Beech with Attach
MEMORANDUM
TO: Open Space Board of Trustees
FROM: Michael D. Patton, Director
Mark D. Gershman, Environmental Planning Supervisor
Kacey K. French, Environmental Planner
DATE: November 13, 2013
SUBJECT: Open Space and Mountain Parks and Boulder County Parks and Open Space Joint
Property Management: Beech Property Management Plan
________________________________________________________________________
Executive Summary
The Beech Property Management Plan (Attachment A) was completed in fulfillment of a
how Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) will manage the jointly-owned property and to
management.
There are two main components of the Beech Property Management Plan. The first describes the
existing conditions including, but not limited to, vegetation composition, wildlife habitat,
hydrology, recreation resources and visitor access. The second component of the plan focuses
on the policy and plan guidance which provides the answer to the question of how OSMP staff
will manage the property. The plan and policy guidance is provided by:
The Boulder City Charter
Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan
Open Space Long Range Management Policies
Grassland Ecosystem Management Plan (Grassland Plan)
Visitor Master Plan (VMP)
Background
ity of Boulder Jointly Owned Open Space Management
ecological, agricultural and recreational management of the properties shall be created by the
respective lead agency, in this case, OSMP.
OSMP lands are managed on a landscape scale, taking into account a larger area than a single
property. Therefore, OSMP plans are not typically property specific but rather structured to
In keeping with the
address larger areas (e.g. grasslands, forests or trail study areas).
urce management plans, the
Beech Property Management Plan does not contain or propose any new recommendations or
Agenda Item 3B Page 1
management actions, but instead summarizes and compiles the applicable recommendations
and management strategies from existing plans.
BCPOS was provided a copy of the Beech Property Management Plan with the opportunity to
comment. BCPOS staff reviewed and commented on the plan, stating it is consistent with the
management goals and is acceptable.
ATTACHMENT
Attachment A: Beech Property Management Plan
Agenda Item 3B Page 2
BPMP
EECH ROPERTY ANAGEMENT LAN
City of Boulder
Open Space and Mountain Parks
October, 2013
Developed in Fulfillment of Commitments in the Boulder County/City of Boulder
/ŶƚĞƌŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚĂůŐƌĞĞŵĞŶƚŽŶƚŚĞDĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚŽĨWƌŽƉĞƌƟĞƐ,ĞůĚJointly in Fee (2005)
OSMPMC
PEN PACE AND OUNTAIN ARKS ISSION & HARTER
Open Space Mountain Parks Mission:
The Open Space and Mountain Parks Department preserves and protects the natural environment and land resources
ƚŚĂƚĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌŝnjĞŽƵůĚĞƌ͘tĞĨŽƐƚĞƌĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟon and use that sustain the natural values of the land for current and
ĨƵƚƵƌĞŐĞŶĞƌĂƟŽŶƐ͘
ARTICLE XII. OPEN SPACE
Sec. 176. Open space purposes Open space land.
Open space land shall be acquired, maintained, preserved, retained, and used only for the following purposes:
;ĂͿWƌĞƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶŽƌƌĞƐƚŽƌĂƟŽŶŽĨŶĂƚƵƌĂůĂƌĞĂƐĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌŝnjĞĚďLJŽƌŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐƚĞƌƌĂŝŶ͕ŐĞŽůŽŐŝĐĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶƐ͕ŇŽƌĂ͕ŽƌĨĂƵŶĂ
ƚŚĂƚĂƌĞƵŶƵƐƵĂů͕ƐƉĞĐƚĂĐƵůĂƌ͕ŚŝƐƚŽƌŝĐĂůůLJŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ͕ƐĐŝĞŶƟĮĐĂůůLJǀĂůƵĂďůĞ͕ŽƌƵŶŝƋƵĞ͕ŽƌƚŚĂƚƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚŽutstanding or
ƌĂƌĞĞdžĂŵƉůĞƐŽĨŶĂƟǀĞƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ͖
;ďͿWƌĞƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶŽĨǁĂƚĞƌƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐŝŶƚŚĞŝƌŶĂƚƵƌĂůŽƌƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶĂůƐƚĂƚĞ͕ƐĐĞŶŝĐĂƌĞĂƐŽƌǀŝƐƚĂƐ͕ǁŝůĚůŝĨĞŚĂďŝƚĂƚƐ͕ŽƌĨƌĂŐile
ecosystems;
;ĐͿWƌĞƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶŽĨůĂŶĚĨŽƌƉĂƐƐŝǀĞƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶĂůƵƐĞ͕ƐƵĐŚĂƐŚŝŬing, photography or nature studies, and, if specifically
designated, bicycling, horseback riding, or fishing;
;ĚͿWƌĞƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶŽĨĂŐƌŝĐƵůƚƵƌĂůƵƐĞƐĂŶĚůĂŶĚƐƵŝƚĂďůĞĨŽƌĂŐƌŝĐƵůƚƵƌĂůƉƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ͖
;ĞͿhƟůŝnjĂƟŽŶŽĨůĂŶĚĨŽƌƐŚĂƉŝŶŐƚŚĞĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚŽĨƚŚĞĐŝƚLJ͕ůŝŵŝƟŶŐƵƌďĂŶƐƉƌĂǁů͕ĂŶĚĚŝƐĐŝƉůŝŶŝŶŐŐƌŽǁƚŚ͖
;ĨͿhƟůŝnjĂƟŽŶŽĨŶŽŶ-ƵƌďĂŶůĂŶĚĨŽƌƐƉĂƟĂůĚĞĮŶŝƟŽŶŽĨƵƌďĂŶĂƌĞĂƐ͖
;ŐͿhƟůŝnjĂƟŽŶŽĨůĂŶĚƚŽƉƌĞǀĞŶƚĞŶĐƌŽĂĐŚŵĞŶƚŽŶŇŽŽĚƉůĂŝŶƐ͖ĂŶĚ
;ŚͿWƌĞƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶŽĨůĂŶĚĨŽƌŝƚƐĂĞƐƚŚĞƟĐŽƌƉĂƐƐŝǀĞƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶĂůǀĂůƵĞĂŶĚŝƚƐĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƟŽŶƚŽƚŚĞƋƵĂůŝƚLJŽĨůŝĨĞŽĨƚŚĞ
community.
KƉĞŶƐƉĂĐĞůĂŶĚŵĂLJŶŽƚďĞŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚĂŌĞƌĂĐƋƵŝƐŝƟŽŶƵŶůĞƐƐƐƵĐŚŝŵƉƌŽǀĞŵĞŶƚƐĂƌĞŶĞĐĞƐƐĂƌLJƚŽƉƌŽƚĞĐƚŽƌŵĂŝŶƚĂŝŶ
ƚŚĞůĂŶĚŽƌƚŽƉƌŽǀŝĚĞĨŽƌƉĂƐƐŝǀĞƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶĂů͕ŽƉĞŶĂŐƌŝĐƵůƚural, or wildlife habitat use of the land. (Added by Ord. No.
4996 (1986), 1, adopted by electorate on Nov. 4, 1986.)
i
CONTENTS
PURPOSE 1
GENERAL DESCRIPTION 1
LOCATION AND ACCESS 1
ACQUISITION AND OWNERSHIP 1
LANDSCAPE CONTEXT 1
NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES 3
TOPOGRAPHY 3
GEOLOGY 3
SOILS 5
HYDROLOGY 5
WATER RIGHTS AND IRRIGATION IMPROVEMENTS 5
VEGETATION 5
WILDLIFE 11
LAND USE 13
RECREATION RESOURCES AND VISITOR ACCESS 13
IMPROVEMENTS 14
POLICY AND PLAN GUIDANCE 17
BOULDER CITY CHARTER 18
BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 18
OPEN SPACE LONG RANGE MANAGEMENT POLICIES 18
GRASSLAND ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT PLAN 18
VISITOR MASTER PLAN 29
LITERATURE CITED 34
APPENDICES
APPENDIX A. INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT 35
APPENDIX B. LEGAL DESCRIPTION 43
APPENDIX C. SUMMARY OF GROUND WATER CONTAMINATION AND MONITORING 51
APPENDIX D. KEY ATTRIBUTES AND INDICATORS FOR THE GRASSLAND PLAN TARGETS
FOUND ON BEECH 53
APPENDIX E. MONITORING INDICATORS 57
LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE 1. VICINITY MAP 2
FIGURE 2. LOCATION MAP 4
FIGURE 3. SOILS MAP 6
FIGURE 4. HYDROLOGY MAP 7
FIGURE 5. ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS MAP (GRASSLAND PLAN TARGETS) 8
FIGURE 6. VEGETATION COMMUNITIES MAP 9
FIGURE 7. SHALE BARRENS MAP 10
FIGURE 8. SIGNIFICANT AGRICULTURAL LANDS 13
FIGURE 9. VISITOR ACCESS MAP 15
ii
FIGURE 10. AGRICULTURAL FIELDS, FENCES, AND GATES MAP 16
FIGURE 11. RELATIONSHIP OF OSMP ADOPTED PLANS 17
FIGURE 12: UPLAND GRASSLAND COMPLEX BEST OPPORTUNITY AREA MAP 23
FIGURE 13: RIPARIAN BEST OPPORTUNITY AREAS FOR CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION 23
FIGURE 14: BLACK-TAILED PRAIRIE DOG HABITAT SUITABILITY 24
FIGURE 15: GRASSLAND PRESERVE/BEST OPPORUNITY AREA TO CONSERVE PRAIRIE DOGS 24
FIGURE 16: SEEPS MAP 56
LIST OF TABLES
TABLE 1. SUMMARY VIABILITY ASSESSMENT AND ACCEPTABLE CONDITIONS
(GRASSLAND PLAN) 20
TABLE 2. CONSERVATION ISSUES AND RANKINGS FOR THE GRASSLAND PLAN TARGETS
FOUND ON BEECH 25
TABLE 3. GRASSLAND PLAN STRATEGIES RELEVANT TO THE MANAGEMENT OF
BEECH 27
TABLE 4. VISITOR MASTER PLAN MANGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR NATURAL AREAS AND
HABITAT CONSERVATION AREAS 30
iii
P
URPOSE
The purpose of the Beech Management Plan is to describe ƚŚĞĞĐŽůŽŐŝĐĂů͕ĂŐƌŝĐƵůƚƵƌĂů͕ĂŶĚƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚŽĨ
the jointly owned Beech ƉƌŽƉĞƌƚLJ͘dŚŝƐƉůĂŶŝƐŝŶƚĞŶĚĞĚƚŽĨƵůĮůůƚŚĞƉƌŽǀŝƐŝŽŶĚĞƐĐƌŝďĞĚŝŶƐĞĐƟŽŶ///ŽĨƚŚĞBoulder
County and City of Boulder Jointly Owned Open Space Management Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) (2005),
Appendix A, which states a plan describing the management of the jointly owned property shall be created by the Lead
Agency. The City of Boulder, Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) is the Lead Agency for the Beech property.
GD
ENERAL ESCRIPTION
The Beech property encompasses 1,200 acres, mostly grasslands at the base of the foothills. Beech is located within one
of the largest patches of mixedgrass prairie on Boulder Open Spaces lands. U.S. 36 (North Foothills Highway) bisects the
property into a 680 acre parcel on the east side of the highway (East Beech) and a 520 acre plot on the west side (West
Beech).
LA
OCATION AND CCESS
The Beech property is located in central Boulder County just north, approximately a half mile, from the Boulder city
limits (Figure 1). Please see Appendix B for the ůĞŐĂůĚĞƐĐƌŝƉƟŽŶŽĨƚŚĞƉƌŽƉĞƌƚLJ. Neva Road (CR #34) is the northern
boundary for the East Beech. There is informal parking ŝŶŽůŽƌĂĚŽĞƉĂƌƚŵĞŶƚŽĨdƌĂŶƐƉŽƌƚĂƟŽŶ;KdͿƌŝŐŚƚ-of-way.
>ĞŌ,ĂŶĚsĂůůĞLJZĞƐĞƌǀŽŝƌŝƐůŽĐĂƚĞĚĂůŽŶŐĂƉŽƌƟŽŶŽĨƚŚĞĞĂƐƚĞƌŶďŽƵŶĚĂƌLJ͘
AO
CQUISITION AND WNERSHIP
The Beech property was purchased in 1988. The purchase price was $1,500,000 and includes all minerals, oil, and gas.
Boulder County provided $250,000 at closing and the City of Boulder executed a promissory note and a deed of trust for
the balance of $1,250,000 with an interest rate of 7.75%. The payments were made over a 20 year period, ending in
2008. The first six payments of $48,437.50 were made by Boulder County; the remaining 14 payments of $191,636.76
were made by the City of Boulder.
LC
ANDSCAPE ONTEXT
dŚĞĞĞĐŚƉƌŽƉĞƌƚLJŝƐďŽƌĚĞƌĞĚďLJK^DWůĂŶĚƐƚŽƚŚĞŶŽƌƚŚĂŶĚƐŽƵƚŚĂŶĚƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƟĂůƐƵďĚŝǀŝƐŝŽŶƐƚŽƚŚĞǁĞƐƚĂŶĚĞĂƐƚ͘
The majority of the Beech property is zoned agricultural however, the Foothills Business Park, on which the City of
ŽƵůĚĞƌ͕K^DWĂŶĚŽƵůĚĞƌŽƵŶƚLJ͕WĂƌŬƐĂŶĚKƉĞŶ^ƉĂĐĞ;WK^ͿŽǁŶĂĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶĞĂƐĞŵĞŶƚ, is zoned Light
Industrial.
1
Figure 1: Vicinity Map
2
NP
EIGHBORING ROPERTIES
The pƌŽƉĞƌƟĞƐĂĚũĂĐĞŶƚƚŽƚŚĞBeech Property include (Figure 2):
An in-holding of private property, the Foothills Business Park owned by Raytheon Holding LLC. The City of
Boulder, OSMP and Boulder County, POS hold ĂĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶĞĂƐĞŵĞŶƚŽŶƚŚĞŵĂũŽƌŝƚLJŽf the parcel.
TŚĞEĞũĞnjĐŚůĞď͕^ĐŚŶĞŝĚĞƌ͕ĂŶĚŽƵůĚĞƌ>ĂŶĚ/ƌƌŝŐĂƟŽŶΘWŽǁĞƌ/ƉƌŽƉĞƌƟĞƐƚŽƚŚĞƐŽƵƚŚŽǁŶĞĚďLJƚŚĞŝƚLJŽĨ
Boulder, OSMP.
WƌŝǀĂƚĞƉƌŽƉĞƌƚLJ;KůĚ^ƚĂŐĞ^ĞƩůĞŵĞŶƚƐƵďĚŝǀŝƐŝŽŶͿƚŽƚŚĞǁĞƐƚ͘
Private property and the Joder property owned by the City of Boulder, OSMP to the north.
dŚĞ>ĞŌŚĂŶĚsĂůůĞLJReservoir owned by ƚŚĞ>ĞŌŚĂŶĚŝƚĐŚŽŵƉĂŶLJĂŶĚƉƌŝǀĂƚĞƉƌŽƉĞƌƚLJ;>ĂŬĞsĂůůĞLJ ƐƚĂƚĞƐ
subdivision) to the east.
T
OPOGRAPHY
The topographic relief of the Beech property is
property. The property is characterized by long, parallel north-south ridges separated by valleys. The gradual rising
ƐůŽƉĞƐŽŶƚŚĞĞĂƐƚƐŝĚĞŽĨƚŚĞƌŝĚŐĞƐĂŶĚƚŚĞƐŚŽƌƚĞƌ͕ƐƚĞĞƉĞƌďĂĐŬƐůŽƉĞƐƚŽƚŚĞǁĞƐƚƉƌŽĚƵĐĞƚŚĞĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌŝƐƟĐ
dŚĞƌĞĂƌĞŶŽŽƚŚĞƌŚĂƌĚĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶƐĞĂƐƚŽĨƚŚĞŚŽŐďĂĐk, and consequently it forms
the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains.
G
EOLOGY
The individual layers of sedimentary rock consist of several types of sandstone, shale, and some limestone. The oldest
exposed layers are the red sandstone beds of the lower part of the EarůLJdƌŝĂƐƐŝĐ>LJŬŝŶƐ&ŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ͘dŚĞĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶŝƐ
composed of about 550 feet of pale reddish-brown to moderate reddish-brown fine grained sandstone and siltstone.
The youngest layers that are exposed are sandstone beds of the middle part of the Late Cretaceous Pierre Shale. This
ĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶŝƐĂďŽƵƚϳ͕ϬϬϬĨĞĞƚƚŚŝĐŬ͕ďƵƚŽŶůLJƚŚĞůŽǁĞƌƉĂƌƚŝƐĞdžƉŽƐĞĚĂŶĚŝƐĐŽŵƉŽƐĞĚŽĨƐĂŶĚLJƐŝůƚƐƚŽŶĞ͕ƐŝůƚLJƚŽ fine
grained sandstone, and claystone.
The hogback is called the Dakota Hogback because it is held up by the relĂƟǀĞůLJ hard sandstones of the Dakota Group.
1
^ŚĂůĞŽƵƚĐƌŽƉƐŽĨƚŚĞEŝŽďƌĂƌĂĂŶĚWŝĞƌƌĞŐĞŽůŽŐŝĐĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶƐ, associated with shale barrens occur on the Beech
property.
On the property is the Six-Mile Fold which is of special interest to geologists. The Six-Mile Fold owes its name to a long
asymmetrŝĐĂůĂŶƟĐůŝŶĞĂŶĚƐLJŶĐůŝŶĞǁŚŝĐŚŵŝŐŚƚĞĂƐŝůLJŐŽƵŶŶŽƟĐĞĚ to an observer in the field, but which is prevalent
when observed from the air. The Six-Mile Fold was the result of ƚŚĞƵƉůŝŌŝŶŐŽĨƚŚĞFront Range and Rocky Mountains.
FŽůĚŝŶŐĂŶĚǁĂƌƉŝŶŐŽĐĐƵƌƌĞĚǁŚĞƌĞƚŚĞƐƚƌĞƐƐŽĨƚŚĞƐůŽǁĐŽŶƟŶƵŽƵƐƵƉůŝŌĞdžĐĞĞĚĞĚƚŚĞĞůĂƐƟĐŝƚLJŽĨƚŚĞƌŽĐŬƐĂŶĚ
faults and fractures resulted. (Heaslet & Wilder)
1
See pg. 5 ĨŽƌĂĚĚŝƟŽŶĂůŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶŽŶƐŚĂůĞďĂƌƌĞŶƐĂŶĚƚŚĞĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƚĞĚǀĞŐĞƚĂƟŽŶ͘
3
S
OILS
The ƌĞůĂƟǀĞůLJĂďƌƵƉƚĞůĞǀĂƟŽŶrise marks a change iŶƐŽŝůƐĐŽŵƉŽƐŝƟŽn; tŚĞŚŝŐŚĞƌĞůĞǀĂƟŽŶƐĂŶĚŚŽŐďĂĐŬƐ in West
Beech are composed of stony loams. The lower lying areas are underlain by a variety of clay loams, sandy loams, and
cobbly clay loams interspersed with terrace escarpments along the edges of ƚŚĞǀĂƌŝŽƵƐŝŶƚĞƌŵŝƩĞŶt streams (Figure 3).
H
YDROLOGY
dŚĞƌĞĂƌĞĮǀĞƉƌŽŵŝŶĞŶƚĚƌĂŝŶĂŐĞƐ͕ƐĞǀĞƌĂůƵŶŶĂŵĞĚŝŶƚĞƌŵŝƩĞŶƚƐƚƌĞĂŵƐĂŶĚŶƵŵĞƌŽƵƐ seeps located on the property
(Figure 4). ůůďƵƚĂƐŵĂůůƉŽƌƟŽŶŽĨƚŚĞƉƌŽƉĞƌƚLJĚƌĂŝŶƐƚŽƚŚĞĞĂƐƚŝŶƚŽƚŚĞĂĚũĂĐĞŶƚ>ĞŌ,ĂŶĚsĂůůĞLJZĞƐĞƌǀŽŝƌ and
Loukonen Reservoir.
WRII
ATER IGHTS AND RRIGATION MPROVEMENTS
There are no ŝƌƌŝŐĂƟŽŶŝŵƉƌŽǀĞŵĞŶƚƐŽƌĚŝƚĐŚĞƐŽŶĞĞĐŚ͘dŚĞƌĞĂƌĞŶŽǁĂƚĞƌƌŝŐŚƚƐĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƚĞĚǁŝƚŚƚŚĞŝŶƚĞƌŵŝƩĞŶƚ
streams.
V
EGETATION
The dominant cover type on East Beech is mixedgrass prairie. On West Beech the mixedgrass ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƟĞƐĐŽŵďŝŶĞ
with xeric tallgrass prairie and riparian areas to form a biologically rich foothills grassland mosaic (Figure 5).
Mixedgrass ƉƌĂŝƌŝĞĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƟĞƐŽn East Beech are dominated by western wheatgrass, needle and threadgrass, New
Mexico needlegrass, and big bluestem (Figure 6). The xeric tallgrass prairie is predominately located on West Beech and
is characterizĞĚďLJďŝŐďůƵĞƐƚĞŵ͕ůŝƩůĞďůƵĞƐƚĞŵ, prairie dropseed, sun sedge, and Porter aster. Shrubs such as ill
scented sumac and yucca are prevalent with ponderosa pine on the most western parts of the property. Tallgrass
prairie is considered rare and imperiled globally, and is one of the most endangered vĞŐĞƚĂƟŽŶƚLJƉĞƐŝŶƚŚĞǁŽƌůĚ
(Hoekstra et al.2005).
and Larimer County (Kothera 2006) (Figure 7). The shale barrens on Beech provŝĚĞŚĂďŝƚĂƚĨŽƌĂůĂƌŐĞƉŽƌƟŽŶŽĨthe
. The flora of shale barrens also includes a variety of forb
ƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ͕ŐƌĂƐƐĞƐĂŶĚƐŵĂůůƐŚƌƵďƐ͘dǁŽƌĂƌĞƉůĂŶƚĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƟĞƐ͕ƚŚĞ/ŶĚŝĂŶZŝĐĞŐƌĂƐƐ^ŚĂůĞĂƌƌĞŶƐand the New Mexico
Feathergrass Herbaceous aƐƐŽĐŝĂƟŽŶƐ͕ĂƌĞĂůƐŽĂĸůŝĂƚĞĚǁŝƚŚƚŚĞƐŚĂůĞďĂƌƌĞŶƐ͘
On West Beech the invasive plant of greatest management concern is ĂůŵĂƟĂn toadflax. Mediterranean sage, which is
the most prevalent, along with common teasel and mLJƌƚůĞƐƉƵƌŐĞĂƌĞĂůƐŽƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂŶĚŵĂŶĚĂƚĞĚĨŽƌĞƌĂĚŝĐĂƟŽŶďLJƚŚĞ
Colorado Noxious Weed Act. ĂƐƚĞĞĐŚŚĂƐĂŚŝŐŚĞƌĐŽŶĐĞŶƚƌĂƟŽŶŽĨŝŶǀĂƐŝǀĞƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ͕ĞƐƉĞĐŝĂůůLJĂůŽŶŐƚŚĞŝŶƚĞƌŵŝƩĞŶƚ
drainages; Mediterranean sage, myrtle spurge, and yellow toadflax are the highest priority for managing as they are
ŵĂŶĚĂƚĞĚďLJƚŚĞƐƚĂƚĞĨŽƌĞƌĂĚŝĐĂƟŽŶ͘
5
Figure 4: Hydrology Map
7
Figure 5: Ecological Systems
8
W
ILDLIFE
A variety of habitat types can be found on Beech, and because of this, the property supports a considerably high level of
ǁŝůĚůŝĨĞĚŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ͘^ƚĂīŵŽŶŝƚŽƌŝŶŐĂŶĚŽƵƚƐŝĚĞƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚĞƌƐŚĂǀĞĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚĞĚƚŚĞƉƌĞƐĞŶĐĞŽĨƌĂƌĞďƵƩĞƌŇŝĞƐ͕ďŝƌĚƐ͕
snakes, mule deer, mountain lions, red fox, and elk. Golden eagles and ferruginous hawks have been observed foraging
in the prairie dog colonies on Beech and long-ĞĂƌĞĚŽǁůƐŚĂǀĞďĞĞŶŽďƐĞƌǀĞĚƌŽŽƐƟŶŐŝŶƚŚĞĂƌĞĂ͘
/ŶϮϬϬϱ͕ĂƉƉƌŽdžŝŵĂƚĞůLJϮϱϬĂĐƌĞƐŽĨƚŚĞĞĞĐŚƉƌŽƉĞƌƚLJǁĂƐŝŶŚĂďŝƚĞĚďLJƉƌĂŝƌŝĞĚŽŐƐ͘^ŝŶĐĞƚŚĞŶ͕ĂŶĂĐƟǀĞĞƉŝnjŽŽƟĐŽĨ
ƐLJůǀĂƟĐƉůĂŐƵĞĚƌĂŵĂƟĐĂůůLJƌĞĚƵĐĞĚƚŚĞŶƵŵďĞƌŽĨŽĐcupied areas. In 2012, approximately 100 acres were inhabited by
prairie dogs. Black-tailed prairie dogs have far-reaching impacts on the grasslands they inhabit and their presence
provides prey and landscape structure necessary for the presence of associated species. Because of these far-reaching
American badgers, ferruginous hawks, and golden eagles are animal species associated with intact prairie dog colonies.
OSMP staff deployed five trail cameras on Beech (n=4) and an adjacent property (Schneider, n=1) in March 2012 to learn
more about which wildlife species use the area. Below is a list of species, along with the number of photos taken of each
ƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ͘/ŶƚĞƌĞƐƟŶŐůLJ͕ƚŚĞĐĂŵĞƌĂƐĐĂƵŐŚƚĂĨĞǁƉŚŽƚŽƐŽĨǁŚŝƚĞ-tailed deer, a species more common in grassland
riparian areas than the foothills.
ŽŵƉůĞƚĞƐƉĞĐŝĞƐůŝƐƚĨƌŽŵĂůůĮǀĞĐĂŵĞƌĂůŽĐĂƟŽŶƐ͗
1)American robin (3) 14)Mule deer (749)
2)Black bear (9) 15)Northern flicker (1)
3)Black-billed magpie (123) 16)Raccoon (18)
4)Bobcat (43) 17)Red fox (8)
5)Brown thrasher (1) 18)Rock squirrel (25)
6)ŽƩŽŶƚĂŝů;ϲϭͿ 19)Striped skunk (225)
7)Coyote (476) 20)^ƉŽƩĞĚ towhee (1)
8)Dog (4) 21)Western scrub jay (3)
9)Elk (73) 22)White-tailed deer (3)
10)Fox squirrel (1) 23)nipe (1)
11)Horse (16) 24)Woodrat (2)
12)Human (43)
13)Mountain lion (1)
ƵƩĞƌŇŝĞƐ
Overall, Beech provides high-ƋƵĂůŝƚLJŚĂďŝƚĂƚĨŽƌďƵƩĞƌŇŝĞƐĂŶĚƐŬŝƉƉĞƌƐ͘>ĞƉŝĚŽƉƚĞƌĂƐƵƌǀĞLJƐǁĞƌĞĐŽŶĚƵĐƚĞĚďLJƚŚĞ
Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) on Beech in 1997 (Pineda) and then again in 2013 (Sovell). Other researchers
ǁŚŽƐƵƌǀĞLJĞĚďƵƩĞƌŇŝĞƐŽŶĞĞĐŚŝŶĐůƵĚĞŽůůŝŶŐĞ;ϮϬϬϬͿĂŶĚƌŵƐƚĞĂĚ;ϮϬϬϯͿ͘^ĞǀĞƌĂůE,W-tracked species were
observed during these surveys including the arogos skipper, two-spŽƩĞĚƐŬŝƉƉĞƌ, dusted skipper, crossline skipper, and
ŽƩŽĞƐŬŝƉƉĞƌ͘KƚŚĞƌŐƌĂƐƐůĂŶĚĚĞƉĞŶĚĞŶƚďƵƩĞƌŇŝĞs found on Beech, and tracked by OSMP include the uncas skipper
and garita skipper.
Snakes
Beech also provides high-quality habitaƚĨŽƌƐŶĂŬĞƐ͕ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐƉƌĂŝƌŝĞƌĂƩůĞƐŶĂŬĞƐ͕ŵŝůŬƐŶĂŬĞƐ͕ďůĂĐŬ-headed snakes, and
ƌĂĐĞƌƐ͘/ŶϮϬϭϮĂŶĚϮϬϭϯ͕ƚŚĞĞŶƚĞƌĨŽƌ^ŶĂŬĞŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶ;^ͿĐŽŶĚƵĐƚĞĚĂƐƵƌǀĞLJŽĨƐŶĂŬĞĂďƵŶĚĂŶĐĞĂŶĚ
ĚŝƐƚƌŝďƵƟŽŶŝŶƚŚĞĂƌĞĂ͘/ŶϮϬϭϯ͕^ĂŶĚK^DWƐƚĂīďĞŐĂŶĂƉŝůŽƚƐƚƵĚLJƚŽŵŽŶŝƚŽƌƌĂƩůĞƐŶĂŬĞŵŽǀĞŵĞŶƚĂŶĚŚĂďŝƚĂƚ
11
ƵƐĞďLJĂƩĂĐŚŝŶŐs,&-ƚƌĂŶƐŵŝƩĞƌƐƚŽŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂůƐŶĂŬĞƐ͘dŚŝƐƐƚƵĚLJ͕ĂƐǁĞůůĂƐƐŶĂŬĞĂďƵŶĚĂŶĐĞĂŶĚĚŝƐƚƌŝďƵƟŽŶƐƵƌǀĞLJƐ͕
ǁŝůůĐŽŶƟŶƵĞŝŶϮϬϭϰ͘
Birds
OSMP conducted breeding bird surveys on Beech from 2008-2013. Staff visited 17 established transects twice between 1
:ƵŶĞĂŶĚϭϱ:ƵůLJŽĨĞĂĐŚLJĞĂƌ͘ƐĂŶĂƩĞƐƚƚŽƚŚĞĚŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJŽĨƚŚĞůĂŶĚƐĐĂƉĞ͕ϱϴƐƉĞĐŝĞƐǁĞƌĞĚĞƚĞĐƚĞĚŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ
ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟǀĞƐŽĨĞĂĐŚŚĂďŝƚĂƚƚLJƉĞ͗ƐŚƌƵď-ŶĞƐƟŶŐďŝƌĚƐůŝŬĞƐƉŽƩĞĚƚowhees and blue-gray gnatcatchers were
detected, as were forest-dwelling birds like plumbeous vireo and western wood pewee, grassland dependents like
grasshopper and vesper sparrows were detected in the flats, and rock wrens were heard on the rocky outcrops and
ŚŽŐďĂĐŬƐ͘ĞůŽǁŝƐĂƚĂďůĞƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƟŶŐĂůůďŝƌĚƐƉĞĐŝĞƐĚĞƚĞĐƚĞĚĨƌŽŵϮϬϬϴ-2012 on Beech and the number of
individuals of each species.
Complete List of Bird Species Found on Beech
Plumbeous vireo (2)
American crow (2) Common grackle (1) Red crossbill (1)
American goldfinch (8) Common raven (1) Rock wren (33)
American kestrel (10) Common yellowthroat (3) Red-tailed hawk (4)
American robin (5) Dark-eyed junco (2) Red-winged blackbird (10)
Bank swallow (5) Downy woodpecker (1) Say's phoebe (1)
Barn swallow (10) Eastern kingbird (2) Sage thrasher (1)
Black-billed magpie (15) Grasshopper sparrow (19) Song sparrow (1)
Blue-gray gnatcatcher (9) Green-tailed towhee (3) ^ƉŽƩĞĚƚowhee (88)
Brown-headed cowbird (6) Hairy woodpecker (1) Steller's jay (3)
Black-headed grosbeak (1) House finch (4) Townsend's solitaire (1)
Blue grosbeak (2) Horned lark (15) Vesper sparrow (102)
Brewer's blackbird (8) House wren (3) Violet-green swallow (1)
Brewer's sparrow (3) Lark sparrow (89) Western kingbird (14)
Broad-tailed hummingbird (11) Lazuli bƵŶƟŶŐ;ϱϱͿ Western meadowlark (188)
Bullock's oriole (10) Lesser goldfinch (12) Western tanager (4)
Canada goose (8) Mountain bluebird (8) Western wood-pewee (15)
Cassin's sparrow (8) Mourning dove (50) White-throated sǁŝŌ;ϲͿ
Chipping sparrow (5) Northern Rough-wingeswallow (1) Yellow-breasted chat (18)
Cliff swallow (24) Pine siskin (1) Yellow warbler (1)
12
LU
AND SE
Federal, state and local agencies developed agricultural
land ĚĞƐŝŐŶĂƟŽŶƐƚŽƉƌŝŽƌŝƟnjĞůĂŶĚƐĨŽƌĂŐƌŝĐƵůƚƵƌĂů
adequate water supply. Figure 8 shows the significant
agricultural lands on the Beech property. ƉŽƌƟŽn of
ĂƐƚĞĞĐŚǁĂƐŚŝƐƚŽƌŝĐĂůůLJƟůůĞĚ͘,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ŶŽ
agricultural uses are currently present.
defense contractor Raytheon Corp., established and
operated a missile-ĨƵĞůŝŶŐŽƉĞƌĂƟŽŶŽŶƚŚĞƉƌŽƉĞƌƚLJ and
manufactured subassemblies for the aerospace industry.
/ŶϭϵϴϳĞĞĐŚŵŽǀĞĚĂůůŽƉĞƌĂƟŽŶƐĞdžĐĞƉƚƚŚĞŵŝƐƐŝůĞ
ĨƵĞůŝŶŐƚŽŽƚŚĞƌĞĞĐŚĨĂĐŝůŝƟĞƐŽƵƚŽĨƐƚĂƚĞ͘
In 1991, Boulder County Parks and Open Space staff
discovered contaminated ground water near an old
disposal pit west of Highway 36. It was found that
contaminated ground water surfaces in one of the
drainages and in seeps off site. /Ŷϭϵϵϱ͕ĂŌĞƌ
ŝŶǀĞƐƟŐĂƟŽŶ, Raytheon Corp. began monitoring and
ŵŝƟŐĂƟŶŐƚŚĞĐŽŶƚĂŵŝŶĂƟŽŶŽŶ Beech. The monitoring
and ŵŝƟŐĂƟŽŶĞīŽƌƚƐĂƌĞŽŶŐŽŝŶŐ͘ƐƵŵŵĂƌLJŽĨƚŚĞ
Figure 8: Significant Agricultural Lands
ĐŽŶƚĂŵŝŶĂƟŽŶĂŶĚŵŽŶŝƚŽƌŝŶŐŝƐƉƌŽǀŝĚĞĚŝŶƉƉĞŶĚŝdž͘
RRVA
ECREATION ESOURCES AND ISITOR CCESS
The >ĞŌŚĂŶĚdrail runs ŶŽƌƚŚƐŽƵƚŚƚŚƌŽƵŐŚƚŚĞĞĂƐƚĞƌŶƉŽƌƟŽŶŽĨ ĂƐƚĞĞĐŚ and along the perimeter of the >ĞŌŚĂŶĚ
Reservoir. dŚĞƚƌĂŝůĐŽŶƟŶƵĞƐƐŽƵƚŚŽŶƚŽK^DWƉƌŽƉĞƌƚLJĂŶĚĐŽŶŶĞĐƚƐŝŶƚŽĂůĂƌŐĞƌŶĞƚǁŽƌŬŽĨƚƌĂŝůƐ͕ƚŚĞŽƵůĚer
sĂůůĞLJZĂŶĐŚ͘dŚĞ>ĞŌŚĂŶĚdƌĂŝůƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƐŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐĨŽƌhiking, biking, and horseback riding. Dogs, if leashed, are
2
ĂůůŽǁĞĚ;ĚŽŐƐŶŽƚƉĞƌŵŝƩĞĚŽīƚƌĂŝůͿ. Boulder County Parks and Open Space maintains a bathroom and the reservable
picnic shelter on West Beech which were recently updated and relocated to make them more accessible to visitors
ƚƌĂǀĞůŝŶŐŽŶƚŚĞ>ĞŌŚĂŶĚdƌĂŝů͘
dŚĞ>ĞŌŚĂŶĚdƌĂŝůŚĞĂĚŝƐlocated off Neva Road along the northern perimeter of East Beech. There is a neighborhood
access point from the Lake Valley Estates subdivision in the southeast corner of East Beech. Visitors can also access the
property by parking farther south at the Boulder Valley Ranch Trailhead.
2
Leash requirement vary on the adjoining trails.
13
There is no visitor infrastructure (trails, trailheads, access points, etc.) on West Beech. A permit is required for off-trail
3
travel on West Beech. dŚĞƌĞŝƐŶŽĐŚĂƌŐĞĨŽƌƚŚĞƉĞƌŵŝƚĂŶĚŝƚŝƐĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞŽŶůŝŶĞŽƌĂƚƚŚĞK^DWĂĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƟǀĞŽĸĐĞƐ͘
Public access is prohibited from the area surrounding one of the drainages and an area in the northeast corner of West
Beech due to ŐƌŽƵŶĚǁĂƚĞƌĐŽŶƚĂŵŝŶĂƟŽŶ͘
I
MPROVEMENTS
Improvements include fencing that exists ĂůŽŶŐƚŚĞĞŶƟƌĞƉĞƌŝŵĞƚĞƌŽĨƚŚĞƉƌŽƉĞƌƚLJ͘;&ŝŐƵƌĞ9ͿƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶĂƌĞĂǁĂƐ
ďƵŝůƚďLJĞĞĐŚŝƌĐƌĂŌ/ŶĐ͘ŽŶ ĂƐƚĞĞĐŚ͘/ƚĐŽǀĞƌƐĂƉƉƌŽdžŝŵĂƚĞůLJϮϬĂĐƌĞƐĂŶĚŝŶĐůƵĚĞƐĂlarge group pavilion with a
fireplace, vault restrooms, ball diamond, volleyball court, horseshoe pit, and water/electric service. There is also an old
corral on East Beech.
There are several miles of dirt/gravel roads on West Beech that were built and ƵƐĞĚďLJĞĞĐŚŝƌĐƌĂŌ/ŶĐ͘There is a
double explosion bunker west of the industrial site as well as ƐĞǀĞƌĂůƵŶŝĚĞŶƟĮĞĚƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞƐĂŶĚƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĂůƌĞŵĂŝŶƐ
ƉŽůĞĂŶĚĐĂďůĞƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞ͕ĨŽƵŶĚĂƟŽŶƌĞŵĂŝŶƐ, and miscellaneous building materials. There are also two
waste disposal sites adjacent to the northern boundary and two water storage tanks. There are seven wells and three
stock watering tanks (used by wildlife now).
KŶƚŚĞĞĂƐƚƐŝĚĞŽĨƚŚĞƉƌŽƉĞƌƚLJƚŚĞƌĞǁĂƐĂƐŬĞĞƚƐŚŽŽƟŶŐĂƌĞĂŶĞĂƌƚŚĞĞŶƚƌĂŶĐĞƚŽƚŚĞƉŝĐŶŝĐͬƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽn area. It has
been dismantled. HŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ůĞĂĚƐŚŽƚĂŶĚĐůĂLJƉŝŐĞŽŶƉŝĞĐĞƐƐƟůůƌĞŵĂŝŶŝŶƚŚĞĮĞůĚ͘
3
tĞƐƚĞĞĐŚŝƐĚĞƐŝŐŶĂƚĞĚĂƐĂ,ĂďŝƚĂƚŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶƌĞĂ;,Ϳ͘Kī-trail travel in HCAs is only allowed via an off-trail permit.
14
Figure 10: Agricultural Fields and Fences
16
PPG
OLICY AND LAN UIDANCE
Guidance for managing the Beech ƉƌŽƉĞƌƚLJŝƐƉƌŽǀŝĚĞĚŝŶƐĞǀĞƌĂůĞdžŝƐƟŶŐ plans and policy documents that clarify how
ƚŚĞŝƚLJŽĨŽƵůĚĞƌǁŝůůŵĂŶĂŐĞŽƉĞŶƐƉĂĐĞƉƌŽƉĞƌƟĞƐĂŶĚƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ͕ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĂďůĞŶĂƚƵƌĂůƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞ
ĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶĂŶĚƉĂƐƐŝǀĞƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶ͘These planning documents include:
Boulder City Charter
Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan
Open Space Long Range Management Policies (LRMP)(OS, 1995)
Grassland Ecosystem Management Plan (OSMP, 2009)
Visitor Master Plan (VMP) (OSMP, 2005)
The Boulder City Charter, Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan, and Open Space LRMP provide broader policy guidance
while the Grassland Ecosystem Management Plan and VMP provide more specific policies and guidance for specific on-
the-ŐƌŽƵŶĚŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚĂĐƟŽŶƐ. A North Trail Study Area (TSA) plan is scheduled to be completed in the next several
years. d^ƉůĂŶƐǁĞƌĞŝĚĞŶƟĮĞĚŝŶƚŚĞsDWĂƐĂƌĞĂ-ƐƉĞĐŝĮĐƉůĂŶƐƚŽĞƐƚĂďůŝƐŚŝŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚĂƟŽŶƐƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĞƐƚŚĂƚŝŵƉƌŽǀĞ
ƚŚĞǀŝƐŝƚŽƌĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞĂŶĚƉƌŽǀŝĚĞĂƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĂďůĞƚƌĂŝůƐLJƐƚĞŵǁŚŝůĞƉƌŽƚĞĐƟŶŐŶĂƚƵƌĂůĂŶĚĐƵůƚƵƌĂůƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ͘
Figure 11 ŝůůƵƐƚƌĂƚĞƐƚŚĞƌĞůĂƟŽŶƐŚŝƉŽĨthe OSMP adopted plans and policy documents. The figure shows a hierarchy of
plans from general to more specific.
&ŝŐƵƌĞϭϭ͗ZĞůĂƟŽŶƐŚŝƉŽĨK^DWWůĂŶƐ
17
BOULDER CITY CHARTER
^ĞĐƟŽŶϭϳϲŽĨwas establisheĚďLJƉƵďůŝĐĞůĞĐƟŽŶ͘/ƚůŝƐƚƐƚŚĞƉƵƌƉŽƐĞƐĨŽƌǁŚŝĐŚŽƉĞŶƐƉĂĐĞůĂŶĚ
ĐĂŶďĞĂĐƋƵŝƌĞĚ͕ŵĂŝŶƚĂŝŶĞĚĂŶĚƵƐĞĚ͘dŚĞĨƵůůƚĞdžƚŽĨƚŚŝƐƐĞĐƟŽŶŽĨƚŚĞĐŚĂƌƚĞƌĐĂŶďĞĨŽƵŶĚŽŶƚŚĞŝŶƐŝĚĞĐŽǀĞƌŽĨƚŚĞ
plan.
BOULDER VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
The City of Boulder and Boulder County have agreed upon a set of land use and management goals and policies to
implement a shared community vision for the Boulder Valley. These goals and policies comprise the Boulder Valley
Comprehensive Plan (BVCP). The BVCP states a cleĂƌŝŶƚĞŶƟŽŶĨŽƌƚŚĞŝƚLJƚŽƉƌĞƐĞƌǀĞƚŚĞĂŐƌŝĐƵůƚƵƌĂůĂŶĚŶĂƚƵƌĂů
ǀĂůƵĞƐŽĨƚŚĞůĂŶĚƐĂŶĚǁĂƚĞƌƐŽĨƚŚĞŽƵůĚĞƌsĂůůĞLJƚŚƌŽƵŐŚƚŚĞĂĐƋƵŝƐŝƟŽŶĂŶĚŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚŽĨŽƉĞŶƐƉĂĐĞ͘The
ƉƌŽƉĞƌƚLJŝƐůŽĐĂƚĞĚŝŶƌĞĂ///ŽĨƚŚĞsWĂƐĂZƵƌĂůWƌĞƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶƌĞĂ͘
OPEN SPACE LONG RANGE MANAGEMENT POLICIES
The Open Space Long Range Management Policies (LRMP) were approved by City Council in 1995 and provide specific
ĚŝƌĞĐƟŽŶĂďŽƵƚƉƌŽŐƌĂŵŐŽĂůƐ͕ĚĞĐŝƐŝŽŶ-making processes, and management techniques. Chapters IV and V of the
LRMP ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐŶĂƚƵƌĂůƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚĂŶĚĂŐƌŝĐƵůƚƵƌĂůŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘Chapters IX and X of the LRMP
ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐƚŚĞŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚŽĨƉĂƐƐŝǀĞƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶĂŶĚǀŝƐŝƚŽƌĨĂĐŝůŝƟĞƐ͘
GRASSLAND ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT PLAN
The Grassland Ecosystem ManĂŐĞŵĞŶƚWůĂŶ;'ƌĂƐƐůĂŶĚWůĂŶͿĨŽĐƵƐĞƐŽŶƚŚĞĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶŽĨK^DWůĂŶĚƐĚŽŵŝŶĂƚĞĚďLJ
mixedgrass and xeric tallgrass prairie. The Grassland Plan provides a framework for on-the-ŐƌŽƵŶĚŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚĂĐƟŽŶƐ͕
ƉƵďůŝĐƉŽůŝĐŝĞƐĂŶĚůĂŶĚĂŶĚǁĂƚĞƌĂĐƋƵŝƐŝƟŽŶƉƌŝŽƌ
ensure on-ŐŽŝŶŐĂŐƌŝĐƵůƚƵƌĂůƉƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ͘The Grassland Plan was accepted by City Council in 2010. The following
ƐĞĐƟŽŶƐƵŵŵĂƌŝnjĞƐ or contains excerpts of the Grassland Plan that are relevant to the management of the property.
Grassland Plan Targets
dŚĞ'ƌĂƐƐůĂŶĚWůĂŶŝĚĞŶƟĮĞƐ , aspects of biological diversity that ƐĞƌǀĞĂƐƚŚĞďĂƐŝƐĨŽƌƐĞƫŶŐ
ŽďũĞĐƟǀĞƐ͕ƚĂŬŝŶŐĂĐƟŽŶĂŶĚŵĞĂƐƵƌŝŶŐƐƵĐĐĞƐƐ. Five of the eight grassland targets are found on the Beech property:
Mixedgrass Prairie Mosaic
Xeric Tallgrass Prairie
Black-tailed Prairie Dogs and Associates
Wetlands
Riparian Areas
ĂĐŚŽĨƚŚĞĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶƚĂƌŐĞƚƐŝŶĐůƵĚĞƐŚĂďŝƚĂƚĨŽƌŵĂŶLJƐƉĞĐŝĞƐŽĨƉůĂŶƚƐĂŶĚĂŶŝŵals as well as a variety of plant
ĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƟŽŶƐ͘^ŽŵĞĂƌĞŽĨĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶĐŽŶĐĞƌŶ͕ŵĞĂŶŝŶŐƚŚĂƚĂƐƉĞĐŝĞƐŝƐƚŚƌĞĂƚĞŶĞĚŽƌĞŶĚĂŶŐĞƌĞĚĂĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐƚŽƐƚĂƚĞ
or federal law, that they are considered rare or imperiled by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program, or that they have
ďĞĞŶĨŽƵŶĚƚŽďĞƌĂƌĞŽƌŝŶŶĞĞĚŽĨƐƉĞĐŝĂůĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶĂĐƟŽŶĂƚƚŚĞůŽĐĂůůĞǀĞů͘Appendix B of the Grassland Plan lists
ƚŚĞƐƉĞĐŝĞƐŽĨĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶĐŽncern found in the targets ĂůŽŶŐǁŝƚŚƚŚĞŝƌĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽn status ranking. The species of
Nested targets should be
ĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĞĚŝĨƚŚĞĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶƚĂƌŐĞƚƐǁŝƚŚǁŚŝĐŚƚŚĞLJĂƌĞĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƚĞĚĂƌĞĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĞĚ͘
/ŶŽƌĚĞƌƚŽĂƐƐĞƐƐƚŚĞǀŝĂďŝůŝƚLJŽĨƚŚĞĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽn targets, a ŶƵŵďĞƌŽĨŬĞLJĂƩƌŝďƵƚĞƐĨŽƌĞĂĐŚĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶƚĂƌŐĞƚǁĞƌĞ
ŝĚĞŶƟĮĞĚ͘<ĞLJĂƩƌŝďƵƚĞƐĂƌĞaspects of the target, which if ĂůƚĞƌĞĚ͕ĐŽƵůĚƌĞƐƵůƚŝŶƚŚĞŝŵƉƌŽǀĞŵĞŶƚ͕ĚĞŐƌĂĚĂƟŽŶŽƌ
loss of the target. Indicators were also developed to track thĞƐƚĂƚƵƐŽĨƚŚĞŬĞLJĂƩƌŝďƵƚĞƐĂŶĚƚĂƌŐĞƚƐŽǀĞƌƟŵĞ͘dŚĞ
ŬĞLJĂƩƌŝďƵƚĞƐĂŶĚŝŶĚŝĐĂƚŽƌƐĨŽƌƚŚe targets on the Beech property are listed in Appendix C.
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Table 1 summarizes the viability assessment for each of the targets on the Beech property ĂŶĚŝĚĞŶƟĮes a range of
ĂĐĐĞƉƚĂďůĞĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶƐ. The assessment is organized by ƐŝnjĞ͕ĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶ͕ĂŶĚůĂŶĚƐĐĂƉĞĐŽŶƚĞdžƚ͘&ŽƌŵŽƌĞĚĞƚĂŝůƐŽŶƚŚĞ
assessment please refer to Chapter III and Appendix D of the Grassland Plan.
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Best Opportunity Analysis
A best opportunity analysis ǁĂƐĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞĚŝŶƚŚĞ'ƌĂƐƐůĂŶĚWůĂŶƚŽĚĞƚĞƌŵŝŶĞǁŚĞƌĞƚŚĞďĞƐƚŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐĞdžŝƐƚƚŽ
conserve each of the targets. These Best Opportunity Areas (BOA) will be used ƚŽƉƌŝŽƌŝƟnjĞǁŚĞƌĞĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶĂĐƟŽŶŝƐ
implemented. dŚĞƌĞĂƌĞŵƵůƟƉůĞ BOAs on the Beech property.
Upland Grassland Complex
The Mixedgrass Prairie Mosaic and Xeric Tallgrass Prairie were combined for the best opportunity analysis, referred to as
the Upland Grassland Complex. Figure 12 ŝůůƵƐƚƌĂƚĞƐƚŚĞďĞƐƚŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐĨŽƌĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶĂŶĚƌĞƐƚŽƌĂƟŽŶŽĨƚŚĞ
Upland Grassland Complex. dŚĞĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶĂƌĞĂƐǁĞƌĞƐĞůĞĐƚĞĚďĞĐĂƵƐĞ they:
ZĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĐŽŶĐĞŶƚƌĂƟŽŶƐŽĨďĞƐƚƋƵĂůŝƚLJǀĞŐĞƚĂƟŽŶĂƌĞĂƐ,
ƌĞůĂƌŐĞ͕ĐŽŶƟŐƵŽƵƐŐƌĂƐƐůĂŶĚŚĂďŝƚĂƚďůŽĐŬƐŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐŵƵůƟƉůĞĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶƚĂƌŐĞƚƐĂŶĚŶĞƐted target habitat,
,ĂǀĞŐŽŽĚƌĞƐƚŽƌĂƟŽŶƉŽƚĞŶƟĂůĂŶĚůĂŶĚƐĐĂƉĞĐŽŶƚĞdžƚ.
Figure 12: Upland Grassland Complex BOA Figure 13: ZŝƉĂƌŝĂŶKĨŽƌŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶĂŶĚZĞƐƚŽƌĂƟŽŶ
Wetlands and Riparian Areas
Figure 13 shows the approximaƚĞůŽĐĂƟŽŶŽĨƚŚĞǁĞƚůĂŶĚ best opportunity ƌĞƐƚŽƌĂƟŽŶĂƌĞĂ on the Beech property. The
wetland area was ŝĚĞŶƟĮĞĚĂƐĂKĨŽƌƌĞƐƚŽƌĂƟŽŶďĞĐĂƵƐĞ͗
ZĞŵŶĂŶƚƐŽĨƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐůLJŚŝŐŚĨƵŶĐƟŽŶŝŶŐĞĐŽƐLJƐƚĞŵĞdžŝƐƚ,
It is in an area where partnerships are possible, and
/ƚŝƐĂŶĂƌĞĂǁŚĞƌĞƌĞƐƚŽƌĂƟŽŶŚĂƐďĞĞŶƐƵĐĐĞƐƐĨƵůŝŶƚŚĞƉĂƐƚĂŶĚĂĚĚŝƟŽŶĂůĞīŽƌƚƐǁŽƵůĚůŝŬĞůLJďĞĞīĞĐƟǀĞ͘
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Black Tailed-Prairie Dog and Associates
The best opportunity analysis for conserving the black-tailed prairie dog and its associates considers the habitat needs of
the prairie dog and the needs of associated species. The best opportunity to conserve prairie dogs and their associates
ĂůƐŽŝŶƚĞŐƌĂƚĞƐĐŽŵƉĂƟďŝůŝƚLJǁŝƚŚŽƚŚĞƌGrassland Plan targets and adjacent land use.
OSMP developed a black-tailed prairie dog Habitat Suitability Model usŝŶŐŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶĂďŽƵƚǀĞŐĞƚĂƟŽŶƚLJƉĞ͕ƐůŽƉĞ͕ƐŽŝů
texture and soil depth. The model predicts where the most suitable black-tailed prairie dog habitat occurs. Figure 14
ƐŚŽǁƐƚŚĞĚŝƐƚƌŝďƵƟŽŶŽĨŚĂďŝƚĂƚƐƵŝƚĂďŝůŝƚLJƌĂƟŶŐƐŽŶƚŚĞĞĞĐŚ property. A detailĞĚĚĞƐĐƌŝƉƟŽŶŽĨƚŚĞŚĂďŝƚĂƚ
suitability model is included in Appendix H of the Grassland Plan.
A majority of the Beech property was designated as a Grassland Preserve (Figure 15). Grassland Preserves are
considered the best opportunity to conserve prairie dogs and their associated species. In most cases, prairie dogs will be
allowed to persist without removal in Grassland Preserves. However, removal will be allowed for the purposes of
ŵĂŝŶƚĂŝŶŝŶŐĞdžŝƐƟŶŐŝƌƌŝŐĂƟŽŶĨĂĐŝůŝƟĞƐƐƵĐŚĂƐŚĞĂĚŐĂƚĞƐ͕Ěŝƚches, lateral ditches, reservoirs, and irrigated fields.
Figure 14: Black Tailed Prairie Dog Habitat Suitability Figure 15: Grassland Preserve/ BOA to Conserve Prairie Dogs
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ŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶ/ƐƐƵĞƐ
Each of the targets has been degraded to some extent and face ĂǀĂƌŝĞƚLJŽĨĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶŝƐƐƵĞƐ͘Table 2 summarizes the
ĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶŝƐƐƵĞƐĂīĞĐƟŶŐƚŚĞtargets found on the Beech ƉƌŽƉĞƌƚLJ͘ ĂĐŚĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶŝƐƐƵĞŝƐƌĂŶŬĞĚĂĐĐŽƌĚŝŶŐƚŽ
its scope and the severity of its effect upon each target. Chapter IV and Appendix F of the Grassland Plan provides
ĚĞƚĂŝůƐŽĨƚŚĞĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟon issue assessment rankings.
Table 2: ŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶIssues and Rankings for the Grassland Plan Targets found on Beech
Black-
Mixed
Xeric Tailed
Grass Riparian
Tallgrass Prairie Wetlands
ConseƌǀĂƟŽŶ/ƐƐƵĞ Prairie Areas
Prairie Dog and
Mosaic
Associates
/ŶĐŽŵƉĂƟďůĞdƌĂŝůƐͬZĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶ High High Very High Very High High
/ŶĐŽŵƉĂƟďůĞ^ƵƌƌŽƵŶĚŝŶŐ>ĂŶĚhƐĞ High High Very High High Very High
/ŶĐŽŵƉĂƟďůĞŽŐDĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚďLJ
High High Very High High Medium
Guardians
Invasive Plant Species High High Medium High High
Invasive Animal Species Very High High
/ŶĐŽŵƉĂƟďůĞtĂƚĞƌDĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚͬhƐĞ Medium Very High
Inappropriate Fire Management High High
/ŶĐŽŵƉĂƟďůĞŐƌŝĐƵůƚƵƌĂůWƌĂĐƟĐĞƐ Medium Low High High Medium
/ŶĐŽŵƉĂƟďůĞWƌĂŝƌŝĞŽŐĐƟǀŝƚLJ
High Medium
(Grazing/Burrowing)
^LJůǀĂƟĐWůĂŐƵĞ High
ĞĨĞƌƌĞĚDĂŝŶƚĞŶĂŶĐĞŽĨ/ƌƌŝŐĂƟŽŶ
Low
Infrastructure
Great Horned Owls Medium
Very
ŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶ/ƐƐƵĞ Status for Targets High Very High Very High Very High
High
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ŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶ^ƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĞƐ
dŚĞ'ƌĂƐƐůĂŶĚWůĂŶŝĚĞŶƟĮĞĚϭϯŽďũĞĐƟǀĞƐĨŽƌĂĚĚƌĞƐƐŝŶŐƚŚĞĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶŝƐƐƵĞƐ. Like ŽďũĞĐƟǀĞƐ were packaged,
ĐƌĞĂƟŶŐ'ƌĂƐƐůĂŶĚŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶ/ŶŝƟĂƟǀĞƐ͘ dŚĞĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐƐĞĐƟŽŶƉƌĞƐĞŶƚƐƚŚĞ'ƌĂƐƐůĂŶĚWůĂŶŝŶŝƟĂƟǀĞƐĂůŽŶŐǁŝƚŚƚŚĞ
assŽĐŝĂƚĞĚĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶŽďũĞĐƟǀĞƐ͘
/ŶŝƟĂƟǀĞϭ͗>ĂƌŐĞůŽĐŬ,ĂďŝƚĂƚ īĞĐƟǀĞŶĞƐƐ
dŚĞĨŽĐƵƐŽĨƚŚŝƐŝŶŝƟĂƟǀĞŝƐƚŽŝŵƉƌŽǀĞƚŚĞĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶǀĂůƵĞŽĨůĂƌŐĞŚĂďŝƚĂƚďůŽĐŬƐƐŽƚŚĞLJĂƌĞŵŽƌĞůŝŬĞůLJƚŽƐƵƐƚĂŝŶ
the Grassland Plan targets.
Conservation Objective 1.1
LJϮϬϭϵ͕ĞƐƚĂďůŝƐŚƉƌĂŝƌŝĞĚŽŐ͕ƉƌĂŝƌŝĞĚŽŐĐŽŵŵĞŶƐĂůĂŶĚƉƌĂŝƌŝĞĚŽŐƉƌĞĚĂƚŽƌƉŽƉƵůĂƟŽŶƐĂŶĚƉŽƉƵůĂƟŽŶ
distribuƟŽŶǁŝƚŚŝŶƚŚĞƌĂŶŐĞŽĨĂĐĐĞƉƚĂďůĞǀĂƌŝĂƟŽŶ͘
Conservation Objective 1.2
LJϮϬϭϵ͕ŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞƚŚĞďŝƌĚĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶƐĐŽƌĞƐƚŽĂƚůĞĂƐƚϯ͘ϵĨŽƌƚŚĞDŝdžĞĚŐƌĂƐƐWƌĂŝƌŝĞDŽƐĂŝĐĂŶĚyĞƌŝĐ
Tallgrass Prairie.
ŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶKďũĞĐƟǀĞϭ͘ϯ
By 2019, increase the frequency of singing male grasshopper sparrow to 60% within habitat block over 247 acres
(100 ha) in the Mixedgrass Prairie Mosaic.
/ŶŝƟĂƟǀĞϮ͗ ĐŽůŽŐŝĐĂůZĞƐƚŽƌĂƟŽŶ
dŚŝƐŝŶŝƟĂƟǀĞĨŽĐƵƐĞƐŽŶŝŵƉƌŽǀŝŶŐĞĐŽůŽŐŝĐĂůƉƌŽĐĞƐƐĞƐĂŶĚĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶƐƚŽĂĐĐĞƉƚĂďůĞůĞǀĞls as defined by the viability
ŝŶĚŝĐĂƚŽƌƌĂƟŶŐƐĨŽƌƚŚĞĞŝŐŚƚ'ƌĂƐƐůĂŶĚWůĂŶƚĂƌŐĞƚƐ͘dŚĞƐĞŝŵƉƌŽǀĞŵĞŶƚƐǁŝůůďĞŶĞĮƚďŽƚŚĞĐŽůŽŐŝĐĂůǀŝĂďŝůŝƚLJĂŶĚ
agricultural sustainability.
ŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶKďũĞĐƟǀĞϮ͘ϭ
By 2019, reduce non-ŶĂƟǀĞƉůĂŶƚƐƉĞĐŝĞƐŝŶĞƐƚOpportunity Areas of the Xeric Tallgrass, and Mixedgrass Prairie
ŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶKďũĞĐƟǀĞϮ͘Ϯ
Opportunity
Areas.
Conservation Objective 2.3
By 2019, increase fire frequency so that 50% of Upland Grassland Complex Best Opportunity Areas will have
burned within the acceptable fire return interval.
/ŶŝƟĂƟǀĞϯ͗ƋƵĂƟĐ^LJƐƚĞŵƐDĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ
dŚŝƐŝŶŝƟĂƟǀĞĨŽĐƵƐĞƐŽŶǁĞƚůĂŶĚƐ͕ƌŝƉĂƌŝĂŶĂƌĞĂƐ͕ĐƌĞĞŬƐĂŶĚƉŽŶĚƐ͘
ŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶKďũĞĐƟǀĞϯ͘ϭ
By 2019, evaluate and restore riparian hydrology in Best Opportunity Areas.
ŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶKďũĞĐƟǀĞϯ͘Ϯ
LJϮϬϭϵ͕ĞǀĂůƵĂƚĞĂŶĚƌĞƐƚŽƌĞǁĞƚůĂŶĚ͕ƌŝƉĂƌŝĂŶ͕ĂŶĚĂƋƵĂƟĐŚĂďŝƚat in Best Opportunity Areas.
ŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶKďũĞĐƟǀĞϯ͘ϯ
By 2015, increase by three the number of bullfrog-ĨƌĞĞƉŽŶĚƐŽŶK^DWŵĂŶĂŐĞĚůĂŶĚƐƐƵƉƉŽƌƟŶŐŶŽƌƚŚĞƌŶ
leopard frogs.
ŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶKďũĞĐƟǀĞϯ͘ϰ
Prevent an increase in the extent and diversity of aqƵĂƟĐŶƵŝƐĂŶĐĞƐƉĞĐŝĞƐŝŶƚŚĞ'ƌĂƐƐůĂŶĚWůĂŶŶŝŶŐƌĞĂ͘
ŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶKďũĞĐƟǀĞϯ͘ϱ
LJϮϬϭϵ͕ƌĞĚƵĐĞƚŚĞƵŶĚĞƐŝŐŶĂƚĞĚƚƌĂŝůĚĞŶƐŝƚLJŝŶŶŽƌƚŚĞƌŶůĞŽƉĂƌĚĨƌŽŐŚĂďŝƚĂƚďůŽĐŬƐƚŽĂƚŵŽƐƚϭϯ͘ϰŌͬĂĐ
(10m/ha).
26
/ŶŝƟĂƟǀĞϰ͗ŐƌŽ-Ecosystems
dŚŝƐŝŶŝƟĂƟǀĞĨŽĐƵƐĞƐŽŶƐƵƐƚĂŝŶŝŶŐĂŐƌŝĐƵůƚƵƌĂůƵƐĞƐǁŚŝůĞŝŶƚĞŐƌĂƟŶŐĂŐƌŝĐƵůƚƵƌĂůĂŶĚĞĐŽůŽŐŝĐĂůĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶ
ŽďũĞĐƟǀĞƐ͘
ŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶKďũĞĐƟǀĞϰ͘ϭ
ŽŶƟŶƵĞĂŐƌŝĐƵůƚƵƌĂůŽƉĞƌĂƟŽŶƐŽŶK^DP lands to address the Charter purposes of OSMP.
ŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶKďũĞĐƟǀĞϰ͘Ϯ
Establish ŽƌĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĂŐƌŝĐƵůƚƵƌĂůŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚƉƌĂĐƟĐĞƐƚŚĂƚƐƵƉƉŽƌƚŚĂďŝƚĂƚĨŽƌhƚĞůĂĚŝĞƐ-tresses orchid,
ďŽďŽůŝŶŬƐĂŶĚŽƚŚĞƌƐƉĞĐŝĞƐŽĨĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶĐŽŶĐĞƌŶ͘
Thirty-fiǀĞƐƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĞƐǁĞƌĞŝĚĞŶƟĮĞĚŝŶƚŚĞ'ƌĂƐƐůĂŶĚWůĂŶ ƚŽĂĐŚŝĞǀĞƚŚĞŽďũĞĐƟǀĞƐ. Twenty-five of the 35 strategies
are relevant to the management of the Beech property (Table 3). More detail about the strategies is included in
Appendix L of the Grassland Plan.
Table 3: Grassland Plan Strategies Relevant to the Management of Beech
Strategy
Strategy
#
1 ĞǀĞůŽƉĂƐĂĨĞĂŶĚĞīĞĐƟǀĞƉƌĞƐĐƌŝďĞĚĮƌĞƉƌŽŐƌĂŵĨŽƌƚŚĞ'ƌassland Planning Area
DŝŶŝŵŝnjĞƚŚĞĂĚǀĞƌƐĞĞīĞĐƚƐŽĨƚƌĂŝůĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚŝŶĂƌĞĂƐŽĨƐƉĞĐŝĂůĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶǀĂůƵĞŽƌƐĞŶƐŝƟǀŝƚLJ
4
within the Grassland Planning Area, as part of TSA planning
/ĚĞŶƟĨLJŚŝŐŚ-ǀĂůƵĞŐƌĂƐƐůĂŶĚďŝƌĚŶĞƐƟŶŐĂƌĞĂƐĂŶĚĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌĞŶĂĐƟŶŐƐĞĂƐŽŶĂůƉƌŽƚĞĐƟŽŶŵĞĂƐƵƌĞƐ
7
through the TSA planning process, and, when necessary, prior to TSA planning
ĞǀĞůŽƉĂƉƌŽƚŽĐŽůƚŽĐŽŽƌĚŝŶĂƚĞƌĞůŽĐĂƟŽŶŽĨƉƌĂŝƌŝĞĚŽŐƐŽŶƚŽK^DWůĂŶĚƐƚŚĂƚŝƐĐŽŵƉĂƟďůĞǁŝƚŚ
11
both the Urban Wildlife Management Plan and the Grassland Plan
12 ƐƚĂďůŝƐŚƐƉĞĐŝĮĐŝŶĚŝĐĂƚŽƌƐĂŶĚĂĐĐĞƉƚĂďůĞƌĂŶŐĞƐŽĨǀĂƌŝĂƟŽŶƚŽĮůůŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶŐĂƉƐ
Treat non-ŶĂƟǀĞƉůĂŶƚƐƉĞĐŝĞƐŝŶƚŚĞŐƌĂƐƐůĂŶĚƉůĂŶŶŝŶŐĂƌĞĂƵƐŝŶŐĂƉƉƌŽƉƌŝĂƚĞŝŶƚĞŐƌĂƚĞĚƉĞƐƚ
13
management techniques
Establish, maintain, remove and exclude prairie dog colonies in accordance with prairie dog
14
ŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚĚĞƐŝŐŶĂƟŽŶƐ
ŽůůĂďŽƌĂƚĞǁŝƚŚŶĞŝŐŚďŽƌŝŶŐůĂŶĚŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚĂŐĞŶĐŝĞƐƚŽĞƐƚĂďůŝƐŚĐŽŵƉĂƟďůĞůĂŶĚŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ
17
ƉƌĂĐƟĐĞƐ
Create a large block of conserved grassůĂŶĚŝŶƚŚĞŶŽƌƚŚĞƌŶƉŽƌƟŽŶŽĨƚŚĞK^DWůĂŶĚƐLJƐƚĞŵƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ
18
ĂĐƋƵŝƐŝƟŽŶƐĂŶĚŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚĂŐƌĞĞŵĞŶƚƐ͘
WƌŽŵŽƚĞĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶŽĨƚŚĞ'ƌĂƐƐůĂŶĚWůĂŶƚĂƌŐĞƚƐďLJŝŶĐƌĞĂƐŝŶŐĂǁĂƌĞŶĞƐƐŽĨŐƌĂƐƐůĂŶĚǀĂůƵĞƐĂŶĚ
19
ĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶŝƐƐƵĞƐ
27
Strategy
Strategy
#
ŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƚŽƌŵĂŝŶƚĂŝŶŚƵŶƟŶg perches near reservoirs and prairie dog colonies to encourage use by
22
raptors
23 ŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƚĂŶĚŵĂŝŶƚĂŝŶĂůƚĞƌŶĂƚĞŶĞƐƟŶŐƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞƐĨŽƌƐĞŶƐŝƟǀĞƌĂƉƚŽƌƐŝŶďĞƐƚŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƚLJƐŝƚĞƐ
Consider closing, restoring and discouraging the (re) establishment of undesignated trails in areas of
24 ƐƉĞĐŝĂůĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶǀĂůƵĞŽƌƐĞŶƐŝƟǀŝƚLJĂƐƉĂƌƚŽĨƚŚĞd^ƉůĂŶŶŝŶŐƉƌŽĐĞƐƐ͕ĂŶĚŝĨŶĞĐĞƐƐĂƌLJ͕ƉƌŝŽƌƚŽ
TSA planning
Consider establishing on-ůĞĂƐŚƌĞƋƵŝƌĞŵĞŶƚƐŝŶĂƌĞĂƐŽĨƐƉĞĐŝĂůĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶǀĂůƵĞŽƌƐĞŶƐŝƟǀŝƚLJĂs
25
part of the TSA planning process, and, if necessary, prior to TSA planning
ŽŶƐŝĚĞƌƉƌŽǀŝĚŝŶŐĂĚĚŝƟŽŶĂůŶŽ-ĚŽŐŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐƚŽƉƌŽƚĞĐƚĂƌĞĂƐŽĨĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶǀĂůƵĞĂŶĚ
26
ƐĞŶƐŝƟǀŝƚLJĂƐĂƉĂƌƚŽĨd^ƉůĂŶŶŝŶŐ
Establish and support the survival of půĂŝŶƐĐŽƩŽŶǁŽŽĚƐĂŶĚĚŝǀĞƌƐĞĂŶĚĂďƵŶĚĂŶƚƐŚƌƵď
29
ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƟĞƐŝŶƌŝƉĂƌŝĂŶĂƌĞĂƐ
30 Remove trees from grasslands at 75% of best opportunity sites
Treat wetlands dominated by non-ŶĂƟǀĞŽƌŝŶǀĂƐŝǀĞƐƉĞĐŝĞƐƵƐŝŶŐĂƉƉƌŽƉƌŝĂƚĞŝŶƚĞŐƌĂƚĞĚƉĞƐƚ
31
management techniques
32 WĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƚĞŝŶŶĂƟǀĞĮƐŚƌĞĐŽǀĞƌLJĞīŽƌƚƐǁŝƚŚƚŚĞŽůŽƌĂĚŽŝǀŝƐŝŽŶŽĨtŝůĚůŝĨĞ
Assess changes to agricultural and water management in the Northern Grassland Preserve to achieve
35
sustainability of numerous Grassland Plan targets.
Monitoring
The Grassland Plan established the following ŵŽŶŝƚŽƌŝŶŐŽďũĞĐƟǀĞƐ ƚŽƚƌĂĐŬƚŚĞĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶƚĂƌŐĞƚƐ͗
EvaluaƚĞƚŚĞĞīĞĐƟǀĞŶĞƐƐŽĨƚŚĞ
Track the current status ŽĨƚŚĞĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶŝƐƐƵĞƐ͘
Track the current status of ƚŚĞĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶƚĂƌŐĞƚƐǀŝĂďŝůŝƚLJ͘
Appendix D ĐŽŶƚĂŝŶƐĂůŝƐƚŽĨƚŚĞŝŶĚŝĐĂƚŽƌƐƐĞůĞĐƚĞĚƚŽĨƵůĮůůƚŚĞŵŽŶŝƚŽƌŝŶŐŽďũĞĐƟǀĞƐŶŽƚĞĚĂďŽǀĞ͘;K^DWƐƚĂīǁŝůů
ŶĞĞĚƚŽĞƐƚĂďůŝƐŚĂĚĚŝƟŽŶĂůŝŶĚŝĐĂƚŽƌƐƚŽĮůůŝŶŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶŐĂƉƐ͘Ϳ/ŶĂĚĚŝƟŽŶƚŽůŝƐƟŶŐƚŚĞŝŶĚŝĐĂƚŽƌƐ͕Appendix D
summarizes how and when the monitoring will occur, and establishes a priority for the monitoring.
ĐƚƵƌĞ͕ŐƌĂƐƐůĂŶĚŶĞƐƟŶŐďŝƌĚƐ͕
includes those
ĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƚĞĚǁŝƚŚƌĂƌĞƉůĂŶƚƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ͕ƐĞŶƐŝƟǀĞďŝƌĚƐ͕ƉƌĂŝƌŝĞĚŽŐĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƚĞƐ͕ĂŐƌŝĐƵůƚƵƌĂůƉƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶĂŶĚĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶ͕ĂƋƵĂƟĐ
ĨĂƵŶĂůĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƟĞƐĂŶĚŚĂďŝƚĂƚ͕ŶŽŶ-ŶĂƟǀĞƉůĂŶƚƐƉĞĐŝĞƐĂŶĚĮƌĞƌĞƚƵƌŶŝŶƚĞƌǀĂů.
28
K^DWǁŝůůĂůƐŽĐŽŽƌĚŝŶĂƚĞǁŝƚŚŵŽŶŝƚŽƌŝŶŐĂŶĚĚĂƚĂĐŽůůĞĐƟŽŶĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐŽĨŽƚŚĞƌĂŐĞŶĐŝĞƐĂŶĚĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJŐƌŽƵƉƐ͘
VISITOR MASTER PLAN
The Visitor Master Plan (VMP), adopted by City Council in 2005, developed a framework that provides the goals and
ƉŽůŝĐŝĞƐƚŽĚĞůŝǀĞƌƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶĂůĨĂĐŝůŝƟĞƐĂŶĚƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐŝŶĂŵĂŶŶĞƌĐŽŶƐŝƐƚĞŶƚǁŝƚŚƚŚĞĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶŽĨŶĂƚƵƌĂůĂŶĚĐƵůƚƵƌĂů
resources.
The VMP organized OSMP ůĂŶĚƐŝŶƚŽŽŶĞŽĨĨŽƵƌŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚĂƌĞĂĚĞƐŝŐŶĂƟŽŶƐ͘dŚĞŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚĂƌĞĂĚĞƐŝŐŶĂƟŽŶƐ
ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƚŚĞĨƌĂŵĞǁŽƌŬĨŽƌĚĞƚĞƌŵŝŶŝŶŐƚŚĞůĞǀĞůŽĨƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƉƌŽƚĞĐƟŽŶ͕ǁŚĂƚƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶĂůŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐĂƌĞĂůůŽǁĞĚ
and where, and the level of trail and facility development. West Beech ǁĂƐĚĞƐŝŐŶĂƚĞĚĂƐĂ,ĂďŝƚĂƚŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶƌĞĂ
(HCA) and East Beech was designated as a Natural Area. There are goals that apply to the different management areas.
dŚĞĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐƐĞĐƟŽŶƐǁŝll summarize the goals for HCAs and Natural Areas.
,ĂďŝƚĂƚŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶƌĞĂƐ
/Ŷ,ƐƚŚĞĞŵƉŚĂƐŝƐŝƐŽŶƉƌŽƚĞĐƟŶŐŚŝŐŚƋƵĂůŝƚLJŚĂďŝƚĂƚƐǁŚŝůĞƉƌŽǀŝĚŝŶŐĂŵŽƌĞƌĞŵŽƚĞǀŝƐŝƚŽƌĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ͘
dŚĞsDWŝĚĞŶƟĮĞĚϱŐŽĂůƐĨŽƌ,Ɛ͗
DĂŝŶƚĂŝŶ͕ĞŶŚĂŶĐĞ͕ĂŶĚͬŽƌƌĞƐƚŽƌĞŶĂƚƵƌĂůůLJĨƵŶĐƟŽŶŝŶŐĞĐŽůŽŐŝĐĂůƐLJƐƚems.
DĂŝŶƚĂŝŶ͕ĞŶŚĂŶĐĞ͕ĂŶĚƌĞƐƚŽƌĞŚĂďŝƚĂƚĨŽƌƐƉĞĐŝĞƐŽĨĐŽŶĐĞƌŶŝĚĞŶƟĮĞĚŝŶƚŚĞŽƵůĚĞƌŽƵŶƚLJĂŶĚƚŚĞŽƵůĚĞƌ
Valley Comprehensive Plans.
WƌŽǀŝĚĞƉƵďůŝĐĂĐĐĞƐƐĂŶĚƉĂƐƐŝǀĞƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶĂůŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐƚŚĂƚĨŽƐƚĞƌĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶĂŶĚƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐŽĨ
ecoloŐŝĐĂůƐLJƐƚĞŵƐĂŶĚŚĂǀĞŵŝŶŝŵĂůŝŵƉĂĐƚƐŽŶŶĂƟǀĞƉůĂŶƚĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƟĞƐĂŶĚǁŝůĚůŝĨĞŚĂďŝƚĂƚƐŽƌŽƚŚĞƌ
resources.
Eliminate all undesignated trails, unless they are made part of the designated trails system or provide specialized
access to appropriate low-use ĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶƐ͘
tŚĞƌĞƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĂďůĞŝŶĨƌĂƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞĞdžŝƐƚƐ͕ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞƚŽĂůůŽǁƉƵďůŝĐĂĐĐĞƐƐƚŽĂƉƉƌŽƉƌŝĂƚĞĚĞƐƟŶĂƟŽŶƐ͘
Natural Areas
There are varying levels of visitor use in Natural Areas. Natural Areas can be both close to and remote from
development and the cŽŶĚŝƟŽŶƐŽĨŶĂƚƵƌĂůĞĐŽƐLJƐƚĞms are variable--many areas have ecological systems in good
ĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶ͕ƐŽŵĞ have more evidence of human use and impacts.
dŚĞsDWŝĚĞŶƟĮĞĚĨŽƵƌŐŽĂůƐĨŽƌEĂƚƵƌĂůƌĞĂƐ͗
Accommodate low-ŝŵƉĂĐƚǀŝƐŝƚŽƌĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐǁŚĞƌĞadequate trails exist or can be built, and resource impacts can
be minimized.
WƌŽǀŝĚĞŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐĨŽƌƉĂƐƐŝǀĞƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶĂůĂŶĚĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶĂůĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐƚŚĂƚƌĞƋƵŝƌĞ topographic relief or a
ŶĂƚƵƌĂůƐĞƫŶŐ;Ğ͘Ő͕͘ŚĂŶŐͬƉĂƌĂŐůŝĚŝŶŐ͕ĐůŝŵďŝŶŐͬďŽƵůĚĞƌŝŶŐ͕ŶĂƚƵƌe study, scenic viewing).
Protect the quality of natural and agricultural resources (especially where high value resources exist).
Eliminate undesignated trails when they are redundant or damaging to resources.
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The VMP also provides guidance on ŝŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ, and organizes recommended policies and management strategies
ŝŶƚŽŝŶŝƟĂƟǀĞƐ͘ /ŶĐůƵĚĞĚŝŶƚŚĞŝŶŝƟĂƟǀĞƐĂƌĞƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐ͕ƚƌĂŝůƐĂŶĚĨĂĐŝůŝƟĞƐ͕ƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƉƌŽƚĞĐƟŽŶĂŶĚƵƐĞƌ
conflict reducƟŽŶ͘
The policies associated with the ZĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶKƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐ/ŶŝƟĂƟǀĞ are:
Support for High-YƵĂůŝƚLJWĂƐƐŝǀĞZĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶĂŶĚ ĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ͘ &ŽƐƚĞƌǀŝƐŝƚŽƌĞŶũŽLJŵĞŶƚ͕ĐŽŶŶĞĐƟŽŶǁŝƚŚƚŚĞůĂŶĚ͕ĂŶĚ
shared stewardship.
ŝǀĞƌƐĞZĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶĂůKƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐ͘ ŽŶƟŶƵĞƚŽƉƌŽǀŝĚĞĂǁŝĚĞƌĂŶŐĞŽĨƉĂƐƐŝǀĞƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶĂŶĚŽƵƚĚŽŽƌĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ
ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐƚŚĂƚĂƌĞĂƉƉƌŽƉƌŝĂƚĞŝŶĂŶĂƚƵƌĂůĂƌĞĂƐĞƫŶŐĂŶĚĐŽŵƉĂƟďůĞǁŝƚŚƉƌŽƚĞĐƟŽŶŽĨŶĂƚƵƌĂů͕ĂŐƌŝĐƵůƚƵƌĂů͕ĂŶĚ
cultural resources.
Services for People with Disabilities. WƌŽǀŝĚĞƐĞƌǀŝĐĞĂŶĚĨĂĐŝůŝƟĞƐƚŚĂƚĞdžƉĂŶĚŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐĨŽƌƉĞŽƉůĞǁŝƚŚĚŝƐĂďŝůŝƟĞƐ
ƚŽĞŶũŽLJƉĂƐƐŝǀĞƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶĂůĂŶĚĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶĂůĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ͘
The policies and strategies associated with the dƌĂŝůƐĂŶĚ&ĂĐŝůŝƟĞƐ/ŶŝƟĂƟǀĞare:
Support for VisitŽƌdƌĂŝůƐĂŶĚ&ĂĐŝůŝƟĞƐ͘ WƌŽǀŝĚĞƚƌĂŝůƐĂŶĚĨĂĐŝůŝƟĞƐƚŚĂƚƐƵƉƉŽƌƚĂƋƵĂůŝƚLJǀŝƐŝƚŽƌĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞĂŶĚ
ƉƌŽƚĞĐƟŽŶŽĨƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ͘
dƌĂǀĞůKƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐ͘ WƌŽǀŝĚĞŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐĨŽƌǀŝƐŝƚŽƌƚƌĂǀĞůƚŽŵĂũŽƌƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶĂůĚĞƐƟŶĂƟŽŶƐŽŶƐĂĨĞ͕ĞŶũŽLJĂďůĞ͕ĂŶĚ
physically and environmentally sustainable trails that offer a variety of experiences and challenge levels.
On-Trail Travel. ŶĐŽƵƌĂŐĞǀŝƐŝƚŽƌƐƚŽƚƌĂǀĞůŽŶƚƌĂŝůďLJ͗ϭͿƉƌŽǀŝĚŝŶŐĚĞƐŝŐŶĂƚĞĚƚƌĂŝůƐƚŽŵĂũŽƌĚĞƐƟŶĂƟŽŶƐĂŶĚůŝŶŬƐ
between trails that give visiƚŽƌƐŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐĨŽƌůŽŶŐĞƌ-ĚŝƐƚĂŶĐĞƚƌĂŝůĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞƐĂŶĚϮͿƉƌŽǀŝĚŝŶŐĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ͕ƐŝŐŶƐ͕ĂŶĚ
maps.
DƵůƟ-Use Trails. WƌŽǀŝĚĞƚƌĂŝůƐǁŚĞƌĞǀŝƐŝƚŽƌƐĂƌĞƉĞƌŵŝƩĞĚƚŽƚƌĂǀĞůƵƐŝŶŐǀĂƌŝŽƵƐŽƉƟŽŶƐ;Ğ͘Ő͘ŽŶĨŽŽƚ͕ŽŶďŝŬĞ͕ŽŶ
horseback, with dog, etc.), wheŶƚƌĂǀĞůŽƉƟŽŶƐĂƌĞĐŽŵƉĂƟďůĞĂŶĚĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚĂůůLJƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĂďůĞ͘
Loop Trails. WƌŽǀŝĚĞŽƉƟŽŶƐĨŽƌǀŝƐŝƚŽƌƐƚŽƚƌĂǀĞůŽŶůŽŽƉƚƌĂŝůƐ͕ǁŚĞƌĞƉƌĂĐƟĐĂů͕ĨĞĂƐŝďůĞ͕ĂŶĚĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚĂůůLJ
sustainable.
Physical Accessibility. Design trails and other visitor faĐŝůŝƟĞƐƚŽďĞĂĐĐĞƐƐŝďůĞĨŽƌƉĞŽƉůĞǁŝƚŚĚŝƐĂďŝůŝƟĞƐǁŚĞŶĂŶĚ
where appropriate.
Trailheads. Provide safe and convenient trailheads, with periodic refurbishment or redesign as visitor needs change.
ůƚĞƌŶĂƟǀĞDŽĚĞƐ͘ WƌŽǀŝĚĞĨĂĐŝůŝƟĞƐĂŶĚƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐƚŽ ǀŝƐŝƚŽƌƐƚŽĞŶĐŽƵƌĂŐĞƚŚĞŝƌƵƐĞŽĨĂůƚĞƌŶĂƚĞƚƌĂŶƐƉŽƌƚĂƟŽŶŵŽĚĞƐ
(e.g. bike racks, co-ůŽĐĂƟŽŶŽĨƚƌĂŝůŚĞĂĚƐĂŶĚƚƌĂŶƐŝƚƐƚŽƉƐ͕ĞƚĐ͘Ϳ
/ŶĨƌĂƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞWƌŝŽƌŝƟĞƐ͘ Give priority to visitor infrastructure improvements that provide for visitor safety, maintain
ĞdžŝƐƟŶŐƚƌĂŝůƐĂŶĚĨĂĐŝůŝƟĞƐ͕ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞƉŚLJƐŝĐĂůĂŶĚĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚĂůƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĂďŝůŝƚLJ͕ĂŶĚƉƌŽƚĞĐƚƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ͘ƵŝůĚŶĞǁƚƌĂŝůƐ
ĂŶĚĨĂĐŝůŝƟĞƐ͕ĂƐŶĞĞĚĞĚĂŶĚĂƐĮŶĂŶĐŝĂůƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐĂůůŽǁ͘
Sustainable Maintenance. Implement a trail and facility maintenance ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵƚŚĂƚŝƐĐŽƐƚĞīĞĐƟǀĞŝŶŵĞĞƟŶŐ
sustainability standards over the long term.
&ĂĐŝůŝƚLJ>ŽĐĂƟŽŶĂŶĚĞƐŝŐŶ͘ >ŽĐĂƚĞĂŶĚĚĞƐŝŐŶƚƌĂŝůƐĂŶĚĨĂĐŝůŝƟĞƐƚŚĂƚĂƌĞƉŚLJƐŝĐĂůůLJĂŶĚĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚĂůůLJƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĂďůĞ͕
with the following requirements: Under normally scheduled maintenance and normal wear and tear, the trail or facility
ƌĞŵĂŝŶƐŝŶĂŶĂĐĐĞƉƚĂďůĞĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶƚŚĂƚƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƐŝŶƚĞŶĚĞĚĂĐĐĞƐƐ͕ƐĂĨĞƚLJ͕ĂŶĚǀŝƐŝƚŽƌĞŶũŽLJŵĞŶƚĂŶĚŵŝŶŝŵŝnjĞƐŶĞŐĂƟǀĞ
impacts on the environment such as accelerated drainage, erosion, spread of weeds, and others.
/ŶƚĞŐƌĂƟŽŶ͘ /ŶƚĞŐƌĂƚĞƚŚĞŐŽĂůƐŽĨĞŶŐĞŶĚĞƌŝŶŐƐƚĞǁĂƌĚƐŚŝƉ͕ĂĞƐƚŚĞƟĐƐ͕ĂŶĚƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƉƌŽƚĞĐƟŽŶŝŶƚŽƚƌĂŝůĂŶĚĨĂĐŝůŝƚLJ
design.
Funding for Infrastructure. Increase the overall level of funding for maintenance and construĐƟŽŶŽĨƚƌĂŝůƐĂŶĚŽƚŚĞƌ
infrastructure.
The policies associated with the ZĞƐŽƵƌĐĞWƌŽƚĞĐƟŽŶ/ŶŝƟĂƟǀĞ are:
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ZĞƐŽƵƌĐĞWƌŽƚĞĐƟŽŶ͘ WhiůĞƐƵƉƉŽƌƟŶŐŚŝŐŚ-ƋƵĂůŝƚLJǀŝƐŝƚŽƌŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐ͕ƚĂŬĞĂĐƟŽŶƐƚŽƉƌĞǀĞŶƚƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞĚĞŐƌĂĚĂƟŽŶ
ĂŶĚƐƵƉƉŽƌƚƌĞƐƚŽƌĂƟŽŶŽĨŶĂƟǀĞƉŽƉƵůĂƟŽŶƐĂŶĚĞĐŽůŽŐŝĐĂůƐLJƐƚĞŵƐ͘dŚĞŵŝŶŝŵƵŵŽďũĞĐƟǀĞŽĨŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚĂĐƟŽŶƐŝƐ
ƟĞƐŵĂLJ͕ǁŝůů͕ŽƌĐould harm the environment, OSMP shall avoid, minimize,
ĂŶĚŵŝƟŐĂƚĞŝŵƉĂĐƚƐ͘ZĞƐƚƌŝĐƟŶŐǀŝƐŝƚŽƌĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐǁŝůůďĞĂůĂƐƚƌĞƐŽƌƚ͘
Sustainability. ^ƵƉƉŽƌƚŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚĂĐƟŽŶƐƚŚĂƚĞŶƐƵƌĞůŽŶŐ ƚĞƌŵ͕ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĂďůĞƉĂƐƐŝǀĞƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶĂůĞdžƉĞriences and
natural values. To be sustainable in the long-term, visitor use must not:
Degrade the integrity and diversity of natural, agricultural, and cultural resources
ĞƚƌĂĐƚĨƌŽŵƚŚĞƋƵĂůŝƚLJŽĨƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶĂůĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ
Overwhelm the capacity of faciliƟĞƐƚŽƉƌŽǀŝĚĞĂĐĐĞƉƚĂďůĞůĞǀĞůƐŽĨƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ
DĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚƐƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĞƐǁŝůůďĞĚŝƌĞĐƚĞĚĂƚĞŶƐƵƌŝŶŐƚŚĂƚĨƵƚƵƌĞƉĂƐƐŝǀĞƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶĂůĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞƐĂŶĚƚŚĞĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶŽĨƚŚĞ
ŶĂƚƵƌĂůĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚĂƌĞŽĨƚŚĞƐĂŵĞƋƵĂůŝƚLJŽƌďĞƩĞƌƚŚĂŶƚŚĞLJĂƌĞƚŽĚĂLJ͘
Managed Access. Strengthen management of visitor access to maintain acceptable, and reduce unacceptable,
ĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶƐƌĞůĂƚĞĚƚŽƚŚĞǀŝƐŝƚŽƌĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ͕ǀŝƐŝƚŽƌŝŶĨƌĂƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞ͕ĂŶĚƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƉƌŽƚĞĐƟŽŶ͘/ŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚĂƐLJƐƚĞŵŽĨ
both the visitor experience and resources.
WƌŽƚĞĐƟŽŶŽĨ^ĞŶƐŝƟǀĞƌĞĂƐ͘ ŝƌĞĐƚǀŝƐŝƚŽƌƵƐĞƚŽĂƉƉƌŽƉƌŝĂƚĞĂƌĞĂƐĂŶĚĂǁĂLJĨƌŽŵƐĞŶƐŝƟǀĞĂƌĞĂƐ͘^ŽŵĞƵƐĞƐŽƌůĞǀĞůƐ
of visitor use may need to be limited or not allowed, in order to protect natural, agricultural, and cultural resources.
ĞƐŝŐŶĂƟŽŶŽĨĐƟǀŝƚLJƌĞĂƐ͘ ĞƐŝŐŶĂƚĞĂƉƉƌŽƉƌŝĂƚĞĂƌĞĂƐĨŽƌƐƉĞĐŝĮĐƉĂƐƐŝǀĞƌĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶĂůĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐĂŶĚŝĚĞŶƟĨLJĂƌĞĂƐ
ǁŚĞƌĞƐƉĞĐŝĮĐĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐĂƌĞŶŽƚĂƉƉƌŽƉƌŝĂƚĞĂŶĚǁŝůůďĞƉƌŽŚŝďŝƚĞĚ͕ŝŶŽƌĚĞƌƚŽƉƌŽƚĞĐƚƚŚĞƋƵĂůŝƚy of visitor experience
and preserve and protect resources.
ZĞƐŽƵƌĐĞŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶĞƐŝŐŶ͘ /ŶƚĞŐƌĂƚĞƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶŐŽĂůƐŝŶƚŽŐƵŝĚĞůŝŶĞƐĨŽƌĨĂĐŝůŝƚLJĚĞƐŝŐŶ͕ĐŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƟŽŶ͕
ĂŶĚŵĂŝŶƚĞŶĂŶĐĞŽĨƚƌĂŝůƐ͕ƚƌĂŝůŚĞĂĚƐ͕ĂŶĚŽƚŚĞƌǀŝƐŝƚŽƌĨĂĐŝůŝƟĞƐ͘
Special Use and Commercial Use. /ŵƉůĞŵĞŶƚĂĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƟǀĞŽǀĞƌƐŝŐŚƚŽĨƐƉĞĐŝĂůƵƐĞĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐĂŶĚĐŽŵŵĞƌĐŝĂů
ŽƉĞƌĂƟŽŶƐƚŚƌŽƵŐŚĚŝƐĐƌĞƟŽŶĂƌLJƉĞƌŵŝƚƉƌŽĐĞƐƐĞƐ͘
ZĞǀŝĞǁŽĨEĞǁĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ͘ opriate on OSMP
lands.
WƌĞƌĞƋƵŝƐŝƚĞƐĨŽƌEĞǁWƌŽƉĞƌƟĞƐ͘ Complete site management plans and provide appropriate infrastructure for newly
ĂĐƋƵŝƌĞĚƉƌŽƉĞƌƟĞƐďĞĨŽƌĞŽƉĞŶŝŶŐƚŚĞŵĨŽƌƉƵďůŝĐĂĐĐĞƐƐ͘
ŽŵƉĞƟƟǀĞ ǀĞŶƚƐ͘ WƌŽŚŝďŝƚĐŽŵƉĞƟƟǀĞĞǀĞŶƚƐŽŶKƉĞŶ^pace and Mountain Parks lands because of unacceptable
visitor and resource impacts.
The policies associated with the User ŽŶŇŝĐƚZĞĚƵĐƟŽŶ /ŶŝƟĂƟǀĞ are:
ŽŶŇŝĐƚZĞĚƵĐƟŽŶĂŵŽŶŐsŝƐŝƚŽƌĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ͘ WƌŽǀŝĚĞĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶĂŶĚŽƵƚƌĞĂĐŚƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ͕ƉƵďůŝĐŝnjĞĂŶĚĞŶĨŽƌĐĞƌĞŐƵůĂƟŽŶƐ͕
and construct infrastructure improvements that reduce conflict among visitors.
dĂƌŐĞƚĞĚƌĞĂƐĨŽƌŽŶŇŝĐƚZĞĚƵĐƟŽŶ͘ Target efforts aimed at reducing visitor conflicts to areas with concentrated
ǀŝƐŝƚŽƌƵƐĞŽƌĐŽŶŐƌĞŐĂƟŽŶŽĨƐƉĞĐŝĮĐĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐƚŚĂƚŵĂLJůĞĂĚƚŽĐŽŶŇŝĐƚ͘
33
LC
ITERATURE ITED
City of Boulder. 1995. Open Space Long Range Management Policies. City of Boulder Open Space Department, Boulder,
Colorado. Available from
ŚƩƉ͗ͬͬǁǁǁ͘ďŽƵůĚĞƌĐŽůŽƌĂĚŽ͘ŐŽǀͬĮůĞƐͬŽƉĞŶƐƉĂĐĞͬƉĚĨͺƉůĂŶƐͬůŽŶŐͺƌĂŶŐĞͺŵŐŵƚ͘ƉĚĨ (accessed June 2013)
City of Boulder. 2005a. Visitor Master Plan. City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, Boulder Colorado.
Available from
ŚƩƉ͗ͬͬǁǁǁ͘ďŽƵůĚĞƌĐŽůŽƌĂĚŽ͘ŐŽǀͬĮůĞƐͬŽƉĞŶƐƉĂĐĞͬƉĚĨͺsDWͬ&ŝŶĂů-VMP.pdf (accessed June 2013)
City of Boulder. 2005b. Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan. City of Boulder Development and Planning Services,
Boulder, Colorado. Available from
ŚƩƉ͗ͬͬǁǁǁ͘ďŽƵůĚĞƌĐŽůŽƌĂĚŽ͘ŐŽǀͬĮůĞƐͬW^ͬďǀĐƉϮϬϭϬͬďǀĐƉϮϬϭϬ͘ƉĚĨ (accessed June 2013)
City of Boulder. 2005c. Marshall Mesa-Southern Grasslands Trail Study Area Plan. City of Boulder, Open Space and
Mountain Parks, Boulder, Colorado. Available from
ŚƩƉ͗ͬͬǁǁǁ͘ďŽƵůĚĞƌĐŽůŽƌĂĚŽ͘ŐŽǀͬĮůĞƐͬŽƉĞŶƐƉĂĐĞͬƉĚĨͺd^DĂƌƐŚĂůůͬDD-SG-ƌĂŌ-plan-final-version.pdf (accessed June
2013)
City of Boulder. 2008. Grassland Ecosystem Management Plan. City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks,
Boulder, Colorado. Available from
ŚƩƉ͗ͬͬǁǁǁ͘ďŽƵůĚĞƌĐŽůŽƌĂĚŽ͘ŐŽǀͬĮůĞƐͬŽƉĞŶƐƉĂĐĞͬƉĚĨͺŐƌĂƐƐůĂŶĚͺƉůĂŶͬ&ŝŶĂůͺ'ƌĂƐƐůĂŶĚͺWůĂŶͺŽŵƉůĞƚĞϭ͘ƉĚĨ (accessed
June 2013)
Heaslet, Gary, Wilder, Dean G. 1970. Six-Mile Fold Natural Area Study. Department of Geography, University of
Colorado, Boulder Colorado.
,ŽĞŬƐƚƌĂ͕:͘D͘ŽƵĐŚĞƌ͕d͘,͘ZŝĐŬĞƩƐ͕ĂŶĚĂƌƚĞƌZŽďĞƌƚƐ͘ϮϬϬϱ͘ŽŶĨƌŽŶƟŶŐĂďŝŽŵĞĐƌŝƐŝƐ͗ŐůŽďĂůĚŝƐƉĂƌŝƟĞƐof habitat
ůŽƐƐĂŶĚƉƌŽƚĞĐƟŽŶ͘ ĐŽůŽŐLJ>ĞƩĞƌϴ͗Ϯϯ-29.
Hoogland, J.L. 1995. The Black-tailed Prairie Dog: Social Life of a burrowing Mammal. The University of Chicago Press,
Chicago, Illinois.
<ŽƚŚĞƌĂ͕>͘ϮϬϬϲ͘WŽƉƵůĂƟŽŶŐĞŶĞƟĐƐĂŶĚŝŶĐŝĚĞŶĐĞŽĨŚLJďƌŝĚŝnjĂƟŽŶŝŶƚŚĞƌĂƌĞŽůŽƌĂĚŽĞŶĚĞŵŝĐƉůĂŶƚPhysaria bellii.
WŚ͘͘ĚŝƐƐĞƌƚĂƟŽŶ͕ŽůŽƌĂĚŽ^ƚĂƚĞhŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ͕&ŽƌƚŽůůŝŶƐ͕ŽůŽƌĂĚŽ͘
<ŽƚůŝĂƌE͕͘͘͘t͘ĂŬĞƌ͕͘͘tŚŝĐŬĞƌ͕ĂŶĚ'͘WůƵŵď͘ϭϵϵϵ͘ĐƌŝƟĐĂůƌĞǀŝĞǁŽĨĂƐƐƵŵƉƟŽŶƐĂďŽƵƚƚŚĞƉƌĂŝƌŝĞĚŽŐas a
keystone species. Environmental Management 24:177-192.
34
APPENDIX A: BOULDER COUNTY AND CITY OF BOULDER JOINTLY OWNED OPEN SPACE
MANAGEMENT INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
APPENDIX B: BEECH LEGAL DESCRIPTION
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
AC
PPENDIX : SUMMARY OF GROUND WATER CONTAMINATION AND MONITORING
dŚĞĐŽŶƚĂŵŝŶĂƟŽŶŽŶƚŚĞĞĞĐŚƉƌŽƉĞƌƚLJĞĂƐƚŽĨ&ŽŽƚŚŝůůƐ,ŝŐŚǁĂLJǁĂƐŝĚĞŶƟĮĞĚŝŶϭϵϵϭ͕ĂŶĚŝƐĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƚĞĚǁŝƚŚĂŶ
area of natural ground-water discharge, referred to as the Seep #1 / Seep # 2 area (Figure 16). In this area, shallow
downvalley ground-ǁĂƚĞƌŇŽǁǁŝƚŚŝŶƚŚĞhŶŶĂŵĞĚƌĂŝŶĂŐĞŝƐĨŽƌĐĞĚƚŽƚŚĞƐƵƌĨĂĐĞĂƐĂƌĞƐƵůƚŽĨĂĐŽŶƐƚƌŝĐƟŽŶŝŶƚŚĞ
depth and width of the valley floor associated with a prominent limestone bed at the top of the Niobrara/base of the
Pierre Shale. Ground-ǁĂƚĞƌĚŝƐĐŚĂƌŐĞŝŶƚŚŝƐĂƌĞĂĐŽŶƚĂŝŶƐůŽǁĐŽŶĐĞŶƚƌĂƟŽŶƐŽĨƚƌŝĐŚůŽƌŽĞƚŚĞŶĞ;d Ϳ͕ĂŶĚŝƚƐ
ĚĞĐŽŵƉŽƐŝƟŽŶƉƌŽĚƵĐƚĐŝƐ-1,2-dichloroethene (cis-1,2-DCE), and vinyl chloride.
A second area of ground-water discharge, Seep 5 (Figure 16) was discovered in 2002, on the Beech property north of the
ĨŽƌŵĞƌĞĞĐŚŝƌĐƌĂŌŽƌƉŽƌĂƟŽŶ;&ŽŽƚŚŝůůƐƵƐŝŶĞƐƐWĂƌŬͿ͘^ĞĞƉηϱŝƐůŽĐĂƚĞĚǁŝƚŚŝŶƚŚĞďŽƩŽŵŽĨĂƌĂǀine near the
toe of the Six-DŝůĞ&ŽůĚŶƟĐůŝŶĞ͘dŚĞĚŝƐĐŚĂƌŐĞĂƚƚŚŝƐůŽĐĂƟŽŶŝƐĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƚĞĚǁŝƚŚĂĚĞĞƉĞƌ͕ĐŽŶĮŶĞĚŐƌŽƵŶĚ-water flow
ƐLJƐƚĞŵǁŝƚŚŝŶƚŚĞ&Žƌƚ,ĂLJƐ>ŝŵĞƐƚŽŶĞĂŶĚŽĚĞůů^ĂŶĚƐƚŽŶĞĂŶĚĐŽŶƚĂŝŶƐĞůĞǀĂƚĞĚĐŽŶĐĞŶƚƌĂƟŽŶƐŽĨd ͕ĐŝƐ-1,2-DCE,
and 1,1,2-trifluoroethane (Freon 113).
In order to address the off-ƐŝƚĞŵŝŐƌĂƟŽŶŽĨǀŽůĂƟůĞŽƌŐĂŶŝĐĐŽŶƐƟƚƵĞŶƚƐ;sKƐͿŝŶƚŚĞƐŚĂůůŽǁŐƌŽƵŶĚ-water flow
ƐLJƐƚĞŵǁŝƚŚŝŶƚŚĞƵŶŶĂŵĞĚƌĂŝŶĂŐĞ͕ZĂLJƚŚĞŽŶŝƌĐƌĂŌŽŵƉĂŶLJ;ZͿŝŶƐƚĂůůĞĚĂŶĚĐŽŶƟŶƵĞƐƚŽŽƉĞƌĂƚĞŵŝƟŐĂƟŶŐ
ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞƐ͘dŚĞĮƌƐƚŽĨƚŚĞŵŝƟŐĂƟŶŐŵĞĂƐƵƌĞƐĂƌĞϭϵĞdžƚƌĂĐƟŽŶǁĞůůƐǁŚŝĐŚĂƌĞŽƉĞƌĂƚĞĚƚŽŵĂŝŶƚĂŝŶŚLJĚƌĂƵůŝĐ
containment and for source removal. The wells are located in the primary source area which is a former surface
impoundment used fƌŽŵƚŚĞŵŝĚϭϵϲϬƐƵŶƟůĂďŽƵƚϭϵϴϬĨŽƌƚŚĞĚŝƐƉŽƐĂůŽĨƉƌŽĐĞƐƐǁĂƐƚĞƐ͘dŚĞƐĞĐŽŶĚŵŝƟŐĂƟŶŐ
ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞĐŽŶƐŝƐƚƐŽĨĨŽƵƌĞdžƚƌĂĐƟŽŶǁĞůůƐůŽĐĂƚĞĚĂƚƚŚĞĚŽǁŶ-gradient property boundary to intercept down-valley
ground-water flow within the Unnamed Drainage.
There are also three monitoring wells both directly upgradient and downgradient of Seeps #1 and #2. The upgradient
ǁĞůůƐǁĞƌĞŝŶƐƚĂůůĞĚƚŽĂƐƐĞƐƐƚŚĞĚĞƉƚŚŽĨĐŽŶƚĂŵŝŶĂƟŽŶĂŶĚƚŽŵŽŶŝƚŽƌŐƌŽƵŶĚǁĂƚĞƌƋƵĂůŝƚLJ͘dŚĞĚŽǁŶŐƌĂĚŝĞŶƚǁĞůůƐ
were installed to assess the extent of the water quality impact within the Unnamed Drainage. As part of the ongoing
way along U.S. 36 and Neva Road, to mŝŶŝŵŝnjĞĚƌŝůůŝŶŐĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐŽŶKƉĞŶ^ƉĂĐĞ͘
dŚĞǁĞůůůŽĐĂƟŽŶƐ͕ƐŝƚĞĂĐĐĞƐƐ͕ĚƌŝůůŝŶŐĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶƐĂŶĚƉƌŽĐĞĚƵƌĞƐ͕ŵĂƚĞƌŝĂůŚĂŶĚůŝŶŐĂŶĚĚŝƐƉŽƐĂů͕ĚƌŝůůƐŝƚĞƌĞĐůĂŵĂƟŽŶ
and other details were agreed upon by Harlan & Associates, Inc., the monitoring contractor and OSMP.
dŚĞŵŽŶŝƚŽƌŝŶŐƌĞƐƵůƚƐŚĂǀĞŝŶĚŝĐĂƚĞĚƚŚĂƚƚŚĞĐŽŶĐĞŶƚƌĂƟŽŶƐŽĨsKƐŝŶƚŚĞŐƌŽƵŶĚǁĂƚĞƌĚŝƐĐŚĂƌŐŝŶŐĂƚƚŚĞƐĞĞƉƐĂƌĞ
ĐŽŶƟŶƵŝŶŐƚŽĚĞĐůŝŶĞŽǀĞƌƟŵĞ͘
51
AD
PPENDIX : KEY ATTRIBUTES AND INDICATORS FOR THE GRASSLAND PLAN TARGETS FOUND ON BEECH
Target <ĞLJƩƌŝďƵƚĞƐ
Indicators
R
ŶŝŵĂů^ƉĞĐŝĞƐŽŵƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ
WĞƌĐĞŶƚŽĐĐƵƌƌĞŶĐĞŽĨƐĞŶƐŝƟǀĞďƵƩĞƌŇŝĞƐĂŶĚƐŬŝƉƉĞƌƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ
R
WĞƌĐĞŶƚŽĐĐƵƌƌĞŶĐĞŽĨŐƌĂƐƐůĂŶĚĚĞƉĞŶĚĞŶƚďƵƩĞƌŇŝĞƐĂŶĚƐŬŝƉƉĞƌƐƉĞĐŝĞs
R
WĞƌĐĞŶƚƚĂƌŐĞƚǁŝƚŚĂĐĐĞƉƚĂďůĞďŝƌĚĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶƐĐŽƌĞ
R
Block/Complex Size
^ŝnjĞͬĚŝƐƚƌŝďƵƟŽŶŽĨďůŽĐŬƐ
R
Fire Regime
Percent of target area experiencing an appropriate fire return interval
R
,ĂďŝƚĂƚ īĞĐƟǀĞŶĞƐƐ
WƌŽƉŽƌƟŽŶŽĨŚĂďŝƚĂƚďůŽĐŬƐŽǀĞƌϭϬϬŚĂǁŝƚŚsinging male grasshopper
R
Mixedgrass Prairie Mosaic
sparrows
sĞŐĞƚĂƟŽŶŽŵƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ
Percent of target dominated by non-ŶĂƟǀĞƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ
R
Percent of target with prevalence of non-ŶĂƟǀĞƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ
R
EĂƟǀĞƐƉĞĐŝĞƐƌĞůĂƟǀĞĐŽǀĞƌ
R
EĂƟǀĞƐƉĞĐŝĞƐƌŝĐŚŶĞƐƐ
R
R
RichŶĞƐƐŽĨƐĞůĞĐƚĞĚĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟǀĞƉůĂŶƚƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ
R
sĞŐĞƚĂƟŽŶ^ƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞ
Absolute cover bare ground
R
ŶŝŵĂů^ƉĞĐŝĞƐŽŵƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ
WĞƌĐĞŶƚŽĐĐƵƌƌĞŶĐĞŽĨŐƌĂƐƐůĂŶĚĚĞƉĞŶĚĞŶƚΘƐĞŶƐŝƟǀĞlepidopteron (2)
R
Percent target with acceptable bird conseƌǀĂƟŽŶƐĐŽƌĞ
R
ZĞůĂƟǀĞĐŽǀĞƌŽĨŚŽƐƚƉůĂŶƚƐĨŽƌƐŬŝƉƉĞƌͬďƵƩĞƌŇLJƐƉĞĐŝĞƐŽĨĐŽŶĐĞƌŶ
R
Block/Complex Size
^ŝnjĞͬĚŝƐƚƌŝďƵƟŽŶŽĨďůŽĐŬƐ
R
Fire Regime
Percent of target area experiencing an appropriate fire return interval
R
sĞŐĞƚĂƟŽŶŽŵƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ
Percent of target dominated by non-ŶĂƟǀĞƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ
R
Xeric Tallgrass Prairie
Percent of target with prevalence of non-ŶĂƟǀĞƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ
R
EĂƟǀĞƐƉĞĐŝĞƐƌĞůĂƟǀĞĐŽǀĞƌ
R
EĂƟǀĞƐƉĞĐŝĞƐƌŝĐŚŶĞƐƐ
R
^ŝnjĞŽĨŐƌĂƐƐLJƐůŽƉĞƐĞĚŐĞƉŽƉƵůĂƟŽŶƐ
R
^ŝnjĞŽĨĚǁĂƌĨůĞĂĚƉůĂŶƚƉŽƉƵůĂƟŽŶƐ
R
^ŝnjĞŽĨƉƌĂŝƌŝĞǀŝŽůĞƚƉŽƉƵůĂƟŽŶ
R
RichnĞƐƐŽĨƐĞůĞĐƚĞĚĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟǀĞƉůĂŶƚƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ
R
sĞŐĞƚĂƟŽŶ^ƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞ
Absolute cover bare ground
R
Black-tailed Prairie Dog & ŶŝŵĂů^ƉĞĐŝĞƐŽŵƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ
Associates Number of colonies with successful burrowing owl nests
R
53
Target <ĞLJƩƌŝďƵƚĞƐ
Indicators
R
WƌĞĚĂƚŽƌĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJĐŽŵƉŽƐŝƟŽŶͬĂďƵŶĚĂŶĐĞ
R
Percent of colonies with territorial horned larks
R
Block/Complex Size
Acres occupied by prairie dogs
R
Prairie Dog Occupancy
Percent of total occupied land in protected status
R
Percent of grassland preserves with occupancy between 10 and 26%
R
Animal SƉĞĐŝĞƐŽŵƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ
EĂƟǀĞĨƌŽŐƉƌĞƐĞŶĐĞ
R
ŽŶŶĞĐƟǀŝƚLJ
Buffer width
R
Distance to nearest wetland / riparian area
R
Undesignated trail density in northern leopard frog habitat blocks
R
Hydrologic Regime
Wetlands sĞŐĞƚĂƟŽŶŽŵƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ
Management of Ute ladies-tresses orchid habitat
R
WĞƌĐĞŶƚŽĨƚĂƌŐĞƚĚŽŵŝŶĂƚĞĚďLJĞdžŽƟĐƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ
R
WĞƌĐĞŶƚŽĨƚĂƌŐĞƚǁŝƚŚƉƌĞǀĂůĞŶĐĞŽĨĞdžŽƟĐƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ
R
EĂƟǀĞƐƉĞĐŝĞƐƌĞůĂƟǀĞĐŽǀĞƌ
R
Water Quality
Total phosphorus
R
Secchi disk depth
R
ŶŝŵĂů^ƉĞĐŝĞƐŽŵƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ
ŝƌĚĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶƐĐŽƌĞ
R
FiƐŚŝŶĚĞdžŽĨďŝŽƟĐŝŶƚĞŐƌŝƚLJ
R
DĂĐƌŽŝŶǀĞƌĞďƌĂƚĞŝŶĚĞdžŽĨďŝŽƟĐŝŶƚĞŐƌŝƚLJ
R
EĂƟǀĞĨƌŽŐƉƌĞƐĞŶĐĞ
R
^ƵďŵĞƌŐĞĚĂƋƵĂƟĐŶƵŝƐĂŶĐĞƐƉĞĐŝĞƐƌŝĐŚŶĞƐƐ;Ϭ͘ϱ) (ƐĞĞsĞŐĞƚĂƟŽŶŽŵƉ͘Ϳ
R
ŽŶŶĞĐƟǀŝƚLJ
Buffer width
R
Distance to nearest wetland/riparian area
R
Undesignated trail density in northern leopard frog habitat blocks
R
Impediments to fish passage (#)
R
Riparian Areas
,ĂďŝƚĂƚ īĞĐƟǀĞŶĞƐƐ
EƵŵďĞƌŽĨĂĐƟǀĞďĂůĚĞĂŐůĞŶĞƐƚƐŝƚĞƐ
R
Habitat Structure
Physical instream and riparian metric
R
Hydrologic Regime
Instream flow
R
Number of over-bank flooding events
R
sĞŐĞƚĂƟŽŶŽŵƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ
Management of Ute ladies-tresses orchid habitat
R
Percent of target dominated by non-ŶĂƟǀĞƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ
R
Percent of target with prevalence of non-ŶĂƟǀĞƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ
R
54
Target <ĞLJƩƌŝďƵƚĞƐ
Indicators
R
EĂƟǀĞƐƉĞĐŝĞƐƌĞůĂƟǀĞĐŽǀĞƌ
R
WƌĞƐĞŶĐĞŽĨƉŽƉƵůĂƟŽŶƐŽĨhƚĞůĂĚŝĞƐ-tresses orchid
R
sĞŐĞƚĂƟŽŶ^ƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞ
ŽƩŽŶǁŽŽĚƌĞŐĞŶĞƌĂƟŽŶ
R
Water Quality
Total phosphorus
R
Dissolved oxygen
R
55
56
AE:
PPENDIX MONITORING INDICATORS (GRASSLAND PLAN)
Indicators Priority Methods Frequency and Timing Who monitors
Point intercept Sampling season: July 15-
method along 50 August 31 Frequency:
Absolute cover bare Very
m transects plus Annually for two years
staff, contractors
ground High
complete species then three to five years
list from 100 m break repeating pattern
2
Aural sampling season:
depends on species but
Visual encounter generally late March
Native frog presence in Very surveys augmented through July Visual
staff, volunteers
suitable habitat High with aural encounter sampling
season: July through mid-
breeding surveys
September Frequency:
Annual for both
Point intercept Sampling season: July 15-
method along 50 August 31 Frequency:
Native species relative Very
m transects plus Annually for two years staff, contractors
cover High
complete species then three to five years
list from 100 m break repeating pattern
2
Point intercept Sampling season: July 15-
method along 50 August 31 Frequency:
Very
Native species richness m transects plus Annually for two years staff, contractors
High
complete species then three to five years
list from 100 m break repeating pattern
2
Percent of occupied land
in Grassland Preserves, GPS mapping of Sampling season: August-
Very
Multiple Objective Areas prairie dog November Frequency:
staff, volunteers
High
or Prairie Dog colonies Annual
Conservation Areas.
Percent of target with Sampling season: May
Very Distance sampling
acceptable bird 15-July 15 Frequency: staff
High of line transects
conservation score TBD
Proportion of habitat
Sampling season: May
blocks over 100 ha with Very Distance sampling
15-July 15 Frequency:
staff
singing male High line transects
TBD
grasshopper sparrows
Relative cover of host Point intercept Sampling season: July 15-
plants for method along 50 August 31 Frequency:
Very
skipper/butterfly species m transects plus Annually for two years
staff, contractors
High
of concern (big bluestem complete species then three to five years
and little bluestem) list from 100 m break repeating pattern
2
57
Indicators Priority Methods Frequency and Timing Who monitors
Point intercept Sampling season: July 15-
Richness of selected method along 50 August 31 Frequency:
Very
conservative plant m transects plus Annually for two years staff, contractors
High
complete species then three to five years
species
list from 100 m break repeating pattern
2
Acres in agricultural
High Database analysis Annual report staff
production
Average derived PIF Sampling season: May-
score of sampled sites Fixed distance July Frequency: Every
High staff, volunteers
within selected other year or every third
point counts
drainages year
Grassland preserves
GPS mapping of Sampling: August-
with occupancy of
High prairie dog November Frequency: staff, volunteers
prairie dogs between
colonies Annual
10 and 26%
Methods
Fish index of biotic developed during Sampling: TBD Frequency:
High staff, CDOW
integrity (IBI) recent EMAP Once every five years
project
Impediments to fish
High GIS analysis Annual report staff
passage
Methods
Sampling: Mid-summer
Macroinvertebrate index developed during staff, CDOW,
Frequency: Once every
High
of biotic integrity (IBI) recent EMAP contractors
five years
project
Number of active bald Sampling season: Nov. 1
eagle nest sites in the through July 31
High Visual observation staff, volunteers
Grassland Planning Area Frequency: Annual
Number of prairie dog
Sampling season: March -
colonies with successful staff, possibly
October Frequency:
High Visual observation
nesting attempts by volunteers
Annual
burrowing owls
Percent of target area Mapping will occur after
GPS mapping and
experiencing a 5-30 High fires. Analysis will occur staff
GIS analysis
year fire return on an annual basis.
Percent of target area Mapping will occur after
GPS mapping and
experiencing a 5-10 High fires. Analysis will occur staff
GIS analysis
year fire return on an annual basis.
58
Indicators Priority Methods Frequency and Timing Who monitors
Percent of target Sampling season: late
dominated by exotic June-early August
High RAM staff
species (Rapid Frequency: Once every
Assessment Mapping) five-ten years
Percent of target with Sampling season: late
prevalence of exotic June-early August
High RAM staff
species (Rapid Frequency: Once every
Assessment Mapping) five-ten years
Sampling season: June-
Methods outlined in
Physical instream and October (growing season)
High Barbour et al. staff
Frequency: Once every
riparian habitat metric
1999
five years.
Predator community Sampling season: TBD
High Visual observation staff, volunteers
composition/abundance Frequency: Annual
Sampling season: NA
Undesignated trail
Frequency: Once every
density within 200meters
High GIS analysis five years - on the same staff
of northern leopard frog
cycle as undesignated
habitat blocks
trail mapping
Sampling season: NA
Size distribution of large
Frequency: Once every
High GIS analysis staff
blocks
five years
CNHP/OSMP rare Season: June Frequency:
Size of grassyslope
High plant census once every five years staff, volunteers
sedge populations
methods (minimum)
Visual obstruction
Modified Robel
vegetation height-
pole or similar
High TBD staff, contractors
density (Robel pole
methodology
measure)
Buffer width (vegetated
Visual estimation or
area within 100 m of a
Medium TBD staff
measurement
creek)
Buffer width (vegetated
Visual estimation or
area within 100 m of the
Medium TBD staff
measurement
wetland)
Cottonwood
Medium Plots TBD staff
regeneration
59
Indicators Priority Methods Frequency and Timing Who monitors
Distance to nearest
Medium GIS analysis TBD staff
wetland or riparian area
Irrigable land leased for GIS and database
Medium Every other year staff
agriculture analysis
Sampling season: May-
August based on flight
Percent occurrence of times which differ by
CNHP-tracked grassland species Frequency: Two
Medium TBD staff, contractors
dependent butterflies consecutive years
and skipper species followed by three-seven
years off repeating
pattern
Sampling season: May-
August based on flight
Percent occurrence of times which differ by
grassland dependent species Frequency: Two
Medium TBD staff, contractors
butterflies and skipper consecutive years
species followed by three-seven
years off repeating
pattern
Percent of colonies with Sampling season: May-staff, possibly
Medium Visual observation
territorial horned larks July Frequency: Annual volunteers
Species richness of Sampling season: May-
Medium Point counts staff, volunteers
sensitive breeding birds July Frequency: TBD
Submerged aquatic Sampling season: July-
Medium Visual surveys staff
nuisance species richness August Frequency: TBD
Dissolved oxygen (lotic--Dissolved oxygen
Low TBD staff
flowing water habitats) meter
Instream flows Low TBD TBD staff
Number of over-bank
flooding events during
late May through June Low TBD When it occurs staff
measured every 5-10
years
Percent of wetlands in
each class with
Low TBD TBD staff
idealized/prescribed/pr
oper hydrologic regime.
60
Indicators Priority Methods Frequency and Timing Who monitors
Secchi disk depth (for Secchi disk
Low TBD staff
ponds) sampling
Total phosphorus (for Grab and/or
Low TBD staff
ponds) composite samples
Total phosphorus (lotic--Grab and/or
Low TBD staff
flowing water habitats) composite samples
61