of American counties. Bishop has complained that the money is a “slush fund,” misused by those who want to help expand the public land footprint.
Much of the fund has been spent assisting in providing conservation easements on private lands. It has been used by many states, counties, cities, and districts as a source of matching funds for park, trail and similar projects. In Jefferson County the LWCF provided Open Space with part of the funding for the acquisition of Clement Park.
From 2011 through 2014, 29,200 acres were conserved in Colorado with the help of LWCF dollars. The total spent on all of the projects within the state was $26,300,000.
Park Association Releases Economic Impacts Study
/0 Comments/in Items of Interest, News & Views /by Michelle PooletThe National Recreation and Park Association unveiled a study showing that local and regional public park agencies generated nearly $140 billion in economic activity and supported almost 1 million jobs in 2013.
In Co
lorado only, local and regional parks generated $4.6 billion in operations and capital spending, representing 36,247 jobs statewide.
Colorado was second in the nation in spending on a per capita basis with $878 per person, compared to Illinois in first place with $1,007 per resident and Utah, with $706 per resident in third place.
The Economic Impact of Local Parks study is largely based on estimates of spending by local and regional park agencies on annual operations and capital expenditures. It does not include visitor spending or any estimates of improvement in health and wellness or property values.
Researchers derived spending estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2013 Annual Survey of Public employment and payroll. Capital spending data was based on the ratio of capital spending to operational spending as shown by the NRPA database for 1,169 local and regional park agencies.
The National Recreation and Park Association, based in Ashburn, Va., commissioned the study from the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University.
The study is available at nrpa.org
Developer Gives Up On Applewood Golf Course Rezoning
/0 Comments/in Items of Interest, News & Views /by Michelle PooletPark Visitors Attest to Restorative Effects of Nature
/0 Comments/in Calls to Action, Items of Interest, JeffCo Open Space /by Michelle Poolet“Spending time in nature gives you time to think, to get ideas in your mind that, with crowds and people around you, you might not,” said Allan Reid of Arvada.
A 2012 study found that people immersed in nature for four days boosted their performance on a creative problem-solving test by 50 percent.1 The results support what Albert Einstein once said: “Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better.”
Dominic Dezzutti of Highlands Ranch is a believer. “Get out there in nature wherever it is,” he said, “because that’s what’s going to clear your mind, whether it’s a breeze, the sunshine or the view. You then get an idea that whatever you’re facing, you can overcome it.”
That sentiment is in keeping with 2007 findings from the University of Essex that in a group of people suffering from depression, 90 percent felt a higher level of self-esteem after a walk through a country park, and almost three-quarters felt less depressed.2
Time spent outdoors helps Jeffco Open Space visitors organize thoughts to make better choices. Said Rich Urbanowski of Lakewood, a frequent visitor to Mount Falcon Park, “It helps me prioritize some of the things I have going in life.”
According to a 2014 Behavioral Sciences publication, “Exposure to natural environments protects people against the impact of environmental stressors and offer physiological, emotional and attention restoration more so than urban environments.”3
Of the benefit of time spent in nature, Hannah Mehsikomer of Denver puts it simply. “It’s a way to recuperate,” she said. “Everyone works too much during the week.”
1 Atchley RA, Strayer DL, Atchley P. Creativity in the wild: improving creative reasoning through immersion in natural settings. PLoS One 2012;7(12).
2 Peacock J, Hine R, Pretty J. Got the Blues, then Find Some Greenspace: The Mental Health Benefits of Green Exercise Activities and Green Care; University of Essex: Colchester, UK, 2007.
3 Berto R. The role of nature in coping with psycho-physiological stress: a literature review on restorativeness. Behav Sci 2014;4(4):394-409.
Jeffco Open Space was founded as a land conservation organization in 1972 to preserve land, protect park and natural resources and provide healthy nature-based experiences. Funded with a one-half of one percent sales tax, the agency has preserved over 54,680 acres, and created 28 regional parks and 230 miles of trails in Jefferson County.
Jefferson County Public Health is committed to promoting health, preserving the environment and preventing injury and disease for the residents of Jefferson County, Colorado. For more information, call (303) 232-6301 or visit jeffco.us/public-health.
Will Lebzelter
Communications Associate
D 303-271-5961, C 720-556-3353
jeffco.us/parks
Invitation to In Plein Sight 2016
/0 Comments/in Past Events /by BlogMasterDear Open Space and Art Lovers,
As open spaces and art lovers, PLAN Jeffco is excited to announce a series of events in September and October 2016 to celebrate the beauty of our open space. These events will include an art exhibit, a week of plein air painting in our Jefferson County Open Space parks and an art show with the freshly painted landscapes to view and purchase.
In addition to providing a unique cultural experience for our entire Metro Denver community, these events will allow attendees to bring the beauty of Jeffco’s Open Space parks into their homes and offices as a reminder of why we live in Colorado.
We invite you to join us to promote these events by becoming a sponsor!
Proceeds from your sponsorship will help PLAN Jeffco continue its successful efforts to conserve our open space lands. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Margot Zallen, President of PLAN Jeffco
PLAN Jeffco 2015 Annual Dinner
/0 Comments/in Past Events /by BlogMasterPLAN Jeffco 2015 Annual Dinner
with the County Commissioners to Celebrate 43 years of Conserving Jeffco’s Open Spaces
“Celebrating Jeffco Land Trusts”
Date: September 21, 2015
Location: The Vista at Applewood Golf Course, 14001 W 32nd Ave, Golden, CO 80401
Honorees: Clear Creek Land Conservancy, Colorado Open Lands and Mountain Area Land Trust.
Their efforts have protected over 11,000 acres in Jeffco and over 290,000 acres in Colorado.
For this we all owe them a big THANK YOU!
The September 21 dinner in the Vista Room at the Applewood Golf Course was enjoyed by the almost 100 attendees. The dinner was also attended by the three County Commissioners and Tom Hoby, the Open Space Program Director who joined with PLAN Jeffco in honoring the Mountain Area Land Trust, Clear Creek Land Conservancy and Colorado Open Lands. All of these have been actively protecting Jeffco open space lands and two of these also focus their efforts on preserving lands throughout Colorado.
Representatives of the land trusts received framed photographs of properties that they have conserved. Peter Morales, a member of the PLAN Jeffco board, volunteered his services as photographer.
Claire Riegelman received the award for the Clear Creek Land Conservancy. The conservancy has protected lands on both sides of Clear Creek.
Dan Pike and Tony Caligiuri receive the award for Colorado Open Lands. Colorado Open Lands has protected lands along North Turkey Creek and adjacent to Golden Gate State Park.
Kurt Ballantyne receives the award for the Mountain Area Land Trust. MALT got its start with an easement on Noble Meadow and since then has protected many properties within the county, including a large area of Resort Valley.
Birds of Mount Falcon
/0 Comments/in Articles That Educate /by BlogMasterOn September 29, seventeen members of the “Tuesday Birders” spent four and one-half hours looking for and counting birds at the West (upper) end of Mount Falcon Open Space Park. One hundred ninety-five individual birds, representing 31 species, were sighted. At the upper park’s elevation, about 7800 feet, both plains and mountain species can be seen.
The most common mountain species were:
nuthatches – 18 pygmy, 6 white-breasted, and 2 red-breasted; and
dark-eyed juncos – 18 gray-headed, 1 pink-sided, and 1 Oregon.
The most common plains species were:
robins – 15 American and
sparrows – 10 chipping and 2 juvenile whitecrowned.
Cooper’s Hawk. Photo by William H. Majoros (Wikipedia.org).
Black-Capped Chickadees. Photo by CheepShot (Wikipedia.org).
Hawks included:
1 Cooper’s,
2 red-tailed, and
1 American kestrel (it really is a falcon).
Woodpeckers included:
2 Hairy and
3 northern flicker.
Jays included:
2 pinyon and
6 Steller’s.
Chickadees included:
16 mountain and
3 black-capped.
Bluebirds included:
39 western and
6 mountain.
Finches:
22 Cassin’s and
2 lesser goldfinch
Other birds identified were:
1 turkey vulture,
1 black-billed magpie,
3 American crow,
1 common raven,
2 brown creeper,
6 Townsend’s solitaire,
1 yellow-rumped warbler,
1 western tanager, and
1 pine siskin.
See also:
Mount Falcon Park
Copyright © 2015 Ann Bonnell
Prospect Park Rec District Tries to Buy Golf Course
/0 Comments/in Events & Parties, Items of Interest, Land Preservation, News & Views /by Michelle PooletProspect Recreation and Park District has submitted a ballot measure to its voters requesting help in acquiring the Applewood Golf Course property in Jefferson County.
The measure asks voters to incur a debt to finance the purchase of the 140-acre property, which has been the center of controversysince a developer announced plans to purchase it for residential development.
A second ballot measure asks for a one-mill property tax increase to support the Prospect Recreation and Park District properties generally, including this proposed acquisition, district board chairman Jim Zimmerman said in a news release Friday….
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_28720969/rec-district-seeks-ok-to-purchase-applewood-golf-course-near-golden
Meadow to Mountain: Mountain Area Land Trust
/0 Comments/in Features & Opinions Archive /by BlogMasterby Vicky Gits
Mountain Area Land Trust’s first success was helping to preserve Elk Meadow Open Space Park near Evergreen, one of the most visible and most loved scenic parks in the foothills area.
Mountain Area Land Trust
Location: Evergreen
Year founded: 1992
Executive director: Jeanne Beaudry
Conservation easements in Jefferson County: 47
Acres preserved in Jefferson County: 7,567
Total conservation easements: 68
Total acres in conservation easements: 14,707
Still a viable elk grazing area today, 23 years ago, the land previously known as Noble Meadow was on track to become a high-end housing development.
Under a cooperative land-purchase agreement, the developer/owner Hiwan Ridge Development donated the 281-acre conservation easement to MALT; Jefferson County Open Space purchased 117 acres, Evergreen Park and Recreation District purchased 10 acres for athletic fields and the community raised $200,000 toward the purchase price of $2.28 million.
Six counties
Based in Evergreen, MALT is active in the mountain areas of Boulder and Jefferson counties, as well as Clear Creek, Park, Gilpin and Teller counties.
It currently has about a dozen active conservation efforts in progress, said executive director Jeanne Beaudry, who joined the organization in January 2009.
In its focus area of Jefferson County, MALT holds 47 conservation easements over 7,567 acres. In total MALT has conserved 14,707 acres in 68 private conservation easements and one fee-held property from 1992 through December 2014 in six counties.
Saving the aspens
Exemplifying its spirit of stewardship, in 2014 MALT spearheaded a project that fenced off a dying grove of aspen saplings on one of its large properties in Clear Creek County. Known as a desirable bird habitat, the trees were being overgrazed by mule deer and elk. MALT provides long-term monitoring as well.
High-altitude research
This summer MALT is partnering with Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado and others to design and build a one-mile loop trail at Pennsylvania Mountain Natural Area. The site has been used for scientific research for more than 37 years.
Beaudry said preserving an area on Pennsylvania Mountain was one of her most memorable and significant efforts to date. “Pennsylvania Mountain Natural Area is so biologically significant. It encompasses research, 1,800-year-old bristlecones and recreation.”
“There are only two other high-altitude research areas where they study climate change and effects on trees, animals and pollinators. It was private property and slated to be sold for building large homes.”
MALT purchased 92 acres of the 500-acre site in 2014 as part of a multiphase project.
Nationally accredited
MALT earned national accreditation from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission of the Land Trust Alliance in September 2012. Achieving national accreditation is a documentation process requiring years of effort and means a group meets the highest professional standards.
MALT was certified by the Colorado Conservation Easement Oversight Commission in March 2010, as required by state law.
A few of MALT’s successes are:
North Fork of the South Platte River near Bailey, 71 acres, 2015. Conservation easement on scenic property formerly used as a retreat owned by a bicycling club in the early 1900s. Preserves half mile of river frontage.
The Nicholas Family Mountain, 50 acres, 2014, Bailey, near the Mount Evans Wilderness. Includes several rustic cabins from the early 1900s and mountaintop views. Family-owned for three generations, it was the family’s dream to see it conserved forever.
Bristlecone view Horizon and Bristlecone View Horizon South Park County ranch near Fairplay, 1,400 acres, 2011. Visible from both U.S.285 and Highway 9, this large conservation easement by a single owner preserves views on the way to mountain resorts in Summit County.
Long Meadow Ranch, Park County, 240 acres, 2013 Historic ranch on U.S. 285 on the North Fork of the South Platte River.
Public-private projects in Jefferson County, (partially owned and managed by other public entities):
Elk Meadow Open Space
Beaver Brook Watershed
Bergen Nature Trail
Blair Ranch
Owen property Upper Bear Creek
Conservation easements in Jefferson County include the following:
Chatfield Turkey Farm, 43 acres, Jefferson County, 2013. Historically part of a turkey farm. Today provides habitat for big-game including elk, mule deer, black bear, turkey and mountain lion.
Roller-Roller estate, 57 acres, 2013, near Conifer and U.S. 285, the Roller-Roller estate is adjacent to the James Q. Newton Park on the south. Current and proposed use is outdoor recreation and outdoor education. Access will be provided through outdoor and conservation classes.
Upper Bear Creek near Evergreen, 2013, 70 acres. Habitat for mountain lion, black bear, turkey, mule deer and more. Preserves scenic enjoyment along upper Bear Creek Road.
Mission statement: “Our mission is to save scenic vistas, natural areas, wildlife habitat, water resources, working ranches and historic lands for the benefit of the community and as a legacy for future generations.”
MALT Preservations:
Elk Meadow. Photo by Linda Besler (April 2015)
Columbines. Photo by Allan Casey (July 16, 2015)