Open Lands Master Plan Larimer County DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES June 2015 Photo: Jeff Andersen Larimer County Department of Natural Resources Open Lands Program Adopted and Recommended Larimer County Board of County Commissioners May 18, 2015 Adopted Larimer County Planning Commission June 17, 2015 Acknowledgments Table of Contents Special thanks to the citizens of Larimer County who supported the passage of the Help Preserve Open Spaces tax extension, with specific appreciation to the many citizens who helped shape thisOpen Lands Master Plan. Larimer County Board of Chapter 1. Introduction .....................1 Chapter 2. Needs and Existing Commissioners 1.1 Background ......................................................2 Conditions Lew Gaiter III, District 1 1.2 Department Organization and Structure .......3 2.1 Open Lands Program Accomplishments .....11 Steve Johnson, District 2 1.3 Department Funding: Help Preserve Open Tom Donnelly, District 3 2.2 Changing Demands for Land Conservation Spaces Tax ....................................................4 and Recreation ............................................16 Larimer County Natural Resources 1.4 Open Lands Program Guiding Principles �������6 2.3 Partnerships .................................................19 Department Staff 1.5 Planning Process .............................................6 Gary Buffington, Director 1.6 Public Outreach ...............................................7 Kerri Rollins, Open Lands Program Manager Zac Wiebe, Fund Development & Special Projects Meegan Flenniken, Resource Management Program Manager Jeffrey Boring, Resource Specialist Boards and Commissions Open Lands Advisory Board Agricultural Advisory Board Logan Simpson Design Inc. Jeremy Call Tom Keith Kristina Kachur Ben Hammer Maria Michieli-Best II LARIMER COUNTY OPEN LANDS MASTER PLAN III Buckeye Conservation Easement. Photo: Walt Hubis Cover photo by Harry Strharsky Chapter 3. Conservation Vision Chapter 4. Recreation Vision Chapter 5. Implementation Appendices 3.1 Results of Public Outreach............................21 4.1 Accomplishments ������������������������������������������55 Recommendations Appendix A. Acronyms ..........................................77 3.2 Priority Area Analysis �������������������������������������24 4.2 Results of Public Engagement ......................58 5.1 Level of Service .............................................73 Appendix B. Glossary ...........................................78 3.3 Land Conservation Priority Areas .................34 4.3 Recreation Opportunities ..............................60 5.2 Open Lands Program Policies & Processes .75 Appendix C. 1995, 1999, and 2014 Ballot 3.4 Habitat Restoration .......................................49 4.4 Facility Development and Improvements.....61 Language ...............................................................79 3.5 Resource Management .................................52 4.5 Community Engagement - Interpretation/ Appendix D. Regional Trail Comparison ...........104 Education/Volunteers ................................63 Appendix E. Policies and Procedures .................106 4.6 Regional Trail Corridors .................................64 Appendix F. Adoption Resolution ........................182 4.7 Regional Trail Gap Analysis ...........................66 4.8 Regional Trails Corridors Priorities ...............70 IV LARIMER COUNTY OPEN LANDS MASTER PLAN V Chapter 1. Introduction Larimer County has some of the most intact and diverse landscapes within the Front Range of Colorado. Near the Laramie Foothills, and at no other location in northern Colorado, the transition from native grasslands to the first rise of the foothills and beyond occurs within a continuous landscape that retains a sense of vastness and natural character. Pioneer trails, prominent landmarks such as Steamboat Rock, and an array of cultural features add to the richness of the landscape. Further south, thousands of acres of irrigated land creates an agricultural landscape where working farms and ranches persist, beneficiaries of a legacy of reservoirs and canals that also provide plant and wildlife habitat and offer a variety of recreational opportunities. Still further south, the land becomes more urbanized and cities and towns predominate but, not coincidentally, rivers and streams become more prominent and the riparian areas associated with the Cache la Poudre, Big Thompson, and Little Thompson rivers become a defining element of our communities. And across these changes north to south, there is one constant backdrop: a hogback front that ranges nearly 50-miles. For many of us, Horsetooth Rock, Devil’s Backbone, Blue Mountain, the abrupt rise of the foothills, and the higher peaks beyond define our sense of place. This is where we live and play, and for many it’s the landscape we miss most when away from home. For more than 20 years, Larimer County and its citizens have been working to conserve these valued landscapes. Much progress has been made yet many areas remain in need of protection. With the county’s population expected to grow by more than 150,000 residents by the year 2040 (Department of Local Affairs, 2013), the importance of conserving these remaining areas increases, the need to link them together becomes more critical, and the benefits of good stewardship, including Devil’s Backbone restoring our rivers and other key habitats, becomes more essential. In short, the work Open Space. is not complete. This Open Lands Master Plan, with the benefit of extensive input from Photo: Staff the citizens of Larimer County, is intended to guide our future conservation efforts and optimize the use of available funding dedicated for this purpose. It provides a focused vision for the Larimer County Open Lands Program in continuing to conserve and restore natural resources, conserve agricultural lands and working landscapes, conserve and improve river health, and enhance appropriate outdoor recreation opportunities. CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION LARIMER COUNTY OPEN LANDS MASTER PLAN 1 Our Lands - Our Future provided a wealth of information and has been recognized The voluntary citizen Open Lands Advisory Board nationally, receiving awards from the Society for Outdoor Recreation Professionals, provides oversight of the Open Lands Program and the American Planning Association, and the Colorado chapter of the American administration of Help Preserve Open Spaces sales Society of Landscape Architects. tax funds. 1.1 Background 1.2 Department Organization and Structure The first master plan for the Larimer County In 2013, Larimer County and all of the cities and The Larimer County Natural Resources Department provides key services to Larimer County citizens through Department of Natural Resources, Larimer County towns within partnered to complete a regional study three major programs. Each program in the Department of Natural Resources obtains funding differently and Parks: Comprehensive Parks Master Plan, was of land conservation, outdoor recreation, and natural is guided cooperatively by separate planning processes. The purpose of this plan is to outline the direction of completed in October 1993. This plan included an resources stewardship. This regional study, Our the Open Lands Program and how revenues from the Help Preserve Open Spaces sales and use tax should inventory of the existing Department facilities and Lands - Our Future: Recreation and Conservation be allocated for conservation and management of current and future lands. the need for additional recreational opportunities, Choices for Northern Colorado, examined citizen regional trails, and the acquisition of land to protect preferences for conservation and recreation, Land Stewardship Program: Parks Program: Managing the Open Lands Program: wildlife habitat and scenic areas. This plan was analyzed the economic benefits of open space in Assisting private landowners County’s four regional reservoir Acquiring and managing open written prior to the initiation of the Open Lands Larimer County, and developed an online interactive and agencies with vegetation parks on Bureau of Reclamation space properties and holding Program. In 1995, Larimer County voters passed mapping tool and a financial model to help predict management including weed owned property, namely Carter conservation easements funded a citizen’s initiative for a ¼ cent county-wide sales future funding scenarios. This study forms a basis of control, native plant restoration, Lake, Flatiron, Pinewood and entirely through the Help Preserve tax specifically for the purchase, protection and information throughout this Master Plan. and forestry practices and Horsetooth reservoirs. These Open Spaces sales and use tax. management of open space, natural areas, wildlife The renewed plan will be a continuation of the Our enforcing the state noxious weed reservoir parks are managed Open spaces are managed for habitat, regional park preserves, regional trails, and Lands - Our Future effort but will be specific to the act and state pest control act for for camping, boating, fishing, non-motorized uses, primarily agricultural lands thereby initiating the Open Lands role of the Larimer County Open Lands Program. invasive plants and forest pests. swimming, and picnicking and hiking, biking and equestrian Program. In 1999, Larimer County citizens voted to In 2014, Larimer County citizens overwhelmingly Weed management is funded by are funded primarily through park trails, and for stewardship of extend the