The Boulder Ranger District announced earlier this week the purchase of 823 acres near the East Portal and the Rollins Pass Road in Gilpin County. The land was purchased from the Toll family in a transaction negotiated by The Conservation Fund on behalf of the U.S. Forest Service. The purchase was made possible through the use of Land and Water Conservation Funds, America’s premier conservation program.
The purchase of these 823 acres makes possible the conservation of open space and reduces fragmentation of National Forest System lands. It safeguards the James Peak Wilderness by consolidating federal land ownership within 0.25 mile of the wilderness boundary, preventing future adjacent development. It also improves protection of 0.5 mile of South Boulder Creek, offering security to the water conveyance that delivers municipal water to residents of the City of Denver.
“The inclusion of these lands within the National Forest presents us with opportunities to restore and protect natural resource values such as habitat for plant, animal, and aquatic species. Additionally, we will be able to improve management of the recreational opportunities along Rollins Pass Road and adjacent to the James Peak Wilderness,” said Sylvia Clark, Boulder District Ranger.
“This purchase enhances access to the National Forest and wilderness in an area that is enjoyed by thousands of summer and winter recreationists from Boulder, Denver, and from out of state,” said Christine Quinlan, Western Field Representative for The Conservation Fund. “We’re extremely grateful to members of the Colorado Congressional Delegation for their support of the Land and Water Conservation Fund and to the Toll family for their good stewardship of this land for four generations.”
The property includes riparian and fish habitat as well as habitat for threatened Canada lynx and the Northern American wolverine, a candidate species for federal listing. Other species that stand to benefit include American marten, pygmy shrew, a variety of birds and several rare plant species.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Showing posts with label Boulder Ranger District. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Boulder Ranger District. Show all posts
Friday, February 7, 2014
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Boulder Ranger District to Host 2014 Projects Open House
The Boulder Ranger District (BRD) of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland will host an open house to discuss information about local forest management projects that will begin in 2014. The meeting will take place at the Nederland Community Center on Monday, Jan. 27 from 5 to 7 p.m. Representatives of the BRD will have maps and images projecting what the treatment areas will look like after cutting is complete and be available to answer questions.
The areas planned for cutting activities are in Boulder and Gilpin counties:
* near Nederland along Magnolia Road and Big Springs Subdivision
* near Gross Reservoir and Lazy Z Road
* near Rollinsville along Gilpin County Road 12 and Bobcat Trail
* near the Gold Hill Road and Switzerland Trail intersection
* near Pinecliff
Trees will also be planted at West Magnolia and Kelly Dahl Campground in follow-up to recent cutting activities in those areas.
For more information contact Maribeth Pecotte at mpecotte@fs.fed.us or 303-541-2525.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
* near Nederland along Magnolia Road and Big Springs Subdivision
* near Gross Reservoir and Lazy Z Road
* near Rollinsville along Gilpin County Road 12 and Bobcat Trail
* near the Gold Hill Road and Switzerland Trail intersection
* near Pinecliff
Trees will also be planted at West Magnolia and Kelly Dahl Campground in follow-up to recent cutting activities in those areas.
For more information contact Maribeth Pecotte at mpecotte@fs.fed.us or 303-541-2525.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Saturday, August 10, 2013
U.S. Forest Service to update Magnolia Trails System, seeks public input
U.S. Forest Service Boulder Ranger District (BRD) staff is seeking comments on the proposed action of creating a sustainable non-motorized trail system in the Magnolia area immediately south of the town of Nederland. Comments need to be submitted by email, postal mail, fax or hand delivery before the close of business on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013.
BRD officials propose to re-route, create and close specific system and non-system trails. In the proposed action some roads and non-system trails will be converted into official classified trails. Designated trail miles are expected to increase. Social trails not identified on the proposed project map will be scheduled for obliteration. For more information on the proposed action or see a project map, click here.
Additional proposed actions include: obliterating unauthorized trails, prohibiting snowmobiles to protect resources, and restricting mountain bike and equestrian use to designated system trails.
This project would also allow BRD officials to seek opportunities for improving connectivity with Boulder County’s current trail planning project on nearby County Open Space and the Nederland Area Trails Master Plan.
Recently, the West Magnolia fuels reduction project south of the town of Nederland and an analysis of the area’s trail system were completed. The large network of system and non-system trails has experienced a substantial increase in recreation use over the past several decades with substantial resource damage and unmanaged recreation use.
U.S. Forest Service staff will host an informational public meeting at the Nederland Community Center on Monday, August 19, 2013, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. This meeting will be in open house format.
To email comments, send to: comments-rocky-mountain-arapaho-roosevelt-boulder@fs.fed.us To use postal mail send to: Attn: Cat Luna 2140 Yarmouth Ave, Boulder, CO 80301. For hand delivery to staff, bring to the Boulder Ranger District during office weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., except holidays. To fax written comments use fax number 303-541-2515, Attn: Cat Luna.
The purpose of the public comment period is to identify issues, concerns and suggestions related to the proposed action. In addition, this activity may identify information and management opportunities that could be incorporated into the proposed action, or assist in formulating alternatives to the proposed action.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2012 included a provision directing the Secretary of Agriculture to replace the Forest Service appeal process with a pre-decisional objection process. Beginning March 27, 2013, this provision went into effect for the Forest Service for NEPA analysis when documented in either an Environmental Assessment or an Environmental Impact Statement.
In order to have standing to object to the project, you must submit a specific written comment during this public scoping and comment period. More information about the Objection Process can be found here: http://www.fs.fed.us/objections/
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
BRD officials propose to re-route, create and close specific system and non-system trails. In the proposed action some roads and non-system trails will be converted into official classified trails. Designated trail miles are expected to increase. Social trails not identified on the proposed project map will be scheduled for obliteration. For more information on the proposed action or see a project map, click here.
Additional proposed actions include: obliterating unauthorized trails, prohibiting snowmobiles to protect resources, and restricting mountain bike and equestrian use to designated system trails.
This project would also allow BRD officials to seek opportunities for improving connectivity with Boulder County’s current trail planning project on nearby County Open Space and the Nederland Area Trails Master Plan.
Recently, the West Magnolia fuels reduction project south of the town of Nederland and an analysis of the area’s trail system were completed. The large network of system and non-system trails has experienced a substantial increase in recreation use over the past several decades with substantial resource damage and unmanaged recreation use.
U.S. Forest Service staff will host an informational public meeting at the Nederland Community Center on Monday, August 19, 2013, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. This meeting will be in open house format.
To email comments, send to: comments-rocky-mountain-arapaho-roosevelt-boulder@fs.fed.us To use postal mail send to: Attn: Cat Luna 2140 Yarmouth Ave, Boulder, CO 80301. For hand delivery to staff, bring to the Boulder Ranger District during office weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., except holidays. To fax written comments use fax number 303-541-2515, Attn: Cat Luna.
The purpose of the public comment period is to identify issues, concerns and suggestions related to the proposed action. In addition, this activity may identify information and management opportunities that could be incorporated into the proposed action, or assist in formulating alternatives to the proposed action.
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2012 included a provision directing the Secretary of Agriculture to replace the Forest Service appeal process with a pre-decisional objection process. Beginning March 27, 2013, this provision went into effect for the Forest Service for NEPA analysis when documented in either an Environmental Assessment or an Environmental Impact Statement.
In order to have standing to object to the project, you must submit a specific written comment during this public scoping and comment period. More information about the Objection Process can be found here: http://www.fs.fed.us/objections/
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
Friday, February 1, 2013
US Forest Service closes areas in Boulder Canyon to protect wildlife
The Boulder Ranger District of the Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests will implement its annual area closures at Security Risk, Eagle Rock, Blob Rock, and Bitty Buttress in Boulder Canyon beginning February 1st.
These areas are located along State Highway 119 approximately 1.5 miles east of Boulder Falls. Happy Hour, Bihedral, and Riviera will remain open, as long as visitors stay out of the closed areas.
The closures help protect a long-established golden eagle nesting territory, including vital alternate nest sites. Undisturbed access to multiple nest sites is important for birds of prey, especially early in the nesting season, to give them a chance to visit multiple nests during courtship and to select a site for the season, free of human influence.
Signs will be posted at key access points into the closed areas. Closure information will be available online at local climbing websites and at www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/arp/recreation (click on Boulder Canyon for more info). Closures are effective from February 1st through July 31st. Volunteers and Forest Service personnel will monitor the areas, and some areas may be reopened prior to July 31st.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
These areas are located along State Highway 119 approximately 1.5 miles east of Boulder Falls. Happy Hour, Bihedral, and Riviera will remain open, as long as visitors stay out of the closed areas.
The closures help protect a long-established golden eagle nesting territory, including vital alternate nest sites. Undisturbed access to multiple nest sites is important for birds of prey, especially early in the nesting season, to give them a chance to visit multiple nests during courtship and to select a site for the season, free of human influence.
Signs will be posted at key access points into the closed areas. Closure information will be available online at local climbing websites and at www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/arp/recreation (click on Boulder Canyon for more info). Closures are effective from February 1st through July 31st. Volunteers and Forest Service personnel will monitor the areas, and some areas may be reopened prior to July 31st.
Jeff
RockyMountainHikingTrails.com
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