GEOG 4742
Gabriel Nielsen
6/1 Notes
1. Boulder Open Space
a. Mainly administrative
b. Diverse land (topography and species)
c. Diverse designations and uses of land
d. Owned by City (Open Space and Mountain Parks) and County (Parks and Open Space)
e. Previously private land therefore it often has high economic value (investments)
f. History
i. Population boom in 1950’s
ii. New subdivisions and urban development’s became a threat to “nature”
iii. The public initiated the open space program in the 60’s
iv. It was started in the late 60’s and early 70’s
g. Currently
i. Most of the land is acquired
ii. How do we manage our open space land?
2. How do people think about nature? How people think about nature determines how they will treat it. (4 questions)
a. What does nature represent (values) to people?
i. Historically for Americans, the European settlers believed it was their right to “Tame the Land.”
ii. Pinchote and others believe that nature is our possession, but it must be treated well.
iii. Leopold and others believe that we are part of nature and we must be good members
b. Are humans a part of nature? Yes or no?
c. How should humans interact with nature?
d. Who should decide how nature is to be treated?
3. Discuss “What does nature represent to people (1st question)?
a. Scale issue – often rural communities versus federal government or big organizations
b. Land use issues – peaceful nature for quite reflections versus many activities and often activities are not compatible
c. Preservation
i. Ecological (i.e. Wetlands, native species)
ii. Scenery and visual aesthetics
iii. Agricultural (cultural heritage)
iv. Urban growth boundary
4. City of Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks
a. Mission Statement
i. To preserve and protect the national environment and land resources that characterizes Boulder.
ii. To foster appreciation and use that sustains the natural values of the land for current and future generations.
b. History
i. First purchase was alfalfa fields and apple orchards in what is now Chautauqua Park.
ii. Second purchase was 1600 acres of land on Flagstaff Mountain.
iii. 5 years later Boulder citizens bought another 1200 acres on Flagstaff Mountain.
iv. A large community of volunteers including members of the Lions Club, the Civilian Conservation Core, and the Jaycees was established to build, maintain, and patrol these lands.
v. In 1967 Boulder became the first U.S. city to vote for taxing themselves in order to protect land.
vi. In 1970 the city of Boulder hired its’ first park ranger and has since switched to mostly hired workers to maintain the land.
vii. In 1973 Boulder citizens called for the creation of an open space department to protect land.
viii. In 2001 Mountain Parks Division and the Open Space/Real Estate Department merged to form OSMP
ix. Today 45,000 acres of open space
c. Administration
i. Acquisitions are approved by the Open Space Board of Trustees and City Council, with extensive opportunity for public input.
d. Funding
i. Funding is provided through sales tax revenues, bond issues, private donations and development dedications.
5. Boulder County Parks and Open Space
a. Mission
i. To conserve natural, cultural, and agricultural resources
ii. To provide public uses that reflect sound resource management and community values
b. History
i. In mid-1960’s citizens interested in protecting land from rapid development initiated the POS
ii. In 1975 the Betasso Ranch became the first open space acquisition
c. Administration
i. Open Space properties are governed by the Parks and Open Space Advisory Board
ii. Consists of nine members appointed by the Board of County Commissioners
iii. Recommend to the county commissioners what land to acquire and how to use the land
iv. Meet once a month and encourage public participation
d. Funding
i. Property tax revenues
1. $3.8 Million annually
ii. Proceeds from the Colorado State Lottery
1. $5 Million from the Conservation Trust Fund since 1992
2. $5.9 Million from the Great Outdoors Colorado Grants
iii. County Open Space Sales Tax of 0.45%
iv. Grants from various organizations
e. How is land acquired
i. Direct Purchases
ii. Joint City and County Purchases
iii. Conservation Easements
iv. Privately owned land with restricted use
v. Donations
vi. Other various land transactions
vii. Involves development rights and intergovernmental transfers
f. Protected Wildlife and Plants
i. Prairie Dogs
ii. Bluebird
iii. Raptors
iv. Native vegetation
g. Recreational opportunities
i. Hiking, fishing, mountain biking, horse riding, snowshoeing, etc.
ii. Some activities are restricted in certain areas
6. Heil Valley Ranch
a. Located outside of Lyons
b. History
i. Heil Valley Ranch has remained relatively undeveloped from prehistoric times through present day, making it premier wildlife habitat.
ii. Evidence shows there were at least four Native American camps here prior to Anglo settlement. The first Anglo populations were most likely beaver trappers exploring nearby creeks around 1800. Later, the discovery of gold coaxed adventurous fortune-seekers to try their luck. In 1888, Solomon Geer became the first settler to patent land here, followed by Joel Plumlee and Charles Ingersoll in 1893. During this period, building materials needed for the growing Front Range towns changed from wood to brick and stone. In fact, Lyons sandstone was quarried on this property.
iii. In 1949, the Heil family purchased the land and grazed Hereford cattle here. In the 1970s, the family ventured into tourism and recreation, providing horseback rides, hayrides, and hunting. In 1996, Boulder County completed the purchase of Heil Valley Ranch and Hall Ranch, as well as adjacent conservation easements.
c. Demographics
i. Hiking: Five trails are available for hiking.
ii. 1.3-mile Lichen Loop trail is for pedestrians only and has a series of interpretive signs.
iii. The 2.5-mile Wapiti, 2.6-mile Ponderosa Loop, 2.9-mile Wild Turkey and 5.2-mile Picture Rock trails are multiple-use.
iv. Heil Valley Ranch, comprising 5,020 acres, is part of the North Foothills Open Space which also includes Hall Ranch and additional conservation easements adjacent to the two ranches.
v. The relatively undeveloped nature of Heil Valley has been maintained by prehistoric people through homesteading and its modern day use by ranchers and farmers.
d. Ecological Features
i. The western part of this property is closed to visitors, allowing wildlife that need large ranges to move naturally within them. This area is home to over 50 species of mammals — that represents 70 percent of all the mammals found in Boulder County. Among these animals are Abert’s squirrels, cottontail rabbits, prairie dogs, marmots, red and gray foxes, mule deer, bobcats, black bears and mountain lions. Close to 100 birds were observed during a one-season survey. Mountain chickadee, chipping sparrow and yellow-rumped warbler are common in the ponderosa pine forests. Shrublands are dominated by rufous-sided and green-tailed towhees and you can see vesper and lark sparrows in the meadows.
e. Flora and Fauna
i. The cliffs and canyons on Heil Valley Ranch are good places for golden eagles and prairie falcons to nest.
ii. Colonies of white-throated swifts, cliff swallows, violet-green swallows and rock doves also call these cliffs home. Rising above the shrublands, woodlands cover much of the western part of the property.
iii. Abert’s squirrels depend on the ponderosa pine for survival. Northern goshawk and Cooper’s hawk hunt prey here, sometimes catching it in mid-air. Many cavity nesting birds such as woodpeckers and nuthatches are here.
iv. There is a good chance you’ll see wild turkey during your visit—they are well established here. At the turn of the 20th century, elk were eliminated from Boulder County, but reintroduced between 1913 and 1917. Today, Heil Valley Ranch is an important winter range for elk.
v. Elk feed on grasses, aspen bark, sedges, conifer needles and some aquatic plants. You can see dark marks on tree trunks showing you how far up the elk can reach.
f. Restrictions
i. No dogs are permitted at Heil Valley Ranch.
ii. Mountain biking is permitted on officially designated trails only.
iii. Collecting, removing, destroying or defacing any natural or man-made objects is not permitted.
iv. Installing rock bolts and constructing trails or structures is unlawful.
v. Feeding, disturbing, trapping, hunting or killing wildlife is not permitted.
vi. Building ground fires is not permitted (fine $300).
vii. Discharging or carrying firearms, crossbows, fireworks or projectile weapons of any kind is not permitted (fine $300).
viii. No unauthorized motorized vehicles permitted beyond parking lot.
ix. It is unlawful to carry or possess any glass bottle or container outside an enclosed vehicle.
x. State law prohibits the possession or consumption of any beverage having an alcohol content greater than 3.2% in any public place.
xi. Group reservations are required for any groups larger than 25 people.
xii. No public access in any closed area.
xiii. No posting of advertisements in park or on vehicles is permitted.
xiv. Property is open from sunrise to sunset—no camping.
xv. Vehicles in parks after sunset will be ticketed or towed.
7. West TSA planning area
a. Key areas
i. Flatirons, Bat Caves, Chautauqua, Gregory Canyon
b. Connecting areas
i. Eldorado Mountain, South Mesa Trail, Walker Ranch
c. Who is included in CCG?
i. Representatives from communities of interest
ii. Selected through an open caucus-style meeting
iii. Neighborhoods select one a person who will represent their particular interests.
iv. Educated in open space and the field they are representing.
v. (15-20 hrs per month)
d. Projects
i. Think tank for city to make ideas equal between people in the community and recreation enthusiasts.
ii. New Property Planning
iii. Grassland Ecosystem Management
iv. Forest Ecosystem Management plan
v. Visitor Master plan
e. Controversial aspects
i. Recreation and environmental concerns
Questions:
1. What is the primary concern of Open Space?
2. How does Boulder county and Boulder City open space mission statement’s differ?
3. Why is it significant that Boulder city’s open space department is separate from their parks department.
4. What is the advantage for Boulder County’s open space and parks departments being combined?
5. What are some challenges with managing open space?
6. What are some differing views about nature?
7. Which types of activities are pursued on open space land, and how do they differ/contrast from eachother?
8. How is open space land acquired?
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