North Sterling State Park Park Management Plan 2009-2019 September 2009 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Development of the North Sterling State Park Management Plan was made possible through the support and collaborative efforts of the North Sterling Management Planning Team (Planning Team), State Parks Division Staff and Director’s Staff, and interested members of the public. Special thanks to the other program and park managers that provided input and suggestions on draft versions of the plan. This management plan is the first to be developed using the Colorado State Parks Management Plan Template, which was finalized in 2007 by a diverse committee comprised of experienced park and program staff. North Sterling Management Planning Team Scott Babcock, Strategic Planning Program Manager Dave Piper, North Sterling State Park Senior Ranger Rob Billerbeck, Natural Resource & Stewardship Kristi Quintana, Acting High Plains Region Manager Program Manager Bob Loomis, North Sterling Park Manager Stuart Watada, High Plains Region Development Mana Shawn Krier, High Plains Region Development Manager Colorado State Parks Region and Division Leadership Ken Brink, Acting Field Operations Manager Kurt Mill, Rocky Mountain Region Manager Steve Cassin, Chief Financial Officer Gary Thorson, Assistant Director Heather Dugan, Acting Southeast Region Manager Bob Wiig, Rocky Mountain Assistant Region Manager John Geerdes, Acting Southeast Region Manager Dean Winstanley, Director Consultants Special thanks to BBC Research & Consulting for their assistance in developing the North Sterling Financial Plan (Appendix J). i North Sterling State Park Management Plan (2009 – 2019) ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 1 About the Plan ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................1 Park Goals.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................3 Management Zoning .................................................................................................................................................................................................................3 Summary of Recommended Park Enhancement Opportunities ..............................................................................................................................................4 Existing Facilities & Infrastructure ...................................................................................................................................................................................6 New Facilities & Infrastructure ........................................................................................................................................................................................6 Rehabilitation & Restoration Efforts ................................................................................................................................................................................6 Management Initiatives ...................................................................................................................................................................................................6 Budget Considerations ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................7 1.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 9 Park Description ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................9 Purpose of the Plan...................................................................................................................................................................................................................9 Relationship to the Division Strategic Plan .................................................................................................................................................................. 10 Park Goals.................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11 Future Plan Updates .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Previous Planning Efforts ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 12 Public Input Process .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Influences on Management.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Management Considerations ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 14 2.0 Regional Planning Context ....................................................................................................................................................................... 15 Climate ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 15 Physical Setting ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 15 Eco-Regional Setting ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 15 Adjacent Land Use and Land Ownership .............................................................................................................................................................................. 15 Regional Recreation and Tourism Trends, Needs & Opportunities ...................................................................................................................................... 16 Population Trends .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 18 3.0 Park Setting & Resources .......................................................................................................................................................................... 19 Park Land Ownership ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 19 Adjacent Land Ownership ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 22 Natural Resources ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 23 Wildlife .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 23 Vegetation .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 27 Threatened and Endangered Species ......................................................................................................................................................................... 27 Hydrology ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 29 Geology & Soils ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................