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Roaring Fork Gorge Management Plan (2013)

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Roaring Fork Gorge Management Plan (2013) The Roaring Fork Gorge Management Plan December 3rd, 2013 Pitkin County Open Space and Trails City of Aspen Roaring Fork Gorge Management Plan Table of Contents Introduction Page 1.1 Purpose 1 1.2 History of the Roaring Fork Gorge 2 1.3 Process and Public Involvement 6 Existing Conditions 2.1 Properties, Conservation and Recreation Easements 7 2.2 Existing Plans, Policies, and Codes 9 2.3 Geology and Hydrology 11 2.4 Vegetation 11 2.5 Wildlife 12 2.6 Recreational Use 13 2.6.1 Boating 13 2.6.2 Angling 13 2.6.3 Rio Grande Trail 14 2.6.4 Stein Trail 15 2.6.5 Climbing/Ice Climbing 15 2.7 Adjacent Uses 15 2.8 Regional Trail Connections 16 2.9 Parking 17 2.10 Signage, Memorials, and Amenities 18 2.11 Points of Interest 19 2.12 Commercial Use and Special Events 19 Opportunities, Constraints, Existing Issues and Public Comments 3.1 Property Ownership 20 3.2 Natural Resources 20 3.3 Recreational Use, Parking, Amenities and Commercial Use 21 Management Actions 4.1 Property Ownership 24 4.1.1 Acquisition of Easement and/or Fee Simple Properties 24 4.2 Natural Resource 25 4.2.1 Update and Expand the Natural Resource Inventory for 25 Roaring Fork Gorge Properties 4.2.2 River Conservation Plan 25 4.2.3 Work to Increase Water Quality and Water Quantity 25 Roaring Fork Gorge Management Plan Table of Contents I 4.3 Recreational Use, Parking, and Amenities Page 4.3.1 Rio Grande Trail Improvements 26 4.3.1.1 Rio Grande Trail Phase I 26 4.3.1.2 Rio Grande Trail Phase II 27 4.3.2 Stein Park Improvements 27 4.3.3 Jaffee Park Improvements 27 4.3.4 Near-Term Regional Trail Connections 28 4.3.4.1 Stein Trail Improvements 28 4.3.4.2 Burlingame Connection Study 28 4.3.4.3 Stein Bridge Repairs 28 4.3.4.4 Jaffee Connector Dual Surface and Potential Singletrack 29 Alignment 4.3.4.5 AspenMass Soft Surface Trail 29 4.3.5 Long-Term Regional Trail Connections 29 4.3.5.1 Rio Grande Connection Options to the AABC/Burlingame area 29 4.3.5.2 Rio Grande Connection to the Intercept Lot 30 4.3.5.3 Intercept Lot Connection to the AABC area. 30 4.3.5.4 McLain Flats Climbing Lanes 30 4.3.6 Climbing and Ice Climbing Opportunities 30 4.3.7 Update to and implementation of OST Sign Standards, including the 31 development of Trailhead sign guidelines 4.3.8 Interpretive Sign Plan 31 4.4 Commercial Use and Special Use 31 4.4.1 Develop a Commercial Fly-fishing Guide Permit System 31 4.4.2 Develop an Open Space and Trails Special Event Policy 31 4.5 Commemorative Opportunities 31 Appendix A - Project Area Map Ai Appendix B - Public Comments Bi Appendix C - Existing Condition Maps Ci Appendix D - Airport Ranch Open Space Plant Communities Di Appendix E - River Map Ei Appendix F - Rio Grande Trail at Stein Park User Numbers Fi Appendix G - Action Item Timeline Gi Appendix H - Action Item Decision Chart Hi Bibliography Bib i Roaring Fork Gorge Management Plan Table of Contents II The Roaring Gorge Management Plan was a collaborative effort between Pitkin County Open Space and Trails and the City of Aspen Parks, Trails and Open Space departments. Pitkin County City of Aspen Open Space and Trails Parks, Trails, and Open Space 530 East Main Street 585 Cemetery Lane Aspen, CO 81611 Aspen, CO 81611 The Mission of the Pitkin County Open Space and Trails Board of Trustees is to acquire, preserve, maintain and manage open space properties for multiple purposes including, but not limited to, recreational, wildlife, agricultural, scenic and access purposes; and to acquire, preserve, develop, maintain and manage trails for similar purposes. PITKIN COUNTY STRATEGIC PLAN Core Focus Areas & Success Factors Pitkin County The diagram below illustrates the relationship between the three Community Vision Organizational Values Core Focus Areas in achieving the County’s mission and vision. Pitkin County embraces the following values Pitkin County will continue to be a to promote public trust and confi dence in healthy, safe, vibrant and sustainable County Government. community, enhancing the quality of life for everyone who lives, works STEWARDSHIP and visits here, while conserving the We strive to leave our natural natural environment as the basis for our CORE FOCUS environment, community, public assets community success. Flourishing Natural and organization in better condition & Built Environment than we found them for current and future generations. Organization Mission SUCCESS FACTORS Pitkin County government provides 1. Conserved natural resources and environment ETHICS valued and high quality public services We hold ourselves to high standards supporting the health, safety and 2. Responsibly maintained and enhanced County assets of honesty and dependability in the well-being of people and the natural 3. Ease of mobility via safe and effi cient transportation systems conduct of County business. environment. 4. Well planned and livable built environment EXCELLENCE We are committed to providing quality services that are accessible, accurate SAFE VIBRANT and innovative to meet our community’s COMMUNITY & SUSTAINABLE needs. COMMUNITY HIGH COLLABORATION We work together as employees and CORE FOCUS QUALITY Livable & Supportive with citizens and other government, Community OF LIFE non-profi t and private sector CORE FOCUS organizations helping each other SUCCESS FACTORS Prosperous Economy succeed in promoting and achieving 1. A sense of personal and community safety the public’s goals. HEALTHY SUCCESS FACTORS 2. Diverse and livable housing options COMMUNITY 1. Sustainable economy and employment OPEN COMMUNICATION We are committed to listening to our 3. Self-suffi cient individuals and families 2. Affordable and quality health care options citizens and partners and to giving 4. Access to recreation, education, arts and culture 3. High performing County leaders, teams accurate and timely information. and employees 5. Improved community engagement and participation POSITIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT 4. Responsible and accountable We appreciate dedicated and stewardship of County assets knowledgeable employees and support their professional and personal growth. Roaring Fork Gorge Management Plan Table of Contents III 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Purpose The Roaring Fork Gorge has been a special place to residents and visitors of Pitkin County for well over a century. The planning area is comprised of eight different public properties, two fishing easements, two conservation easements and a trail easement. The public enjoyment of this area started in 1969, with the Denver and Western Rio Grande Railroad right of way being Planning Area Map is located in Appendix A given to the County and it continues to expand, most recently with the addi- tion of the Gold Butte property. The terrain varies greatly, from the bottom of the river gorge to the sage flats and shale slopes above. With that comes a diversity of vegetation, habitats, geologic features and user experiences. The gorge is also a key wildlife corridor, linking Sky Mountain Park to the Roaring Fork River, Red Mountain and Woody Creek Drainage. Every year more and more recreational users are drawn to the Gorge’s unique amenities. Over 1,000 people are expected to reside in the commu- nities currently connected to the Gorge, via the Stein Trail, with in the next decade. With each season we continue to see the user numbers increase and requests for the use of the resources continue to evolve. Six of the eight gorge properties have never had a management plan to guide their future. The purpose of the Roaring Fork Gorge Management Plan is to embrace the strong public history, diversity of uses, habitats and experiences and create a comprehensive guide for the future. We began by taking an inventory of all the existing conditions and hosting a series of public meetings to un- derstand the users’ needs. We then evaluated all we had learned looking at the opportunities, constraints, existing issues and public comments. Using this information we developed a draft plan, including management actions for the future of the gorge. The draft plan was out for 2 months of public comment and we revied and listened to all we recievd. Staff then revised the draft plan, based on the comments received, to develop the final plan. 1.2 History of the Roaring Fork Gorge View of the Gorge in 1887 View of the Gorge today Roaring Fork Gorge Management Plan Page 1 Historic image of flume from 1900 Flume location today The Roaring Fork River descends out of Aspen, Colorado through a narrow gorge cleft between buttes of red and gold. The canyon was spared from development due to its dramatic geology. Over the last several million years, the Sawatch range has risen some 26,000 feet up a major fault line across the mouth of the canyon, which has literally flipped Red Butte onto its back. The oldest rocks lie on the top of Red Butte, creating a geologic anomaly. Human history within the gorge is marked most significantly by the former grade of the Aspen Branch of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad. This route was hastily carved into the canyon during the great race with the Midland to be first into Aspen in 1887. The Rio Grande had reached Carbondale on October 13 of that year, as the Midland was still fighting its way over Hagerman Pass. With astonishing speed, the Rio Grande RR laid track up our valley and through the gorge, reaching Aspen by October 27, 1887. The entire town of Aspen turned out to meet the first train, while a local brewery took a wagonload of beer to the workers.
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