Indian Peaks Group Conservation Committee

Minutes

October 5th 2005

1. INTRODUCTIONS. Those present were Kirk Cunningham, Bev Baker, Justin Reilly, and Todd Sanford

2. WILDLIFE

An update from Billie Gutgsell will be sent out later on this listserve

3. NATIONAL FOREST MANAGEMENT - Todd Sanford, Kirk Cunningham

a) Mark Udall-sponsored workshop in Winter Park on pine bark beetle infestations. The tone of the announcement for this conference suggests that Udall is pushing some sort of “solution” for the extensive pine bark beetle infestation in the Winter park area. The general opinion of the environmental community is that such infestations cannot be fought as a practical matter. The results of the meeting were not spelled out clearly in press accounts of the meeting, but apparently Udall will introduce a bill shortly to “streamline” approval for beetle projects in the same was as fuel management projects are being streamlined under the so-called Healthy Forest Act. Some WUI (Wildland-Urban Interface) home owners in Grand County have been thinning beetle-killed trees, but complain that there is no way to dispose of the wood. Rumor has it that Udall will introduce a bill to streamline approval procedures for forest disease projects. We have not yet gotten any more specific information about what he intends.

b) Fuel management projects. The most recent of these is the St. Vrain project which would affect lands surrounding the valley of the North St. Vrain Creek. Todd Sanford and Kirk Cunningham submitted personal comments during the comment period, generally positive in nature.

c) Colorado Roadless Area Task Force. This group was set up by the Colorado legislature during the 2005 session to take public, special interest group, and agency input and make a recommendation to Governor Owens about which lands the Forest Service should continue to protect as roadless. A series of public meetings is coming up over the next year, as follows:

Wed. Nov. 2 Delta
Fri. Dec. 9 Durango
Fri. Jan. 6 Pueblo
Fri. Feb. 10 Task Force Meeting Denver
Fri. March 17 Fort Collins
Fri. April 14 Task Force Denver
Fri. May 19 Steamboat Springs
Wed. June 7 Monte Vista
Wed. June 21 Glenwood Springs
Wed July 19 Task force/Public Meeting in Denver(draft recommendations will be made available prior to this meeting)

Wed. meetings will be held from 6 8:30pm; Friday meetings will be held from 4 6:30pm.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at adriana.raudzens@sierraclub.org.

The best way that the IPG can address this roadless area recommendation program, other than asking its members to attend public meetings or send in comments, is to adopt roadless areas in the Boulder Ranger District, or perhaps also the Clear Creek Ranger District, and make sure our members visit them and know about them. The environmental community is also collecting photographs of people recreating in these roadless areas. Colorado’s roadless areas can be viewed on the Southern Rockies Ecosystem Project web page www.roadless.net/areas.htm. So far, this is only a low resolution map, but more detailed maps are forthcoming for this site.

d) Quiet Commotion Conference. This conference will explore ways in which to encourage only “quiet uses” in certain National Forest areas. The conference is being held later this month in Crestone in the San Luis Valley. Todd Sanford is planning to attend and hopefully can let us know what went on at next month’s meeting.

3. OPEN SPACE MANAGEMENT - Justin Reilly.

A) The Open Space Dept. has been soliciting public comment and involvement in developing specific regulations in three areas mentioned in the Plan: trails in the Marshall Mesa - Southern Grasslands properties, commercial use permits for Open Space, and off-trail permits for Habitat Conservation Areas. Justin has been able to attend the Marshall Mesa and off-trail permits work groups. Here’s more information from Justin and the City Open Space Dept.

* Marshall Mesa - Southern Grassland Trail.
In order to provide adequate time for the evaluation of proposed alternatives in the Marshall Mesa –– Southern Grasslands Trail Study Area, the publication of the Draft Plan will be delayed until November 4, 2005. The public meeting to get feedback on the Draft Plan will need to be delayed also. It is now scheduled to be held on November 15, 6-8 pm, OSMP Annex, 7315 Red Deer Drive. The Final Plan is now scheduled for publication on December 2.

Justin believes that the trail plan looks good so far, with a minimum of new trails proposed for construction in this fairly pristine grasslands area on the NE corner of Colorado Highways 93 and 122.

* Commercial Use Permits for Open Space
The Open Space Department is beginning the process of implementing commercial use permits on OSMP lands. We will be holding a series of public meetings to gather input and feedback. Please see the invitation pasted below. (supporting documents are available).

Your feedback is always welcome via e-mail or phone. An online comment form is available online at:
http://www.ci.boulder.co.us/openspace/visitor_plan/commercial_use/commercial-use.htm

We need your help. We want your feedback on how to structure and administer a commercial use permit for Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) lands.

A commercial use on OSMP is any for profit or non-profit person or entity that charges a fee for others to use OSMP lands. These will be required starting in 2006.

The Commercial Use Permit requirement is part of Visitor Master Plan Implementation. Commercial use permits are common for land management agencies. Management of commercial use reduces conflict with other visitors, better protects the natural, cultural and agricultural resources and provides an opportunity to educate visitors on low impact practices.
Some of the issues to discuss include: group size, insurance, scheduling, certifications, and fees.

Public involvement opportunities will be:
* Task group meeting to suggest and exchange ideas--Tuesday, October 4th, 6-8 pm
* Open house to explore alternatives--Tuesday, October 18th
* Second task force meeting to discuss a preferred alternative--Tuesday, November 8th
* Third task force if needed.
* There will also be an opportunity to comment on staff’s recommendations at the Open Space Board of Trustees meeting and at City Council when regulations are adopted.

All meetings will be downstairs at the OSMP Annex, 7315 Red Deer Drive. The Annex is about halfway between Arapahoe and Valmont off of 75th Street——look for the trailhead sign. Follow the road to the back of the property.

Task force meetings are open to all, but people that wish to participate in the task force meetings are requested to attend all meetings in order to build an understanding of the issues and not repeat discussions. (Background material, including a policy summary, and a draft framework for administering commercial use permits is available from Kirk Cunningham).

If you have any questions, please contact Matt Jones at (720) 564-2048 or Deonne VanderWoude at (720) 564-2082.

* Off-Trail Permits for Habitat Conservation Areas
The Open Space Dept. wants our feedback on how to structure and administer an Off-Trail Permit for use in Habitat Conservation Areas on Open Space and Mountain Parks lands.
Off-Trail Permits will be required for any use occurring off designated trails in Habitat Conservation Areas -- beginning in 2006. Off-trail permits were approved as part of the implementation of the Visitor Master Plan. Managing off-trail use is intended to improve protection of important and sensitive natural areas and provide opportunities for visitors to use low impact practices. Some of the issues to discuss include: group size, permitted activities, permittee responsibilities, resource protection and fees. Public involvement opportunities will be:
* Task group meeting to suggest and exchange ideas--Tuesday, October 11th, 6-8 pm
* Open house to explore alternatives--Thursday, October 27th
* Second task force meeting to discuss a preferred alternative--Tuesday, November 15th
* Third task force if needed.
* There will also be an opportunity to comment on staff’’s recommendations at the Open Space Board of Trustees meeting and at City Council when regulations are adopted.

All meetings will be downstairs at the OSMP Annex, 7315 Red Deer Drive (see above).

B) Boulder Feeder Canal Trail. Justin reported that planning for this trail is moving ahead. This trail is greatly desired by hikers and bikers as an off-highway route to connect Boulder with the Lyons area. Environmental resources that could be affected by the trail are: drinking water quality for the City of Boulder, raptor habitat, and Prebles meadow jumping mice. At this point, three management alternatives are being considered to protect these resources:
* banning horse and dogs
* allowing dogs on leash only
* delaying trail construction until such time that the City of Boulder’s water supply is encased in a pipe rather than flowing in the open canal. This is not very likely because such a pipeline would cost tens of millions of dollars and would not be constructed quickly.

In all scenarios, fencing between recreationists and the canal is likely, especially close to trail heads, and an effort will be made to prevent various non-point sources of pollution from entering the canal from surrounding lands.

A draft of the Community and Environmental Assessment Process (CEAP) report regarding the proposal is available for public review at www.ci.boulder.pw/plan, under ““Projects.”” The report addresses drinking water supply, visitor safety, wildlife habitat, wetlands and additional needed services.

There will be opportunities for public input at the following meetings:
* Monday, Oct. 17 - 7 p.m. City Water Resources Advisory Board, Municipal Services Center, 5050 E. Pearl Street;
* Monday, Oct. 24 - 6 p.m. City Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Council Chambers, 1777 Broadway;
* Thursday, Oct. 27- 6:30 p.m. County Parks and Open Space Advisory Board, Boulder County Courthouse, 1325 Pearl Street;
* Wednesday, Nov. 9,- 6 p.m. City Open Space Board of Trustees, Council Chambers, 1777 Broadway
* Tuesday, Nov. 15 - 6 p.m. City Council (tentative), Council Chambers, 1777 Broadway
* Boulder County Commissioners (to be determined)

For more information, contact Jean Gatza, city’s Planning and Development Services Department, at (303) 441-4907.

Kirk Cunningham
IPG Conservation Chair
303-939-8519
KMCunnin@juno.com

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