A BALANCED ENVIRONMENT FOR THE FUTURE people...nature...agriculture...growth

Adams County Open Space Plan

Prepared for: Adams County Parks and C ommunity Resources Department Brighton, CO

December 1998 T ABLE OF C ONTENTS

Acknowledgements ...... i

Introduction Definition of Open Space ...... 1 Purpose of Open Space Plan...... 1 Site Location/Study Area ...... 1 The Planning Process ...... 2

Open Space Vision ...... 4

Issues Loss of Agricultural Lands Combined with Conflicts Between Agrarian and Non-Agrarian Landowners ...... 5 Loss of Natural Resources/Flood Hazards ...... 6 Loss of Wildlife Habitats ...... 7 Regulations Which do Little to Help Conserve Agricultural Lands and Open Space ....7 Need for an Expanded and Interconnected Multi-Purpose Trail System ...... 8 Loss of Environmental Education and Interpretation...... 9 Lack of Adequate Funding for Open Space Acquisition, Development and Maintenance 9

Goals of the Plan Natural and Cultural Resource...... 10 Health and Safety...... 10 Agricultural Lands ...... 10 Public Use ...... 10 Gravel Resources and Disturbed Resource Lands ...... 11 Community Buffers...... 11 Partnerships/Cooperation/Management...... 11

Inventory and Analysis Regional Open Space and Trails ...... 12 History ...... 12 Regional Context Map ...... 12a County-wide Natural Resources...... 13 Land Cover Map ...... 13a Study Area Natural Resources ...... 14 Raptor Habitat & Feeding Area Map ...... 14a Land Use ...... 16 Farmland Map ...... 16a Existing and Approved Open Space & Trails ...... 19a Synthesis Land Conservation Units ...... 22 Evaluation Process for Open SpaceArea ...... 22 Conservation Units Map ...... 22a

Open Space Plan: Agricultural Conservation Plan, Environmental Resource Conservation Plan, Trails Plan Agricultural Conservation Plan ...... 26 Agricultural Conservation Plan ...... 26a Environmental Resource Conservation Plan ...... 27 Environmental Conservation Plan ...... 27a Trails Plan ...... 31 Trails Plan ...... 31a

Implementation Strategies Partnerships and Support Programs ...... 34 County Actions ...... 36 Private Landowner Actions...... 42

Funding for Open Space/Open Land Conservation Potential Funding Sources ...... 44 Development Fees ...... 46 Partnership Funding ...... 46 Taxing Districts, Open Space Tax ...... 47

Phasing Early Action ...... 49

Appendix Appendix A - Conservation Unit Analysis ...... 52 Appendix B - South Platte River Heritage Plan Summary ...... 55 Appendix C - Index of Maps ...... 59 Appendix D - List of Other Plans ...... 60

Resolution ...... 61 A CKNOWLEDGEMENTS Adams County would like to thank the Partnership Committee, the Steering Committee and all members of the Adams County community who participated in the public meetings and workshops necessary for the success of this plan. Their input, stories, favorite places and special spaces were invaluable to our understanding of Adams County, its lands, environments and people. County Commissioners Martin J. Flaum Ted Strickland Elaine T. Valente

Funding provided by a grant from Great Outdoors Colorado and the Adams County Conservation Trust Fund

Steering Committee Don Allard, Council member, Arvada Fred Allen, Council member, alternate, Westminster Steve Bernard, At large, business, legal Kathy Bloom, Property owner on river David Campbell, Horseman's Association Doug Carlsten, Council member, Brighton Curtt Coppage, Gravel representative John Davis, 4-H youth representative Guillermo DeHerrera (former Commissioner) Virginia Eppinger, Property owner on river, historical representative Skip Fisher, Business, Assessor Bob Fleming, Business, planning/business Bill Gillespie, Council member, Northglenn Clark Griep, Council member, alternate, Broomfield Bary Glasgow, Property owner on river Kris Graves, Trails and Open Space Foundation representative Timothy Gritton, At large Nathan Hatcher, At large Edwin Hickel, Education and youth Steve Hogan, Council member, Arvada Ralph Johnson, Council member, Broomfield Bob Johnson, Council member, Thornton Tom Lauridson, Agricultural Shirley Matcalf-Sabin, At large Nancy Miller Page, At large Kathleen Novak, City Council, Northglenn Richard Pabon, At large, youth Bobbette Ranney, MD, Agricultural Carol Robinson, Federal Heights City Council Gloria Rudden, Neighborhood representative Gerry Sarconi, League of Women Voters Tammie Scott, East County, Strasburg Gary Smith, Council member, Westminster Sheri Szymanski, Council member, Commerce City Don Tanabe, Agricultural in river corridor M.L. Tucker, Gravel representative Mike Vallero, Council member, Federal Heights Chuck Warner, Council member, Thornton i Partner’s Committee Tom Acre & Rick Basset, Commerce City Mike Carter, Colorado Bird Observatory Mike Lee, Arvada Arne Carlson & Paul Derda, Broomfield Daren Duncan, Adams County Larry Garcia, State Division of Wildlife Konad Krori, Federal Heights Lynn Lathrop, Thornton Bob Lienemann, Westminster Tim McCaffry, Northglenn Mark Heirshberg, Brighton Scott Hoover, Colorado Division of Wildlife Jan McKee, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Gary Patton, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Dirk Richwine, Brighton Ray Spencer, State Division of Wildlife Linda Strand, Aurora Rob Thames, Commerce City Ben Urbonas, Urban Drainage John Van Royen, Metro Wastewater Dan Weber, State Parks Andrew Wallach, Denver Staff Tim McCaffrey, Northglenn

Adams County Crystal Gray, Adams County Parks and Community Resources Director Rick Anderson, Parks and Community Resources Kathy Spinella, Parks and Community Resources Robert Coney, Planning Director Daren Duncan, Engineering Tom McBride, CSU Extension Agent Nickole Stoner, Planning Photos by: Carole Speyer, Ann Moss and Adams County Parks

Consultant Team SHAPINS ASSOCIATES 1245 Pearl Street, Suite 205 Boulder, CO 80302 303.442.4588

Conservation Partners 1410 Grant Street, Suite C306 Denver, CO 80203 303.831.9378

ii Adams County Open Space Plan

I NTRODUCTION

Definition of Open Space The focus of the plan is on voluntary and incentive based methods of conservation The following definitions of open space with a menu of options provided to were used in this study: landowners. The plan provides the framework for future conservation efforts • Lands and waterways dedicated for and trail system development and public use and enjoyment. recommends implementation and funding • Lands and waterways reserved or strategies. dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and natural resources. The Open Space Plan is an integral part of • Lands and waterways that are the Adams County Comprehensive Plan private areas used for farming, and a key element in shaping the future ranching or other agricultural form and character of development and practices which retain the rural, open space. Due to the uniqueness and undeveloped character of an area. importance of the South Platte River, a • Lands and waterways needed for the separate and more detailed plan was health and safety of the community. developed for that area. Please refer to the • Lands and waterways that function appendix for a summary of that plan. as community separators or buffers. Site Location/Study Area Purpose of Open Space Plan Adams County is located adjacent to The purpose of the Adams County Open Denver along the Front Range of Colorado. Space Plan is to identify areas for The county ranges in character from the agricultural and environmental resource more densely populated development in conservation and trail development. The the western area to the far less populated, plan identifies efforts that the County and agrarian area to the east. The Denver others can make to support agricultural International Airport (DIA) protrudes into viability, encourage environmental resource Adams County's agricultural lands just preservation, help establish community east of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal buffers and develop a unified trail system. National Wildlife Refuge.

Great Blue Heron 1 Adams County Open Space Plan

The western area includes the incorporated In addition, the general public was invited cities of Broomfield, Northglenn, to attend meetings during critical project Westminster, Thornton, Federal Heights, phases. Commerce City, Brighton, Aurora and Arvada, plus heavily populated and Data assembly and analysis involved work industrialized unincorporated areas. The with and information from numerous central and eastern area has the two small agencies. Resource data was checked but growing communities of Bennett and through a combination of field Strasburg. Few people reside east of reconnaissance and review of existing Strasburg where lands remain in grazing mapped data. The analysis was refined and dryland farming, much as they did a based on partner, steering committee and hundred years ago. public meeting input.

The Open Space Plan briefly addresses the Issues were defined by the Committee and entire county. However, the plan focuses the public and an Open Space vision and on the area from Comanche Creek, near Goals were developed and refined by Strasburg, to the western Adams County these groups. boundary, due to this area's high growth pressures, mounting need for trails and The criteria for evaluating open space related facilities, and the rapid loss of resources was developed in conjunction agricultural lands in the western portions with the committee and the public and of the County. coordinated with the South Platte River Heritage Plan Team. The Planning Process (See Adams County Work Program Chart, From the analysis data and resource next page) criteria, plans were developed for open lands/agricultural conservation areas, The Open Space Plan was developed open space/environmental resource through a five phase process: conservation areas and trails.

• Project Organization/Public The last phases of the plan included the Participation Process • Data Assembly and Analysis development of actions and • Draft Open Space and Trails Plan implementation strategies, potential • Draft Implementation and Funding funding sources and priority projects. Strategies/Priorities • Final Plan

During project organization the planning team refined the scope of work and established the public participation process. Two committees were formed to guide the planning team. The Partnership Committee included representatives from all the cities and towns in the county, as well as diverse resource specialists from throughout the area. The Steering Committee consisted of citizens who represented the different interests of the county such as farming, ranching, mining, Open Space Public Meeting trails, environmental education and representatives from all the city councils.

2 Adams County Open Space Plan Pla Final 5

March Plan Plan Summary Final Executive Final Phase Februar

4

January Plan Draft Summar Lands Space

Poster/ Draft Newspaper Phase Open Open Draft Summary Strategies/Draft • Strategy Recommendations • December Colorad

ber County, Open Lands Key Lands Seminar Seminar Novem Linkages Significant Adams 3

Lands/Linkages

Spa Area Value

Value Open Map Lands Phase Resource Partner Opp. Features

Separator Ag. Damage October O.S. Wildlife Landforms/ Resource Lands Resource Critical Criteria Water Parks/Open Analysis Vegetation Sale Resource Community Special Sign. For Sign. Partnership Important Scenic Critical Heritage Sign. Slopes

• • • Develop Natural • • • • • • Cultural Opportunities/Threats • • • Conservation Septembe Analysis Use/History Land Natural Scenic Recreation Work Program Resource • • • • ASSOCIATES

Inventory August 2

Pl and

SHAPINS Phase w/Comp. Collection Assembly Inventory Base Maps Data (Jt. Data July Adams County Open Space Plan Input Group Agency Interest Contacts/ Pla Seminar June 1

Comm Comm. Schedule Trip/Mtg. Lands Organization Committee on: Requirements Project Collection

Phase

Organization Advisory Meetings Field Product Open Work Program Staff/Consu Steering Develop Data Project Agree • TAC • Data

Joint Months

Steering Public Products Tech.

3 Adams County Open Space Plan

O PEN S PACE V ISION

The vision for the Open Space Plan is to create an integrated open space system that conserves agricultural lands throughout the county; preserves and enhances important wildlife habitats and corridors; and protects and improves important natural and scenic resources such as wetlands, floodplains and unique land forms. The Plan will also provide corridors for trails and open spaces that link to the open space systems of adjacent counties and communities while retaining the natural, cultural and agricultural qualities of the county. The Open Space Plan encourages partnerships between communities, neighborhoods, the private sector and Adams County for open space conservation, stewardship and education. To help ensure implementation of the Plan, a series of creative land protection strategies that benefit both landowners and the residents of the county are provided.

Farmland near Brighton

4 Adams County Open Space Plan

I SSUES

Participants at the committee and public Loss of Agricultural Lands meetings identified concerns and issues Combined with Conflicts Between related to the Open Space Plan. Most of the Agrarian and Non-Agrarian concerns stem from rapidly changing land use patterns. These patterns arise from Landowners growth coupled with the loss of Agriculture has historically been the agricultural lands, the increasing economic staple of the county and inadequacy of the county's current open provides the rural atmosphere that space and trail system, and the fear of residents greatly appreciate. In the losing critical natural and cultural western portion of the county, agricultural resources. lands are rapidly being lost to development. In these areas, land values The majority of Adams County has have increased from their agricultural historically been dominated by rural value to development value. Landowners agricultural land with a concentration of who desire to remain in agriculture face industrial, commercial and residential difficulty passing land to their heirs due to development in the southwestern quadrant high estate tax liability. Often the heirs of of the county. The county's current growth agricultural properties are forced to is largely due to the expansion of the subdivide and sell the land to development Denver Metropolitan Area and the just to pay estate taxes. introduction of the Denver International Airport. As the population of the county increases, so does the impact on the land from growth and development. The following are categories of concerns raised by county residents at public meetings:

• Loss of agricultural lands combined with conflicts between agrarian and non-agrarian landowners • Loss of natural resources Loss of Agricultural Land • Loss of wildlife habitats • Regulations that do little to help Further, the micro-economy of agriculture conserve agricultural lands and open in the area depends upon a "critical mass" spaces of working lands. Agriculture is most • Need for an expanded and viable when a number of operations are interconnected multi-purpose trail adjacent to one another with little system interruption by development. "Critical • Lack of environmental education and mass" also depends upon a variety of interpretation related businesses such as feed and • Lack of adequate funding for open equipment dealers, veterinarians and other space acquisition, development and agricultural services. These commercial maintenance services rely on a certain number of active operations in order to remain viable. As

5 Adams County Open Space Plan land is converted from productive diverse natural ecosystems. There are agriculture to residential uses, the many different natural resource areas in commercial support system for agriculture the county, each with their own importance becomes less healthy, thus hastening the and interconnected relationship to the demise of agriculture in the area. whole ecosystem. The public expressed the need to preserve natural resources in a Available water is vital to the farms in manner that will ensure the conservation Adams County. However, water rights are and enhancement of wildlife habitats and being sold to support development, corridors; provide adequate buffers and putting some agriculturists out of business linkages for existing preserved areas and and reducing the ability of farmers to provide a linked open space system. remain in production. Residents expressed serious concern about development encroachment on Barr Lake As rural communities experience a change State Park. They fear that if significant in land ownership, conflicts frequently conservation efforts are not made soon, the arise between existing agrarian landowners park's value as a wildlife preserve may be and new non-agrarian landowners. These reduced significantly. conflicts result from an unfamiliarity with agricultural practices. Typical conflicts Flood control has become a major concern with non-agrarian landowners from the due to the amount of growth and viewpoint of agricultural operations development in the county. Hundred year include: floodplains are continuously being reduced, causing greater runoff • allowing dogs and cats to run loose downstream, increased water flows and and harass livestock, narrowed drainage channels. Flood • trespassing on private lands such as control is a particular concern on lands recreating on private lands without between the O'Brian Burlington canal and permission, driving on private roads, DIA, as well as on lands adjacent to the hunting or fishing without permission, east side of Barr Lake and Beebe Draw. and leaving gates open, Increased runoff from development could • failing to properly care for land cause serious flooding in these areas. including not controlling weeds, not respecting irrigation systems such as The bluffs along the west edge of much of ditches and water gates, and the South Platte River in Adams County overgrazing land. are special topographical resources. They are highly distinctive and provide excellent These problems serve to make an area views of the surrounding area. inhospitable to agriculture and may Development of these bluffs has caused discourage agrarian landowners from erosion, disturbance of steep slopes and continuing in agriculture. visual intrusions along the ridge tops. Residents mentioned the need to conserve Loss of Natural Resources/Flood these high points and steeply sloping areas Hazards while encouraging growth on more gentle slopes in less prominent areas. As increasing development reduces and disturbs natural resources, there is a Mining, while providing materials for growing need to conserve the area's roads and building, has caused the loss of

6 Adams County Open Space Plan many natural resource areas, particularly development.. They also expressed the riparian zones. Residents identified the need for preserving more extensive areas need for more mining reclamation and for wildlife to ensure that habitats are not natural resource enhancement related to reduced to mere islands without needed old and new mine sites. Several mining connections. companies expressed interest in a partnership to provide habitat as an end Agricultural lands assist in providing use for mining. habitat for many species of wildlife. They provide food, shelter and water for many The conversion of native grasslands to species and are particularly important in agriculture and development has led to the riparian areas. The development of these significant decline in short grass prairies, lands is not only taking open lands out of not only in Adams County, but across the production but reducing wildlife habitats. United States. With their decline, many prairie species are losing vital habitat. In Prairie dogs are important food for raptors addition to the loss of plant and animal life, and play a vital role in maintaining the the opportunities to expose people to this significant bald and golden eagle great American landscape are also being population in the western portion of the lost.. Many residents identified the need to county. However, prairie dog colonies are preserve expansive areas of prairie where being lost to development and reducing one can feel they are in a natural, the feeding areas for raptors. undisturbed high plains environment.. The reduction in native short grass prairie They felt that the preservation of these habitats negatively impacts many wildlife prairie landscapes were important to the species that call the prairie their home. For enhancement of the diminishing short example, native prairie grassland birds grass prairie ecosystem. have the largest proportions and steepest population declines of any bird guild in Loss of Wildlife Habitats North America. Public meeting participants repeatedly stated their emphatic appreciation of the Regulations Which Do Little To existing wildlife of Adams County. There Help Conserve Agricultural Lands is a strong desire to protect wildlife And Open Space populations being lost to increased development and to enhance wildlife Much of western Adams County's resources. It is extremely important to agricultural area is being lost to 1 to 5 acre protect riparian corridors, since they are lot (rural estate) subdivisions or being used by the vast majority of the wildlife in annexed to incorporated cities for higher the county. Mining and development has density development. The 2.5 acre lots are disturbed many of these areas. standard subdivisions which do little to conserve open space. The land is typically If wildlife preservation is not a high covered with lots with little thought to priority, trails and other recreational uses conserving wetlands, riparian zones, often disturb wildlife habitats and reduce critical wildlife habitats, or certain areas for their value. Numerous public participants agricultural production. Many are horse stated that significant wildlife areas need to oriented developments which provide few be preserved with minimal or no trails and often no interconnected trails disturbance from recreationalists or with adjacent developments. This 7 Adams County Open Space Plan development pattern causes equestrians to partnerships with related communities to have to trailer their horses miles away to support agricultural uses. find an appropriate trail system. The county currently does not have adequate Need for an Expanded and regulations to encourage development Interconnected Multi-Purpose Trail clustering. Clustering lots smaller than 2.5 System acres will have to be carefully planned due to State Health Department Standards The county trail system is well underway. related to septic systems. Trails are nearly complete along Clear Creek and run over seven miles along the Portions of the County are also being lost South Platte River. However, the county to 35 acre lot developments. The County trail system remains relatively short with currently has no regulations which few interconnections to either heavily encourage the clustering of these lots in populated or rural areas, although order to preserve agricultural lands. There Commerce City and Aurora are working to are examples in other counties where develop Sand Creek as a major connection cluster ordinances are used to permit to the South Platte River. tighter clustered lots which save the remaining lands for agriculture or open The South Platte River is developing as the space. county's major trail corridor with numerous proposed trail linkages. The County does work with the CSU However, few interconnections exist so Extension Service which helps support residents have limited opportunities to agriculture throughout the area. In access the corridor except from busy addition, the Natural Resource streets . The existing trail system does not Conservation Association also assists connect the major destinations within the farmers and ranchers. However, the county. Few residents have a linked County could do more through their system from their home. In addition, there regulations, support activities and

Clear Creek Trail

8 Adams County Open Space Plan is no county trail system east of I-76 even and implementation mechanisms. The though rapid growth is occurring, public was adamant that funding sources especially in and around Brighton and must be located before beginning the Commerce City. Adams County, Brighton, implementation process. The public stated Commerce City and Aurora have their wish for the County to secure the developed “The Emerald Strands Plan” to funds to actively acquire lands and develop address trails in the area surrounding DIA. and maintain open space and trail resources before expanding the current The existing county trails are popular but system. They felt that the County needs to overcrowded. The completed trails are establish a long term revenue source for primarily paved, with a very limited maintenance of its resources. In addition, unpaved trail system for equestrians and the public stated that the County needed to pedestrians who wish to experience the consider the tradeoffs of purchasing lands county in a more natural state. in the central and eastern areas of the County compared to the more costly lands Some farmers and ranchers find trail users in western Adams County. and other recreationalists disturbing to their practices and make agricultural production more difficult so they urge care be taken when designating active uses near agriculture.

Lack of Environmental Education and Interpretation

Adams County's diverse resources provide an excellent opportunity for environmental education and interpretation. Some agencies, such as the State Division of Wildlife, the State Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the Colorado Bird Observatory, have developed interpretive programs primarily related to their facilities. However, the County does not have an integrated environmental education and interpretive program which helps residents, school students and open space users learn to appreciate the County's natural, cultural and scenic resources.

Lack of Adequate Funding for Open Space Acquisition, Development and Maintenance

The Open Space Plan is of little relevance if it is not directly linked to feasible funding 9 Adams County Open Space Plan

G OALS OF THE P LAN

Goals provide a general direction for more • Protect high quality agricultural defined actions. The goals for the Open lands. Space Plan are: Public Use Natural and Cultural Resources • Provide sensitive and unobtrusive • Protect and enhance important and trail development within the open existing wildlife habitats and space system while preserving and corridors, provide for future species enhancing the natural movement through the county. characteristics of the county.

• Protect and enhance important • Provide a linked open space system ecological and scenic resources such as that connects to the open space and wetlands, floodplains and unique land trail systems of adjacent counties forms. and communities.

• Protect culturally and historically • Provide a mix of well balanced significant areas. recreational activities while retaining the natural and cultural • Protect highly visible, significant land attributes of the county. forms from future development. • Preserve vehicular rights-of-way Health and Safety corridors with direct access to destination areas for trail linkages. • Protect, in as natural a state as possible, floodplains for flood event • Provide trail and open space l conveyance and storage. inkages, where essential, along and across major vehicular circulation • Ensure the development of safe open right of-way. space elements when in proximity and direct interaction with vehicular circulation routes.

• Maintain as much open space as possible around Denver International Airport on lands within the 60 LDN contour.

Agricultural Lands

• Maintain the integrity of sensitive agricultural lands by keeping recreation oriented or other potentially Farm near Boot Lake disturbing uses separate where necessary.

10 Adams County Open Space Plan

Partnerships / Cooperation / Management

• Encourage partnerships between communities, neighborhoods, the private sector, other agencies, land trusts and Adams County for open space conservation, stewardship and environmental education.

• Identify a series of creative land Equestrian Use protection strategies that benefit both land owners, the County and the Gravel Resources and Disturbed community at large. Resource Lands • Identify feasible, phased • Restore and enhance disturbed lands implementation strategies which in and around river, creek and incorporate the need for long term drainage corridors. management and maintenance.

• Encourage existing and future mining operations to reclaim lands during and after mining in an effort to create habitat, restore vegetation, contribute to flood storage and provide recreational and educational opportunities.

• Encourage water storage facilities to be multi-purpose in use (water storage, passive recreation and habitat restoration)

Community Buffers

• Preserve open lands adjacent to communities as a buffer to future development while helping shape urban growth.

• Provide, where possible, a land form, vegetative or spatial buffer between existing and proposed development corridors and designated open space linkages.

11 Adams County Open Space Plan

I NVENTORY AND A NALYSIS

Regional Open Space and Trail Denver also ran through the middle of the Linkages county and went through or near the current towns of Bennett and Watkins. The location of Adams County makes it However, Adams County is best known for vitally important to the Front Range open its rich history of farming and ranching. space system and the system linking the Ever since the Pikes Peak Gold Rush in Front Range to the mountains. Adams 1859, Adams County has been a farming County is part of the regional open space and ranching center. During the early system that will connect the five major settlement of Denver and the gold rush in federal, state and regional open spaces in the nearby mountains, farmers in Adams the Denver metropolitan area. These County supplied food and supplies to the facilities include Chatfield State Recreation settlers. Adams County residents began to Area to the southwest, Cherry Creek State irrigate the land almost immediately and Recreation Area to the southeast, Standley constructed canals as early as 1860. Lake to the west, and Barr Lake State Park Irrigation allowed truck farmers to raise and the Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife large amounts of vegetables and enabled Refuge to the northeast. In addition support businesses to develop. Brighton Adams County provides an important became an important center for shipping, connection to Golden and further west to canning, exchanges and marketing coops the Rocky Mountains. for the entire region. The primary trail and open space systems The cattle industry grew tremendously that will link Adams County to the region during the early years of Adams County. are along the South Platte River and the Henderson Island was the location of one Highline Canal which run north/south of the first ranches in the county and and Clear and Sand Creek which run became a favorite stopping place for many east/west. gold diggers. By 1885 stock and dairy History cattle production were major occupations around Brighton. The majority of residents Native Americans used the lands and in the eastern Adams County raised horses, waters now within Adams County as cattle and sheep. After the turn of the camps, resting places and hunting and century much of the eastern portion of the fishing grounds long before the white man county was used for dryland farming. appeared. Henderson Island, now part of Some of the earliest granges in Colorado Adams County Regional Park, and the were started in Adams County to help confluence of Clear Creek and the South address economic problems faced by Platte were favorite camping places for farmers. The grange stressed cooperative Native Americans. The confluence was efforts in such ventures as creameries, also the site of the first trading post on the warehouses, grain elevators, insurance, South Platte River. This trading post, purchasing and manufacturing farm called Fort Convenience, was along the equipment. stage coach route on the South Platte River. Adams County has long been a major Shortcut routes from Fort Morgan to center for the dairy industry in Colorado.

12 Adams County Open Space Plan

After the Pikes Peak Gold Rush nearly all cottonwoods and other riparian vegetation farmers along the South Platte raised a few and often create the landscape's dominant dairy cattle along with their other livestock visual features. The larger river and and crops. Most farmers sold milk, cheese creeks, such as the South Platte River and and butter. Over the years. Brighton and Kiowa Creek, have associated steep bluffs Commerce City became well known for that have been cut by water. their many dairies. In fact, the first creamery in Colorado was opened in The natural resources of the county are Brighton in response to the area's high generally divided into three areas: The number of dairy cattle. This creamery later western portion, dominated by the South grew to a large dairy company which, at its Platte River, the central portion, around height, processed between 70,000 to 80,000 Bennett and Strasburg, and the eastern pounds of milk a day from 250 area milk portion. producers. Western Adams County, where Brighton was and still is a major development and population density is at agricultural support center in the region. its highest, has a very distinct character. The city had the first industry creamery, The land cover is dominated by lush several early granges, the Colorado plantings around residential development, Cabbage Exchange (an early effort in the highly irrigated lands of truck farms cooperative marketing), Vegetable and the wetland and riparian areas of the Producers Cooperative Association South Platte River and Barr Lake State (another early marketing coop), one of the Park. The soils in this area are some of the first canneries in the state and the first best in the state for agricultural use, as is sugar beet refinery in the county. In evidenced by the number of farms in the addition to these early support industries area. Dense grassland and riparian areas and associations, Brighton became a major exist within the Rocky Mountain Arsenal farm equipment supply center and support National Wildlife Refuge, while sparse center with agencies such as the Natural grass and dry farmlands surround the Resource Conservation Service. Denver International Airport and areas to the northwest. Adams County remains an important farm and ranching county. However, the pressures of growth from the western cities in the county and around Bennett and Strasburg are rapidly reducing the amount and viability of agricultural land.

County-wide Natural Resources

Landsat image manipulation has revealed a broad diversity of land cover patterns, land form and general character across the county. The land form of Adams County is primarily gently rolling with few dramatic features. Major and minor drainages sculpt the landscape providing patches of Lowell Ponds

13 Adams County Open Space Plan

Central Adams County is dominated by populations of mammals such as deer, sparse grassland intermixed with dry crop coyotes, badgers, rabbits and prairie dogs. lands. The soils of this portion of the county are very fertile and support Due to the quantity, quality and multiple agricultural uses. The drainages uniqueness of the wildlife in the county, support irrigated farmland and are marked two wildlife sanctuaries have been by wetland and riparian environments. preserved, Barr Lake State Park and the These lands are often mentioned as part of Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife the "tornado belt" due to the number of Refuge. Since the 1880's, when the lake tornadoes that wipe through the area in a was created as an irrigation reservoir, Barr frightening and, at times, devastating Lake has been a refuge for wildlife. The manner. park is well known for its vast prairie landscape, spacious views to the Front Eastern Adams County is distinct when Range, tremendous diversity of wildlife, contrasted with the western county. Except high quality of fishing and the many for the missing buffalo, one can sense the passive recreation opportunities. The lake feeling of the early pioneers who saw vast has more than 338 species of birds, expanses of grasslands disturbed only by including the most successful bald eagle wind blown slopes, occasional trees along a nesting pair in the region. It is also a drainage and a few coyote. These lands are critical resting place for thousands of birds primarily grazing areas with a few islands traveling south. In addition, Barr Lake has of irrigated farmland adjacent to Muddy one of the highest concentrations of deer in and Bijou Creeks. the county. It is a winter feeding area for eagles, a migratory feeding area for Study Area Natural Resources peregrine falcons and an important production and wintering area for ducks. As mentioned earlier, the focus study area This resource is significant not only to the is from Comanche Creek on the east to the county and region, but to the entire State. western Adams County boundary. This analysis concentrates on that area. Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge supports an abundance of species Wildlife and communities that traditionally inhabited the expansive plains grasslands. Adams County is home to a tremendous This 27-square mile protected area diversity and concentration of wildlife, provides natural habitats that have been especially birds. In fact, there are more long in decline due to agricultural and bird species in Adams County than in any urban development. The area is one of other county in Colorado. The county has America's largest wildlife refuges and three of only 17 nesting pairs of bald eagles in the state and several federally recognized bald eagle roosting areas. The county has several sites on the "central flyway" of migratory waterfowl in the western United States. These sites are critical stopover locations for a wide variety of birds traveling south along the Front Range. In addition, there are large Barr Lake Eagle

14 Adams County Open Space Plan provides food, shelter and freedom to such and maintain wildlife habitats in the species as bald eagles, ferruginous hawks, county. a wide variety of migratory birds, deer, coyotes, prairie dogs and burrowing owls. Even though the county's wildlife appears After cleanup, the Refuge will be the to have ample habitat, there are many largest contiguous block of undeveloped concerns for the future regarding growth, land within the Denver metropolitan area. mining, conflicting recreational uses, loss Of special note are the bald eagles who of agricultural lands and the loss of winter on the Refuge and feed primarily existing wildlife habitats and corridors. on the area's prairie dogs and jack rabbits. Water Resources The county's agricultural lands that are interspersed with riparian environments The largest and most ecologically diverse provide excellent habitat for wildlife. The drainage in Adams County is the South South Platte River, linked by numerous Platte River. All other creeks eventually creeks, drainages, canals and wetlands, feed into the South Platte, including the provides critical riparian habitat.. These Clear, Sand, Box Elder, Kiowa, Lost and habitats, along with the other riparian Comanche Creeks. Barr Lake and Horse areas throughout the county, are home to Creek Reservoir are the largest standing 95% of all the wildlife in the area. In bodies of water in the county; many addition, many of the animals feed and smaller ones have been created for find cover and nesting sites in the irrigation or from mining. The 100 year agricultural fields found throughout the floodplains of all the drainages and water county. This intermixing of large areas of bodies are critical elements of the open riparian habitat, crop and ranch lands is space system, since they handle runoff and vital to the diversity and abundance of floodwaters, contain wetlands and riparian wildlife which Adams County now enjoys. zones, and provide important corridors and habitats for wildlife. Other critical habitats for retaining the significant raptor population in the county Barr Lake and the Beebe Draw wetlands, are the prairie dog colonies. Prairie dogs located northwest of DIA, are sensitive are a keystone species and prey base for components of the Adams County raptors, coyotes, badgers and other hydrologic and wildlife systems. Barr Lake predators. They are the primary prey for and its surrounding wetlands, including bald eagles and vital to the continued Beebe Draw, are vitally important water roosting and nesting of bald eagles in the resources in Adams County. They contain county. Major prairie dog feeding areas some of the most significant wildlife exist within and just to the south of the habitats in the state and preserve extensive Refuge, along Big Dry Creek between amounts of wetlands and riparian areas. 136th and 128th Avenues and at several The Urban Drainage and Flood Control spots along west 120th Avenue. District, the agency responsible for the efficiency and successful water conveyance Area wildlife is also important for hunting, of all drainages and water systems in especially waterfowl. The Mile High Duck western Adams County, considers these Club, which owns significant wetlands lands to be extremely sensitive to north of Barr Lake, provides an excellent development due to potential runoff. If example of how private entities enhance substantial development occurs directly

15 Adams County Open Space Plan north and west of DIA as planned, Barr important vegetation corridors due to their Lake and its associated wetland often rich diversity of plant material. They environments could be negatively are also an integral part of the prairie impacted. grassland environment.

The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Creeks and Irondale Land Use Gulch, which intersect with the O’Brian/Burlington Canal, are also Agriculture considered to be highly sensitive to increased runoff. Large portions of these There is an alarming trend in Adams drainages have been cutoff from the South County related to the decrease in both the Platte River by the two canals and drain number of farms and the acreage being directly into the canals. The used for agriculture. In 1982 there were O'Brian/Burlington is already over 763 farms and ranches covering an area of impacted during flood times. Increases in 727,987 acres, compared to 657 and 685,813 storm water runoff may produce flooding acres, respectively, in 1992. effects that cannot be handled. Brantner Gulch, flowing from Thornton, to the Adams County has long been an Adams County Regional Park is suffering agriculturally based community. The soils from similar pressures from development in Adams County are among the best in and is also being carefully studied by Colorado for agriculture. With 657 Urban Drainage and Flood Control for individual farms and 686,000 acres of increased storm water conveyance farmland, Adams County is a leader in capabilities. Front Range agriculture production. The county is second only to Weld County in Vegetation total acreage of agricultural lands. Grains, such as corn, sorghum and wheat, are The bulk of Adams County is vegetated grown in large quantities and represent the with native or introduced grasses in a bulk of the crops produced in the county. prairie-like environment used for grazing Dryland-farmed wheat, concentrated on or maintained as crop land. Even though lands east of Brighton and north of extensive areas of grass exist in the county, Strasburg, is the County’s dominant yield few are short grass prairies. However, crop. these short grass prairies and the wildlife that inhabit them are central to the spirit of Truck farming is also a significant business the American landscape. These are the in Adams County. Over 6,500 acres of lands of the historic great herds of bison, vegetables are produced in the county, the home of Colorado's state bird, the Lark primarily along the South Platte River and Bunting, which most Coloradoans have around Barr Lake. This is a very high never seen, and the habitat for many other volume of production compared to most plains animals. Adams County has the other counties along the Front Range. As opportunity to help re-establish short grass land prices in Adams County rise, many prairies and educate people about the farmers are making a transition to more importance of this natural resource. profitable crop production, such as vegetable farming. Trees are not plentiful in the county and naturally exist only along portions of the Cattle ranches, which are often combined drainages and water bodies. The drainages with raising other foods, exist throughout and edges of the water bodies are 16 Adams County Open Space Plan

Twin Lakes Park on 72nd and Broadway

the county, but are concentrated in the east. sites at Adams County Regional Park, the Dairy farming, which was historically very South Platte River and Clear Creek open important in the county, still exists but has space systems, Barr Lake State Park, Rocky exhibited up and down cycles throughout Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife the 1980s and 1990s. Refuge, plus numerous smaller county parks (see Adams County Parks Chart). The City of Brighton remains an important An expanding system of paved and center for agriculture for the entire region. unpaved trails for bicyclists, pedestrians Here farmers and ranchers can still buy and equestrians weaves through the supplies, ship goods and access needed western portions of the County, linking the support systems. This agricultural center many destination points. and related support areas in the county are essential if agriculture is to remain viable. All the incorporated cities have a park, open space and trails plan. Some have Parks, Open Space and Trails implemented large portions of their plan while others, particularly rapidly The western third of Adams County has a expanding cities, have far greater systems diversity of recreation, open space and trail to develop. Coordination and partnerships opportunities managed by either the between the cities and Adams County does County, incorporated cities or recreation exist. However, even closer coordination is districts. County facilities are generally needed to ensure a well integrated open oriented toward passive recreation, while space and trail system in a region of rapid the incorporated cities have both passive growth and development. and active recreation facilities. The Adams County Regional Park consists Besides the many facilities each city offers, of 1,150 acres, making it the largest and one can visit cultural and natural resource 17 Adams County Open Space Plan most diverse facility in the County parks needed. There is no county trail system and open space system. This centrally east of the South Platte River and very few located facility is an important recreation, connections from the incorporated cities to education and agricultural support facility the South Platte River. All the off-road for all the surrounding communities. trails run along the county's open space Resources include the Adams County system and provide direct access to the Fairgrounds, large exhibit hall with adjacent water courses. These trails meeting rooms, two beautiful golf courses, provide excellent corridors for nature preserve, fishing lakes, expansive recreationalists but are sometimes in picnic grounds, campground, historic conflict with wildlife and natural resources. museum, county park and community As the trail system expands, special resource offices, direct access to the South consideration needs to be given to Platte River and extensive lands which will balancing recreational use with natural be reclaimed for open space and resource preservation. recreational use once mining has been completed. Many of the facilities are The Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge will be one of the primary outdated, the nature preserve is public open space and environmental undeveloped, and the mining lands within education destinations in Adams County. the park's boundary have not been planned The Arsenal supports an abundance of to integrate into the overall plan for the wildlife species that are associated with the entire park. What's more, 120th Avenue is native grasslands of the high plains. Each planned for expansion through the park. A year approximately 3 million visitors master plan for the entire park is in attend functions and learn about resources progress and will evaluate existing at the Arsenal. This number will most resources and illustrate the location and likely increase as the Arsenal implements form of the various different uses. its plan for a new visitor learning center on the surplus lands within Commerce City The remainder of the Adams County parks, and further enhances its educational open space and trail system provides programs. passive recreation such as picnicking, fishing, boating access and trail use. These Barr Lake and its surrounding smaller parks exist in unincorporated areas environments form an area greater than of the county where higher density 2,000 acres that is home to many of the populations live. They are spread most significant wildlife species in throughout a large area and are difficult for Colorado. Ornithologists and enthusiasts the county to maintain, especially the of passive and active recreation can find a isolated parks not connected to the overall number of activities to enjoy at Barr Lake. open space system. Public access to this wildlife resource is unique in Adams County and provides The County has made a strong habitat and ecological resources worthy of commitment to trail development, with preservation efforts from joint entities over 16 miles now completed, including surrounding the site. over seven miles along the South Platte River, and a few small trail segments along Even though Adams County is in the high- the Niver Canal and a few segments along plains prairie environment of the Front road right-of-ways. The Clear Creek trail is Range, there is no public facility in the nearly completed. However, many miles of county where one can feel the expansive open space and right-of-way trails are still open natural grassland untouched by 18 Adams County Open Space Plan

A DAMS C OUNTY P ARKS, OPEN S PACES AND T RAILS

NAME AND LOCATION ADAMS COUNTY PARKS ACERAGE FACILITIES ROTELLA PARK Volleyball, basketball, picnic shelters, fishing, Coronada Parkway Between play ground, large open playfield,restrooms 40 Washington and York TWIN LAKES PARK Picnic, fishing, restrooms, Clear Creek Trail 7 72nd and West of Broadway access REGIONAL PARK/FAIRGROUNDS Picnic, fishing, trails, 2 golf courses, playground, 1,150 9755 Henderson Road, 1 mile west barns, outdoor stage, restrooms, exhibit hall, of US 85 on 124th conference/wedding/meeting center, horse arenas, camping CITY VIEW PARK Playground, picnic, benches, open play area, 4 Cleo Street and City View views of Denver CAMPBELL MEMORIAL PARK Open turf, ball diamond, picnic facilities 13 South 4th Avenue and Southern Street, Brighton CORONADO PARKWAY Picnicking, adjacent to Niver Canal Trail 1 Coronado Parkway and Broadway CLEAR CREEK PARK & LAKE Picnic, Clear Creek Trail access, horse staging 7 Clear Creek West of York Street area, fishing ENGINEER LAKE PARK Trail, fishing, lake, barbecue, Clear Creek 19 Hwy 224 and South Platte River Trail access, picnic shelter WADLEY FARMS LAKE Fishing, picnic, bird watching, walking 4.14 Talbot Reservoir, 136th And York SANDHOFFER LAKE Fishing, nature and bird watching, walking 5 West Of Washington At Emerson CLEAR CREEK NATURE AREA Undeveloped, overview into area from Clear 60 West Of Broadway To Pecos, North Creek Trail Of Clear Creek TOTAL PARK ACREAGE 1,327.14 TRAILS SOUTH PLATTE RIVER Trail, restrooms, picnic, fishing, boating 8.5 Trail Completed From Denver County - McKay to 104 will be comppleted in 1999 Line to McKay Road (100th) - 102-104 will be completed in 2000 CLEAR CREEK Trail, restrooms, picnic, fishing 6 Trail Completed From Sheridan toFederal and From Pecos to the South Platte River NIVER CANAL Picnic, trail, access to Rotello Park 2 Completed From Washington to the South Platte River at Steele Street TOTAL MILES OF TRAILS 16.5 JIM BAKER RESERVOIR Fishing, hiking, wetlands, parking on 40 Lowell and 68th Owned By Westminster, Tennyson Operated for Passive Recreation By Adams County nearby development. The need for a residential development in Adams County. prairie park was adopted as part of the These cities are experiencing high rates of Emerald Strands Plan and mentioned by growth with many expanding into what many county residents as important, not were previously agricultural lands. Large only for visitor use, but to help preserve numbers of people also live in the short grass prairie and its related native unincorporated Adams County, particularly plant and animal species. in the southwestern portions of the County. Heavy industrial development is also Growth and Development prevalent in and around Commerce City. Unincorporated and incorporated lands The western portion of the county displays alike, that were once not under pressure the highest population density and the from surrounding growth, are beginning to highest incidence of commercial and be impacted by these rapidly growing cities. industrial development. The incorporated Communities are growing together and the cities represent the greatest density of once prevalent rural buffer lands which 19 Adams County Open Space Plan once separated cities are quickly portion of the county, running just west of disappearing. DIA near the south boundary of Barr Lake, across the South Platte River just north of Transportation the Adams County Regional Park. E-470 would connect to I-25 in northern Adams Adams County is intersected by several County. Numerous interchanges are major highways providing access proposed to provide access to the major throughout the area. The roadway system roadway system. The section of E-470 in the west is extensive and provides from C-470 to 120th is scheduled to open in excellent access for farmers, ranchers and January 1999. This new highway and its residents. interchanges could significantly affect land use and open space throughout the area. Major north-south highways include I-25, I- 76, I-225 and State Highways 85 and 2. I-25 Mining links many of the western communities within the county. Interstate 76 and State Adams County contains significant sand Highways 85 and 2 run just east of the and gravel resources that continue to be South Platte River, connecting Commerce extracted. The majority of aggregate City to Brighton and areas north. I-225 extraction takes place adjacent to the banks connects areas south to DIA and I-70. of the South Platte River, with smaller mining operations found along the The major east-west connectors are I-70, I- county’s minor drainages. Clear Creek has 270 and State Highways 36 and 7. also been heavily mined, with many ponds Interstate 70 runs along the county's and riparian lands remaining. The southern boundary, linking the entire primary mining companies, Western county from east to west. I-270 cuts across Mobile, Cooley Sand and Gravel, and in a northeast-southwest direction, Albert Frei & Sons, have profited from connecting western portions of mining aggregate along the South Platte unincorporated Adams County to River and will, in all likelihood, continue Commerce City. State Highway 36 connects to mine here until the aggregate is several incorporated cities and continues expended. east to link the entire southern portion of the county. Highway 7 links the northern Mining companies must adhere to portion of the county to Brighton. No mandatory mining reclamation regulations. other major roadway connects the county Reclamation of a gravel mine involves along its north boundary. returning lands disturbed by mining operations to a stable condition. Replacing 104th Avenue and Tower Road are topsoil, reinstating vegetation, becoming major access routes to DIA. 120th rehabilitating floodplain and restoring Avenue now provides major east-west ground water are some of the reclamation access west of the South Platte River. activities a mining company is required to However, it does not have a connection perform. Adams County has an excellent over the river. The proposed road would opportunity, particularly in areas which be extended across the South Platte south have not been permitted for mining, to of the Adams County Regional Park to work with the mining operations to ensure provide another east-west linkage to Tower that lands can be reclaimed in a manner Road. that enhances wetlands and riparian zones, E-470 is proposed to traverse a large

20 Adams County Open Space Plan while providing recreation and educational resources that benefit the natural ecosystem and enhance the overall quality of life for Adams County residents. Many of the newer gravel mines will be developed for water storage. The South Platte River Heritage Plan identifies opportunities for development of multi-use water storage incorporating passive recreation uses and wildlife habitat where appropriate.

State Land Board Properties

The State Land Board owns approximately 40 sections and half sections of land dispersed throughout the county. These lands are held by the state to provide resources and funds for the state school system. Most of these properties are open lands leased for agricultural uses. The state does trade and sell their lands and is willing to work with public or private entities to find appropriate ways to help provide income for state schools and aid areas trying to preserve or develop particular sites. These state lands could provide a unique opportunity for the county to preserve open space for the future.

21 Adams County Open Space Plan

S YNTHESIS

Land Conservation Units Multiple Sensitive Resources/Hazards To better understand the analysis, the • Prime/Irrigated Farmland With Land Conservation Unit Map was Multiple ensitive Resources developed. • Prime/Irrigated Farmland • Open Agricultural Lands (high Background growth areas) • Open Agricultural Lands/60 The following section describes the land LDN/DIA Growth Area conservation units. These units were • Open Agricultural Lands/60 created by combining analysis information LDN/East Of DIA to identify lands that have similar • Open Agricultural Lands/East of characteristics. Two categories of DIA conservation units were developed: (See Appendix A for more detailed environmental and agricultural. Overlap Conservation Unit information.) of environmentally and agriculturally significant data sometimes occurred and is Evaluation Process For Open Space reflected in the information shown. (See Areas Conservation Unit Map, next page) An evaluation process was developed for The environmental resource units are: the county to objectively determine parcels • Critical Bald Eagle Habitat Areas upon which it should focus for • South Platte River Heritage Project conservation. Since the county cannot Area realistically focus on conserving every • Barr Lake State Park/Rocky open land parcel at the same time, this Mountain Wildlife Refuge Areas process helps determine which lands are • Beebe Draw Areas most critical to concentrate on at a specific • Prime Raptor/Burrowing Owl Areas time. The Evaluation Chart (following • 100 Year Floodplain Areas pages) outlines the criteria (based on • Old Bootlake Reservoir Area Goals), describes the characteristic (based The agriculture resource units are: on Goals and Issues) and determines a • Prime/Irrigated Farmland With ranking (based on Goals and Issues).

Beebe Draw South Platte

22 Adams County Open Space Plan

E VALUATION C HART:

RANKING OPEN SPACES FOR CONSERVATION

CRITERIA DEFINITION RANKING TABLE 1: PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS NATURAL RESOURCES LOCATION Adjacent to existing open lands or natural areas High Adjacent to planned open lands or natural areas Moderate Not adjacent to open land, parks or natural areas Low ENVIRONMENTAL High quality riparian wetland or potential high other natural High QUALITIES resource qualities Unique vegetation stands High Some riparian, wetland, or other natural resource qualities Moderate Limited unique resource qualities Low WILDLIFE HABITAT Critical/high quality habitat/feeding/production area High (terrestrial and aquatic) Average quality habitat or potential Moderate Low quality habitat or potential Low WILDLIFE Contains an identified wildlife movement corridor High CORRIDORS Maintains connectivity High WATER QUALITIES Water resource within area High Adjacent to water resource/water resource visible High Separate from water resource Low TYPES OF LAND Prime or irrigated farmlands High Non-irrigated agricultural land Low HEALTH & SAFETY Within 100 year flood plain High HAZARDS High priority urban drainage & flood control area High Within 60 LDN noise zone Moderate Outside 100 year flood plain Low LAND FORM Highly exposed, visible land form High Preserves natural & rural vistas High Steep slopes (+25%) High Slopes less than 25% Low CULTURAL/HISTORIC Contains existing or potential national or state historic site High RESOURCES Historic resource, or potential on register Moderate Not historic resource, not listed on register Low WATER QUALITY Improves water quality in that resource and/or tributaries High IN THE RIVER Enhances aquatic habitat High

23 Adams County Open Space Plan

GRAVEL/DISTURBED Potential to restore and enhance disturbed areas High RESOURCE LANDS Potential to create wetland and riparian habitat, wildlife habitats High Potential to create recreation opportunities, compatible with CRITERIA DEFINITION RANKING wildlife habitat restoration High Contributes to flood retention Moderate PUBLIC USE PROXIMITY TO OTHER Adjacent to existing parks, lands High RECREATION LANDS Adjacent to planned parks, trails Moderate Not adjacent to any parks, trails Low TRAIL CONNECTIONS Provides trial connection to another corridor High Provides trail connection to major destination areas High Completes gaps in existing trail system High Part of a planned trail system (connects existing and/or future Moderate trails) TRAIL PLACEMENT Trail avoids sensitive natural areas and habitat High Trail offers a varied experience for users High FISHING/WATER Opportunity for high quality fishing experience High ACTIVITIES Opportunity for public access to water body High WATER ACCESS Opportunity for public access points to the river High POINTS Limited/no opportunity for public access Low HUNTING Opportunity for high quality, safe hunting experience High Limited/no opportunity for public access Low ENVIRONMENTAL Diverse natural, cultural or unique resources with public access High EDUCATION Near schools High Some natural and/or cultural resources with public access Moderate Limited resources for environmental education, no public access Low COMMUNITY BUFFERS COMMUNITY Natural or agricultural lands separating urban areas (within High SEPARATORS 1 to 3 miles of rural city boundary) Developed lands or lands greater than 3 mi. from city boundary Low

24 Adams County Open Space Plan

RANKING OPEN SPACES FOR CONSERVATION

CRITERIA DEFINITION RANKING TABLE 2: OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS URGENCY Near existing services (utilities, roads) High Adjacent to annexed lands High Mineral extraction is likely High For sale or expected to come on market soon High Likely to be annexed High Away from growth pressures Low COMMUNITY Community volunteerism/partnerships begun High STEWARDSHIP Opportunity for meaningful involvement by the local Moderate community LANDOWNER Landowner is motivated to protect or sell the land at less High MOTIVATION than fair market value Landowner is willing to contribute or cost-share restoration High or reclamation Landowner requires full fair market value Low LEVEL OF PROTECTION Land is protected in perpetuity High Land is protected for specific time period Moderate LEVERAGING Significant percentage paid for by other entities (GOCO, High OF FUNDS private landowner, non-profit organization) PARTNERSHIPS Opportunity to work with partners in protecting and managing the High land (urban drainage, metro wastewater, cities, county, neighborhoods, etc.) EFFECTIVENESS OF Transaction leads to protection of large acreage High TRANSACTIONS Transaction has the potential to motivate adjacent landowners High MANAGEMENT Property will be monitored and managed over the long-term High by a private entity Monitoring and management of the property will be shared Moderate between the County and a private entity County will be responsible for maintenance and monitoring Low LIABILITY No significant liability implications with acquisition or protection High

25 Adams County Open Space Plan

O PEN S PACE P LAN:

AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION PLAN ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION PLAN TRAILS PLAN

The open space plan consists of three parts: The County cannot realistically focus on 1) agricultural conservation, conserving every open land parcel at the 2) environmental resource conservation same time. To help the County focus, the 3) trails. plan identifies agricultural lands by priority. Mapped information incorporates unincorporated as well as incorporated lands to ensure appropriate connections and linkages. However, since this is a County plan, the plans were developed only for Adams County. Hopefully the County and the incorporated communities will form broader partnerships to ensure that agricultural lands, sensitive environmental areas and trails are conserved and enhanced in a unified manner. Agriculture North of Strassburg The South Platte River is part of all these plans. The plan for the South Platte River Priority 1 and 2 was completed at a more detailed level and summarized in Appendix B. Critical & Highe st Priority Areas

Agricultural Conservation Plan The most important agricultural lands to focus on conserving immediately are (See the Agricultural Conservation Plan lands designated under the Priority 1 and Map, next page 2 categories on the Agricultural The intent of the Agricultural Conservation Conservation Plan Map. The County plan is to help as many farmers and should begin by conserving as much of ranchers remain in business as feasible these properties as possible in agriculture through voluntary and incentive based and open space. The preservation of these methods. The more agricultural land lands will serve multiple purposes. They which can remain in viable production will conserve prime or irrigated farmland, throughout Adams County, the more define community buffers between cities, sustainable the local agricultural economy preserve lands in environmentally will remain. Since landowners have hazardous areas and preserve highly different needs, a menu of options has significant natural resources and wildlife been provided in the implementation habitats. strategy section of this document. Adams These lands include properties within County should try to help any farmer or Beebe Draw, along the South Platte River, rancher who wishes to conserve their lands at the confluence of 2nd and 3rd creeks by in agriculture. the South Platte River, and just west of the

26 Adams County Open Space Plan

South Platte River near Brantner Gulch. Priority 4 and 5 Recreational use should be avoided on Moderate to Low Priority these lands or be integrated in a manner Conservation Are as that does not negatively impact agricultural production. The county should establish a Lands of priority 4 and 5 are non-irrigated sensitive and personal approach for agricultural lands in high growth areas and working with these landowners and create prime or irrigated lands east of DIA. The voluntary and incentive based means for non-irrigated lands provide rural conservation, realizing not all landowners agricultural character and help form will want to conserve all or even portions of community separators. If these lands their lands in agriculture. The County develop, it is important that they be should begin by determining which sensitively planned to conserve agriculture, landowners are willing to work with them drainages, wildlife corridors and and what their personal needs and desires countywide trail linkages. Cluster are. development should be encouraged to provide contiguous open spaces and large Priority 3 areas of agricultural conservation. The High Priority Conservation Areas lands adjacent to the north edge of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Once lands within the Priority 1 and 2 Refuge should be very carefully planned to category have been addressed, the county minimize impacts to Refuge wildlife. should focus on conserving the agricultural Cluster development should be used with lands noted as priority 3. The preservation open space and wildlife corridors retained. of as much of this land as possible in Portions of the land should remain in farming and ranching is important to agricultural uses, if feasible. preserving agriculture within the county. These lands are productive prime or These lands east of DIA help conserve the irrigated farmlands that create excellent historic plains agricultural character and community buffers. Large contiguous areas support the agricultural economy of the should be encouraged to remain in viable area. The County should work with these agricultural use. The landowners should be landowners to help ensure these areas encouraged to work together and to form remain in viable agricultural use. Agricultural Enterprise Districts that focus on agricultural conservation. Should Environmental Resource development occur, the County should Conservation Plan encourage several landowners to work (See Environmental Resource Conservation together to create a clustered development Map, next page) for a group of parcels, with a large portion saved for agriculture or open space. The Environmental Resource Conservation Plan establishes an open space system that The priority 3 category also includes the links significant natural resource areas and non-irrigated lands north of DIA. Should identifies key areas for conservation. Some development occur, careful site planning is of the areas overlap with the agricultural needed to ensure that development resolves conservation plan mentioned above. In potential flood control issues and minimizes these cases, agricultural lands should be impacts to the open space systems in Barr encouraged to remain in productive use Lake and Beebe Draw.

27 Adams County Open Space Plan while preserving the ecologically sensitive Lutz Reservoir and the surrounding water resource areas. bodies and their edges are particularly important to conserve. Should Passive recreation, education and development be imminent, it should be interpretation are vitally important placed away from these water bodies. components of the open space plan. Passive recreation that is linked to the trail The County, in conjunction with Barr Lake and open space system helps city dwellers should work closely with E-470 personnel find a release from the stresses of urban to ensure that the highway is carefully sited life. Through education programs and to minimize its impact on Barr Lake. E-470 interpretive information, users learn about should be located out of the critical wildlife the qualities and sensitivities of the habitat area, if at all possible. A large resource. In turn, users may aid in the wildlife underpass should be constructed, if management of the resource and spread the alignment remains near the south edge their knowledge and appreciation to of Barr Lake, to ensure that north-south others. wildlife movement can easily continue to and from Barr Lake. Environmental Resource Areas Priority 2 Priority 1 High Sensitivity Resource Areas Critical & Resource Area s The priority 2 areas are significant wildlife It is most important to manage those areas habitat and feeding areas, as well as lands designated as priority 1 on the with major ecological sensitivities. These Environmental Resource Conservation Plan areas should be conserved for open space Map as environmentally sensitive natural and agricultural use, with carefully resource sites. They should be the highest managed recreational use. Many are high priority for conservation, accommodating priority Urban Drainage and Flood Control very sensitively managed recreational use. areas that need immediate attention. The priority 1 areas provide essential Conservation areas defined by Barr Lake habitat for bald eagles at Barr Lake and State Park 1st and 3rd creeks, outside the along the South Platte River. Areas of critical habitat area, are also included immediate concern are the private lands The County, the City of Brighton and area around Barr Lake and along certain areas landowners should work together to help of the South Platte River. These lands are ensure that appropriate uses occur on the facing heavy pressures from development lands the State has designated for or recreational use. conservation around Barr Lake and Beebe

The County, the City of Brighton and Barr Lake State Park should work closely with the landowners in the critical wildlife habitat around Barr Lake to ensure efforts are being made to preserve portions of these lands for wildlife conservation. Most of these lands to the west are within the annexed area of Brighton, therefore they are key entities in this conservation effort. Kiowa Creek

28 Adams County Open Space Plan

Draw. Development on these lands should some of the areas. be minimized, with as much agricultural land preserved, as possible. Flood control Lands within the 100 year floodplain management should be accomplished in a should not be developed and should regional manner to enhance wildlife remain in a state as undisturbed as possible habitats, riparian zones and wetlands. to protect wildlife habitat, enhance water Residential development should be quality and minimize flood damage. minimized. If commercial development Floodplain vegetation should be enhanced occurs along E-470, it should be tightly to improve wildlife habitats, riparian zones clustered and located in areas that and wetlands as long as it does not conflict minimize disturbance to Park resources. with agricultural production. The Partnerships should be formed with the floodplains should be used to help manage Mile High Gun Club and FRICO for runoff as surrounding development occurs. habitat enhancement in the Beebe Draw This is especially important east of area. O'Brian/Burlington Canals along 1st, 2nd and 3rd creeks where flood control is The significant raptor feeding areas and already a problem. A regional flood golden eagle nesting areas should be management system should be agreed preserved. Trails and other development upon that includes these creeks and the should avoid these areas. Buffers should areas along Barr Lake and Beebe Draw. be considered to ensure these areas remain Water bodies, wetland and riparian areas undisturbed. The County should work developed as part of the water with the incorporated cities to help management system should be preserve contiguous raptor feeding and incorporated into this Open Space Plan, habitat areas which cross county and city wherever possible. boundaries. Trails and passive recreational use should The 100 year floodplains of 1st and 3rd be encouraged along the floodplain creeks should remain open space. Wetland corridors and planned in a manner which and riparian enhancements should be respects the natural environment. created to enhance wildlife habitats. There should be limited or no trail or recreational The surplus lands are currently being carefully planned by Commerce City to use planned along these drainages, unless feature clustered development, enhanced they provide for wildlife buffers. wildlife habitats and viewing areas, and Priority 3 significant educational and interpretive resources. The County should continue to High/Moderate Resource Areas be a partner in the surplus land development effort and support Commerce Areas listed as priority 3 resource City's efforts to conserve resources, provide conservation lands include the 100 year environmental education and floodplains not mentioned above, the interpretation, and provide appropriate bluffs along the South Platte River and the buffers mixed with community uses at the surplus lands of the Rocky Mountain edge of the Refuge. Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. Lands listed within this category have areas that The steep slopes and ridge lines of the are important for conservation. However, bluffs along the South Platte River should recreational uses and other carefully not be developed with structures. planned development may also occur in However, certain areas should be 29 Adams County Open Space Plan considered for trail development and public The Adams County Regional Park should overlooks. provide an orientation center to introduce visitors to the major interpretive stories of Prio rity 4 and 5 the entire County. Further, the center Moderate &LowResource Areas would provide visitors with additional information on areas related to their These lands include areas adjacent to the particular interests. Outdoor and indoor north side of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal areas would explain the history of the National Wildlife Refuge, the area north of county, the importance of farm and ranch DIA in the 60 LDN zone, and all the other land, mining influences and the County's remaining lands. These lands were already unique natural resources. Special discussed in the Agricultural Plan section. environmental education programs could be provided related to these and other Other Resource Areas regional themes. The outdoor spaces at the park would be planned so that visitors The location of E-470 could significantly could experience many of the resources impact existing natural resources and identified at the orientation center. interrupt wildlife corridors, movement patterns and habitats. The county should Other key interpretive areas that already work with E-470 personnel to ensure that exist or are in the planning stages are at the corridor is carefully planned to save and Barr Lake State Park and the Rocky enhance wildlife habitats, use wetland Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife mitigation requirements to enhance habitats Refuge. Adams County should form and provide wildlife and trail underpasses partnerships with Barr Lake State Park, the to ensure that animals and recreation users Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife have needed linkages. Refuge, the State Division of Wildlife and others to create a well-rounded Environmental Education and environmental education and interpretive Parks system.

Enviro nm e nta l Outdoor oriented interpretive areas and Education/Inte rpre tatio n programs should continue to be provided at Lowell Ponds State Wildlife Area and An environmental education and should be created at the Cooley and interpretive system should be developed in Western Mobile Lakes near Lowell Ponds, relation to the County's open space Beebe Draw, the raptor feeding areas near resources. Key interpretive areas featuring McKay Lake and along the trail corridors outdoor and indoor educational information at specific cultural and natural resource should be provided at the Adams County locations. Regional Park and at one or more of the Interpretation of agriculture in Adams proposed County prairie parks. These County is vitally important so residents facilities should be linked to the existing understand and appreciate farmer and interpretive programs at Barr Lake State rancher needs. More education and Park, the proposed facilities on the surplus interpretation opportunities should be lands and within the Rocky Mountain developed through partnerships between Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge and other the County, area farmers and ranchers, and potential environmental education sites. support centers such as the City of

30 Adams County Open Space Plan

Brighton. The interpretive mediums can take lands many different forms such as kiosk and • Compatible soils with short grass wayside exhibits, booklets, pamphlets and prairie typical soil series videos related to particular topics. • Contains and helps preserve significant historic and cultural Parks resources

Adams County Regional Park should continue Three large areas were identified as to be a diverse resource with special potential sites which should be studied in recreational uses. An overall master plan for more detail at a later date. The sites the park should be developed and park spaces include: should be upgraded in a unified manner to • North of DIA near Barr Lake and provide a quality experience for the many Beebe Draw existing and proposed uses at the site. • North of DIA along Box Elder Creek • North of Strasburg along Kiowa, Wolf The County should continue to let the and Comanche Creeks incorporated cities and recreation districts • Southeastern part of county just north remain responsible for active recreation of Highway 36 between Muddy and facilities, such as ballfields and recreation BadgerCreeks centers. However, the County should assist these entities to help ensure that appropriate Additional sites may be found during the active recreation facilities are provided. focused study and more specific sites within these large areas may be defined. Adams County should provide passive park facilities, such as picnic sites, environmental Trails Plan education amphitheaters and bird viewing (See the Trails Map, next page) areas as part of the trail and open space system rather than at isolated, small parks that The trails plan identifies open space and are difficult to maintain. right-of-way trail corridors that should be conserved and developed as trails in the Prairie Preserve future. The system is planned to link major destinations throughout the county and One or more prairie preserves should be region, minimize impacts to significant provided in Adams County. These preserves environmental resources and provide a would illustrate the ecological systems of a linked open space and right-of-way system high plains, prairie environment.. The criteria for bikers, pedestrians and equestrians. for selecting a prairie preserve site should include the following qualities: Open Space Trail System Plan • Expresses the diverse natural resource qualities of a short grass prairie Portions of the open space trail system ecosystem already exist in the western Adams County • High potential for short grass prairie and are beginning to form an restoration and wildlife enhancement interconnected urban trail system. This • Adequate size to provide feel of system will link the cities, connect the expansive prairie urban areas of the county to the South • Potential to link to County-wide trail Platte River and provide regional trail system connections. Gaps in this existing system • Adjacent to significant active crop are planned to be completed in the near

31 Adams County Open Space Plan future, starting in the developed areas and due to potential liabilities, possible ditch expanding outward as development damage, and increased maintenance due to occurs. The trail systems that have been trail use. Ditches that provide important started and need completion are the: trail connections are Fulton, O'Brian, • South Platte River Trail Burlington, Niver and Signal. Of these, the • Clear Creek Trail O'Brian/Burlington Canal System could • Trail which links Lowell, Cooley Ponds provide one of the most important trail and Clear Creek to the urbanized linkages since it connects the urbanizing southwestern area to the north areas east of the South Platte River and • Niver/Grange Hall loop trail provides an alternate linkage to relieve • Little Dry Creek Trail pressure on the river. The County should • Brantner Gulch Trail continue to work closely with the ditch • Big Dry Creek Trail companies so the trails mentioned above can be provided. The County should focus Trail development along Sand and Second on developing O'Brian/Burlington trail Creeks is also very important since they and completing the Niver Canal trail in the provide regional connections for numerous near future. cities and unincorporated sections of Adams County. Sand Creek will link large Open space trails to the east are proposed sections of Denver, Aurora, Commerce City along Box Elder, Kiowa and portions of and the southern edges of Adams County. Comanche Creek. All these creeks are Second Creek will link miles of Adams major north-south drainage ways. Portions County from the South Platte River around of these creeks already provide informal Brighton to the Highline Canal at Denver trails for residents in the Bennett and and Aurora. The Second Creek trail should Strasburg area. Due to growth in be carefully sited due to existing Strasburg, the section along Comanche agricultural areas, DIA, Pena Boulevard Creek should be provided in the near and E-470. future. Adams County and other potential partners should begin to work with Ditches have the potential to serve as farmers and ranchers along these excellent trail connections. In most cases designated trail corridors to understand they are not as critical for wildlife as the which landowners consent to trail use and natural rivers, creeks and drainages yet what their stipulations for use are and how often link directly to communities and to best design the trails to minimize public areas. However, ditch companies impacts to agricultural uses. are often reluctant to provide trail access The trail linkages should consist of a system of paved and unpaved trails. Paved trails should exist in the more urbanized areas where heavy use is likely. Along paved trail corridors, unpaved trails should also be provided. Trails should only be provided on one side of the water course.

Only unpaved trails should be provided along corridors that are rural in character and where a more natural experience is Birdwatchers on South Platte desired. Kiowa and Comanche Creek trails should not be paved except perhaps in

32 Adams County Open Space Plan small sections within Bennett and highway. Intersections should be carefully Strasburg. Only unpaved trails should be designed with safely linked trail considered for Signal, Fulton and connections. O'Brian/Burlington ditches. The right-of-way and open space trail Right-Of-Way Trail System systems will interface in many areas. Where this occurs designs should ensure that safe and efficient connections are A detached right-of-way trail system is created. These two systems will create an proposed to link the major destinations interconnected trail system that has short within the County and tie to the region. and long loops, provides a diversity of The north-south trail corridors should be experiences and links the entire western along: and central portions Adams County. • Colorado Boulevard • Piccadily Road • Tower Road Railroad Right-of-way/RailsToTrails • Highway 39/Strasburg Road The east-west trail corridors should be A Union Pacific Railroad line runs through along: the western portions of Adams County and • Highway 7, Bromley Road and links the County to Denver and areas north. CountyRoad 144 Although Union Pacific is merging with • 120th Avenue from Westminster and Southern Pacific and the Rio-Grande Thornton to Piccadily Road Western, and plans may change, this • 104th Avenue from Northglenn and segment was noted for potential Westminster to Tower Road abandonment in the next few years. Many • Highway 36 from Box Elder Creek to entities are interested in this rail segment Strasburg and east for either a commuter line and/or a trail corridor. This would make an excellent trail corridor across the County. The Adequate right-of-ways should be County should stay in touch with Union preserved along all corridors designated for Pacific and partner with other entities to trails. These right-of-ways should be make this as a trail corridor. adequate to provide a separate paved and unpaved trail on either side. The right-of- way system should connect existing and Trail heads proposed trails to the incorporated cities of Adams County and other areas to tie all the Trail heads should be located at the junction Adams County communities together. The of two or more trails or important County should work closely with the departure points along a major trail with incorporated cities to develop unified easy access for parking cars and horse standards for trail size, location and trailers. These trail heads should be located character so that the system between the in areas that minimize disturbance to cities and the County is seamless. natural resources and wildlife habitats.

The proposed E-470 corridor should have adequate right-of-way on either side to provide separated trails for bikers, pedestrians and equestrians. Trails should be provided on both sides of the highway. The right-of-way should be wide enough and have appropriate grading and landscaping to ensure a safe and enjoyable trail experience well separated from the

33 Adams County Open Space Plan

I MPLEMENTATION S TRATEGIES

This section describes strategies and techniques that can be used to protect the agricultural and environmentally significant lands of Adams County. At issue is the challenge of protecting lands with uses ranging from large-scale productive agriculture to high-intensity commercial and residential developments and under the jurisdiction of a mix of governmental entities. This section describes three categories of actions: 1) actions that involve joint implementation by a variety of entities, 2) actions which the county should implement and 3) techniques that private landowners can employ on their own.

Partnerships and Support Programs Environmental Partnership Projects with Schools Conservation efforts will be most successful if entities throughout the region also cross county boundaries. Joint form strong partnerships and begin conservation efforts between Weld, Boulder working closely together for agricultural and Jefferson Counties could save resource and environmental resource conservation. dollars and provide more efficient means to Adams County should develop stronger help conserve agricultural land. Building partnerships with adjoining counties, strong partnerships with Weld County is communities within the County, State particularly important since Weld County Division of Wildlife (DOW), State Land has such an extensive agricultural base. Board, State Division of Parks and For example, joint efforts could produce a Recreation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, private technical resource team, develop grant landowners and any other entities applications, implement public awareness interested in helping to conserve open programs and work with landowners when space through voluntary and incentive lands are in multiple counties. These based means. Partnerships usually generate partnerships are also needed to ensure increased support and are more likely to open space and trail systems link attract GOCO funding. regionally.

Surrounding County and City Brighton is also a vitally important partner Partnerships since it is a major agricultural support center for the region. Adams County Several of the ranches and most of the should work with Brighton to help it retain watercourses within the study area cross and expand its support businesses and county boundaries. Likewise, the issues encourage new agricultural support related to agricultural land conservation enterprises to establish in that area.

34 Adams County Open Space Plan

The County should work with others to and now work with others to determine establish a subscription farming program, the most appropriate land use in relation to local area farmers' markets, and a farm link area needs. The County should work and mentoring program. The subscription closely with the State Land Board, since farming program could help provide up land trades and other unique arrangements front funds for agricultural production and for land conservation could be developed. allow area residents to learn more about This is especially true in relation to state local agricultural products. The creation of lands near Barr Lake and lands which area farmer's markets would encourage could be part of a prairie park. local farmers to work together to sell their produce locally to the urban dwellers. The DOW purchases and leases lands for farm link and monitoring programs would wildlife habitat enhancement, protection help keep farms and ranches in production. and related recreation. They are also If the County, in cooperation with entities willing to work with ranchers to help like CSU Extension Service, helped find minimize the negative impacts of wildlife farmers to manage or purchase farms that on agricultural lands. DOW may be existing landowners wished to sell, willing to work with landowners to find agricultural lands would be more likely to equitable means of conserving open lands remain in operation. In addition, more either through out right purchase, young people may become farmers and purchase of development rights or other ranchers if a mentoring program was methods. established so they could learn about farming or ranching from experienced individuals.

State and Federal Agency Partnerships

Adams County will need to build stronger partnerships with the State Division of Wildlife (DOW), Barr Lake State Park, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bird Observatory, Arsenal Eagles State and Federal Partnership area communities, private landowners and other entities to preserve environmental PublicAwareness/Information resources. The County should strongly Exchange Programs support Barr Lake State Park's efforts to conserve buffer areas and work with Public awareness of the importance of Brighton and other entities to ensure these agriculture and environmental resource lands are conserved. Adams County conservation can help build support for should work closely with the U.S. Fish and land conservation. The County should Wildlife Service and Commerce City to work with all the entities mentioned ensure sensitive wildlife areas and previously, plus any interested individuals connections adjacent to the Refuge are or groups to develop a public preserved. awareness/information exchange program The State Land Board must no longer focus related to open agricultural land and open on obtaining highest dollar for their lands space conservation. Each of the above

35 Adams County Open Space Plan entities has special knowledge and interests open lands and the reduction of natural and together can help create an effective environments. As serious for open lands information system. In addition, the protection is the indirect impact of the Adams County school system and area influx of non-agrarian property owners colleges and universities may be willing to who may not understand or appreciate the do special projects directly related to importance of agriculture to Adams County. Through the adoption of a County agriculture and environmental resource Right-to-Farm ordinance and the awareness. The system can include many development of a Guide to Rural Living, different forms such as newsletters, Adams County would have the workshops, handbooks, leaflets, radio and opportunity to inform new landowners of television programs, videos and exhibits. the role agriculture plays in maintaining This communication network can begin the area's rural way of life, resource-based simply, and then expand over the years. economy, wildlife habitat and scenic views.

Private Land Trusts As city subdivisions and rural lot subdivision occurs, agricultural There are several private and public land landowners must increasingly deal with conservation organizations in Colorado issues arising with their non-agrarian who can accept lands for conservation and neighbors. On the other hand, newcomers assist landowners in determining the most to an agricultural area frequently complain appropriate means of preservation. Examples of trusts serving the area include: of the inconveniences of customary ranch • American Farmland Trust, practices such as odors, noise, farm Washington, D.C. machinery and livestock on the road, and • Colorado Open Lands, Englewood, CO chemical spraying. Such nuisance • Colorado Wildlife Heritage complaints can cause farmers and ranchers Foundation, Denver, CO to spend significant time and money • The Conservation Fund, Boulder, CO defending themselves. Thus, agricultural • Trust for Public Land, Denver, CO landowners may incur the impacts of their • Colorado Coalition of Land Trusts, non-agrarian neighbor's poor stewardship Durango, CO (education and referral practices, as well as the costs of dealing organization) with complaints and nuisance claims.

The Weld Land Trust also exists in the area Frequently, new non-agrarian landowners and should be contacted since it is focused are simply unaware of how their actions on conserving land in the adjacent county affect an agricultural operation. Usually and has set up a farm link and other these newcomers value the amenities agricultural assistance programs. provided by agriculture including open lands, wildlife habitat, scenic views and County Actions rural character. However, by making an area inhospitable to agriculture, non- Over the last number of years, Adams agrarian landowners can contribute to a County has experienced an increase in feeling that development will inevitably rural lot and city subdivisions pushing replace farming and ranching, thus further out into what was once agricultural discouraging agrarian landowners from land. With the conversion of agricultural continuing. By enacting a County Right to lands to residential development, these Farm and Ranch ordinance, publishing a subdivisions result in the direct loss of Handbook for Rural Living for new, non-

36 Adams County Open Space Plan agrarian landowners, and changing some informed of the County ordinance and the development regulations, Adams County kinds of customary agricultural practices can help educate these rural non-agrarian that take place in the area. This could be landowners and developers about their done by signing a disclosure statement at rights and responsibilities, as well as send a the time of a property closing. Purchasers message of public support to the area's of property in agricultural zones within agricultural community. Adams County would be required to read and sign the ordinance disclosure Adams County Right to Farm and statement. The County should work with Ranch Ordinance area relators and developers to inform buyers of property in agricultural areas Right to Farm and Ranch ordinances about the nature of agricultural operations protect agricultural landowners from to help reduce misunderstandings. In frivolous nuisance complaints related to addition to requiring disclosure at the time agricultural activities. More importantly, of property transfer, the County should right to farm laws can serve to put new, provide a disclosure notice of the ordinance rural, non-agrarian landowners on notice to all property owners in agricultural areas of the agricultural nature of the area in on a one time basis. This disclosure notice which they desire to live. Colorado has could be mailed to property owners and adopted a statewide statute, the Nuisance posted in the local newspapers. Liability of Agricultural Operations (§35- 3.5-101 et seq., C.R.S.). However, more Handbook on Rural Living specific and protective ordinances at the county level have proven effective in other The County take take immediate steps to parts of the state and in other states publish a Handbook on Rural Living for experiencing encroachment of new, rural, non-agrarian residents. The development on agricultural lands. purpose of the Handbook would be to help non-agrarian residents make the transition The Adams County statute should clearly to rural living in Adams County and state that the County Commissioners have inform them of their responsibilities as found that the preservation of agricultural rural residents. By educating landowners lands is in the best interest of the County in this way, the County could greatly and that they will not consider agricultural minimize conflicts between neighbors. activities to be inconveniences or Such guidebooks have met with excellent nuisances, if conforming to generally success in Routt, Pueblo, Larimer and accepted agricultural and management Custer Counties. practices. Producers would be allowed to recover legal fees when nuisance suits are The Handbook on Rural Living would settled in their favor. Disputes between contain brief articles on informal codes of neighbors should be first addressed the west; weed control, water rights and through outside mediation before going to management, wildlife, on-site septic court. Such dispute resolution could be systems, and fence and trespass law. handled by a Grievance Committee made Additional articles could be developed as up of community members appointed by dictated by citizen interest and need. In the Commissioners. other counties, similar guidebooks have been developed through a cooperative In order to be effective, new residents in or effort between a number of different adjacent to an agricultural area must be entities. These entities have included 37 Adams County Open Space Plan

Cooperative Extension, County Building regulations to meet the goals developed for and Health Departments, Colorado the different areas. The Plan also calls for Division of Wildlife and Natural Resource updating the subdivision and PUD Conservation Service. The County should ordinances to encourage cluster tap the vast body of technical expertise development (environmentally sensitive found in agencies in the Adams County plan) on a portion of a property in order to area for the development of this conserve open land values on the Handbook. Many of these agencies may be remaining portion. Further, the Plan interested in contributing in other ways as recommends changes to the existing PUD well, perhaps providing staff time, printing and subdivision ordinances to encourage services and funding for distribution. developers to improve plan development, to provide developers with design The Handbook could be distributed free or guidelines, and to discourage "cookie at low cost to interested persons. It could cutter" subdivisions that arbitrarily site also be mailed to new rural and edge city development with minimal consideration residents, provided to the local Board of of design, infrastructure impact or open Realtors, and offered through the County land values. Planning and Cooperative Extension Offices. By providing landowners with an Incentive Based Open Land explanation of the informal and formal Preservation Process "rules" of rural living, the County could significantly minimize conflicts between Open Land Conservation Ordinance new and existing residents to help make (Clustered 35 acre lot development) Adams County more hospitable to agricultural operations. This Plan recommends that Adams County develop a process which encourages development that is compatible with continued agricultural uses, protects the area's open lands and rural character, and conserves sensitive environmental resources. Such an "Open Land Conservation" ordinance would encourage a compact development pattern of structures and roads in locations most suitable for development, resulting in a Agriculture near Brighton minimum of visual and environmental impacts. Regulatory Modifications This process can only be successful if it is designed to streamline the existing Regulatory changes are needed to address regulatory process. Key to the success of two situations: 1) the need for defining an Open Land Conservation ordinance growth boundaries and 2) the need to would be its voluntary, flexible and encourage appropriate, conservation incentive-based approach. This ordinance oriented development. would have two main objectives: This Open Space Plan recommends 1. Obtain more compact development defining growth boundaries and adjusting 2. Direct development off of key resources i.e., scenic, agricultural, wildlife, 38 Adams County Open Space Plan physiography; vegetation and wetland Landowners would be encouraged to resources use the Open Land Conservation process by assuring a simplified, The Open Land Conservation process predictable review of short duration. would be entirely voluntary. All current Review discretion could be delegated subdivision options would remain to the County Planning Director with available to the landowner. Landowners limited Planning Commission review. that elected to enter the Open Land • Fee Reduction - Administrative fees for Conservation process would be allowed processing applications and the maximum density they would be obtaining permits would be waived or permitted if they were to create 35-acre lots reduced. (one unit per 35 acres) in the higher growth • Density Bonus - In addition to the area designated in portions of western density allowed by state law (one unit Adams County and 160-acre lots in areas per 35 acres), landowners would outside the high growth area. The Open receive a modest density bonus. For Land Conservation process could serve as example, Routt County allows an an exemption from current County additional bonus unit for every 100 subdivision processes. In order to qualify acres of land placed under permanent for the Open Land Conservation process, protection. the location and clustering of building sites would have to meet the generally stated The Open Lands Conservation process objectives of reducing infrastructure costs, would provide landowners with flexibility minimizing environmental disturbances in meeting the objectives of preserving and preserving agriculture. No minimum agricultural land, protecting rural character lot size would be required (although lots and conserving sensitive natural resources. would have to be large enough to obtain The landowner could choose to create any state approval for water and septic, number of lots up to the maximum that generally in the 2.5 to 5 acre size). would be allowed. The lots could be of Clustering development on a portion of the any size, as long as they met State property would enable the protection of requirements. To allow tailoring of the open land. The Open Land Preservation design of the subdivision to meet the code would require at least 60% of the land specific landscape characteristics of a area to be permanently protected as open property, building locations and road siting land through deed restriction, conservation would remain flexible. In order to easement or development agreement with maintain flexibility, a landowner would not the County and identified on a plot. be required to enter their entire property Currently, the County provides little or no into the Open Lands Conservation process incentive to cluster development on the as long as the subject parcel was most appropriate locations of a property. In contiguous and met a minimum size order to encourage landowners to enter requirement (for instance, 70 acres). this process, it would have to be more appealing to landowners than simply Review of plans would be focused on creating 35 or 160-acre lots. The Open meeting general performance objectives Land Conservation process could offer rather than specific detailed rules that landowners the following advantages over would attempt to apply to every property. the current subdivision options: This could be done by defining a list of • Expedited (faster) Review - objectives to be achieved by the

39 Adams County Open Space Plan development. For example, an objective should support the system-wide goals by statement might be: "To preserve the providing trail linkages, wildlife corridors, opportunity for agricultural production on scenic view protection or agricultural land the most productive areas of the parcel". protection. Additional guidance should be To provide additional guidance to given to developers on appropriate uses of landowners and developers, the County open lands. could also develop standards and guidelines that would meet the stated Incentives to use the PUD would be objective but would not necessarily be needed to encourage developers to utilize required. this process. Such incentives could include an expedited review process, efficient Changes to Existing review of plans and decreased fees. These Subdivision/PUD Regulations incentives could be used in combination with disincentives to use the standard The Plan recommends changing existing subdivision process. Projects coming PUD and subdivision regulations to through the standard subdivision process encourage the use of the PUD process, could be considered low priority for review provide additional site design guidance to and approval, take longer to review and developers, preserve open lands and require higher fees. The County could also discourage arbitrary development through consider the use of additional standard "cookie cutter" subdivisions. "development impact" fees with standard subdivision projects. Revenue from impact The PUD process provides the opportunity fees could be used to pay for maintenance for the County to work with developers to of public open lands or to help fund open create innovative, efficiently designed land protection. developments. One of the PUD's objectives is to provide a procedure which allows The 2.5 acre lot subdivision code should be tailored design and layout of development changed to provide incentives for cluster to fit the landscape of a particular site development with conserved open lands "thereby encouraging preservation of the for agricultural use or open space. Shared site's natural characteristics. "This goal septic system should be permitted, with should be made more explicit within the approval from the State Health regulation. Site planning should seek to Department. Incentives should be minimize impacts to visual qualities and provided to encourage clustering. For natural resource values. Similar to the example, the County could allow a few Open Land Conservation ordinance extra lots if the cluster concept is used. described above, the County should provide developers with performance Providing Assistance to measures to meet design goals in the PUD. Landowners: The Technical Resource Team The PUD should also explicitly encourage the open space dedication to connect with Estate taxes in Colorado are currently at a open lands outside the subject area, combined federal and state level of whenever possible. This requirement will between 38 and 55 percent, with the higher help establish a region-wide open lands percentage applicable to properties worth system. At least some portion of the open several million dollars. In Adams County, lands created through the PUD's dedication many large landowners have seen their

40 Adams County Open Space Plan property values appreciate rapidly, which governmental entity such as a land trust. means that unless they have carefully Support for the TRT could come from a planned their properties, the estate tax may variety of sources including: make it very difficult to pass the land onto • The local and regional land trusts the next generation. Many techniques to could coordinate the assistance, avoid this problem, such as limited provide expertise, and possibly assist development, conservation easements and in covering a portion of the costs. estate planning, require costly expertise to • The County Extension Office or other develop a tailored solution. A number of County and adjacent county resources landowners at the public meetings might be able to provide certain expressed the feeling that access to a expertise and funds for its variety of local or regional experts on these establishment. techniques would be extremely valuable. • Area lawyers, accountants or real Such information would enable them to estate associations might provide talk with their own advisors about the funding and provide TRT experts on a applicability of these techniques to their pro bono basis. own land, financial and family • Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund circumstances. Informing landowners of could be approached about providing their options is a relatively cost-effective assistance in conjunction with some of way to meet family objectives and protect these other resources. land at the same time. Purchase of Development Rights This information could be provided by (PDR) experts through a Technical Resource Team (TRT). The TRT would be made available A PDR program in Adams County would to interested landowners at little or no cost. allow landowners to voluntarily sell Once established, the landowner could development rights to the County. The request TRT consultation on a number of program would help stabilize the farm issues to meet the landowner's individual economy and protect productive farm land needs. For instance, technical assistance by providing ranchers with a means of could include information on: deriving cash from their property without • Land Conservation having to borrow against it or sell it. • Legal Issues Funds from the sale of development rights • Financial Planning could be used for any purpose. Studies • Estate Planning where PDR programs are operating have • Professional resources, organizations shown that the majority of proceeds from and individuals that consult on related the sale of development rights are issues. reinvested locally. Often they are used to fund retirement, enable the next generation Consultation with the landowner would be to take over the operation, to pay off debts, confidential and geared toward providing to carry out needed improvements in the options for consideration by the landowner operation or to buy new equipment. and his or her family advisors. Since many people do not feel comfortable with the Like a conservation easement, the PDR idea of government consultation on family agreement is a legally recorded deed financial matters, the TRT services should restriction limiting future development of be provided by a non-profit, non- the property. Landowners continue to

41 Adams County Open Space Plan retain full control over their land. The significant resources of a property on a amount paid for the development rights is permanent basis while maintaining private based on the difference between the land's ownership and economic use of the land. agricultural value and its development A conservation easement is a deed value. In order to sell development rights, restriction which permanently limits the an independent appraisal is performed to landowner's right to subdivide that portion establish the value of the development of the property under the conservation rights. Depending on the property's easement. This deed restriction states how location and the amount of development much future development can occur. rights sold, experience shows that the value Private landowners voluntarily donate of the development rights varies from 30 conservation easements to a qualified percent to over 80 percent of the fair nonprofit conservation organization, such market value of the property. as the American Farmland Trust, the Funding for PDR programs can be Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land provided through a variety of means, Trust and The Nature Conservancy. which generally include issuing bonds and Conservation easements can also be the use of revenue sources such as property donated to governmental agencies. The tax, sales tax and real estate transfer taxes. obligations of the land trust or agency are Some jurisdictions use several dedicated to monitor the property to determine funding sources. The County could whether there has been a violation of the significantly leverage its funds by working terms of the easement and to enforce the with Great Outdoors Colorado to assist in easement if there has been a violation. The purchases of development rights. landowner continues to manage the However, the establishment of a PDR property just as before the easement was program would require a dedicated granted. In addition, the landowner funding source to fund the development continues to control public access and the rights purchase which is not currently easement does not require the landowner available. to provide greater public access than has been historically granted.

In return for granting the easement, the landowner can receive a number of tax benefits. First, when a conservation easement is given to a qualified conservation entity or land trust, it is treated like a charitable contribution The value of the donation is determined by the difference between the "before" and "after" Horse Creek Reservoir -Agricultural Land values of an appraisal. In most cases, this Preservation value can amount to 30 to 80 percent of the Private Landowner Actions property's value. A landowner can take a deduction of up to 30 percent of adjusted Conservation Easement gross income in the year of the gift and carry it forward for another five years, in order to use up the full value of the A conservation easement protects the 42 Adams County Open Space Plan foregone development rights. Company is considering donating Cooley In addition to the income tax benefits, the Lakes near Lowell Ponds as a wetland donation of an easement can reduce the outdoor education center. Donations can value of the farm or ranch upon which also be asked from developers. Other cities estate taxes are calculated. By reducing and counties in Colorado have successfully this tax burden through an easement received funds from developers for each donation, a landowner can help ensure that house sold which goes toward agricultural his or her family does not have to sell the land conservation. farm just to pay the estate taxes on it. Agricultural Enterprise Districts Limited Development (AED) Limited development involves a minimal In some areas of the country, farmers and amount of development on a property, ranchers have worked with public officials done so that the open and productive land to create Agricultural Enterprise Districts. or sensitive resource areas is protected. Modeled after Urban Enterprise Zones, Often limited development places AEDs provide incentives for voluntary homesites next to protected lands which participation. AEDs are voluntarily formed enhances the value of the lots. Limited where farmers and ranchers agree to keep development places fewer homes on the their land in agriculture for a defined land than would be possible through a period of time, usually five to ten years, in standard development. Limited return for benefits provided by the County. development may be combined with the Benefits to participating farmers and use of conservation easements to create ranchers could include property tax relief, both income and tax benefits to the marketing support, job training, reduced landowner. sales taxes, exemption from certain Adams County could encourage limited environmental regulations, protection from development and conservation easements nuisance complaints, and limitations on the by conducting an expedited review process County's ability to extend roads, utilities for such proposals, permitting the creation and special districts into the defined AED. of smaller lots as part of the limited Proponents of AEDs elsewhere suggest that development, reducing road requirements the costs of such a program are offset by typically required for subdivisions and reduced residential development, which allowing the landowner to take advantage typically generates less property-tax of tax benefits by assuring County revenue than needed to provide public approval. services.

Donations

Some entities may find it beneficial to donate lands for open space, agricultural conservation, or for education and interpretation. These donations can create tax advantages to the landowner while providing additional open space and/or agricultural land conservation. For example, Cooley Sand and Gravel

43 Adams County Open Space Plan

F UNDING FOR O PEN S PACE/OPEN L AND C ONSERVATION

Land conservation efforts need long term wildlife, outdoor recreation, environmental funding sources in order to meet matches education, open lands and natural areas. needed by grant programs, to equitably This is an excellent funding source for work with landowners and cities and to Adams County to use to help implement construct and maintain passive recreation the various elements of this plan. and interpretive areas and trails. Funding opportunities can be obtained through An additional program was added to numerous different means, many which GOCO in 1995 which provides for Legacy include partnerships and sharing of Grants. These grants provide significant resources. Much of the open space funds for large scale purchase and program in Adams County will need to be development projects related to the accomplished through partnerships where programs mentioned above. Adams Adams County works with others to obtain County has recently applied for a legacy funds, construct needed amenities and grant related to the South Platte River. ensure appropriate maintenance. Also, it should be remembered that the emphasis Most projects chosen for funding involved of this conservation program is to protect partnerships among public agencies, lands, not necessarily acquire them in fee. nonprofit organizations, volunteers and Therefore, a variety of creative techniques private sector groups. These projects also such as purchase of development rights, involved monetary and/or in-kind cluster development, conservation support from the groups applying. easements, and other techniques will tend Matching funds for portions of the grant, to reduce the amount of funds needed to by entities applying to GOCO, helps conserve lands or maintain properties. considerably in acquiring grants and is sometimes required. Adams County has Potential Funding Sources competed successfully for GOCO funding and is eligible to continue to compete for State and Federal Funding the local government, open space, and trails grants from GOCO. There are numerous state and federal funding sources. The State Recreational Trails Master Plan, State Recreational Trails Program, August 1992 has a section devoted to trail funding and assistance. Please refer to that document for more in-depth information, contacts, and additional funding sources related to trails.

Great Outdoors Colorado Funds

Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Trust Raptors at the Arsenal Fund was established in 1992. GOCO obtains a portion of Colorado lottery revenues to fund programs for parks,

44 Adams County Open Space Plan

State Division of Parks and Outdoor fishing opportunities, however, some open Recreation Trails Program space and stream-corridor trail projects can be enhanced by including "Fishing is Fun" This is one of the best programs for Adams grants. Some examples would be access County to use to receive funds for trail trails and parking areas; fishing access for development. The program uses a portion disabled; stream corridor improvements of State Parks' revenues from the Colorado such as bank stabilization, instream Lottery. The grants, usually require a structures, erosion control, revegetation, match and are for trail construction and and fencing. development of related facilities by counties, local communities and special • Watchable Wildlife Program - The interest groups. Grants can be from public purpose of the program is to manage or private entities. The overall yearly wildlife to provide recreational benefits to budget is about $2 million with grants those who wish to observe, photograph, generally ranging from $200,000 down to a and otherwise enjoy wildlife through few thousand dollars. activities other than hunting and fishing. This program provides good opportunities Intermodal Surface Transportation for possible funding for trail and open Efficiency Act (ISTEA) space related facilities. • Colorado Partners for Wildlife - This This program provides funds for facilities program improves and protects fish and for pedestrians and bicycles, and wildlife habitat on private lands through preservation of abandoned railroad alliances with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife corridors, as well as scenic byways, historic Service, Colorado Division of Wildlife and preservation, and landscaping. Although other entities while leaving the land in the potential funding received can be private ownership. Anyone can be a substantial, the bureaucratic requirements partner: farmers, ranchers, city dwellers, make ISTEA funded projects difficult at government agencies, educational times. institutions - anyone interested in Land and Water Conservation Fund improving and protecting wildlife habitat on private lands. The program offers Several hundred thousand dollars from a habitat restoration and management, federal funding source is available each technical assistance and year for community park and recreation educational/outreach opportunities. projects. Trails and open space projects are Grants are for approximately $3,500 and are eligible, and both construction and land often focused on specific projects like tree, acquisition is fundable. shrub and grass planting.

Colorado Division of Wildlife Funds Natural Resources Conservation Service • "Fishing is Fun" Program - The "Fishing is Fun" program is designed to • Wetlands Reserve Program - encourage the development of fisheries Landowners may sell a conservation projects in cooperation with local easement or enter into a cost-share communities, counties, or non-profit restoration agreement with United States groups. The emphasis is on improving Department of Agriculture to restore and

45 Adams County Open Space Plan protect wetlands. The landowner open space conservation and/or trail voluntarily limits future use of the land, development. Developers could offset a yet retains private ownership. The portion of the fees by retaining a certain program offers landowners three options: percentage of their lands as public open permanent easements, 30-year easements, space, and building trails which link to the and restoration cost-share agreements of a proposed County trail system. minimum of 10 years. The dollar amount available is determined by the duration of Partnership Funding the easement with 100% payment by NRCS for a perpetual easement. This program Many open space, trail and agricultural provides an excellent opportunity for conservation projects will need to be landowners who have properties difficult accomplished as partnerships. This is to farm, such as wetlands, to improve especially true for the project to receive wetlands and provide additional dollars to GOCO funding. Partnerships help in landowners. obtaining needed GOCO matches, dividing • up responsibilities and ensuring resources are managed appropriately in the future.

Multiple Funding Support Projects

Projects which have numerous partners supporting the effort are often most fundable and help to build public support and caring. These projects should be given priority as long as they are viable and fit into this Open Space Plan. For example, Wetlandsat Beebe Draw numerous entities are committed to Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program enhance the Cooley Lakes near Lowell (WHIP) This is a voluntary program to Ponds as a public environmental education help landowners develop upland wildlife, facility. A citizen group has already wetland wildlife, threatened and received funding and/or time endangered species, fish and other types of commitments from the Fraternal Order of wildlife habitat. Private landowners, state, Adams County Police, the Adams County county or local governments are eligible. District, Cooley Sand and Gravel Company This is a newly funded program which is and others. anticipated to give grants for about $5,000 per year with a 25% match or in-kind County and State Partnerships services. Partnerships with the County and the Development Fees numerous state agencies in the area such as DOW, State Lands Board and the State Ope n Space and Trail Co nservatio n Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation should be further developed. The State Deve lo pment Fee s Lands Board is particularly important in relation to open space and agricultural land Adams County could establish regulations conservation around Barr Lake and for which would require developers to give potentially providing lands for a prairie fees which would be used specifically for park. The State Division of Parks and 46 Adams County Open Space Plan

Outdoor Recreation could potentially help development. There are several taxing with the creation and management of the approaches which could potentially work prairie park or parks in Adams County. in this area, if adequate public support was DOW could help in numerous ways to help established. Land purchases should be protect, manage, purchase, and interpret made with willing sellers and funds should wildlife related resources in the County. not be used to condemn land or acquire land through eminent domain. Revenues Urban Drainage and Flood Control should be used to conserve open lands for District agricultural uses, purchase lands for parks or open space and for trail planning and Adams County already works with the development. Urban Drainage and Flood Control District on projects related to drainageways and Open Lands Conservation District flooding. This relationship should be Initiative continued. The Urban Drainage and Flood Control District and the County can work Establish an Open Land Conservation together to create joint use corridors which District for a portion of the study area. help conserve drainageways and People living and owning land within the floodplains, provide drainage bank district boundary would be asked to restoration, develop holding pond facilities support a sales or use tax which would be with multiple uses and help with initial used for open space and agricultural land trail development. conservation and related facility development. The district would be Mile High Duck Club and Ducks established to manage the program. Unlimited County Tax Initiative Partnerships with hunting clubs can lead to preservation of open lands and wetland Voters could initiate an Adams County protection. These relationships should be sales and use specifically for open space, developed. agricultural conservation, trail and passive facility development efforts. The County Metro Wastewater District could distribute the revenue in different ways. The cities in Adams County have Metro Wastewater District may need to stated they would like to have a portion of find appropriate lands for biosolid storage this funding go to incorporated community and would like to work with the County in open space and trail use so appropriate the future concerning this issue. Although linkages could be made throughout these lands sometimes transmit odors, they developed areas. The remaining portions do remain open space and can be used for would be used for unincorporated needs. agriculture. The voters could establish how often the initiative would need to be renewed and Taxing Districts, Open Space Tax how the revenue would be distributed.

Numerous counties and communities have Currently the County collects a half of 1% passed a sales and use tax to support open sales tax which is earmarked for the Adams space and agricultural land conservation, County court house construction. acquisition and related facility Anything over $34 million could be used for open space, agricultural land 47 Adams County Open Space Plan

conservation and/or related implementation, if passed by the voters. This is an excellent one time opportunity for the people of Adams County to obtain funds for open space conservation.

City Tax Initiative

At this time, only Westminster and Brighton have taxes related to open space or park conservation and development. Should the people desire, other cities could try to pass city tax initiatives. Tax initiatives for open space conservation in the Adams County communities would assist in the open space conservation efforts and help in getting trail linkages completed that join to the County system.

Real Estate Transfer Tax

The County could establish a real estate transfer tax earmarked for open space, trails, and agricultural land conservation. This would provide a long term funding source for open space and agricultural land conservation.

48 Adams County Open Space Plan

P HASING Early Actions the City of Brighton concerning lands annexed to Brighton.) The following is a list of actions which - Cooley Lakes (north of Lowell Adams County, in conjunction with others, Ponds) should complete in the near future. • The above areas are the lands to focus Future Steering Committee Efforts on conserving immediately, however, due to multiple resource importance, Retain a representative core group of the the County should contact landowners Open Space Steering Committee to help in in the following areas soon and see if implementing this Open Space Plan. The they would be willing to work with committee should develop their own work the County to retain portions of their plan oriented towards helping the County lands as agriculture or open space. implement this program in a timely an - Prime and irrigated agricultural appropriate manner. The committee lands where 2nd and 3rd creeks should consider assisting in the and the South Platte River join development of the public awareness, - Lands just west of the South Platte information exchange program; help raise along Brantner Gulch, primarily funding for implementation; direct the between 120th and 104th avenues County during related ordinance changes and development; and assist in All of these lands are under development communicating with Adams County city pressure and serve multiple functions such and towns to ensure trail standards, open as conserving prime and irrigated space and trail linkages are well agricultural lands; retaining community coordinated. buffers; and conserving sensitive environmental resources. Highest Priority Lands for Conservation Highest Priority Trail Improvements • Begin working with landowners in the areas listed below to see if they would • Complete the Clear Creek Trail and be interested in working with the upgrade its deteriorating sections. County and other interested parties to • Work with the cities in Adams County conserve portions or all of their lands to complete the sections of the County in agriculture and/or open space : trail system that has already been - Existing prime and irrigated started in highly urbanized areas west agricultural lands and sensitive of the South Platte River. This environmental resource areas includes: identified within Beebe Draw - Trails that link the Lowell Pond - Lands noted as highest priority for area to urbanized areas to the conservation along the South Platte north River in the South Platte Heritage - Niver/Grange Hall Loop Trail Plan - Little Dry Creek Trail - Lands around Barr Lake designated as critical, highest, or high • Continue working with Adams environmental resource areas (The County cities so they complete the County would need to work with trails which link to the Adams 49 Adams County Open Space Plan

County trail system. Also work the County may be helpful as the non- closely with the incorporated cities to profit entity who helps agricultural develop a uniform set of standards landowners write grants and obtains which will be followed for trail funds. development along sections which • Modify the County regulations to link to the Adams County trail provide incentives and to encourage system. land development that is sensitive to the objectives of this Open Space Plan. • Work with the ditch company another necessary entities so the O'Brian Trail Parks and Interpretive Improvements can be started. • Develop a master plan for the Adams Agricultural Conservation Priorities County Regional Park which incorporates the ideas from this plan • Establish a communications approach and the South Platte Heritage Plan. for working with landowners. Initial contacts are very important and individual approaches should be established which are sensitive to each landowner. Work with the Steering Committee to determine the most appropriate approaches.

• Create and adopt a Right to Farm and Ranch Ordinance.

• Work with other entities to create a Rural Living Handbook. This Welby Greenhouses document should first address the major problems which farmers and • Develop an interpretive plan for the ranchers are now facing in relation to County which illustrates how rural residential living. Some of these environmental education and open issues are trespassing, weed control, space appreciation would occur and loose dogs and cats. The throughout the County open space, information could first be developed open land and trail systems. as simple fliers which later can be combined to form the handbook. The County should work withincorporated cities and developers to ensure the booklet is provided to new landowners moving into areas adjacent to agricultural lands.

• Assist landowners, who desire to remain in agriculture, in acquiring grants/funds to determine the best ways to conserve their lands. Initially Adams County Regional Park

50 Adams County Open Space Plan

Working With Developers

As development occurs in unincorporated areas, the County should work to conserve the open space lands identified in the plan and obtain construction of trail segments shown on the plan.

51 Adams County Open Space Plan

A PPENDIX A Appendix A - Conservation Unit Barr Lake State Park/Rocky Analysis Mountain Wildlife Refuge Areas

Environmental Resource Units These lands include Barr Lake State Park and the areas designated by the park as Critical Bald Eagle Habitat Area either a local government policy zone or lands needing purchase or conservation The critical bald eagle habitats include easements. portions of Barr Lake State Park, the Rocky Mountain National Wildlife Refuge and Lands within this conservation unit lands immediately surrounding those provide important protection areas for areas. These habitats also exist in specific wildlife and natural ecosystems at Barr areas along the South Platte River. Lake State Park. They provide critical wildlife protection, wetland improvement Lands within this unit provide essential and mitigation lands, park buffers from I- bald eagle habitat with actual roosting and 76, revegetation potential for short grass nesting sites. These areas provide security, prairie and aesthetic buffers. Further, they food, water and shelter for this threatened preserve agricultural lands and could species. Development or disturbance will enhance hunting potential. reduce the suitability of these sites for bald eagles and could cause them to leave the This conservation unit also includes the county. Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge which is a protected area for South Platte River Heritage wildlife. The Refuge is entirely within the Project Area critical wildlife habitat area mentioned in 1 above. The South Platte River has a multitude of significant resource factors. The area was Beebe Draw Area so special that a more specific study was Beebe Draw includes the drainages, completed at the same time as this plan. wetlands, riparian areas and prime wildlife The site is a major wildlife habitat and habitats north of Barr Lake State Park. This works in close conjunction with Barr Lake area also contains prime farmlands which and the Rock Mountain Arsenal Wildlife are mentioned under the Agricultural Refuge in providing water, feeding, Conservation Units in this section. Portions nesting, shelter and movement corridors or all of the area are within the 100 year for many of the wildlife species in Adams floodplain, are high priority urban County. The river is also an important drainage improvement areas and contain floodplain and riparian zone with prime feeding and habitats for peregrine significant wetlands and cottonwood river falcons, burrowing owls and prairie dogs. bottom environments. In addition, the area Portions of the area are also within the 60 has prime farmland and significant mining LDN noise zone from DIA. sites. (See the appendix for more detailed information).

52 Adams County Open Space Plan

Prime Raptor and Burrowing Owl provides feeding areas for peregrine Areas falcons, provides habitat for burrowing owls, and contains prime and irrigated The larger and more significant raptor farmland. habitat and feeding areas are primarily at: • Barr Lake State Recreation Area Agricultural Resource Units • Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge Prime/Irrigated Farmland/ Resource • South Platte River • Just east of McKay Lake from about Sensitivity/Environmental Hazard s 120th to 144th These areas are productive farmland with • Cluster of lakes just west of Barr Lake numerous sensitive ecological resources and I-76 and environmental hazards. They are • Sand Creek near Sable Boulevard concentrated along the drainages of Beebe • Horse Creek Reservoir Draw and the South Platte River and under • Two locations along Box Elder Creek high pressure for growth. They are large • Lost Creek north of 88th land parcels (35 acres plus) of prime or irrigated farmland. Portions are in the 100 Lands within this conservation unit year floodplain and designated as high provide a conservation of prey for raptors priority urban drainage areas. Due to the including prairie dogs, ducks and other significant wetland and riparian habitats, waterfowl. Many of these areas also they provide prime wildlife habitats for a provide riparian habitats and feeding areas broad range of species. These areas also for diverse wildlife species. help form community buffers.

The burrowing owl areas are concentrated Prime/Irrigated Farmland With within the Beebe Draw Area, along Box Elder Creek, just north of the old Boot Lake Multiple Sensitive Resources Reservoir, and along Denver Hudson Canal. All of these areas are prairie dog This unit contains two large areas. One is colonies used by burrowing owls. at the junction of the South Platte River and 2nd and 3rd Creeks. The other area is just west of the South Platte River between 100 YearFloodplain/Riparian Brantner Gulch and Grange Hall Canal. Habitat/Wildlife Movement Corridor These are large tracts of prime and and Habitat irrigated farmlands undergoing high pressures for growth. Portions are in the The 100 year floodplains are concentrated 100 year floodplain and are designated as along Adams County's rivers, creeks, high priority urban drainage areas. Both drainages and some of the canals. These these areas provide significant rural areas are important to conserve since they character buffers at the edges of developing provide space for flooding, contain riparian cities. habitats and wetlands, and supply corridors and habitats for a wide diversity Prime and Irrigated Farmland of wildlife. These are productive farmlands primarily Old Boot Lake Resource Area concentrated in the northwestern area of the county along Highway 7 and Big Dry Boot Lake Reservoir has been drained, Creek. Other concentrated areas exist just however, a bottom land riparian area south of Bromley Road at the edge of the remains in this area along Box Elder Creek. City of Brighton and north of Commerce This area is within the 100 year floodplain, City along Highway 85 and I-76. This unit 53 Adams County Open Space Plan

consists of large parcels of prime and irrigated farmland undergoing extensive pressures for growth. These lands form the community buffers between many of the cities in the western area.

Open Agricultural Lands (high growth areas)

This conservation unit consists of large parcels of non-irrigated farms and ranches within the high growth areas of the county. They provide much of the rural farm and ranch character that makes Adams County so special and help separate cities.

Open Agricultural Land s/60 LDN/Potential Growth Area

This unit consists of farm and ranch lands within the 60 LDN zone of DIA within the growth pressure areas of the county. This area, located just north of DIA, is important also due to the impacts it could have on drainage into Beebe Draw and Barr Lake.

Open Agricultural Lands/60 LDN/East Of DIA

These areas are farm and ranch lands within the 60 LDN east of DIA. They are not under significant pressure for growth.

Open Agricultural Lands/ East of DIA

This unit consists of the vast acreage of agricultural land outside the more intensive growth area of the county. These lands express the rural, undeveloped character of the county.

54 Adams County Open Space Plan

A PPENDIX B

South Platte River Heritage Plan Summary

55 Adams County Open Space Plan

A PPENDIX C

Appendix C - Index of Maps

Regional Context Map ...... 12a Land Cover Map ...... 13a Raptor Habitat and Feeding Areas...... 14a Water Resources Map ...... 15a Farmlands Map ...... 16a Existing and Approved Open Space and Trails ...... 19a Conservation Units ...... 22a Agricultural Conservation Map ...... 26a Environmental Resource Conservation Map ...... 27a Trails Map...... 31a

59 Adams County Open Space Plan

A PPENDIX D Appendix D - List of Other Plans

60