ANRA Newsletter Arapaho National Recreation Area

USDA Forest Service 2011, Volume 11

Inside this issue: Greetings from the ANRA Manager Your Fees at Work 1 Welcome to the 2011 Arapaho National a decade. This has been a great benefit for Recreation Area (ANRA) newsletter. This the local businesses and lake users so we Mountain Pine Beetle 2 newsletter is intended to keep you informed hope to receive enough precipitation to Ospreys in the ANRA 3 about the projects on the ANRA and Sul- continue to return to “full pool” for many phur Ranger District that may interest you. years to come. Work Your Pass Off 4 Thanks to a heavy 2010 spring runoff Lake Contact Us 4 Granby completely filled for the first time in Dan Matthews, ANRA Manager Your Fees at Work The Arapaho National Recreation Area (ANRA) Fees continue to provide benefits to ANRA users. East Shore Trail, which is Quick Facts: part of the Continental Divide Trail system On October 11, 1978, Congress and locally goes through the Town of Grand passed Public Law 95-450 cre- Lake, the Arapaho National Forest and ating the ANRA. The bill moved Rocky Mountain National Park, is just one these lands from Rocky Moun- tain National Park (under the of those examples. Arapaho National Rec- Interior Department) to the Arap- reation Area fees which were collected in aho National Forest (under the 2007 were used to pay for a U.S. Forest Agriculture Department). Service team to design the East Shore Trailhead. These starter funds made it pos- Above: New toilet at Monarch Lake The purpose of the Law was “.. sible for the Forest Service to obtain to preserve and protect the $296,000 in grants from Rocky Mountain  Cleaned toilets natural, scenic, historic, pas- National Park and the Federal Highways toral, and wildlife resources of  Presented interpretive programs to the area and to enhance the Administration. These funds were used for local schoolchildren recreational opportunities pro- the East Shore Trailhead improvements to  Maintained hiking trails vided.” The ANRA has approxi- assist the Sulphur Ranger District with their mately 35,000 acres inside its  Removed noxious weeds boundary of which 4,000 acres continued effort to improve the East Shore are privately owned. Over 9,000 parking lot and trailhead access. This fund- ANRA visitors will benefit from the re- acres are within the reservoirs’ ing helped complete the improvement work sults of numerous construction projects that boundaries. started in the past by Rocky Mountain Na- were started in the fall of 2010. Four new tional Park, the Town of Grand Lake, Grand toilets were completed; one at the Willow The AA Barn is available for County, Northern Colorado Water Conser- Creek Canal picnic area, one at the Mon- special occasions. The Barn is vancy District, and the Headwaters Trails arch Lake Trailhead, and two at the Mo- located on Green Ridge and Alliance. Grading, paving and striping the raine Loop Campground. Construction has borders the Colorado River. This beautiful location can be parking lot; landscaping the area; and con- also started on the Sunset Boat Ramp toilet rented during the summer on a structing a new bike rack, entrance sign and two toilets in the Roaring Fork camp- day-use only basis for a $100 and information kiosk pavilion completed grounds. These three toilets, however, will per day fee. For information the project in November 2010. and reservations call (970) 887- not be completed until June 2011. 4100. The fee money collected in 2010 Work was also completed in fall 2010 on helped fund other projects such as: the Point Park Bridge. The Bureau of Rec-  Removed hazard trees from devel- lamation funded the repair of the concrete The ability to charge fees in oped recreation sites base, and constructed new stop log support the ANRA changed from the Fee Demonstration Project to  Printed navigation maps structures and railings. The bridge was the Federal Lands Recreation  Conducted public safety patrols on widened and a handicapped fishing plat- Enhancement Act with pas- form was added to the north end of the sage of the 2005 Consolidated land and on the lakes Appropriations Act on Decem-  Stained / painted picnic tables, toi- bridge. This spring the parking lot and most ber 8, 2004. lets, docks and information boards of the walkway will be resurfaced. Page 2 Mountain Pine Beetle The mountain pine beetle epidemic con- Help stop tinues to affect the ANRA and the Sulphur the spread Ranger District (SRD). Over the last decade of Quagga the SRD has removed numerous hazard and Zebra trees from campgrounds and picnic areas, and we continue to remove all trees killed by Mussels the mountain pine beetle in developed rec- Before moving to reation sites. new waters: Reforestation and replanting continues in ANRA campgrounds where trees were lost.  Clean every- In the spring of 2010 over 13,000 seedlings thing that were planted in our campgrounds through a came in con- contractor. Contractors also planted 250 tact with the trees in the Moraine and 115 trees in St. water. This Louis Creek campgrounds in fall 2010. In includes re- September, volunteers planted 250 three- moving plants foot-tall trees in the Roaring Fork Camp- and mud. ground as part of the National Public Lands  Drain every Day celebrations. drop of water Sulphur Ranger District plans to plant from every part 250 Engelmann Spruce and lodgepole pine of your boat or trees on September 24 as part of the 2011 water craft. National Public Lands Day celebration  Dry everything (NPLD). If you would like to participate, that came in please contact our office at (970) 887- 4100 contact with for more information. the water: mo- The SRD will continue to implement a tors, jet drives, variety of vegetation treatments in response live weeds, to the mountain pine beetle epidemic. The boat hulls, summer of 2011 will mark the beginning of boots, bait hazard tree removal and fuels reduction buckets, swim- treatments along road segments throughout ming floats, the National Forest. The SRD intends to etc. Let it dry focus its initial efforts on high priority road seg- in the ANRA. Preventative tree spraying will at least five ments throughout the ANRA. If time allows, continue. Approximately 4,000 trees across 69 days if chang- high priority road segments will also be com- acres will be sprayed this year, most of which ing to new wa- pleted in the Fraser and Winter Park Valley. are in the ANRA. ters, two Sulphur Ranger District expects to complete We also will continue to plan and implement weeks if leav- 70-100 miles of road segments depending on large timber sales outside of the ANRA to con- ing infested conditions. tinue our effort to reduce the risk from wildfires waters. Hazard trees will also be removed along to communities and watersheds in high priority For more information: high priority motorized and non-motorized trails areas. www.wildlife.state.co.us /WildlifeSpecies/Profiles /InvasiveSpecies/Zebra andQuaggaMussels Quagga and Zebra Mussels or email: The Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) also be staffed during those months but mainly ReportANS@ will continue to inspect boats that use Shadow on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. CDOW state.co.us Mountain Reservoir, Grand Lake and Lake will also operate an inspection station at the Granby for the presence of zebra and quagga Town of Grand Lake’s launch site. mussels in 2011. It is anticipated that the pro- Please remember to adhere to the “Clean, gram will be very similar to the 2010 season Drain, Dry” procedures before entering new with stations being staffed every day at Green waters. See the box to the left for details. Ridge, Stillwater and Sunset ramps from May through October. The Arapaho Bay ramp will Volume 11 Page 3 Ospreys in the ANRA Adverse spring weather took its toll on os- discarded fishing line, we installed monofila- preys (and golden eagles) this year. On the ment collection stations at Point Park (Grand Bird nights of April 29 and May 12 the ANRA re- Lake), Green Ridge Boat Ramp, and Willow ceived a foot of snow; hampering nesting ef- Creek Canal Picnic Area (Lake Granby) in Watchers forts and the ability of birds to keep their egg 2009 and at Monarch Lake, Willow Creek Res- Corner clutches warm. On May 24, the ANRA saw 24 ervoir, Shadow Mountain dam spillway, and AA hours of sustained wind at 40 to 60 mph caus- Barn parking area in the fall of 2010. All of the ing five nest trees to blow down and damaging 2009 monofilament bins have been “adopted” numerous other nests. These weather events by volunteers willing to periodically empty them ANRA 2010 led to the loss of many egg clutches. Ospreys and drop off collected line at our office. If you Notable Sightings that lost their nest trees had to choose new are interested in “adopting” a 2010 bin, please nest trees and build new nests. Of the five nest contact us. We send all collected line to a facil- trees lost, four were re-built and only one was ity that makes tackle boxes out of the re-  Horned successful at fledging chicks. processed line. grebes: raft of In addition to these four re-builds, four new We are indebted to the many volunteers, over 225 on osprey nests were found in the ANRA, in dead neighbors and visitors who call to report osprey the south end lodgepole pine trees, during the summer and activities, new nests, and to report injured of Shadow fall. Two are along the Shadow Mountain Lake birds. We also greatly appreciate our partners Mountain Lake shoreline; one is on an old, abandoned nest the Colorado Division of Wildlife, Mountain during spring territory on a Shadow Mountain Lake island, Parks Electric, Inc. and Western Area Power migration and one is along the south shoreline of Lake Administration. We are fortunate to have volun- Granby. We do not know if they were new pairs teers step forward to ‘adopt’ osprey nests; ob-  Western or late season nests from pairs that failed to serving and recording observations and letting grebes: raft of produce young. Both nest platforms installed us know if they see problems. If you are inter- over 400 on by Mountain Parks Electric Inc. last fall were ested in adopting an osprey nest from April/ the south end active this year and one produced three chicks. May through September to help us keep track of Shadow Mountain Parks Electric Inc. also cleaned fish- of what’s going on, or if you would like to Mountain Lake ing line and other debris out of three nests this “adopt” one of the new monofilament collection during spring fall to reduce the risk of bird entanglement. bins, please call Brock McCormick, wildlife bi- migration In an attempt to reduce avian deaths from ologist, at (970) 887-4108.  Great blue herons: 27 active nests on Lake Granby rookery  Common loon: 1 on the south end of Above left to right: (1)Rainbow North island on Lake Granby: all trees blown down on May 24, 2010, including the nest tree. (2) Monofilament line from three collection bins over the course of 1 year. (3)Willow Creek dam osprey nest with chick Shadow Moun- (fishing line dangling below): Photo courtesy of Carol Hunter, “Adopt-A-Nest” volunteer. tain Lake dur- ing spring mi- gration 2010 Osprey and Eagle Report

Ospreys Bald Eagles  4 new nests (3 on Shadow Mountain  1 active nest Lake, 1 on Lake Granby)  2 chicks fledged  43 active nests  18 successful nests (produced young) Golden Eagles  32 chicks fledged (down 40% from  1 active nest 2009)  0 chick fledged

Volume 11 ANRA Newsletter Page 4 Wildfire Assistance Last year’s wildland fire season started out homes but was quickly suppressed with the Contact Us slow, with cool wet weather that deterred what assistance of Grand Lake and Granby Fire Pro- can be an active period of time prior to green- tection District personnel. up of grasses. However, an above normal num- The Church’s Park Fire started on October 3 USDA Forest Service ber of human caused fires occurred in July and with a full initial attack response from the Sul- Arapaho & Roosevelt the season wrapped up in October with the phur Ranger District and all Grand County Fire National Forests and Church’s Park Fire (473 acres), the largest fire Departments, Office of Emergency Manage- Pawnee National on the Sulphur Ranger District since historic ment and Emergency Medical Services, County th Grassland large fires at the turn of the 20 century. Road and Bridge, Colorado State Forest Ser- Overall Sulphur Fire Management re- vice, Grand County Sheriff and Winter Park and Sulphur Ranger District sponded to eleven fires on National Forest Sys- Fraser Police Departments. A Type 3 Incident 9 Ten Mile Drive tem lands. Ten fires were human-caused. Eight Management Team was assigned and took P.O. Box 10 of the human-caused fires were started by control of the fire on October 4. This incident Granby, CO 80446 abandoned campfires, one by charcoal bri- required national resources including seven 20- quettes and one is still undetermined. The natu- person handcrews, six heavy air tankers, four Phone: ral fire was caused by lightning. helicopters and numerous fire engines, many of 970-887-4100 Fax: Forest Service fire personnel also re- which were supplied by local fire departments. 970-887- 4102 sponded to six mutual aid assists to local fire The total cost has not been finalized but is ex- Web: departments on private properties. On July 4 pected to be approximately 1.5 million dollars. www.fs.usda.gov/arp the two acre Best Vu Fire in the ANRA caused Fire investigators determined the fire was hu- by discarded charcoal briquettes’ threatened man caused. Office Hours: Monday thru Friday 8 a.m.—5 p.m. Left: In 2010 the Arapaho National Recreation Area nd Closed Holidays hosted 150 Grand County 2 graders at Point Park, and 155 5th graders at Monarch Lake. Students rotated through eight different stations and learned about wildlife, the forest, birds, beetles, canoeing, fire, Leave No Trace Mark Your ethics, outdoor survival and fishing. Teacher’s say these Calendars!!! field trips are the highlights of the year. We hope these Saturday, May 21 children will become the future stewards of the land. is “Work Your Pass Off” Day

 Join the ANRA Seasonal Closures to Protect Wildlife crew from 8 a.m. until noon to collect trash Even though the ANRA’s main focus is providing safe recreational opportunities for the public, along shore- we do have other concerns. One of those concerns is the protection of wildlife and their habitat. lines, boat Please protect our wildlife by respecting the following closures. launches and  Osprey nest sites: This closure goes from May 1 to September 1 and includes the area picnic areas. around each nest to minimize disturbance to the young chicks and the parents.  Receive a free annual pass for  Kokanee salmon spawn areas: In cooperation with the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the your efforts. Forest Service has a no-fishing zone below the Shadow Mountain Dam in order to protect  Meet at the the spawning kokanee salmon. The fishing ban starts on October 15 and ends on Decem- Green Ridge or ber 31. Sunset boat ramps.  Bald Eagle winter concentration areas: This closure runs from November 15 through  For more infor- March 15. It includes the Colorado River starting about 400 yards below the Shadow mation call the Mountain Dam. The area is closed to humans and includes 300 yards on each side of the Sulphur Ranger river downstream to Columbine Creek. District or visit our website:  Elk winter range protection area: There is no human entry into the posted area in the Cof- www.fs.usda.gov/arp fey Divide and Table Mountain areas from December 1 through May 15. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternate means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity employer.