Jeffco Open Space 2016 Annual Report: Preservation Progress

Preservation Progress PRESERVE - PROTECT - PROVIDE

2016 Annual Report

Dear Friends, We are pleased to provide you with our 2016 Annual Report, Preservation Progress, to share how we have invested in public open space, parks and trails that enrich life throughout Jefferson County. Our 29 Open Space Parks are your places to enjoy and cherish the scenic beauty, nature, historic sites and extensive healthy outdoor activities that define our great county. We continually strive to honor the desire of our residents to balance the preservation of these precious resources with public access for outdoor recreation. In this report you will see how we have done just that by acquiring more open space lands, building new trails and fostering stewardship through education and volunteerism.

Happy Trails, Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners Libby Szabo, Chair District One

cover photo: Neil McNutt

Casey Tighe District Two

Donald Rosier District Three

TABLE OF ACTIONS PLAN

Page 5

PRESERVE

Pages 6-7

TEACH

Pages 8-9

STEWARD

Pages 10-13

INFORM

Pages 16-17

ENLIST

Pages 18-19

CREATE

Pages 20-21

CONNECT

Page 22

INVEST

Page 23

4

PLAN 2014–2019 MASTER PLAN GOALS 1. Land Preservation Increase land preserved by at least 1,700 acres, from 52,817 acres to a minimum of 54,517.

2. Land Stewardship Refine stewardship standards and systems and implement for all Jeffco Open Space lands.

3. Trails Expand the Jeffco Open Space trail system by 25 miles, from 227 miles to 252 miles.

4. Communications and Community Involvement Develop and employ a Communications and Community Involvement Plan.

5. Nature and Park-Related History Education Increase current program participation by 27,000, from 75,000 people per year to 102,000 people.

6. Volunteerism Increase volunteer support by 16,850 hours, from 22,500 hours per year to 39,350 hours.

7. Visitor Stewardship Create “Share & Care” program to promote individual and group stewardship of public lands and increase educational contacts by 12,000, from 11,000 to 23,000.

8. The Nature-Health Connection Create five additional regional Jeffco Outdoors maps in collaboration with the Jeffco Outdoors Foundation and private partners.

5

PRESERVE Preserve open space and parkland Working with willing landowners, Jeffco Open Space acquired several parcels of land in 2016. The acquisition of these properties added key connections between existing parks which will be invaluable in the future for far-reaching trails. In total, 1,256 acres were added to the open space system. Several parcels filled in gaps between Coal Creek Canyon and White Ranch Parks, while four parcels were added adjacent to the 2015 acquisition in the Douglas Mountain area.

6 Jeffco Open Space partnered with Prospect Recreation & Park District, The Trust for Public Land and Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) to acquire the Applewood Golf Course. Jeffco Open Space contributed $1.1M to the $13.5M deal.

An important easement was approved with Lockheed Martin between Deer Creek Canyon and Hildebrand Ranch Parks, in order for Jeffco Open Space to continue work on the future Black Bear Trail connection. douglas mountain

01/CONTENT

lair o’ the bear park

coal creek canyon park

7 applewood golf course

8 EDUCATION Education Strategic Pillars:

Programming Relevant to Jeffco Residents Park Visitor Education Community-based Programming

62%

of visits to lookout mountain nature center and hiwan museum were

by Jeffco residents

105,258*

total education contacts made in parks and communities, and at our educational facilities *exceeded 2019 Master Plan Goal #5

Audrey Boag

TEACH VISITORS Research shows that time spent in nature inspires curiosity, encourages discovery and supports lifelong stewardship. Through nature, history and Park Ranger safety and stewardship education, we enrich the outdoor experience with interactive learning opportunities designed to connect visitors with the species, natural cycles and the cultural histories of preserved lands.

Permits Issued

470 2,060 93 park use

PARK RANGERS

camping

hunting

1,453,471 education contacts

501

773,425 social media

requests for ranger service

407

written warnings (top three: parking, dog offleash and closed area)

25,794 hours the parks were patrolled

649,324

tv and print media

24,820*

9

one-on-one

2,946 events

2,565

ranger programs

*exceeded 2019 Master Plan Goal #7

STEWARD DATA-DRIVEN NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Our Natural Resources team used viewshed analysis and site visits to refine boundaries of two seasonal park closures in Clear Creek Canyon for nesting raptors. Many species of protected raptors, such as the iconic golden eagle, nest on crags and cliff faces in Jeffco Open Space parks, and outdoor activities including climbing can disturb nesting birds. Starting with Colorado Parks and Wildlife seasonal closure guidelines, the team used GIS to conduct viewshed analyses to better understand the landscape that raptors could see from their nests.

Seasonal closure boundaries were then revised to areas within the viewshed of the nests, with the result that fewer climbing areas were seasonally closed while raptors were still protected.

Additionally, an internal framework called the New Crag Development Suitability Assessment was developed. This novel framework will be used to assess the condition of, and potential impacts to, natural resources at sites when a member of the public proposes development of a new rock face for climbing.

INVENTORY AND MONITORING The team conducted surveys for native plants, insects, and wildlife, including a variety of raptors, bighorn sheep, the federally-threatened Pawnee montane skipper butterfly, and the federally-threatened orchid known as Ute ladies’ tresses. The team also completed fine-scale vegetation classification for the Ralston Creek watershed.

10

Raptor surveys at Clear Creek Canyon Park

Pawnee montane skipper on prairie gayfeather

INTEGRATED RESEARCH

VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT

With funding from the Jeffco Open Space Small Grants

Volunteers monitored nesting raptors and songbirds, frogs,

Program, consulting scientists assessed a three-mile stretch

and butterflies at parks. In addition, the Natural Resources

of Ralston Creek in White Ranch Park. According to the

team partnered with TeamWorks, a Colorado-based nonprofit

assessment, “Ralston Creek is a highly functioning system in reference to standard condition,” which is incredibly rare along the Front Range and makes Ralston Creek “an extremely

that provides youths aged 16–20 with paid work experience and hands-on science education, to conduct invasive species removal projects at Deer Creek Canyon and South Valley Parks.

high priority for preservation.”

Colorado State University researchers also received funding to study the effectiveness of the herbicide Esplande® for controlling invasive downy brome and other species in grasslands within Jeffco Open Space parks along the foothills.

275 volunteers

3,340 hours

INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT Among the many non-native and invasive plant species focused on in 2016, the Natural Resources team spent 321 hours mapping and treating many plants including patches of noxious myrtle spurge on 13 different Jeffco Open Space parks. Russian olive, another troublesome species, has now been eradicated from all but two Jeffco Open Space parks after additional control efforts in 2016. More treatments are planned in 2017.

The team also removed several hundred ponderosa pine trees that were infected with dwarf mistletoe, a native species that can become invasive if left unchecked.

11 Forestry management at Flying J Ranch Park

Seasonal closure refinement via viewshed analysis

STEWARD

12

Jon Rose Photography

6

TRAILS The Trail Development Handbook was created to establish a clear process for all involved in trail development recommendations and priority projects.

Four miles of new trail were created at three Jeffco Open Space parks, some a result of new land acquisitions. The parks with new trails include Clear Creek Canyon, Matthews/Winters and South Table Mountain Parks.

high priority trail maintenance projects were resolved and upgraded from ‘Poor’ to ‘Good’ condition

11

100 Jeffco youth were employed on the Trail Stewardship Team. Trail maintenance, bridge rebuilding, tree removal, sign repair, erosion control were all conducted by the team. In addition, volunteers worked on 84 separate trail projects during the year.

1,932

CONTRIBUTED

volunteers

10,045

trail locations were upgraded from ‘Fair’ to ‘Good’ condition with maintenance

hours

PARK SERVICES

15,800 480

educational contacts at trailheads

requests for service:

- fence building and repair - kiosk content update - campground renovation - graffiti removal

Cleaned and maintained: 162 trashcans 74 grills and campfire rings 32 restrooms

13

14

15

INFORM Our Community Connections Team is committed to engaging with the public in a variety of ways. Whether through events, trailhead messaging, social media, website, or email, we strive to inform, inspire and interact.

COLLABORATE In 2016, the Jeffco Outdoors Regional Map Series was released, offering a collection of eight regional maps covering

Jefferson

County

and

showcasing the myriad of outdoor recreation opportunities of the area.

This project was made possible by the Jeffco Outdoors Foundation and local partner agencies.

16 PARTNERSHIPS Jeffco Open Space partnered with local agencies to spread the message about the hazards of dog waste and encouraging dog owners to pick it up. The “Let’s Doo It” campaign resulted in posters, fliers, games, branded merchandise and social media fodder around this important topic.

EVENTS Through hosting and attendance of public events, the Community Connections team engaged the public on stewardship, trail building projects, specific uses on trails, volunteerism, and grand openings such as the first segment of the Peaks to Plains Trail in Clear Creek Canyon Park.

COMMUNICATE In 2016 we expanded upon our Share and

Care

stewardship

messages,

per Master Plan Goal #7, to include our philosophy for interactions with park visitors, encouraging personal responsibility for sharing the trail, caring for the park and valuing natural YIELD

resources.

jeffco.us/open-space

17

ENLIST

18

Jeffco Open Space has 30 volunteers for every one staff member. The passionate stewards that make up the volunteer force truly make a difference for our public lands.

Jon Rose Photography

VOLUNTEERS

3,015 total volunteers

39,149

=

$922,350

or

19

full-time employees working for 1 year

total volunteer hours

Historic Building Preservation 286 hours (1%) 63 volunteers

Planting Trees & Welcome Center & Weed Mitigation Habitat Restoration Visitor Information & Fuel Mitigation 235 hours (1%) 829 hours (2%) 1,293 hours (3%) 25 volunteers 13 volunteers 166 volunteers

Wildlife Monitoring 2,048 hours (5%) 111 volunteers

History Education 2,322 hours (6%) 72 volunteers

Administrative Support 972 hours (2%) 6 volunteers

Nature Education 4,098 hours (10%) 96 volunteers

Trail Maintenance & Construction 10,448 hours (27%) 1,795 volunteers

Open Space Advisory Committee 525 hours (1%) 12 volunteers

Park Improvement & Habitat Preservation 2,411 hours (6%) 409 volunteers

Park Patrollers 8,294 hours (21%) 173 volunteers

Training 1,012 hours (3%)

Park Hosts & Special Events 4,376 hours (11%) 70 volunteers

19

CREATE

In July, 2016, a three-mile segment of the Peaks to Plains Trail in Clear Creek Canyon Park was opened. This trail is of statewide significance as it is a critical piece of a future 65-mile-long trail corridor and a connection to a larger 200-mile statewide trail. The vision for the Peaks to Plains Trail is that it will one day connect the South Platte Trail in Denver to Loveland Pass and then westward via many existing trails all the way to Glenwood Springs.

20

Peaks to Plains Trail

PROJECTS The Planning team successfully pursued grants that will bring more trails to fruition: GOCO Connect Grant Award: $2M CDOT TAP Grant Award: $850,650 Rocky Mountain Greenway FLAP Grant: Jeffco Open Space has leveraged $3.756M from partners and grants

Plan for the mouth of Clear Creek Canyon Park, aided by grant funds

10 New Kiosks 2 New Restrooms

New Spotting Scope, Crown Hill Park

New Kiosk, Apex Park

21

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CONNECT

INSPIRE INITIATIVE As part of Great Outdoors Colorado’s Inspire Initiative, Jeffco Open Space is a member of the coalition “Be Wild, Jeffco”. The Initiative aims to give youth and families access to the outdoors through places, programs and pathways. In 2016, the coalition solidified key grant components; established vital relationships and expanded professional networks; and recruited 23 youths from East-Central Jeffco for the “Be Wild, Jeffco” Outdoor Leadership Program, a leadership-development and career-exploration focused youth corps that pioneer the Inspire Initiative in their communities and act as champions for nature in their schools.

INVEST

Every time you support Jefferson County businesses, you invest in public open space, parks and healthy outdoor experiences through a dedicated half-cent sales tax. Jeffco Open Space funds allow for management of nearly 47,000 acres and 236 miles of trails in Jefferson County.

Jeffco Open Space funds support supplemental projects in cities and park and recreation districts through local grants and distribute a portion of the County’s Conservation Trust

$68.36M total invested in local parks, trails and conservation projects*

BUDGET *Additional local investments include land purchases for local parks and Cities Share of Open Space Sales Tax Funds.

Funds from Colorado Lottery proceeds to nonprofits providing outdoor experiences.

2016 Actual Sales Tax Revenue Allocation $43.93M

Bond Debt Payments** $12.83M 29%

2016 Actual Expense Budget $42.06M Local Govt.

Grants $2.33M 6%

Park & Trail Development $7.10M 17%

Land Acquisitions $8.19M 19%

County Share $17.53M 40%

Cities Share $13.57M 31%

Operations $11.61M 28%

Bond Debt Payments* $12.83M 30%

**1998 bond issue on ballot issued $160M and purchased 19,677 acres in unincorporated Jefferson County and cities and districts.

INVESTING IN LOCAL PARKS AND TRAILS PROJECTS 2016 Jefferson County Open Space Local Parks & Recreation and Nonprofit Grant Awards*

Entity/Project

JCOS Grant Award

Total Project Cost

City of Arvada, Terrace Park Renovations

$200,000

$636,000

Apex Park & Recreation District, Final Phase of Simms Street Center

$430,000

$861,890

Evergreen Park & Recreation District, Marshdale Park Improvements

$95,000

$285,444

Foothills Park & Recreation District, Clement Park Renovations

$3,000,000

$6,357,300

Prospect Recreation & Park District, Applewood Golf Course Acquisition

$1,100,000

$11,000,000

City of Lakewood, Carmody Park Phase 1

$265,000

$2,001,185

City of Wheat Ridge, Picnic Shelters Along Clear Creek Trail

$88,000

$176,800

Ken-Caryl Ranch Metropolitan District, Community Center Restrooms $43,000

$124,703

$5,278,000

$21,443,322

Nonprofit Grant Awards

JCOS Grant Award

Total Project Cost

Evergreen Audubon Society, Evergreen Nature Center Improvements

$9,000

$12,000

Friends of Dinosaur Ridge, Stairway/Ramps to Access Dinosaur Tracks

$20,000

$30,000

Buffalo Park Improvement Assoc., Resurfacing Buffalo Creek Trailhead

$8,000

$24,400

Beaver Ranch, Implementation of First Phase of Master Plan

$20,000

$35,000

TOTAL

TOTAL $57,000

*funded by Jeffco Open Space sales tax funds and Colorado Lottery proceeds

$101,400

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Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners Libby Szabo, District One Casey Tighe, District Two Donald Rosier, District Three Jefferson County Open Space Advisory Committee Janet Shangraw, Chair Bob West, Vice Chair John Litz, Secretary Ken Morfit Mike Dungan Tom Gibson Felicity Hannay Paul Murphy Jacy Rock Kathleen Staks Rebecca Watson John Wolforth Jefferson County Open Space Leadership Tom Hoby, Director Mary Ann Bonnell, Visitor Services Manager Don Klima, Administration and Real Estate Manager Matt Robbins, Community Connections Manager Andrew Scanlan, Planning and Projects Manager Zhanna Yermakov, Stewardship Manager MISSION PRESERVE open space and parkland PROTECT park and natural resources PROVIDE healthy, nature-based experiences

CONTACT Jeffco Open Space 700 Jefferson County Parkway, Suite 100 Golden, CO 80401 303.271.5925 jeffcoparks@jeffco.us jeffco.us/open-space