2017 Preservation Progress
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Preservation 2017 ANNUAL REPORT Progress Open Space PRESERVE - PROTECT - PROVIDE PRESERVING OPEN SPACE AND PARKLAND SINCE 1972 Dear Friends, In 2017, we celebrated 45 years of investing in public open space, parks and trails that enrich life throughout Jefferson County. The year saw many great accomplishments: we expanded mileage of the Peaks to Plains Trail in Clear Creek Canyon Park, a trail of statewide significance, and we exceeded our master plan goals for total volunteer hours, and new trail miles–two years early. We also faced increased challenges, such as the estimated 6.9 million visitors that enjoyed Jeffco Open Space in 2017, putting more pressure on the park system, trails and the overall experience. We continue to address this challenge in the following ways: purchasing more land, building more trails and empowering park visitors to become land stewards. More preserved land and trails will help to disperse the visitation across Jefferson County, and when our visitors become land stewards, our messages, mission and value increase–many times over. The year was full of actions that helped to address our challenges. This report shows our progress–our preservation progress. Happy Trails, BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Funded by a dedicated half cent sales tax, every time you support Jefferson County businesses, you Casey Tighe Libby Szabo Tina Francone invest in public open space, parks and healthy Chairman Chair Pro Tem Commissioner outdoor experiences. 2 3 Pine Valley Ranch Park. Photo: Eric Holzman 2014–2019 Master Plan Goal Progress GOALS SUMMARY EXCEEDED The Jeffco Open Space 2014–2019 Master Plan document Land Preservation Goal: set goals for the organization, many of which have Increase land preserved by already been met or exceeded. 1,700 acres. Goal Exceeded: 3,353 Education Goal: Increase program participation to 102,000 people. Goal Exceeded: 113,361 Volunteerism Goal: Visitor Stewardship Goal: Increase volunteer support to Increase educational contacts to 39,350 hours. Goal Exceeded: 48,200 23,000. Goal Exceeded: 34,618 GOALS MET Trails Goal: 252 miles. Goal Met in 2017. Nature-Health Connection Goal: Create five additional regional maps. Goal Met in 2016. Communications Goal: Develop Communications and Community Involvement Plan. Goal Met in 2014. ONGOING GOALS Land Stewardship Goal: Refine stewardship standards and systems. Clear Creek Canyon taken from Windy Saddle Park. Photo: Jeff Parker 4 5 Collaboration and trust, two values guiding Jeffco Open Space, were demonstrated with our partners and landowners, and allowed for the success and completion of several key acquisitions in 2017. A collaboration with the Cities of Edgewater and Lakewood facilitated the City of Edgewater’s Civic Center project located at 24th Avenue and Chase Street. The combination of Great Outdoors Colorado funds totaling $500,000, Clear Creek County funds of $291,500 and Jefferson County Open Space funds of $200,000 afforded the acquisition of over 107 acres of land jointly owned by Jefferson County and Clear Creek County, known as North Floyd Hill. This land located in Clear Creek County, represents PRESERVE the first Jeffco Open Space purchase of land located outside of Jefferson County. Land preserved in perpetuity allows for a balance Land trade in Clear Creek Canyon Park allowed for between nature and recreation, as well as expanded trailhead parking at Mayhem Gulch priceless outdoor experiences, and wildlife habitat. The success of the Peaks to Plains Trail is in large part due to the Master Plan Goal: Exceeded partnership with the Colorado Department of Transportation. This year the County completed complex land trades and a long-term lease that provided for the expansion of the Mayhem Gulch parking lot and the realignment of US Highway 6 to facilitate trail development. The Meyer Ranch properties acquisition marked the addition of the remaining land in the estate of Ethel and Norman Meyer Sr., the original owners of the County’s Meyer Ranch Park. Jefferson County Open Space Future City of Edgewater Civic Center. Image: D2C Architects|NV5 funds in the amount of $865,000 acquired over 54 acres added to the park as well as the historic Manor House, the meadow and a trail corridor connection. Meyer Ranch property, Conifer 6 7 Education station at VISITOR Centennial PARK RANGERS STEWARDSHIP Cone Park EDUCATION park ranger 4,911 program EDUCATE 113,361 participants Empowering park visitors to become land education stewards fosters value for public lands for program participation 734 generations to come. written warnings Master Plan Goals: Exceeded 8,103 more education contacts made in parks over 380 previous year summons issued (top three: off-leash dog, 34,618 visitor parking, park hours) stewardship contacts Bark Rangers with their Park Rangers PARK SERVICES Trail courtesy education 7,561 station at North Table trailhead service visits Mountain Park total visits to 2,808 trailheads on the weekends Education station with Lookout Mountain Nature Center staff and volunteers New kiosks updated Nature program at kiosk 25 design 8 Lookout Mountain Nature Center 9 FOREST MANAGEMENT Collaboration with Beaver Ranch 50 Community, Inc., the Coalition for STEWARDSHIP acres of forests the Upper South Platte, and the Upper treated South Platte Partnership allowed for In support of the Jeffco Open Space mission, staff seek to implementation of the final phase of a preserve native species diversity, protect ecosystem integrity, multi-year forest management project at and provide science-based land management strategies. Beaver Ranch in Conifer. Master Plan Goal: Ongoing HABITAT RESTORATION INVENTORY & MONITORING After closing the Elk Meadow Park Dog Off-leash Area, a series of Mountain lion with three kits on Jeffco Open Space property measures were implemented including soil stabilization, water quality monitoring, invasive species control, wildlife monitoring and an overall plan for restoring the site. Raptor monitoring INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT Opportunities for stream enhancement and riparian restoration were also explored in the southern portion of the County, and locally- appropriate seed mixes were refined for use after construction and trail projects. Baseline inventories Federally-protected Ute Ladies’ Tresses conducted on over Orchid monitored in parks Red-tailed hawk on nest Photo: Audrey Boag acres RESEARCH acres mapped Examples of 2,100 and treated for 690 invasive species Monitored Wildlife: identifying volunteers The Jeffco Open Space Small 55 Grants Program funded studies by Federally-protected Pawnee consulting scientists of rare plant Russian Olive tree, a priority invasive species montane skipper butterfly 290species of monitored communities, aquatic insects, unique grasses, plants, wetlands, and control strategies for 180 Bighorn sheep shrubs, trees invasive species. Staff also supported raptor species russian olive trees the successful interdisciplinary study Prairie dogs Analysis of this data will help inform 6 of prairie rattlesnake behavior at removed from South careful development of recreational over North Table Mountain Park led by Table Mountain Park Mountain lions amenities in the area. hours Adaptation Environmental Services. 1,508 Captured prairie rattlesnake 10 11 Staff pause to take in a concentration of ladybugs. Photo: Jeff Parker Hidden Fawn Trail at Alderfer/Three Sisters Park. Photo: Eric Holzman Big horn sheep Participant in mountain bike event at North Table Mountain Park 12 13 Through promotion, hosting and attendance at public events, staff engaged the public in stewardship, trail building projects, volunteerism, and grand openings, such as the second segment of the Peaks to Plains Trail in Clear Creek Canyon Park. Open Space Grand opening of Partnership with Jeffco agencies Big Easy Trailhead and additional mileage of Peaks to Plains Trail The coalition, Be Wild, Jeffco, engaged with over 600 youth and 207 WEBSITE SOCIAL E-NEWS community influencers in the eastern MEDIA portion of the county to determine community-specific barriers to 85% 5,900 participation in outdoor activities. 13,677 Findings from the outreach process of website Panorama content was followers will influence future programming e-Newsletter options, community outreach consolidated and across subscribers INFORM rewritten for the four channels practices, regional alignment, and pathway opportunities. Jeffco Open Space is committed to engaging with the public in a launch of a new variety of ways and strives to inform, inspire and interact. county website 22% Master Plan Goal: Met increase from 949 prior year email inquiries Be Wild, Jeffco youth at Education station with community partners at Apex Park 3.8M Lair o’ the Bear Park answered impressions 14 15 VALUABLE VOLUNTEERS 3,097 = 48,200 volunteers volunteer hours VOLUNTEER 30:1 $1.25M The passionate stewards that make up the volunteer force truly volunteers to value of make a difference for our public lands. staff members volunteer time Master Plan Goal: Exceeded to organization # of volunteers full-time equal to 26.3 employees Volunteers patrol the Peaks to Plains Trail Crews on the Black Bear Trail. Photo: Jeff Parker Volunteer working on the Dakota Ridge Trail at 16 Matthews/Winters Park 17 Large-scale Projects in Parks ☑ Big Easy Trailhead, Clear Creek Canyon Park, restroom and trailhead construction ☑Structural bridge inspections for 14 bridges ☑Lookout Mountain Nature Center renovation project ☑Mount Falcon Park Eagle Eye Shelter repair, PROJECTS repaint and refurbish