CARIBOU RANCH OPEN SPACE
MANAGEMENT PLAN
Boulder County Parks and Open Space Department
Approved by the Board of County Commissioners
October 15, 2002
Caribou Ranch Management Plan
Page i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................................... iii
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... iv
SUMMARY OF RESOURCE EVALUATION..............................................................................1
1.0 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................1
1.1 General Description of Property .................................................................1
1.2 Physical Characteristics and Landscape Setting .........................................1
2.0 VEGETATION RESOURCES ...............................................................................4
2.1 General Description ....................................................................................4
2.2 Significant Resources ..................................................................................5
3.0 WILDLIFE RESOURCES ......................................................................................7
3.1 General Description ....................................................................................7
3.2 Significant Resources ..................................................................................8
4.0 CULTURAL RESOURCES .................................................................................14
4.1 General Description ..................................................................................14
4.2 Significant Resources ................................................................................17
5.0 WATERSHED RESOURCES ..............................................................................18
5.1 General Description ..................................................................................18
MANAGEMENT PLAN ..............................................................................................................20
6.0 MANAGEMENT DIRECTION ...........................................................................20
6.1 Boulder County Comprehensive Plan .......................................................20
6.2 Terms of the Acquisition ..........................................................................24
6.3 Caribou Ranch Open Space Vision Statement ..........................................26
6.4 Caribou Ranch Open Space Management Goals and Objectives .............26
7.0 VEGETATION RESOURCE MANAGEMENT .................................................28
7.1 Protecting Significant Resources ..............................................................28
7.2 Forest Management ...................................................................................29
7.3 Grassland Management .............................................................................31
7.4 Weed Management ...................................................................................32
8.0 WILDLIFE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ........................................................32
8.1 Protecting Significant Resources ..............................................................33
9.0 CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT .....................................................34
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9.1 Protecting Significant Resources ..............................................................35
10.0 VISITOR SERVICES ...........................................................................................36
10.1 Management Areas ...................................................................................38
10.2 Recreation Facilities ..................................................................................41
10.3 Interpretation .............................................................................................44
10.4 Fencing ......................................................................................................44
10.5 General Regulations ..................................................................................45
10.6 Parks and Open Space Department ...........................................................45
10.7 Patrol .........................................................................................................46
10.8 Emergency Services ..................................................................................47
10.9 Volunteer Opportunities ............................................................................47
11.0 RESOURCE MONITORING ...............................................................................48
APPENDIX 1: CARIBOU RANCH OPEN SPACE MANAGEMENT TEAM ..........................51
APPENDIX 2: CONSULTANTS AND ADVISORS ..................................................................52
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LIST OF FIGURES
Page
Figure 1 Location ......................................................................................................2
Figure 2 Significant Plant Communities ...................................................................6
Figure 3 Elk Concentration Areas and Movement Corridors ....................................9
Figure 4 Special Avian Habitat ...............................................................................12
Figure 5 Early Land Patents ....................................................................................16
Figure 6 Management Areas ...................................................................................39
Figure 7 Trailhead and Trail Plan ............................................................................42
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Caribou Ranch Open Space is 2,180 acres of land located 1.5 miles north of the Town of
Nederland. The protection of this property provides for the conservation of significant wildlife
habitat, plant communities, historical resources, watershed values, and scenic quality. Caribou
Ranch Open Space is a montane parkland, a node of exceptional biodiversity and one of only a
handful of these sites in western Boulder County that retains most of its ecological functions.
The area can also provide outdoor recreational opportunities primarily through hiking, horseback
riding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, fishing, wildlife viewing, and environmental
education. Finding a balance between resource protection, land management, and human
enjoyment of the property will be the key to the well being of the area.
The management plan presents the general direction for managing the property. Through
goals, objectives, management tasks, and maps, the broad picture is presented. Not all the finer
details have been worked out; more in-depth studies on such things as forest management
prescriptions, restoration and interpretation of historical sites and buildings, trailhead location,
and some trail alignments are needed. The management plan is dynamic and flexible, and can
change as our knowledge of the property increases or as management situations change.
One the highlights of the experience for the visiting public will be viewing the historic
sites found on the property from the mining and homesteading eras. The Switzerland Trail
Railroad, Blue Bird Mine Complex, DeLonde Homestead, and the town site of Batesville will be
managed to allow for public visitation. The Switzerland Trail Railroad will be the heart of the
trail system, taking visitors to the historical sites.
Opportunities to view wildflowers, and wildlife and their telltale signs will also enrich the
public’s experience. Abundant bird life, butterflies, mammal tracks, and bugling elk may all be
encountered. The fall elk rut that occurs on the property will be an interpretive opportunity.
We also have a goal of finding an appropriate trail alignment that provides a connection
to trail opportunities north of Caribou Ranch Open Space. Planning and coordination with
adjacent property owners is needed.
Protecting significant natural and cultural resources will occur through several
management activities. Two conservation areas, which will be closed to the public, are
designated. They act to protect important wildlife, plant and cultural resources, provide effective
habitat for human sensitive species, and protect watershed quality by minimizing human contact
with surface waters. There will be a spring closure (April 1 – June 30) of the property to
minimize impacts to calving elk. Domestic dogs will not be permitted on the property to further
protect wildlife and watershed values. As agreed to in the purchase agreement for the property,
mountain biking will not be allowed.
The management plan also provides objectives and tasks for many other resource issues.
Key locations in the forest will be managed to protect forest health and reduce wildfire hazard.
Wildfires will be aggressively fought, and post-fire reclamation will be conducted to minimize
impacts to surface waters. Noxious weeds will be controlled. The riparian area in DeLonde
Meadow will be enhanced, while its hay meadows will continue to be cut, as they have been for
over 100 years. The occurrences and populations of bats, birds, amphibians, and some mammals
will be monitored.
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SUMMARY OF RESOURCE EVALUATION
(For a more detailed assessment of the resources, including references and scientific names, see:
“Draft Caribou Ranch Resource Evaluation” May 2002, Boulder County Parks and Open Space)
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Caribou Ranch has a long history of being a special place in western Boulder County. Its
geographic setting has made it a high quality node of biodiversity. The great variety of
vegetation types – from montane woodland to subalpine forest, from dry meadow to beaver pond
wetland – provide habitat for a significantly large number of species. Native people of the Front
Range seasonally resided on the property and found abundant game, water and plant resources,
as well as sites that had spiritual meaning. Early homesteaders and ranchers were drawn to the
presence of timber, water and grass. Miners found silver and gold, and developed mills for
processing. Railroad moguls found a path to link Boulder with the mining districts of the county.
The movie industry found the right scenery to shoot a movie set in the “old west” with the
making of the 1966 version of “stagecoach.” Rock and roll stars of the 1970s found a place that
provided solitude and inspired creativity. All this, and much more, is a part of this rich location.
We wish to thank Jim Guercio and family for taking the land saving actions, which
protect Caribou Ranch Open Space for the enjoyment of current and future citizens of the
county. We thank the citizens of Boulder County and the City of Boulder for providing the
financial means to protect this property. We also wish to thank Great Outdoors Colorado for
providing a grant that helped fund the Resource Evaluation.
1.1 General Description of the Property
Caribou Ranch Open Space is located in western Boulder County, Colorado, 1 mile north
of the Town of Nederland, 4 miles south of the Town of Ward and 13 miles west of the City of
Boulder (Figure 1). Additionally, the property is 1.5 miles west of the Peak-to-Peak Scenic
Byway, primarily south of the Rainbow Lakes Road (County Road 116), north of Sherwood
Gulch Road (County Road 126) and 1 mile east of the old Caribou Townsite and Caribou Park.
The property was acquired from James Guercio beginning in December of 1996 and
completed through a second and revised acquisition in April of 2001. The lands acquired outright
for open space purposes total 2180 acres. An additional 1489 acres are protected through a
conservation easement and are owned by Mr. Guercio. Also acquired were water rights and all
minerals owned by Mr. Gurecio under the open space.
At the time the County was negotiating for the land, the City of Boulder Utilities
Department had been negotiating with Mr. Guercio for an easement where the Silver Lake
Pipeline crosses the property and to further protect the City’s watershed. Cooperative
negotiations between the three parties resulted in the outright purchase of 2180 acres by the City
of Boulder at a price of $4,000 per acre. The County has options to buy out the fee interest
(excluding the pipeline right-of-way) from the City through the year 2006.
1.2 Physical Characteristics and Landscape Setting
The property lies within the montane and subalpine lifezones of the east flank of the
Front Range of the Southern Rocky Mountains. Elevation ranges from approximately 8,310’,
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Figure 1 - Location
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where DeLonde and North Boulder creeks leave the property, to 10,130’ at the southwest corner.
Changes in elevation have been influenced by the rise of the Rocky Mountains, glaciers and
streams. The property is most level on its east and southeast side, an area that abuts land that was
the terminus to Pleistocene glaciers. At this point, the glaciers created a flat and broad park. The
majority of this park is retained by Mr. Guercio as the Caribou Ranch Homestead. Grade
gradually increases moving east to west. The increase is first gradual being influenced by glacial
till. The southern part of the western portion of the property then sees a dramatic increase in
elevation as granite is encountered. This area is heavily influenced by stream cutting action from
DeLonde Creek. The landscape is very linear and V-shaped. The western part of the northern
portion of the property encounters less severe grade increases, though still a general increase, as
the parent material is glacial in origin. Here the landscape is influenced by North Boulder Creek:
the landscape changes pattern as the stream curves through the glacial till and the topography is
mixed with flat areas and steep grades. Some of the flat areas are where glacial kettle ponds are
found. Mixed within are other features including flat areas of deposited sediment, such as where
DeLonde Creek exits its steep valley.
Soils in the area are heavily influenced by geology and slope. On metamorphic and
igneous rocks, soils are comprised of weathered residuum and are either stony or rubbly. Soils on
glacial material are comprised of glacial till and are bouldery. Floodplain deposits are comprised
of alluvium or glacial till. Soils are better developed on flat or slightly sloped surfaces such as
floodplains and plateaus. Soils influence vegetation: areas with fine-grained soils, such as
alluvium, favor grasslands and wetlands, while coarser soils favor forests.
The surface and subsurface waters of the property are within the Boulder Creek Basin.
North Boulder Creek, a tributary of Boulder Creek, flows through Caribou Ranch Open Space; in
terms of flow it is the most significant conveyor of surface water on the property. The creek
originates approximately 5 miles west along the Continental Divide in the City of Boulder’s
Silver Lake Watershed. Several tributaries of North Boulder Creek flow through the property:
Caribou Creek, DeLonde Creek and Little Como Creek. Almost the entire drainage basin of
DeLonde Creek is contained in the open space.
The City of Boulder’s Silver Lake Watershed is located northwest of Caribou Ranch
Open Space. The watershed provides approximately 40% of the City of Boulder’s annual
municipal water supply and up to 90% of the City’s winter water supply. Water is conveyed
from the watershed via the Silver Lake Pipeline at a diversion structure located on North Boulder
Creek approximately 1/3 mile north of Caribou Ranch Open Space. The pipeline then crosses
Caribou Ranch Open Space and Caribou Ranch Homestead and terminates at Lakewood
Reservoir, where the water is then transported via the Lakewood Pipeline to the Betasso
Treatment Plant.
As with many locations in Boulder County the property is surrounded by a mosaic of
public and private ownerships and a mixture of land uses including national forests, natural plant
communities and wildlife habitat, ranching and grazing, rural residences, mining, recreation,
watershed, and scientific research. Private land ownership predominates to the east and south.
Roosevelt National Forest and City of Boulder Silver Lake Watershed are the dominant
ownerships to the north and west. There is a greater amount of existing residential development
and the potential for additional development to the east and south.
There are several ways to view the locational and landscape context of Caribou Ranch
Open Space. First, the property lies within the upper portion of the montane lifezone and lower
limits of the subalpine lifezone, broad landscape bands influenced by elevation and climate that
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tend to run north and south. A unifying feature is the presence of North Boulder Creek, which
flows west to east cutting across the lifezones; many of the major historic and current
movements and flows followed this path, including water, glaciers, moraines, wildlife, and
ancient peoples. The property is part of a montane parkland, one of only three in Boulder County
that retains most of its original ecological character: these are broad, flat montane valleys
containing major creeks whose alluvial soils favor grasslands and wetlands and whose glacial till
(they were all terminal sites for Pleistocene glaciers) contains sizeable aquifers. Finally, the
pattern of human influence follows a gradient that runs from southeast to northwest: the greatest
degree of human presence in found in the Town of Nederland while the degree of human
influence lessens moving northwest into the Indian Peaks Wilderness and the Silver Lake
Watershed.
2.0 VEGETATION RESOURCES
2.1 General Description
The pattern of vegetation found on the property is influenced by elevation, slope, aspect,
disturbance history, and soil type. The property is dominated by coniferous forest, particularly
lodgepole pine. Ponderosa pine and ponderosa pine-Douglas-fir forests are present at lower
elevations and drier sites, while Engelmann spruce-subalpine fir forests are present at more
mesic sites at higher elevations and along riparian areas. Found in the alluvial floodplains along
DeLonde and Como creeks are meadows, wetlands and riparian communities. DeLonde Creek
contains two active beaver colonies whose dams, ponds and raised water table have resulted in
the development of a willow carr. Located on steep south and southeast aspects are mixed-
conifer woodlands dominated by ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir, mixed with sagebrush
shrublands. Also present are small, scattered patches of aspen, several areas dominated by limber
pine, and three kettle pond wetlands.
Processes of disturbance, particularly fire, have influenced the vegetation. Historic fire
regimes varied with elevation, with the higher subalpine forests probably burning every 200+
years, while lower elevation montane forests and woodlands have a mean fire-return interval of
150 years. The non-Native American settlement period (1859 – 1910) saw an increase in fire in
Boulder County; during this time much of Caribou Ranch Open Space burned from more human-
caused fires and much of the current forest originates from that era. The montane woodlands and
forests on the property saw major fires in 1654, 1706, and 1859. The ponderosa pine woodlands
on Caribou Ranch Open space have been present in a rather stable form for several centuries: the
oldest living tree was over 425 years old, and many other trees were over 200 years old. Hence,
fires were generally not frequent disturbances in the area. The three widespread fire dates
recorded at Caribou Ranch occurred during years when fire was recorded at many sites in the
Front Range. Regional burning during these years emphasizes out the role of climate as a forcing
of large-scale forest disturbances in this area, rather than the buildup of fuels. It is likely that fire
behavior in the subalpine forests surrounding the more open woodlands was severe and resulted
in extensive stand opening during these fire years, but that surface fires burned in the more open
ponderosa pine communities. Future extensive fires in the Front Range forests will be driven
primarily by regional climate variability.
Non-native plants are present on the property. The primary noxious weeds are ox-eye
daisy, musk thistle, Canada thistle, yellow toadflax and mullein. Significant portions of the
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meadow communities are dominated by timothy, Kentucky blue-grass, smooth brome, and
orchard-grass, all of which were introduced in the early to mid 20
th
century as pasture grasses for
cattle and horses.
2.2 Significant Resources
The quality and rarity of plants and plant communities were assessed against information
from the Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) and the Boulder County Parks and Open
Space Department’s Environmental Resources Element of the Boulder County Comprehensive
Plan. Key factors included CNHP ranking as well as status and distribution of the plant
community in Boulder County.
One rare plant was located on the property. A population of wood lily was found. It is
considered a rare plant in the state. This striking and brightly colored lily is found in riparian
areas, wet meadows, and moist forests in Colorado. Because it is appealing to collectors and the
quality of its associated riparian habitat continues to be threatened, it remains a plant species of
special concern.
One plant community of significance was located on the property (Figure 2):
Geyer willow-mountain willow/Canadian reedgrass Montane Willow Carr
: This is
a globally rare plant community located along DeLonde Creek. It is a deciduous
shrubland that occurs in stands interspersed with wet meadows, open stream channels,
and beaver ponds. The willow canopy is nearly a homogeneous mix of the two willow
species. An active colony of beaver is present and is important to maintaining the plant
community. The site is considered in only fair condition because of the heavy presence of
hay grasses in all but the wettest parts of the willow carr, and an upstream water
diversion to the adjacent meadow.
Several other sites warrant special attention as they contain elements of local interest, or
elements of state interest but are of small size and/or fair to poor quality (Figure 2). These are:
Kettle Ponds
: Three small ponds are present in the northwest part of the property. It is
probable that they are kettle ponds formed by glacial activity. They support typical
montane wetland and mesic species such as beaked sedge, aquatic sedge and Canadian
reedgrass. They are considered of local interest, as kettle ponds are not common on the
Colorado Front Range.
Wetland and Riparian Complex
: This narrow drainage supports numerous small wetland
and riparian plant communities. Common species include beaked sedge, aquatic sedge,
Canadian reedgrass, and thin-leafed alder. Some small areas have floating mats of
wetland vegetation. As the stream gradient decreases, subalpine fir and Engelmann
spruce occur along the stream with abundant mesic forbs.
Parry Oat-grass Meadow
: Small patches of Parry oat-grass are found in this area. Parry
oat-grass is of concern because its coverage has been greatly reduced due to land use
practices of the late 19
th
and 20
th
centuries. Much of the vegetation of this area is
currently comprised of nonnative grasses and portions are irrigated. This site may have
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Figure 2 – Significant Plant Communities
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historically been dominated by Parry oat-grass or a mix of mountain muhly and Parry
oat-grass.
Big Sagebrush Shrubland
: Big sagebrush shrublands, while dominant on Colorado=s
western slope, are uncommon in Boulder county. It occurs at several locations on the
property, these generally being southeast facing slopes. This location is considered the
best of the sites.
Old-Growth Woodlands and Forests
: These sites contain qualities of old-growth forests,
including large-diameter trees, snags and deadfall. The largest and oldest trees are
ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir. The oldest living tree found was over 425 years old,
while others were over 200 years old. The stand canopies are open enough to allow for
fires to run through the stands on the ground, hence many standing trees have had
considerable longevity.
Ponderosa pine/Mountain Muhly Montane Forest
: This slope contains small patches of
this Colorado rare plant community. There is also some big sagebrush on the steep east
facing slopes.
Ponderosa pine/Elk sedge Montane Woodland
: This site is a complex mosaic of plant
communities. Small patches of ponderosa pine/elk sedge montane forest, a Colorado rare
plant community, are present. Small patches of big sagebrush are also found.
3.0 WILDLIFE RESOURCES
3.1 General Description
Caribou Ranch Open Space is part of a montane parkland, exceptionally rich sites for
wildlife. The mixture of wetlands, meadows, streams, forests and woodlands provides good
habitat diversity.
Approximately 50 species of mammal could call Caribou Ranch home. This
represents about 50% of all mammal species found in the county. The most common mammal is
probably the deer mouse, though it is seldom seen. Other common ground dwelling rodents
include several chipmunk species (least and Uinta) and golden-mantled ground squirrel.
Chickarees (sometimes called pine squirrels) are the most common squirrels. Nuttall=s
cottontails and snowshoe hares are common. Mountain lion, black bear, bobcat, coyote, red fox
and short-tailed weasel are regularly seen. The most common ungulates are elk and mule deer. A
moose has been observed in recent years.
Eighty-eight potential breeding bird species were seen on the property. This is considered
high species richness for a parcel this size in Colorado and represents 75% of the breeding
species found in western Boulder County. The avian community is dominated by neo-tropical
migrants that are insectivores or omnivores, feed in the foliage of trees or shrubs, gather their
food by gleaning or foraging, and nest in a tree. Some of the more common species are
generalists that can utilize the resources of several habitats. These species include broad-tailed
hummingbird, dark-eyed junco, and American robin. Common forest dwellers include pine
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siskin, yellow-rumped warbler, mountain chickadee, ruby-crowned kinglet, Steller=s jay, hermit
thrush, and red crossbill. Species specific to aspen forests include warbling vireo, tree swallow,
and red-naped sapsucker. The most common shrubland bird is green-tailed towhee. Riparian
areas have a unique avian community dominated by neo-tropical migrants which include dusky
flycatcher, Swainson=s thrush, yellow warbler, MacGillivray=s warbler, Wilson=s warbler, fox
sparrow, song sparrow, and Lincoln=s sparrow. Bodies of water and beaver ponds are habitat for
mallard, green-wing teal, and ring-necked duck. The most common grassland bird is vesper
sparrow. Montane willow carrs and mixed-conifer woodlands proved to be the richest habitats
for breeding birds. Meadow/forest edge and ponderosa pine forests have slightly lower richness
and abundance values, while lodgepole pine, spruce-fir, and mixed conifer forests are lowest.
Other forms of animals are present. Striped chorus frogs and western terrestrial garter
snakes were found on the property, and five other amphibians and reptiles are potentially found
on the property. Rainbow and brook trout dominate the waters of North Boulder and Caribou
Creeks. Invertebrates comprise the vast majority of animal species on Caribou Ranch Open
Space, including all insects, butterflies, moths, mollusks, and crayfish.
Changes in animal communities since non-Native American settlement in Boulder
County are many. Lost from the landscape on and around Caribou Ranch are bighorn sheep, gray
wolf, grizzly bear, and river otter. Wolverine and lynx have not been confirmed in the county for
a long time. Avian populations have seen community shifts toward those species that can take
advantage of greater human influence. Mid-sized mammals such as the introduced house cat,
domestic dog and fox squirrel, and some native animals such as raccoon, are increasing in
number.
3.2 Significant Resources
Several significant wildlife resources warrant special attention. The significant resource
areas are based both on specific sites important to individual species as well as high quality
habitat types. Additionally, areas with a low level of human presence need recognition for their
ability to provide effective habitat for large mammals such as elk and black bear, as well as
nesting raptors. Following are descriptions of significant wildlife resource areas.
Mammals of Special Interest: Rocky Mountain Elk
Caribou Ranch is a high-intensity use area for elk (Meaney and Beane 1999). The herd of
about 175 animals uses the ranch as transitional range in spring and fall (Figure 3). They
generally arrive in April, coming from lower elevation winter range located east of the Peak-to-
Peak Highway. They graze extensively in the meadows, riparian areas, and montane woodlands
and shrublands found on the valley floor and open south-facing hillsides of the property. They
will use denser forests for hiding and thermal cover. Females will then calve on-site and remain
until some time in June or early July. In summer, the elk move to the high country to the north
and west of the ranch, generally following the North Boulder Creek drainage. The majority of
the herd is resident on the City of Boulder Watershed during the warm months, as well as in the
Indian Peaks Wilderness west of Caribou Ranch. Some elk have been observed on the ranch
throughout the summer. In fall the animals descend to the ranch, seemingly en masse, and likely
stay as long as weather and snow permit. The herd conducts the rut on the ranch. With normal
winter weather, the herd will cross the Peak-to-Peak Highway in late November or December, as
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Figure 3 – Elk Concentration Areas and Movement Corridors
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they descend to lower elevation. During mild winters, elk may remain on the ranch. Their winter
range is dispersed over a broad area defined by Pennsylvania Gulch to the north, Sugarloaf and
Comforter mountains to the east, and Ridge Road to the south. In April, the herd returns to
Caribou Ranch.
Calving is an important biological function for elk. It is suspected that the majority of the
cows in the herd calve on Caribou Ranch. The calving season along the Front Range of Colorado
extends from late May until late June. Recent on-site observations revealed that calving areas are
widely dispersed over the entire ranch and up into the City of Boulder Watershed.
The fall rut is also a significant biological time for elk. Large concentrations of elk gather
on Caribou Ranch in the fall. Bulls at this time of year assemble harems of cows that remain on
the property throughout most of the rut.
Caribou Ranch has functioned as a refuge for elk. Because of this, two management
situations arise. First, it is probable that once opened to the public there will be a higher human
presence on the property. While elk can be adaptable animals, they can also be wary of humans.
Behavior is often shaped by several factors including whether or not they are hunted on portions
of their range. This herd is hunted with the location depending on the timing of each season in
relation to snow depth. Illegal hunting also occurs. Observations suggest that these elk are wary
of people walking through a natural landscape; they will expend energy fleeing from people
hiking. Consideration needs to be taken to minimize interaction, particularly during significant
biological times such as calving and rutting.
Additionally, there has been a tendency for elk to utilize the property as a refuge during
hunting season, possibly minimizing one form of population control. There is information that
the herd has been increasing in size, but it is not evident that the herd size is exceeding the
carrying capacity of the property. Monitoring of both herd population and impacts to vegetation
are recommended. Active herd population management may be necessary if significant resource
damage occurs.
Mammals of Special Interest: Townsend’s Big-eared Bat
A Townsend=s big-eared bat occurrence was documented at the Blue Bird Mine.
Townsend=s big-eared bats are of statewide concern and are considered rare and imperiled by
the Colorado Natural Heritage Program. They were previously considered candidates for federal
listing. Statewide, they are considered imperiled throughout their range and found locally in
restricted range. They are cave dwelling bats and are very sensitive to disturbance. Human
disturbance, even unintentional, will force bats to leave caves or mines where such disturbance
occurs. Access should be restricted into caves and mines where they roost. The bats will often
range long distances to utilize forage and water sources.
Avian Habitat of Special Interest: Mixed-Conifer Woodlands
Mixed-conifer woodlands are rich avian habitats and have a high abundance of breeding
birds. Additionally, four species of special interest are present: olive-sided flycatcher, pygmy
nuthatch, MacGillivray=s warbler and western tanager. There are a number of species found
primarily in this habitat on the property, including olive-sided flycatcher, western-wood pewee,
mountain Blue Bird, Virginia=s warbler and western tanager.
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Mixed-conifer woodlands occupy steep, south to southeast facing aspects on the property
(Figure 4). Ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir are the dominant tree types. These sites have an open
canopy, mixed with grasslands and stands of shrubs. Large-diameter trees, snags, and deadfall
(over 20" diameter at breast height) are present, further increasing the structural diversity. Small
patches of aspen are present in these sunny, open exposures. The open structure is favorable to
understory shrubs, including big sagebrush, Rocky Mountain maple, and chokecherry. Small
patches of denser mixed-conifer forest are present, particularly in ravines with east to northeast
aspects.
The overall high structural diversity results in a habitat rich for breeding birds. The open
canopy allows for the presence of aerial salliers, such as olive-sided flycatcher and western
wood-pewee. Large-diameter trees result in the presence of many cavity-nesters and late-
successional specialists, including pygmy nuthatch and northern saw-whet owl. Patches of
understory shrubs create nesting sites for dusky flycatcher and MacGillivray=s warbler.
Mixed-conifer woodlands should be retained on the property. Structurally, the most
important features appear to be an open canopy along with large-diameter trees, snags, and
deadfall. These features should be retained.
Avian Habitat of Special Interest: Montane Willow Carrs
Along DeLonde Creek is found a montane willow carr. They are rich avian habitats and
have a high abundance of breeding birds. Their density of breeding birds is considered the
highest of any habitat in Boulder County. Additionally, four species of special interest are
present: ring-necked duck, veery, MacGillivrays warbler, and fox sparrow. This habitat has the
highest number of breeding species (21) which are restricted in breeding to a few types of habitat
on the property, including mallard, green-winged teal, ring-necked duck, sora, killdeer, spotted
sandpiper, belted kingfisher, northern rough-winged swallow, American dipper, veery,
Swainson=s thrush, yellow warbler, Wilson=s warbler, fox sparrow, song sparrow, black-headed
grosbeak, and red-winged blackbird.
Montane willow carrs are found where creeks flow through broad, flat floodplains. These
sites are the most likely locations for long-term beaver habitation. Beavers dam the creek and
raise the water table allowing for wetland vegetation to expand in coverage. The vegetation is
dominated by tall, deciduous shrubs interspersed with wet meadows, open stream channels, and
beaver ponds. Beaver activity is important in maintaining this plant community. The DeLonde
willow carr is located along DeLonde Creek (Figure 4). Here, there is an active beaver colony.
The mixture of tall shrubs, wet meadows, stream channels, and beaver ponds provide
good habitat diversity. Avian use is dominated by neo-tropical migrants, especially several types
of warbler and sparrow, as well as dusky flycatcher, veery, Swainson=s thrush, and black-headed
grosbeak, who nest and feed in the shrubs or on the ground below. The beaver ponds and
adjacent patches of sedge-reedgrass meadows provide nesting habitat for waterfowl and sora.
Swallows, who generally nest in adjacent forests, find rich food caches in the insects that breed
on the ponds. Dippers and kingfishers nest in the streambank.
The importance of montane willow carrs make them significant habitat worthy of
protection and special management. Retaining an adequate flow of water and an active colony of
beaver are significant to these sites. Grazing and haying practices need careful management in
order to minimize impacts to the vegetative structure and hydric soils. Expansion of the DeLonde
willow carr may be possible and should be considered.
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Figure 4 – Special Avian Habitats
Caribou Ranch Management Plan
Page 13
DeLonde Willow Carr is the 5
th
largest montane willow carr in Boulder County, being
fifteen acres in size. Its size and vegetative structural diversity, due to the presence of an active
beaver colony, make it a designated Critical Wildlife Habitat in the Boulder County
Comprehensive Plan.
Nearly 20% of montane and subalpine willow carrs in Boulder County have been lost to
adverse land use practices, including conversion to pasture, filling for parking lots, roads and
homes, peat mining, and inundation by reservoirs.
Avian Habitat of Special Interest: Important Habitat for Northern Goshawk
Northern goshawks are listed as a sensitive species by the Forest Service, watchlisted by
the Colorado Natural Heritage Program, and considered restricted breeders by the Boulder
County Nature Association. They were under consideration for Federal listing through the
Endangered Species Act several years ago, but the available data were not conclusive enough to
warrant such designation.
One goshawk nest was found on National Forest land within ¼ mile of the property in
1999, and reaffirmed in field work in 2000. Field work during 2002 did not find goshawks, but
found nesting Cooper’s hawks within 200 yards of where the goshawks had nested. The nest is
within 100 yards of the Switzerland Trail Railroad grade. This site will be monitored in future
years.
Northern goshawks have also been regularly observed in DeLonde Gulch. These
observations include a post-fledging family group during the time period when they should be
within the post-fledging family area (PFA). The post-fledging family area, which surrounds the
nest area, is generally 400 acres in size. It is an area of concentrated use by the goshawk family
where young are taught to hunt. The nest site and the PFA are used from March through the end
of September. During this time there should be minimal human presence around the nest and
within the PFA. A 2 mile buffer around the nest is generally recommended. A nest has not been
located for these goshawks. But their regular presence in DeLonde Gulch provides the high
probability of a nest in or near the gulch, and the area should be viewed as important habitat
(Figure 4).
Fish of Special Interest: Greenback Cutthroat Trout
The greenback cutthroat trout was one of four native trout present in Colorado when
European settlers arrived, and the only trout species present on Caribou Ranch. While over-
harvest and habitat destruction took their toll on the greenback, the introduction of non-native
trout species, such as rainbow, brook and brown, perhaps dealt the biggest blow. Greenbacks
were thought to be extinct until two small populations were discovered; one of these was in
Como Creek. Since then, there has been an active effort to recover greenbacks into locations
where they historically thrived. Both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Colorado
Division of Wildlife list them as a threatened species. They were upgraded from endangered to
threatened in 1978, and may soon reach a non-threatened status.
The Colorado Division of Wildlife introduced a population of Greenbacks into DeLonde
Creek in the fall of 2001. This is viewed as an experimental population. It is not known if there is
an effective block to the small numbers of brook trout found below the beaver ponds.
Additionally, low winter water flows may present problems.
Caribou Ranch Management Plan
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Habitat of Special Interest: Maintaining Effective Habitat
The potential use of Caribou Ranch Open Space for public access and recreation will
generally present a level of human presence that is higher than recent historic use (past 30 years).
It is difficult to predict how each animal and herd will react to recreational use. However, there
are studies indicating some of the same wildlife species found on Caribou Ranch may avoid or
underutilize areas near trails, roads, and/or human settlement. Recent studies assessing the
impacts of non-motorized trail use upon wildlife have documented types of displacement, lower
nesting success of avian habitat specialists, and greater rates of predation upon open-cup nesting
birds. Trails appear to be another factor in the trend throughout much of Boulder County of
increasing habitat generalists and decreasing habitat specialists.
The need for sizeable blocks of land with little human presence (sometimes referred to as
“effective habitat”) is becoming more important. As stated in the publication Planning Trails
with Wildlife in Mind, “When possible, leave untouched large, undisturbed areas of wildlife
habitat. They are an important – and rapidly vanishing – resource.”
In the recently completed Forest Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the
Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, the amount of habitat effectiveness was evaluated. The
assessment estimated effective habitat based on distances from travelways (moderate to high use
trails and roads). Their method of estimation is based on known disturbance distances for large
mammals. For the montane lifezone in western Boulder County, effective habitat remains for
only 47% of the public and private lands.
4.0 CULTURAL RESOURCES
4.1 General Description
This area has been utilized for thousands of years, although the prehistoric period is
currently not as evident on the land as historic times. Prehistoric habitation and use of
northeastern Colorado covers approximately 12,000 years, from the late Pleistocene epoch
through historic contact. Evidence of occupations is nearly continuous throughout this 12,000-
year span. The Paleo-Indian Stage (12,000 – 7,500 years before present) is characterized by a
nomadic lifestyle and a hunting and gathering economy based upon the exploitation of large
game animals that are mostly now extinct. The Archaic Stage (7,500 – 2,000 years before
present) was characterized by a continental warming trend, an increased dependence on smaller
mammals and wild plants, and the increased use of foothills and montane environments. The
Ceramic State (2,000 – 400 years before present) is characterized by the introduction of ceramic
technology, the replacement of the spear with the bow, and the advent of horticulture, though
evidence of plant domestication in northeastern Colorado is scant. The Protohistoric/Contact
Stage (400 – 150 years before present) was the beginning of direct and frequent contacts between
Native Americans and people of European descent, and is characterized by accelerated mobility
and conflict that followed the acquisition of horses and firearms.
How Caribou Ranch Open Space fit into the use pattern of prehistoric people is not clear.
But the richness in game and plants seen today was no doubt even greater then. The presence of
water, grasslands and forests provided a great abundance and diversity of resources. As
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Page 15
speculated by Dr. Ruben Mendoza and Dr. Charles Cambridge, who conducted a cultural
resource inventory on the property:
A In the early times, as Indian people journeyed by foot, the tribal culture becomes more
concerned with obtaining resources for survival from the immediate area. As the natural
richness of the area increases then tribal people would tend to remain in an area al long as
possible. During this time, the totality of what we view as cultural institutions are
stabilized in the Caribou area. Importantly, the tribal religion becomes tied to the land
and the surrounding physical realities. Certain rock outcroppings are used for religious
purposes of greeting the morning sun. Natural springs take on religious meanings since
water comes from the earth. And, the riches of natural herbs of the area, enhances the
religious healers in their quest to maintain the health of their people. These are the people
that occupied the Caribou for the longest amount of time and without further research,
these will be the people who will be the least understood.”
Accelerated permanent settlement of Boulder County by non-Native Americans began in
1859 with the discovery of gold. The first major mining activity in the vicinity of Caribou Ranch
occurred with the discovery of silver at Caribou located 1 mile west.
The open meadows and waterways of the park along North Boulder Creek (now Caribou
Ranch) attracted homesteaders. Many French and Irish settled the area, including Joseph and
Magloire DeLande, Thomas Langlais, Antonine Bosineau, Edward Barrigau, Autour Busemanx,
and Andrew and Henry Como (Figure 5). The DeLandes are especially notable; DeLonde Creek
is named after them, and “The Frenchman=s Ranch@ was historically a common locational
indicator. Como Creek is named after the Como family, who homesteaded the northeast part of
Caribou Ranch Homestead.
Mining and milling also occurred on the property. The Blue Bird Mine was established in
1871. The Sanata La Saria Mining Company of Colorado, A. L. Parsons, President, and D.
Mortimore, Secretary developed it. It was primarily a silver mine. By 1881, a mill was developed
at Blue Bird. Additionally, the North Boulder Mill was built in 1875 at ABatesville.@ The mill
was built on the north bank of North Boulder Creek by L.M. Bates, with Martin A. Smith
acquiring the mill lands at the same time.
The Denver, Boulder & Western Railroad Company built a narrow-gage railroad that
served the Blue Bird Mine. It was better known as the “Switzerland Trail” railroad, and ran
between 1904 and 1918. The railroad had significant financial problems, as the amounts of ore
shipped from western Boulder County mines did not live up to hopes, and the tourist trade was
too brisk to offset the costs of maintaining a mountain railroad through snowy winters. After a
1918 flood destroyed much of the trestlework, the railroad was closed and salvaged, and the
right-of-way reverted to former owners of the land.
As early as 1906 the western lands of the North Boulder Creek Park, including the
modern ranch complex site, were owned and occupied by Hector Urquhart. Under Urquhart the
Como Ditches, dating from 1866 to 1875, were officially surveyed. Urquhart had a house and
two outbuildings on the northeast side of Como Creek near the site of the modern ranch complex
on Caribou Ranch Homestead (on lands retained by Jim Guercio).
In 1915 Thomas F. Tucker owned portions of the property. The Tucker Ranch formed the
base from which arose the modern Caribou Ranch. The name ACaribou,@ as all uses of the word
ACaribou@ in the region, comes from the naming of the Caribou Mine after the Cariboo (sic)
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Figure 5 – Early Land Patents
Caribou Ranch Management Plan
Page 17
Range of British Columbia. In Tucker=s time the ranch was named the Boulder County Ranch.
The ranch was also known both as the Tucker Ranch and the Bar Rump Ranch, apparently
Tucker=s brand. References to past tract owners were also associated with area properties; e.g.,
AFrenchman=s Ranch@ for the DeLonde place.
In 1936, Lynn W. Van Vleet purchased the Tucker Ranch, starting the ALazy VV@
Ranch, a.k.a. AVan Vleet Arabian Horse Ranch.@ Van Vleet=s income derived from ownership
of the successful Trinidad Bean & Elevator Co. Van Vleet expanded the ranch through purchase
of property from J. C. Clark and from the Vanadium Corporation, the successor of Primos
Mining.
With Forest Service rangeland, the Van Vleet Ranch covered 13,000 acres. The ranch
was focused around its Arabian horse stock, but also ranged 200 to 500 cattle. The Lazy VV
employed about 30 people. The historic ranch complex served to support these people and the
Arabian breeding operations. On Sundays during the summer, there was an Arabian horse show
on the property that was open to the public. The Van Vleet Arabian Horse Ranch is featured in
two films: Warner Brother=s AArabians of the Rockies@ (1946), and 20
th
Century Fox=s ASons
of Courage@ (1947).
From the mid-1950s through 1970 Caribou Ranch went through several different owners.
Several had plans for development. One corporation, which bought the property for $1 million in
1962, planned an 18-hole golf course, a ski area, and an Olympic swimming pool. Others
planned resorts and condominium development.
James Guercio purchased the 2,600-acre property in 1971 from Kin-Ark Oil Co. of Tulsa
and Transamerica Development Co. of Los Angeles. With Guercio the ranch again became
known as Caribou Ranch. Guercio, a music producer, converted the barn into a recording studio,
attracting many popular musicians of the day to the ranch.
AA who=s-who of rock music=s elite passed through the gates of Caribou Ranch.
In the free-spending mid->70s, before the recording industry faced the economic
crunch, the rage among top stars was to hole up at Adestination studios@ in
appealing locations. So such well-moneyed folks as Chicago, Rod Sterart,
Waylon Jennings, Billy Joel, Carole King, Supertramp, War, Frank Zappa, Yes
and Stephen Stills packed up their bags and headed for Caribou, the legendary
recording complex five minutes outside of Nederland. The first record made there
was Joe Walsh=s ARocky Mountain Way.@ Elton John recorded several classic
albums, including the gratefully titled ACaribou.@ While in the area for the 1984
AVictory@ tour, Michael Jackson spent a few days hiding at Caribou, working on
songs in the studio and horseback riding (the staff reported that he got along
exceptionally well with the animals). Caribou finally shut down after a March
1985 fire destroyed the control room and caused about $3 million worth of
damage.@ (Denver Post 1999)
4.2 Significant Resources
The property is rich in cultural resources. The majority of these is of an historic nature
and associated with early settlement, ranching, mining, and transportation. Besides the major
sites described below, there were 137 isolated finds on the property which included: 30
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Page 18
prehistoric stone tools and fire pits or lithic scatter; 40 historical fire pits and trash debris; 35
fences, farming and ranch activities; 14 historical construction and lumber activities; 13 mines,
mining test pits and mining activities; and 5 stone markers. Following are descriptions of some
of the more significant historic cultural resources.
The Denver, Boulder & Western Railroad
(AThe Switzerland Trail@): The railroad grade
is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a Historic District. It serviced the
Blue Bird Mine and associated mills, and was constructed in 1904. Additional sites were
located during this survey that are contributing elements.
Blue Bird Mine Complex
: This is a multi-component site that was a small company
community that centered around the silver mine shafts. It consists of a bunkhouse,
remains of a log building, a newer stone building, chicken coops, smoke house, the
foundation of a mill, mine shafts, tracks for ore carts, and features related to The
Switzerland Trail Railroad. The site appears eligible for National Register designation.
Batesville and North Boulder Mill
: This is a multi-component site that includes
prehistoric as well as historic significance. The historic component is Batesville, the site
of the North Boulder Mill and its support community that operated primarily in the
1870s.
DeLonde Homestead
: This site consists of the modified homestead that reflects several
periods in the ranches development, crib-logged barn, foundations of former structures,
and a variety of other contributing features. The Como Ditch #5 may also contribute. This
site appears eligible for National Register designation.
Silver Lake Pipeline
: The original pipeline, constructed in 1919, was an 18" clay tile
conduit extending from Lakewood Reservoir westward across Caribou Ranch toward the
City=s Watershed. This pipeline was replaced around 1947 with used 18" steel piping. In
1998, another pipeline replacement occurred.
Como Ditches #1, #2, #3, & #4
: Como Ditches #1 and #2 were built in 1866. Como Ditch
#3 was built in 1870, while Como Ditch #4 was built in 1875. In 1906 the combined
ditches irrigated 448 acres of the Urquhart Ranch.
5.0 WATERSHED RESOURCES
5.1 General Description
The surface waters of Caribou Ranch Open Space are within the Boulder Creek Basin.
North Boulder Creek, a tributary of Boulder Creek, flows through the property. In terms of flow
it is the most significant conveyor of water on the property. The creek originates approximately 5
miles west along the Continental Divide in the City of Boulder’s Silver Lake Watershed. The
watershed is approximately 12 square miles in area.
Several tributaries of North Boulder Creek flow through the property. Caribou Creek’s
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Page 19
waters originate on the flanks of Caribou and Bald mountains and flow through Caribou Park.
Caribou Creek flows through the open space for approximately ½ mile before its confluence with
North Boulder Creek. DeLonde Creek’s waters originate on the east side of a ridge that separates
Caribou Park from the open space property. DeLonde Creek runs due east for 2 ½ miles through
the property and flows into North Boulder Creek just east of the open space boundary. Almost
the entire drainage of DeLonde Creek is contained in the open space. A small drainage, locally
called Little Como Creek, originates in a series of seeps and wetlands in the north central part of
the property, and flows east into Como Creek. The entire drainage basin of North Boulder Creek
west of Lakewood Reservoir, including DeLonde, Caribou and Como creeks, covers an area of
31 square miles.
The City of Boulder’s Silver Lake Watershed is located northwest of Caribou Ranch
Open Space. The Silver Lake Watershed provides approximately 40% of the City of Boulder’s
annual municipal water supply and up to 90% of the City’s winter water supply. Most of this
water flows through the Silver Lake Pipeline, which runs through Caribou Ranch Open Space.
The pipeline is 27 inches in diameter and can carry 20 million gallons of water per day, which
equates to 30 cubic feet per second (cfs). The City has retained ownership of the land traversed
by the pipeline for 60’ on either side of its centerline.
The City also has direct flow water rights allowing diversions from North Boulder Creek
after the water runs over or through Caribou Ranch Open Space. Hence, water that flows off of
the property into North Boulder, Caribou and DeLonde creeks can become part of the City of
Boulder’s drinking water. Direct flows from North Boulder Creek into Lakewood Reservoir vary
in quantity depending on the hydrology of the year and the pattern of water rights called. Direct
flow can occur throughout the year. Generally, from late September through early March the
City can be diverting between 2 and 7 cfs, while in April and May this can increase to 30 cfs.
A reason for the City’s involvement in the purchase and protection of the property is to
help protect the quality of waters at their source to the greatest extent possible. Examples of
threats can include erosion and sedimentation, human and animal waste, human and animal
contact, mine tailing runoff, leaking septic systems, leaking underground storage tanks, or storm
drainage. By helping to acquire this property and minimize development, several of the potential
pollutants have been eliminated or greatly reduced. For those contaminants that can come from
potential uses of the property, including erosion and sedimentation, human and animal waste,
and human and animal contact, pollutants from these sources can add microbiological pathogens
(bacteria, viruses, protozoans, and parasitic worms), total and dissolved suspended solids, and
nutrients to the water supply and can cause a variety of health risks if not removed from the
water before drinking. By reducing or preventing these contaminants from entering the water
supply in the first place, treatment processes have a better chance of being effective and
producing higher quality drinking water.
Pathogens are organisms that cause disease in other organisms. Bacteria, such as E. coli,
are present in all surface waters because they can originate from fecal material of virtually any
vertebrate. Bacteria can generally be treated with chlorine, but can interfere with the use of water
for recreation. Viruses and protozoans are more problematic for treatment. They can originate
from humans of from other vertebrates. It has been shown that they can pass through
conventional treatment processes. Giardia and Cryptosporidium are the most widely recognized
protozoans. It has been shown that many surface waters in the United States contain measurable
amounts of these organisms, and outbreaks in the human population are well known. The two
countermeasures include special treatment practices designed specifically to remove these
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organisms, and protection of source water from contamination.
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CARIBOU RANCH OPEN SPACE MANAGEMENT PLAN
This section of the plan describes the goals, policies, objectives, and activities that will be
used to manage Caribou Ranch Open Space. The level of detail varies: the intent is to provide a
broad overview of how the property will be managed. Finer details will evolve with further
planning for some aspects of property management.
6.0 MANAGEMENT DIRECTION
6.1 Boulder County Comprehensive Plan
The Boulder County Comprehensive Plan provides direction for a comprehensive land
management ethic. Through goals, policies, and mapped information, the plan gives guidance for
future land use. The goals of particular relevance to Caribou Ranch Open Space deal with
Environmental Management (goals that start with the letter B), Open Space (C), and Cultural
Resources (K). They are:
B.1 Unique or distinctive natural features and systems and cultural features and sites
should be conserved and preserved in recognition of the irreplaceable character of
such resources and their importance to the quality of life in Boulder County.
Other resources should be managed in a manner which is consistent with sound
conservation practices, while enhancing compatibility between natural and man-
made characteristics.
B.2 Air, water and noise pollution: inappropriate development in natural hazard areas;
and overall environmental degradation should be reduced as much as possible or
eliminated in order to prevent potential harm to life, health and property.
B.3 Critical wildlife habitats should be conserved and preserved in order to avoid the
depletion of wildlife and to perpetuate and encourage a diversity of species in the
County.
B.4 Significant natural communities (including significant riparian communities) and
rare plant sites should be conserved and preserved to retain living examples of
natural ecosystems, furnish a baseline of ecological processes and function, and
enhance and maintain the biodiversity of the region.
B.5 Wetlands, which are important to maintaining the overall balance of ecological
systems, should be conserved.
B.8 Environmental Conservation Areas (ECAs) should be conserved and preserved in
order to perpetuate those species, biological communities, and ecological
processes that function over large geographic areas and require a high degree of
naturalness.
B.9 Riparian ecosystems, which are important plant communities, wildlife habitat and
movement corridors, shall be protected.
C.1 Provision should be made for open space to meet human needs throughout the
County in order to protect and enhance the quality of life and enjoyment of the
environment.
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C.3 Open space shall be used as a means of preserving the rural character of the
unincorporated county and as a means of protecting from development those areas
which have significant environmental, scenic or cultural value.
K.1 Every effort shall be made to identify and protect prehistoric and historic sites
which meet national, state, or local criteria for historic designation from
destruction or harmful alteration.
Open Space, within the context of the Boulder County Comprehensive Plan, is defined
as:
“Those lands referred to in the Boulder County Comprehensive
Plan, as being intentionally left free from future development, and
in which it has been determined that it is, or may in the future be,
within the public interest to acquire an interest in order to assure
their protection.”
Passive Recreation, referred to in the Open Space Element policies, is defined as:
“Outdoor activities that create opportunities for independence,
closeness to nature, and a high degree of interaction with the
natural environment and which require no organization, rules of
play, facilities, or the installation of equipment, other than those
which may be necessary to protect the natural environment.”
In addition to being acquired Open Space, Caribou Ranch Open Space is influenced by
several other Comprehensive Plan designations: the property is within the Indian Peaks
Environmental Conservation Area; DeLonde Willow Carr is a Significant Wetland and Critical
Wildlife Habitat; and North Boulder Creek is considered of Archaeological Significance and
thought to be a travel route. The policies of most relevance to Caribou Ranch Open Space are
from the plan elements of Open Space, Environmental Resources, and Cultural Resources.
Relevant Open Space policies are:
Resource Management
OS 2.01 The county shall identify and work to assure the preservation of
Environmental Conservation Areas, critical wildlife habitats and corridors,
Natural Areas, Natural Landmarks, significant areas identified in the
Boulder Valley Natural Ecosystems Map, historic and archaeological sites,
and significant agricultural land.
OS 2.02 Significant natural communities, rare plant sites, wetlands, and other
important stands of vegetation, such as willow carrs, should be conserved
and preserved.
OS 2.03 The county shall provide management plans and the means for the
implementation of said plans for all open space areas that have been
acquired by or dedicated to the county.
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OS 2.03.01 The foremost management objectives of individual open
space lands shall follow directly from the purposes for
which the land was acquired.
OS 2.03.02 Management of county open space lands shall consider the
regional context of ecosystems and adjacent land uses.
OS 2.03.03 Management of individual open space lands, including
those under agricultural leases, shall follow good
stewardship practices and other techniques that protect and
preserve natural and cultural resources.
OS 2.04 The county, through its Parks and Open Space Department, shall provide
appropriate educational services for the public which increase public
awareness of the county’s irreplaceable and renewable resources and the
management techniques appropriate for their protection, preservation, and
conservation.
OS 2.04.01 The Parks and Open Space Department shall cooperate
with schools and non-profit organizations in the county to
provide environmental education activities which increase
awareness, understanding, appreciation, and support for
stewardship of the natural and cultural resources on open
space.
OS 2.04.02 The Parks and Open Space Department shall seek to meet
the needs of diverse populations in the county by providing
information and programming to accommodate special
groups such as disabled persons, young people, senior
citizens, and Spanish-speaking citizens.
OS 2.04.03 The Parks and Open Space Department shall develop and
disseminate information through publications, exhibits, and
other media on the uniqueness, importance, and appropriate
stewardship and management of open space areas in the
county.
OS 2.04.04 The Parks and Open Space Department shall utilize trained
volunteers, cooperating groups, and private individuals to
assist in the delivery of environmental education and
interpretive services.
OS 2.05 The county, through its Weed Management Program, shall discourage the
introduction of exotic or undesirable plants and shall work to eradicate
existing infestations through the use of Integrated Weed Management
throughout the county on private and public lands.
Scenic Area and Open Corridor Protection
OS 3.04 Areas that are considered as valuable scenic vistas and Natural Landmarks
shall be preserved as much as possible in their natural state.
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Page 24
Recreational Use
OS 4.02 Except as the county may establish a regional park, such as the Boulder
County Fairgrounds, or others similar facilities, the county will provide
only a minimum level of maintenance or development on park land
(consistent with policy OS 2.03).
OS 4.03 Recreational use of county open space land may be permitted where such
use is consistent with the management plan for the property and does not
adversely impact natural and cultural resources or other management
objectives of the property.
OS 4.03.01 Recreational use shall be passive, including but not limited
to hiking, photography or nature studies, and, if specifically
designated, bicycling, horseback riding, or fishing. Only
limited development and maintenance of facilities will be
provided.
OS 4.03.02 Accessibility for special populations such as disabled
persons, young people, senior citizens, and Spanish-
speaking people shall be addressed on a system-wide basis.
OS 4.04 Requests for special uses or events on county open space shall be
evaluated for their impacts to natural and cultural resources as well as
other management objectives and maintenance considerations.
Trails
OS 6.01 Trails and trailheads shall be planned, designed, and constructed to avoid
or minimize the degradation of natural and cultural resources, especially
riparian areas and associated wildlife habitats.
OS 6.02 Adverse effects on private lands shall be minimized insofar as possible by
trail and trailhead placement, posting of rules and signs against
trespassing, installation of containing fences where critical, and any other
appropriate measures.
OS 6.04 Trails shall provide for pedestrian, equestrian, bicycle, and/or other non-
motorized uses, where each is warranted. Incompatible uses shall be
appropriately separated.
OS 6.08 Trails constructed by the county Parks and Open Space Department shall
be soft-surface except where necessary to prevent erosion and/or other
resource damage.
Public Decision Making
OS 8.03 In developing management plans for open space areas, Parks and Open
Space staff shall solicit public participation of interested individuals,
community organizations, adjacent landowners and the parks and Open
Space Advisory Committee, including public comment, and recommended
for adoption after public hearing by the Board of County Commissioners.
OS 8.04 Significant changes to overall management direction or techniques shall
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Page 25
be presented to the Parks and Open Space Advisory Committee and/or the
Board of County Commissioners, with opportunity for public comment
before a decision is made.
Relevant Environmental Resource policies are:
ER 2.07 The County shall identify and work to assure the preservation of critical
wildlife habitats, natural areas, historic and archaeological sites and
significant agricultural land.
ER 4.09 The County will work towards protecting critical elk range and migration
routes through reducing development potential and by working with
landowners and management agencies to minimize human disturbance and
provide seasonal habitat needs.
ER 6.01 The County will work with appropriate management agencies and
property owners to protect or restore riparian areas.
ER 6.02 The County shall work toward minimizing human impacts to riparian
ecosystems from development, roads and trails.
ER 6.03 The County will work with appropriate entities to ensure suitable
minimum and maximum stream flows that maintain channel morphology,
support hydrologically connected wetlands and perpetuate species, both
plant and animal, dependent on riparian ecosystems.
ER 6.05 Management of riparian areas shall encourage use or mimicry of natural
processes, maintenance or reintroduction of native species, restoration of
degraded plant communities, elimination of undesirable exotic species,
minimizing human impacts, and development of long-term ecological
monitoring programs.
Relevant Cultural Resource policies are:
K1.02 Significant archaeological and historic sites and structures acquired by the
County both in unincorporated and incorporated areas, shall be
documented, protected, preserved, and where appropriate restored.
K1.02.1 After acquisition, an inventory of cultural resources on the
property shall be undertaken and the historic significance of
000each resource shall be determined.
K1.02.2 Resources that meet the criteria for local landmark, or State
or National Register status should be nominated for such
status by the County.
6.2 Terms of the Acquisition
The primary purposes for acquiring Caribou Ranch Open Space were protection of the
significant environmental and cultural resources. Appropriate public use was also a
consideration. Public use is contemplated in the purchase agreement and was discussed at the
acquisition public hearings.
Significant management considerations of the purchase agreements include:
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$ Public Use: Permitted uses of the open space are public trails perpetually limited
to hiking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, horseback riding and other
pedestrian and equestrian activities. Trailhead parking cannot be located within 2
mile of the City of Boulder Watershed entrance road along Rainbow Lakes Road
(CR 116). Mr. Guercio retains the right to name the public trails. Camping and
campfires are prohibited.
$ Roads
: Vehicular access is limited to that necessary for City of Boulder activities
associated with the Silver Lake Pipeline, open space management (including
irrigation ditch operation and maintenance, field inventories and scientific study)
and ranching. The County is prohibited from paving any of the existing roads or
constructing new roads.
$ Water
: The water rights acquired consist of Como Ditch No.5; Caribou Springs
No. 9 and 10; Caribou Ponds No. 4 and 6; and Natural Ponds No. 1, 2, and 5. In
general, the water should first be applied to the open space for agricultural and
environmental enhancement, and other related management purposes as
determined by the County. Any excess water shall be abandoned to the stream and
the City of Boulder may purchase and use it for its purposes. A priority use for the
excess water is in-stream flow. Trail use (including equestrian use), vegetative
management (including use of fire and herbicides) and agricultural management
(including grazing) should not degrade the watershed nor water quality.
$ Agricultural Use
: The Guercios, so long as any of them owns the Caribou Ranch
homestead, may lease back the property and water rights for agricultural purposes
for up to 20 years (December 1996 to December 2016).
$ Existing Buildings
: County has the right to repair and reconstruct any existing
structures and buildings for the purposes of use as caretaker, scientific research,
and historic or administrative facilities. If the County chooses not to use the
DeLonde Ranch House, Mr. Guercio can lease it.
$ Additional Guercio Rights
: The present and future owners and residents of the
remaining Caribou Ranch property have direct access to the public trails by means
of a private trail(s).
$ Other Management Considerations
: The County shall manage each parcel
purchased from Mr. Guercio. The County will also manage that portion of the
City of Boulder Watershed located south of the Rainbow Lakes Road (CR 116).
The County is prohibited from building any structures or allowing any
development, except that associated with trails and trailheads. The County shall
not remove, destroy or cut any tree or plant, use any biocide or change the natural
environment or habitat except as required for weed control, fire suppression or
management, and trail development or maintenance. There is no dumping or
storage of trash or chemicals; no changing of topography except for trail
construction. The County shall not allow any fire to be set or any hunting or
trapping or poisoning of wildlife without the written consent of the City of
Boulder. The County agrees to make reasonable effort to suppress any wildfire
that may occur.
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6.3 Caribou Ranch Open Space Vision Statement
A vision statement captures the Afeel@ of the open space or what the open space would
look like if the management plan were fully implemented.
“Caribou Ranch Open Space will be a predominantly natural landscape consisting
of a mosaic of forest types punctuated by streams, wetlands, riparian areas,
shrublands, and meadows; inhabited by plant and animal species that are
characteristic of the northern Front Range; functioning as a high-quality
watershed; retaining elements of its cultural history; and with trails where citizens
can hike, ride horses, cross-country ski or snowshoe in order to enjoy and learn
about the natural and cultural resources.”
6.4 Caribou Ranch Open Space Management Goals and Objectives
Goals are broad, general statements describing what the property should be in the future.
They are more specific than a vision statement. Objectives are even more specific than goals.
They are generally measurable, achievable, and relevant. Following are the goals and objectives
of the Caribou Ranch Open Space Management Plan.
Goal 1: Permanently Protect the Land and Water
Objectives:
$ Complete the land protection process for Caribou Ranch Open Space.
$ Adopt and implement the Caribou Ranch Open Space Management Plan.
$ Provide land management staffing needs of Nederland area open space properties,
including Caribou Ranch Open Space.
$ Work cooperatively with surrounding property owners to protect the natural and
cultural resources of the property and its environs.
$ Monitor the well being of the natural and cultural resources, as well as the visitor
experience, and amend the plan when appropriate.
Goal 2: Maintain the Structure and Function of the Diverse Ecosystems, and the
Watershed Functions of the Property.
Objectives:
$ Maintain a mosaic of existing native plant communities.
$ Maintain viable populations of existing native vertebrate and invertebrate
populations.
$ Restore and reintroduce appropriate native plant and animal species.
$ Eradicate, suppress or contain, as appropriate, undesirable plant and animal
species.
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$ Minimize the chance for human and domestic animal degradation of surface
waters.
Goal 3: Preserve the Cultural, Historical and Archaeological Integrity of the Area.
Objectives:
$ Determine the cultural and historical sites most appropriate for public visitation
and develop strategies for preservation of these sites.
$ Identify areas of the property that will be off limits to visitors to protect
significant archaeological, historic, and cultural features from vandalism.
$ Determine the proper level of preservation, research and inventory for each
cultural site.
Goal 4: Provide Opportunities for Passive Outdoor Recreation for the Public.
Objectives:
$ Develop access to the property that minimizes impacts to surrounding property
owners, and provides information, parking and rest rooms for the visiting public.
$ Develop trails that provide access to places appropriate for public use, and direct
people away from sensitive resources.
$ Develop a trail that highlights the rich cultural history, wildlife, and scenery of the
property, is 4-5 miles in length, and geared towards family enjoyment.
$ Develop a trail that provides a connection to trails to the north of Caribou Ranch
Open Space.
$ Where feasible, provide opportunities for seniors and handicapped citizens.
Goal 5: Provide Opportunities for Cultural and Environmental Interpretation for the
Public.
Objectives:
$ Highlight the cultural history of the Switzerland Trail Railroad, Blue Bird Mine
Complex, Batesville, and DeLonde Homestead by managing these sites for some
level of public visitation.
$ Provide kiosks, brochures, and interpretive signs for self-interpretation of
significant features.
$ Offer guided field trips to interpret significant features for visitors.
Implementing the goals and objectives are more fully described in the following sections
on Vegetation Resource Management, Wildlife Resource Management, Cultural Resource
Management, and Visitor Service Management.
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7.0 VEGETATION RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
The Boulder County Comprehensive Plan Goals and Policies emphasize:
• The conservation, preservation, and protection of significant plant communities,
wetlands, riparian areas, rare plant sites, and other stands of important vegetation, such as
willow carrs and old-growth forests;
• The management of riparian areas using or mimicking natural processes, ensuring
suitable minimum and maximum stream flows, maintaining or reintroducing native
species, eliminating undesirable exotic plants, and minimizing human impacts;
• Discouraging the introduction of exotic or undesirable plants and work to eradicate
existing infestations.
The Caribou Ranch Open Space Management Objectives further emphasize:
• Maintaining a mosaic of existing native plant communities;
• Restoring and reintroducing appropriate native plant species;
• Eradicating, suppressing or containing, as appropriate, undesirable plant species.
7.1 Protecting Significant Resources
Several significant plant communities and one rare plant site were identified through field
inventories (Figure 2). The most significant plant community is the DeLonde Willow Carr. Other
sites of importance are the kettle ponds, wetland and riparian complex, big sagebrush shrubland,
old-growth woodlands and forests, and ponderosa pine/elk sedge montane woodland.
Management for most of these sites will follow normal management practices for forests,
grasslands, and weeds, which are further described in the following sections. Additionally, the
following practices should be followed in managing significant vegetation resources:
• Activities in or near significant resources should only be carried out with knowledge of
the most current information and best management practices, and need to be performed in
a manner that protects the resource.
• Where possible, avoid fragmentation of significant sites by roads and trails.
• Increase public awareness of the benefits of protecting areas determined to be significant
to natural diversity. Increasing the public’s knowledge of the remaining significant areas
will build support for the initiatives necessary to protect them. Such activities could be
done through interpretive signs, direct public involvement in management, information
pamphlets, and public service announcements.
It is probable that DeLonde Willow Carr was larger in size during pre-settlement times. It
was
typical for early homesteaders to reduce the size of wetlands by removing beaver in order to
expand pastures and hay meadows. Almost 20% of all montane and subalpine willow carrs in
Boulder County have been changed to other land uses. Willow carrs are significant plant
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communities as well as important wildlife habitat.
Management activities to enhance DeLonde Willow Carr are:
• DeLonde Willow Carr will be expanded in size to its west. Initial steps toward restoration
will be to eliminate some of the haying that occurs nearest the riparian corridor; this will
allow woody vegetation to expand. Further restoration efforts will be based on additional
studies of hydrology, the response of vegetation to the elimination of haying, and the
response of animals (particularly beaver) to the new vegetation. The feasibility of
relocating the current road to DeLonde Homestead, which crosses DeLonde Creek
between the willow carr and the restoration area, will be investigated.
7.2 Forest Management
Forests are the predominant type of vegetation on Caribou Ranch Open Space. Lodgepole
pine forests are most common, along with mixed conifer forests and woodlands, Engelmann
spruce-subalpine fir forests, and ponderosa pine forests and woodlands. Aspen dominates several
small patches and is also found mixed with other coniferous forest types.
It is probable that a majority of the forest on Caribou Ranch Open Space was cut or
burned during the settlement era of the 1850s through 1910. Much of the forest we see today
originated during that time period. Early photographs reveal that aspen covered more of the
property in the post-fire forest of the first half of the 20
th
century. Ponderosa pine and mixed-
conifer woodlands found on south and southeast facing aspects were open enough to survive the
fires; today these sites contain many of the oldest trees on the property. Fire history studies
reveal a mean-return fire interval on the order of 150 years or greater. The regional climate
appears to be the most important factor in the large-scale forest fires that influence this area
rather than the buildup of fuels.
Today’s forests are within the historical range of variability. It is probable that at some
point in the future there will likely be a major fire, probably occurring when there has been a
regional drought, which will start a successional process. Eventually, aspen forests will again
dominate much of the property for 50 or more years until overtaken by conifers. Trying to
manage large portions of the forest to preclude wildfire has significant ecological costs for those
species, both plant and animal, which favor a closed canopy forest. Thinning lodgepole pine and
spruce-fir forests tends to simplify the forest structure and removes important ecological
components.
Closed canopy is the successional forest stage that much of the property has coevolved to
be in for most of the time. A fire, an ecological pulse that creates a mosaic of burned and
unburned patches, then breaks this stage. Aspen and lodgepole will then regenerate in the burned
patches, which are also full of snags that benefit a host of animals. The landscape contains other
patches that are less prone to stand replacing fires, including mixed-conifer woodlands,
meadows, wetlands, and riparian areas.
The forest management to occur on the property will focus on particular sites with an aim
toward protection of structures, both on and near the property, key cultural and ecological
features, and watershed values.
Management activities for the forests are:
• Protection of Cultural Resources
: Forest stands around the Blue Bird Mine Complex and
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DeLonde Homestead should be kept open through thinning.
• Maintaining Forest Health
: This task has several components. Insects and disease, which
are natural elements of our forest, will be managed on a case-by-case basis. The montane
forest in the southeast portion of the property should be managed to retain a healthy
forest. This area currently contains small meadows of native grasses, which could be
expanded through forest thinning. This will also provide a fuel break between open space
and adjacent land located to the south and east. More detailed stand prescriptions will be
developed for this area.
• Protection of Key Ecological Features
: The mixed-conifer woodland of DeLonde Gulch
is a significant wildlife habitat and plant community. Occasional ground fire through this
ecosystem has helped maintain the openness of the site. Currently, the site is not in need
of any management. Stand density should be periodically monitored. In the future, in the
absence of natural fire, possible thinning and/or prescribed fire may be considered.
• Protection of Watershed Values
: While we do not wish to actively manage large portions
of the property, consideration will be given to exploring the creation of some fuel breaks
in the northern part of the property. These may utilize existing features such as Rainbow
Lakes Road and Silver Lake Pipeline, or try and tie together existing woodlands and
aspen forests, which already act as natural fuel breaks. The potential for a fuel break in
this vicinity needs additional study, as well as coordination with the City of Boulder
Watershed and the U.S. Forest Service.
• Stopping Wildfires and Performing Reclamation
: The mode of operation is to
aggressively control all wildfires and extinguish them at the earliest time possible.
Additionally, post-fire reclamation will aggressively work to control erosion and
sedimentation in order to minimize the impacts to surface water. The County will
coordinate with the City of Boulder Watershed, as well as the U.S. Forest Service and the
Nederland Fire Protection District, to work towards a well-planned strategy for wildfire
fighting and post-fire reclamation.
The primary tools for active forest and woodland management include thinning, pruning, and
prescribed burns. Following are descriptions of these tools:
• Thinning and Pruning of Forests and Woodlands
: This management tool is utilized in
order to decrease stand density. It allows fire to be a more effective and less dangerous
agent by reducing tree density, maintaining less hazardous fuel types, and eliminating
ladder fuels. Thinning generally focuses on removing understory trees, as well as many
seedlings and saplings.
• Use of Prescribed Burns
: Prescribed burns are appropriate in those ecosystems where
ground fires helped retain an open canopy. They help reduce fuel loads that may help
reduce the risk or severity of wildland fire. Areas to be burned may receive an initial
thinning and pruning of trees in order to allow the fire to be more effective.
Prescribed burns are carefully planned. Boulder County Parks and Open Space will
coordinate with local fire districts, the County Sheriff’s Office, and other appropriate land
management agencies and fire districts. Carefully developed burn plans are written for
each prescribed fire. The burn plan provides for a window of opportunity during which
predetermined environmental conditions must exist in order for the burn to be conducted.
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During this window, officials test conditions such as wind direction, temperature, and
moisture to determine if conditions are appropriate for the burn. A prescribed burn will
not be conducted unless conditions are appropriate for a safe and effective burn. The
monitoring of plant communities before and after each burn is important in order to
measure the effects of each fire and provide data to better plan future events.
7.3 Grassland Management
Grassland plant communities are found at several sites on the property and are significant
components in woodlands and in some stands of aspen. DeLonde Meadow is the largest
grassland and is dominated by introduced pasture grasses. Small meadows of native grasses are
found interspersed with stands of ponderosa pine in the southeast corner of the property. Native
grasses form significant understories in the woodlands of DeLonde Creek.
DeLonde Meadow encompasses approximately 40 acres, of which about 30 acres are
grassland. Since settlement the property, it has been used for haying, livestock grazing, and
probably some crop production. Much of the meadow is irrigated from Como Ditch #5, whose
point of diversion is from DeLonde Creek just west of the meadow. Probable changes to plant
communities resulting from human activities in the meadow include a decrease in native riparian
shrublands and grasslands, a decrease in native upland grasslands, and an increase in introduced
pasture grasses, particularly smooth brome, timothy, orchard-grass and Kentucky blue-grass.
Recently, the primary use of DeLonde Meadow has been haying. Irrigation is still
conducted. The property is inadequately fenced for well-controlled livestock grazing. The site
has historically been used as a stock driveway to move livestock to the U.S. Forest Service
grazing allotment (Caribou Allotment) to the west of Caribou Ranch Open Space. As part of the
purchase contract with Jim Guercio, the Guercios lease back the property and water rights for
agricultural purposes (grazing and ranching) until December 2016.
Consideration was given to trying to convert DeLonde Meadow back to native grasses. It
was felt that conversion would probably only be achieved with considerable time and cost. The
introduced pasture grasses have functional values as forage and soil binders. They are also part
of the cultural fabric of the DeLonde Homestead, particularly as hay meadows.
Management activities for DeLonde Meadow are:
• Irrigation and Haying
: Continue irrigation and fall haying in portions of the meadow
previously hayed, less areas where the DeLonde Willow Carr will be expanded (see
Section 7.1 – Protection of Significant Resources).
• Livestock Grazing
: Use DeLonde Meadow and DeLonde Creek as a stock driveway for
the purpose of moving cattle from Caribou Ranch to Caribou Allotment. Animal
numbers, grazing periods, and the degree of utilization of forage through DeLonde
Meadow will be controlled. During up and down movements, the time spent in DeLonde
Meadow will generally be restricted to short time intervals (1 day), however, this may
vary depending on objectives. Cattle will need to be herded during the move, as fencing
is impractical. Other livestock grazing (other than incidental to moving cattle to and from
Caribou Allotment) is to be planned and controlled grazing where objectives are achieved
by using temporary fencing or full-time herding.
Other grasslands on the property will be managed only if part of a prescribed fire in
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conjunction with forest management (see Section 7.2 – Forest Management), or for weed
management (see Section 7.4 – Weed Management).
7.4 Weed Management
The movement of people and livestock west brought noxious weeds into Boulder County.
Sometimes the transplanting was with purpose; often it was inadvertent as the seed was mixed
with luggage or livestock. There is an historical account of ox-eye daisy first coming to Boulder
County at Caribou Ranch in the early 1900s. A traveler from Chicago arrived at the Blue Bird
Station of the Switzerland Trail railroad with ox-eye daisy seeds in his coat pocket. Ox-eye daisy
is now considered a noxious weed and is prevalent at several sites on Caribou Ranch Open
Space.
Other noxious weeds present on the property include musk thistle, Canada thistle and
yellow toadflax. Mullein is present in disturbed sites. Cheat-grass, which can cause early fire
danger because the plant matures and cures earlier than most native grasses, is present in
meadows and woodlands.
Boulder County utilizes an integrated pest management approach to weed management
that includes manual removal, prescribed fire, mechanical, biological, and herbicidal methods.
Weed control activities were initiated on Caribou Ranch Open Space in 2001. Manual and
herbicidal control were initiated against ox-eye daisy and musk thistle. Weed control efforts will
continue as needed. Emphasis will be placed on controlling ox-eye daisy, musk thistle, Canada
thistle, and yellow toadflax.
Herbicides are used only under strict guidelines. Those herbicides that are persistent in
soil and move easily in water are used as spot applications away from sensitive vegetation and
streams. Herbicides with low toxicity, low movement in water, and active on few plant families
can have a wider application. In the mountains of Boulder County, herbicides can only be used
on County Open Space properties that are open to the public if the Board of County
Commissioners grants permission.
8.0 WILDLIFE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
The Boulder County Comprehensive Plan Goals and Policies emphasize:
• Preserving and minimizing impacts to critical wildlife habitat, wetland, and riparian
areas;
• Protecting critical elk range and migration routes by minimizing human disturbance
and providing seasonal habitat needs;
• The conservation and preservation of Environmental Conservation Areas (Caribou
Ranch Open Space is within the Indian Peaks ECA) in order to perpetuate species,
communities and processes that function over large geographic areas and require a
high degree of naturalness.
The Caribou Ranch Open Space Management Objectives further emphasize:
• Maintaining viable animal populations;
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• Restoring or reintroducing native animals;
• Eradicating, suppressing or containing, as appropriate, undesirable animals;
• Directing people away from sensitive areas.
8.1 Protecting Significant Resources
Caribou Ranch Open Space is part of a montane parkland. This site is an important node
of biodiversity and one of only three remaining intact montane parklands in western Boulder
County. The overall diversity and density of species is significantly high in comparison to the
surrounding land.
Several significant wildlife resources on Caribou Ranch Open Space were identified
through field inventories (Figures 3 and 4). DeLonde Willow Carr and several Mixed-Conifer
Woodlands are significant habitat as indicated by high breeding bird diversity and density.
Townsend’s Big-eared Bats are known to utilize mine adits on the property. Northern goshawks
are known to utilize two areas on or near the property for post-fledging family activities. Due to
the lack of fish in DeLonde Creek, an opportunity may exist to successfully introduce native
greenback cutthroat trout.
A herd of approximately 175 elk uses the property, primarily as transitional range in
spring and fall. Calving and rutting activities occur on the ranch. While the main herd moves to
higher elevation during the summer, individuals are present throughout the season. Elk may also
be present during mild winters. Caribou Ranch Open Space has functioned as a refuge for elk.
Because of this, two management situations arise. First, it is probable that once opened to the
public there will be a higher human presence on the property. While elk can be adaptable
animals, they can also be wary of humans. Behavior is often shaped by several factors including
whether or not they are hunted on portions of their range. This herd is hunted with the location
depending on the timing of each season in relation to snow depth. Illegal hunting also occurs.
Observations suggest that these elk are wary of people walking through a natural landscape; they
will expend energy fleeing from people hiking. Studies have shown that elk are vulnerable to
human disturbance during the calving season. How much they will habituate to people on the
property is an unknown. Consideration needs to be taken to minimize interaction, particularly
during significant biological times such as calving and rutting. Secondly, there has been a
tendency for elk to utilize the property as a refuge during hunting season, possibly minimizing
one form of population control. There is information that the herd has been increasing in size,
and there is some evidence of elk impacts on aspen. Monitoring of both herd population and
impacts to vegetation are recommended. Active herd population management may be necessary
if significant resource damage occurs.
The use of Caribou Ranch Open Space for public access and recreation will generally
present a level of human presence that is higher than recent historic use. How different animals
react to recreationists is a complex issue, but many studies have shown adverse effects from
nonconsuptive outdoor recreation, including nonmotorized trail use, due to displacement, lower
nesting success, and greater predation. In this respect, trails are an extension of the overall
impacts occurring in Boulder County due to development and an increased human presence on
the landscape. There is a general community shift in animals and plants from those less tolerant
of people to those more tolerant. The need for sizeable blocks of land with little human presence
(“effective habitat”) is becoming more important.
Wildlife management activities on Caribou Ranch Open Space are:
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• Implement a spring closure (April 1 – June 30) of the property for protection of elk
calving.
• Implement a year round wildlife closure in the DeLonde Gulch Conservation Area (see
Figure 6 in Section 10.1 – Management Areas) to protect: effective habitat for a wide
variety of resident and migratory species; a northern goshawk post-fledging family area;
an elk fall concentration area, portion of a spring concentration area and movement
corridors; the habitat values of the largest mixed-conifer woodland on the property.
• Implement a closure in the DeLonde Willow Carr Conservation Area (see Figure 6 in
Section 10.1 – Management Areas) to protect: effective habitat for a wide variety of
resident and migratory species; a portion of an elk spring concentration area; and the
habitat values of DeLonde Willow Carr, the 5th largest montane willow carr in Boulder
County.
• Other temporary trail closures may be implemented in the fall (September 1 – November
15) in order to protect fall elk rutting from human interference.
• Because of the exceptional wildlife values of the property and the almost year round
presence of elk, domestic dogs should be prohibited from the property.
• Mine openings and adits should be enclosed in such a way that allows bats to enter and
exit, and prohibits people from entering.
• The DeLonde Willow Carr Critical Wildlife Habitat should be expanded (see section 7.1
– Protection of Significant Vegetation Resources – for more information).
• Trail locations should minimize habitat fragmentation, should be directed away from
critical resources, and visitor policies should encourage the public to stay on trails so
their activities and movements on the property are predictable to wildlife.
• Control of elk populations, through hunting or other forms of population control, should
be retained as a management option if elk numbers approach carrying capacity, or for
management of disease.
9.0 CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
The Boulder County Comprehensive Plan Goals and Policies emphasize:
• The conservation and preservation of unique or distinct cultural features and sites.
• The identification and protection of prehistoric and historic sites which meet national,
state or local criteria for historic designation from destruction or harmful alteration.
• The County should nominate resources found on open space that meet the criteria for
local landmark, or State or National register status.
The Caribou Ranch Management Objectives further emphasize:
• Determine the cultural and historical sites most appropriate for public visitation and
develop strategies for preservation of these sites.
• Identify areas of the property that will be off limits to visitors to protect significant
archaeological, historic, and cultural features from vandalism.
• Determine the proper level of preservation, research, and inventory for each cultural site.
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9.1 Protecting Significant Resources
The property is rich in cultural resources. The majority of these that are most visible on
the property is of an historic nature and associated with early settlement, ranching, mining, and
transportation. The Denver, Boulder & Western Railroad (“The Switzerland Trail”) runs through
the property and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Blue Bird Mine
Complex is a multi-component site with a small company community associated with mining
and the railroad. Batesville was the site of North Boulder Mill. The DeLonde Homestead reflects
several periods of ranch development. Besides these sites, there were 137 isolated finds on the
property that were both prehistoric and historic in nature.
A number of prehistoric sites and isolated finds were documented on the property. Native
American use should be an interpretive theme. However, due to the sensitivity of these
archaeological resources, specific sites will not be used for interpretation and visitor use will be
directed away from them. Parks and Open Space regulations prohibit the removal of any artifacts
by visitors. All visitors should respect the sensitivity of these sites.
Several of the significant historic cultural resources lend themselves to preservation,
interpretation and visitor enjoyment. These will be a major part of the experience of visiting
Caribou Ranch Open Space. There is, of course, a risk to allowing public access to historic
structures. Vandalism could occur. Having only foot and horse access of around 2 miles to the
sites lessens the risk, but does not get rid of it. But we think that it is worth taking that risk so the
citizens of Boulder County can fully appreciate this property.
While surface archaeological surveys have been conducted, there is still much research to
be done. Some structural stabilization and weatherproofing has been undertaken. Historical
structural assessments are planned. More detailed planning will be done in order to determine
how and what to preserve, rehabilitate, research, inventory, let decay, and interpret.
Cultural resource management activities on Caribou Ranch Open Space are:
• The Switzerland Trail, Blue Bird Mine Complex, DeLonde Homestead, and Batesville
will be managed for public visitation (see section 10.0 – Visitor Services).
• The Switzerland Trail Railroad is listed as a National Historic District. It will be
interpreted, along with related features such as the townsite of Anson, the stop at Blue
Bird, and the trestles at Blue Bird and the North Boulder Creek crossing.
• The Blue Bird Mine Historic District should receive Local Landmark status. The
bunkhouse and stone building will be top priorities for preservation, and possible
rehabilitation. Most other features will be preserved. Mine openings and adits will be
secured from public entry for safety.
• Batesville primarily consists of the foundation of the North Boulder Mill. This site will
be preserved and interpreted.
• The DeLonde Homestead should receive Local Landmark status. The house and barn will
be preserved, and possibly rehabilitated. The house, barn, hay meadows, irrigation ditch,
and other related features will be interpreted.
• Historic debris and dumb sites will be protected.
• Utilize fencing, demarcated walkways, and interpretive signage to help control public
use.
• Implement a year round closure in the DeLonde Willow Carr Conservation Area (see
Figure 6 in Section 10.1 – Management Areas) due to the sensitive archaeological
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resources.
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10.0 VISITOR SERVICES
The Boulder County Comprehensive Plan Goals and Policies emphasize:
• That provision should be made for open space to meet human needs throughout the
County in order to protect and enhance the quality of life and enjoyment of the
environment.
• The foremost management objectives of individual open space lands shall follow directly
from the purposes for which the land was acquired.
• Recreational use of open space is permitted where such use does not adversely impact
natural and cultural resources; use is limited to passive recreation and only limited
development and maintenance of facilities will be provided.
• Trails and trailheads are planned, designed, and constructed to avoid or minimize
degradation of natural and cultural resources, and adverse impacts on private lands
should be minimized.
• Accessibility for special populations is addressed on a system-wide basis.
• The County, through the Parks and Open Space Department, shall provide appropriate
educational services for the public to increase public awareness of significant resources
and appropriate land management. There should be: cooperation with schools and non-
profit organizations; accommodation of the needs of diverse populations where feasible;
dissemination of information through publications, exhibits, and other media; and the
utilization of trained volunteers, cooperating groups, and private individuals to assist in
the delivery of environmental and interpretive services.
Passive Recreation is defined as:
“Outdoor activities that create opportunities for independence,
closeness to nature, and a high degree of interaction with the
natural environment and which require no organization, rules of
play, facilities, or the installation of equipment, other than those
which may be necessary to protect the natural environment.”
The Open Space Tax Resolution (Resolution No. 93-174) approved by the voters of
Boulder County, and whose funds were used to acquire Caribou Ranch Open Space, provides
further direction regarding appropriate recreational use of the property. The resolution cites six
functions that open space may serve, including urban shaping buffers, preservation of critical
natural and historic resources, trail linkages and public access, areas of environmental
preservation, conservation of natural resources, and:
“preservation of land for outdoor recreation areas limited to
passive recreational use, including but not limited to hiking,
photography or nature studies, and, if specifically designated,
bicycling, horseback riding, or fishing.”
The Caribou Ranch Management Objectives further emphasize:
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• Adopt and implement the Caribou Ranch Open Space Management Plan.
• Provide land management staffing needs of Nederland area open space properties,
including Caribou Ranch Open space.
• Work cooperatively with surrounding property owners to protect the natural and cultural
resources of the property and its environs.
• Minimize the chance for human and domestic animal degradation of surface waters.
• Develop access to the property that minimizes impacts to surrounding property owners,
and provides information, parking and rest rooms for the visiting public.
• Develop trails that provide access to places appropriate for public use, and direct people
away from sensitive resources.
• Develop a trail that highlights the rich cultural history, wildlife, and scenery of the
property, is 4-5 miles in length, and geared towards family enjoyment.
• Develop a trail that provides a connection to trails to the north of Caribou Ranch Open
Space.
• Where feasible, provide opportunities for seniors and handicapped citizens.
• Highlight the cultural history of the Switzerland Trail Railroad, Blue Bird Mine
Complex, Batesville, and DeLonde Homestead by managing these sites for some level of
public visitation.
• Provide kiosks, brochures, and interpretive signs for self-interpretation of significant
features.
• Offer guided field trips to interpret significant features for visitors.
Caribou Ranch Open Space possesses the size, terrain, scenery, views and resources
which can make it a place that people will enjoy visiting. The primary activities on the property
will include hiking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing when appropriate,
and learning about the many cultural and environmental resources on the property. Opportunities
may also exist for citizens with special needs. As agreed to at the time of purchase, mountain
biking will not be permitted on the property.
Any use of the property must be compatible with the protection of the resources. Some
direct and indirect impacts from recreation include displacement of wildlife, spread of exotic
plants, spread of water-borne disease, soil compaction, erosion and the loss of vegetation, and
vandalism. Every effort needs to be made to lessen human impact on the resources, direct
visitors to less sensitive areas, and to design for human use that minimizes resource damage. But
in all likelihood, there will be some level of impact.
What should not be forgotten, while looking at balancing resource protection with public
use, were the potential impacts from the development that was precluded by purchase of the
property as open space. Approximately 62 homes could have been built on this acreage;
potentially more if the land had been annexed to a municipality. The impacts to wildlife, plant,
and water resources would have been greater from the development. Studies in Boulder County
reveal significant avian and mammalian community changes where residential development
exists or is nearby; generalists increase and specialists decrease to a degree much greater than
impacts documented so far from nonmotorized trail use. Bears and lions that hang around homes
eventually are removed. Elk probably would have still used the property, but it is likely that
calving would have occurred someplace else. The level of exotic plant introduction and stream
sedimentation is potentially greater in residential developments with their homes, roads and
driveways.
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The following sections more fully describe how visitor use will be managed on the
property.
10.1 Management Areas
We have identified Management Areas, which describe the land use emphasis, to balance
resource protection with visitor use. Significant factors influencing the management areas are:
• Caribou Ranch Open Space is part of a montane parkland, a node of exceptional
biodiversity.
• Elk use of the property is nearly year round, with high and sensitive use periods during
spring (calving) and fall (rutting).
• There is a need to retain one or more large blocks of land within the property with high
effective habitat.
• There is a need to minimize human and domestic animal contact with surface waters to
help retain high quality watershed values.
• There are unique and exceptional historical resources on the property.
• There is a desire from the public to enjoy the special resources of the property and to
have a route through the property connecting with trails to the north.
There are several special management actions that will apply to the entire property. We believe
these are necessary for proper resource protection. These are:
• There will be a spring closure of the property (April 1 – June 30). The primary reason is
for elk calving. This is probably the most critical time for elk, and calving occurs
throughout the property. Many other animal species will benefit from this closure.
• Domestic dogs will not be allowed on the property. We believe the wildlife resources are
truly special in this montane parkland. This land has greater wildlife value than the
surrounding landscape to the north, west, and south. While we are proposing a spring
closure to protect elk, they are also present in good number in the fall and can be present
at all other times. This action will also help protect water quality, as domestic dogs can be
carriers of water-borne disease.
• As a condition of the purchase agreement, mountain bikes will not be allowed on the
property.
Management Areas distinguish between areas more suitable for resource protection and
areas more suitable for visitor use. Proposed Management Areas for Caribou Ranch Open Space
(Figure 6) include a Cultural Heritage Area, a Trail Alignment Study Area, and two
Conservation Areas. Following are descriptions of the Management Areas.
Cultural Heritage Area
: This area will be the primary focus of the visitor experience and will
receive the highest use on the property. Within this area are the Blue Bird Mine Complex,
DeLonde Homestead, and a portion of the Switzerland Trail Railroad grade. Considerable work
will be needed to preserve and protect these historic sites (see section 9.0 – Cultural Resource
Management).
The entrance and parking area will be off of County Road 126 (Sherwood Gulch Road) or off
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Figure 6 – Management Areas
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of County Road 109J (a spur road off of CR 126) (see section 10.2 – Recreation Facilities and
Figure 7). Additional study is required for locating the parking area and entrance. From here, a
trail will connect to the Switzerland Trail Railroad grade, and will proceed to the Blue Bird Mine
Complex. The distance from the Trailhead Study Area to the Blue Bird Mine Complex ranges in
distance from 1.5 to 2.5 miles (depending on the location of the trailhead). Off of the Switzerland
Trail will be a loop trail connecting to the DeLonde Homestead. The depicted location on Figure
7 for the loop trail is conceptual and the final alignment could be in a different location. The loop
trail will be approximately 1 mile in length. Hiking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing and
snowshoeing are the allowed modes of travel. As a matter of the purchase agreement, there will
also be a spur trail connecting to the loop from the Caribou Ranch Homestead to provide access
for its residents into the public trail system.
Fishing will be permitted in the segment of North Boulder Creek within this management
area. Additional study and coordination with the Colorado Division of Wildlife is needed to
determine appropriate fisheries management and regulations.
Management activities for this area include:
• Preserve and protect the cultural resources in order to allow public visitation.
• Offer one guided special access field trip to the Blue Bird Mine Complex annually for
seniors and handicapped citizens.
• Develop a cultural history program focused on the Blue Bird Mine Complex.
• Develop a natural resource program and guided walks that are focused on the fall elk rut.
• Design and produce interpretive materials for the Switzerland Trail Railroad, Blue Bird
Mine Complex, and DeLonde Homestead.
• Investigate the feasibility of relocating the current road to DeLonde Homestead, which
would benefit the DeLonde Creek riparian corridor. This will influence the location of the
loop trail.
Trail Alignment Study Area
: This area will be for more rugged trail travel in a natural
environment. Our goal is to find a suitable trail alignment that provides a connection to the north,
to USFS lands and the Sourdough Trail. The Switzerland Trail may be a possibility, as is an
alternative alignment that would more closely follow Rainbow Lakes Road. Additional study,
and coordination with the Forest Service, is needed in order to find a suitable trail alignment. The
Boulder District of the Roosevelt National Forest is conducting a planning process for managing
recreational use in the area north of Caribou Ranch Open Space. The Forest Service anticipates
completing their planning process during the winter of 2002-2003. The Forest Service has
concerns regarding trail alignments in this area (impacts to greenback cutthroat trout, raptor
nests, and habitat fragmentation). It is not clear if they will recommend a trail in this area. If not,
we will consider a route to Rainbow Lakes Road to facilitate a portion of the northern
connection. The Trail Alignment Study, when complete, will be brought to the Parks and Open
Space Advisory Committee and the Board of County Commissioners for review.
The trail alignment must take into account, and try to minimize impacts on, the
significant resources found in the study area, including wetlands, Little Como Creek and its
watershed, kettle ponds, elk spring and fall concentration areas and movement corridors, mixed
conifer woodlands, raptor nests, and archaeological sites.
This area will also contain a short spur trail to the old town site of Batesville, where the
foundation of the North Boulder Mill is still present. The historic site will be preserved and made
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suitable for public visitation. Interpretive materials will be designed and produced for the site.
Conservation Areas
: Conservation Areas are large blocks of land, which due to their size can
protect several smaller significant resources, such as a wetland or an old-growth forest, as well as
help meet the needs of animals needing a large, secluded and unfragmented place. Their large
size means they can help provide watershed protection. Significant archaeological resources may
also be present. Recreational use should be directed away from these areas and they should be
considered for permanent closure.
DeLonde Gulch Conservation Area
: This is the largest of the conservation areas and
encompasses much of the western half of the property. Significant vegetation resources
include: Ponderosa Pine/Elk Sedge Woodland (a Colorado rare plant community), Big
Sagebrush Shrubland (uncommon in Boulder County), and Old-Growth Forest (trees as
old as 425 years of age). Significant wildlife resources include: Elk Spring and Fall
Concentration Areas and Movement Corridor, Mixed-Conifer Woodlands (exceptional
breeding bird diversity and density; four avian species of special interest: olive-sided
flycatcher, pygmy nuthatch, MacGillivray’s warbler, and western tanager), Northern
Goshawk Post-Fledging Family Area, and habitat for two additional avian species of
special interest: three-toed woodpecker and golden-crowned kinglet. The area also
provides exceptional effective habitat for not only elk, but other animals as well. Black
bears are regularly seen in this area. Pine marten inhabit the area and are active year
round. The area is potential habitat for lynx, providing food (snowshoe hare) and
effective habitat (solitude). The area contributes to a high quality watershed: it contains
all of the upper portion of DeLonde Creek and its watershed, a significant portion of
North Boulder Creek, and the lower portion of Caribou Creek.
DeLonde Willow Carr Conservation Area
: DeLonde Willow Carr is a Geyer Willow-
Mountain Willow/Canadian Reedgrass Montane Willow Carr, which is a globally rare
plant community. It is a deciduous shrubland that occurs in stands interspersed with wet
meadows, open stream channels, and beaver ponds. From a wildlife perspective, willow
carrs provide rich avian habitat and have the highest breeding bird density of any habitat
in Boulder County. DeLonde Willow Carr is the 5
th
largest montane willow carr in
Boulder County. Four avian species of special interest are present at DeLonde: ring-
necked duck, veery, MacGillivray’s warbler, and fox sparrow. Willow carrs also have
exceptional density of small mammals and insects. Willow carr wetlands provide
important watershed functions of flood control and water filtering. The conservation area
also contains significant sensitive archaeological resources, which is the primary reason
why a year round closure is recommended for this area.
10.2 Recreation Facilities
A number of facilities will need development in order to facilitate visitor use of Caribou
Ranch Open Space. The primary facilities will be a parking/trailhead area and trails. The general
locations for these are depicted on Figure 7.
Access
: Access to Caribou Ranch Open Space will be by way of County Road 126 (Sherwood
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Figure 7 – Trailhead and Trail Plan
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Gulch Road), which heads west from the Peak-to-Peak Highway approximately one mile north
of the Town of Nederland, and could also utilize County Road 109J (a spur road off of CR 126).
CR 126 is a dirt road, which after .5 miles has some steep and winding sections. It is probable
that some improvements to the road will be necessary. The only other possible access location is
off of the Rainbow Lakes Road. This road has some of the same problems as CR 126 (dirt,
winding, some steep sections), and it would be twice as long (two miles vs. one). Access from
CR 126 takes the visitor into one of the most scenic parts of the property, DeLonde Meadow, and
is the best way to access the cultural resources that will be a highlight of the visiting public’s
experience. And, the largest local population center, Nederland, is located to the southeast.
Vehicular parking for access off of the Rainbow Lakes Road (County Road 116) will not be
permitted, and the current “no parking” rule in effect for this road as it goes through Caribou
Ranch Open Space will continue.
Trailhead
: Trailheads are important open space facilities because they are the point at which the
visitor receives information about what can be seen, as well as the rules and regulations. The
trailhead for Caribou Ranch Open Space will be located off of either CR 126 or CR 109J. This is
being called a Trailhead Study Area on Figure 7. We wish to conduct a more detailed site
analysis and look at such factors as: ecological and cultural resource impacts, road safety,
impacts on nearby private property, management and site constraints, and visitor experience.
Additionally, a shared trailhead at Mud Lake for all or part of the facilities for Caribou Ranch
Open Space is also a consideration. The Trailhead Study, when complete, will be brought to the
Parks and Open Space Advisory Committee and the Board of County Commissioners for review.
Trailhead facilities will likely include: parking for 25 vehicles (expandable to 50 vehicles) along
with several horse trailers; information kiosk; and restrooms. The trailhead area may also contain
picnic facilities. The parking lot and restroom will provide handicapped access to portions of the
facilities.
Trails
: The trail system will consist of two sections. The first is located in the Cultural Heritage
Area (see section 10.1 – Management Areas and Figure 6). It will begin at the trailhead, where a
trail (shown as a conceptual alignment on Figure 7) will connect to the Switzerland Trail
Railroad grade. The Switzerland Trail Railroad grade will take visitors back to the Blue Bird
Mine Complex. The distance from the Trailhead Study Area to the Blue Bird Mine Complex
ranges in distance from 1.5 to 2.5 miles, depending on the location of the trailhead. Off of the
Switzerland Trail will be a loop trail connecting to the DeLonde Homestead. The depicted
location in Figure 7 for the loop trail is conceptual and the final alignment could be in a different
location. The loop trail will be approximately 1 mile in length. Hiking, horseback riding, cross-
country skiing and snowshoeing are the allowed modes of travel. As a matter of the purchase
agreement, there will also be a spur connecting to the loop from the Caribou Ranch Homestead
to provide access for its residents into the public trail system.
The second portion of trail will be within the Trail Alignment Study Area. This area will
be for more rugged trail travel in a natural environment. Additional study is needed of this area
in order to locate the trail alignment. Additional consultation is needed with the Forest Service,
as well. Our goal is to locate a trail connection to the north. Off of the northern connection will
be a short spur trail to the old town site of Batesville.
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10.3 Interpretation
Caribou Ranch Open Space provides many interpretive opportunities, which will greatly
enhance the public’s experience. Interpretation is also an important tool for helping the public to
understand management activities. Elements of both cultural and natural history are present on
the property.
Interpretive management activities will be:
• Design and publish a general brochure for the property.
• Develop programs, literature and signage to interpret the cultural and natural resources of
the property. General themes should include:
o Ecology of Montane and Subalpine Lifezones
o Geology
o Mining and Milling (Blue Bird and Batesville)
o Mountain Settlements Associated with Mining and Milling (Blue Bird and
Batesville)
o Homesteading and Ranching (DeLonde Homestead)
o Switzerland Trail Railroad
o Native Americans
o Fauna
o Flora
o DeLonde Riparian Restoration
• Utilize volunteer naturalists and park hosts to assist in interpretation of cultural and
natural resources.
• Develop a cultural history program focused on the Blue Bird Mine Complex.
• Develop a natural history program focused on the fall elk rut.
• Offer one guided special access field trip to the Blue Bird Mine Complex for seniors and
handicapped citizens.
Interpretive sites will include those described under Cultural Resource Management
(section 9.0).
10.4 Fencing
Fencing is a management tool that can help delineate boundaries, focus access onto open
space land from public trailheads, reduce casual access points from private land, control trespass
on private land, and control grazing animals. Fencing may also have adverse impacts on animal
movement. Currently, there is little functional fencing around Caribou Ranch Open Space. What
functional fencing exists is primarily on the east side of the property near the boundary with
Caribou Ranch Homestead.
Priority locations for fencing include:
• Along County Road 126 (Sherwood Gulch Road).
• Along the east property line with Caribou Ranch Homestead: this should be a joint
venture with Jim Guercio.
• Along portions of the Rainbow Lakes Road and Forest Road 505.
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10.5 General Regulations
The following regulations, which apply to all County Open Space, will be applicable to
Caribou Ranch Open Space:
• Properties that are open for public use are open from sunrise to sunset. Overnight
camping is prohibited.
• Collecting, removing, destroying, or defacing any natural or manmade objects within
parks and open space is not permitted.
• Discharging or carrying firearms, crossbows, fireworks, or projectile weapons of any
kind is not permitted (except law enforcement officials and as allowed by the Board of
County Commissioners to carry out a wildlife management program).
• Ground fires are not permitted. Fires may only be built in established grills and fireplaces
in picnic areas. Fires may be prohibited entirely by order of the Board of County
Commissioners, the Boulder County Sheriff, or the Director of Parks and Open space by
posting of special notices or notification through the press.
• Feeding, disturbing, trapping, hunting, or killing wildlife is not permitted (except as
allowed by the Board of County Commissioners to carry out a wildlife management
program).
• Motorized vehicles are not permitted (County, emergency, and agricultural lessees on
official business are excepted; exceptions may also be granted to persons with
disabilities, by written permission from the Parks and Open Space Department, for the
use of single-rider, motorized vehicles adapted for recreational use by people with
disabilities).
• It is unlawful to place rock bolts, install gates, establish or construct trails or other facility
for public or private use without the written permission from the Parks and Open Space
Department.
• The Parks and Open Space Department may temporarily close areas to public use for
repairs or due to wildlife, vegetation, and/or public safety concerns. It shall be unlawful
for the public to enter such areas.
• It is unlawful to consume, possess, or serve alcoholic beverages, as defined by state
statute.
• Activities that unduly interfere with the health, safety, and welfare of the users or the
neighbors in the area, or that create a nuisance or hazard to the use and safety or persons
using or neighboring such areas are prohibited. Disorderly conduct (including amplified
sound) shall be prohibited.
10.6 Parks and Open Space Department
Boulder County=s Parks and Open Space program was initiated in the mid-1960s by
citizens interested in preserving land from rapid development. The Parks and Open Space
Department was formally created in 1975. That year, the county made its first major open space
acquisition by acquiring Ernie Betasso=s 773 acre ranch, six miles west of Boulder. Today, the
open space program oversees over 65,000 acres of land and 85 miles of trail. Open space is used
to: shape and buffer urban areas; preserve critical ecosystems, cultural resources and scenic
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vistas; provide access to lakes, streams, and other public lands; conserve forests, agricultural
land, and water resources, and protect areas of environmental concern.
Surveys of the users of County Open Space during 2000 provide a picture of whom, how,
and how many of us use these properties. In the year 2000, it is estimated that, at a minimum,
just over 1 million people used County Open Space. Some of the most popular properties
included Bald Mountain, Betasso Preserve, Walker Ranch, Fairgrounds Lake, Hall Ranch, Heil
Valley Ranch, Walden Ponds, Lagerman Reservoir, Legion Park, Pella Crossing, Rabbit
Mountain and Rock Creek Farm.
The main activities conducted on all open space lands were hiking (40%), mountain
biking (21%), picnicking (18%), viewing wildlife (15%), fishing (10%), relax/do nothing (8%),
and horseback riding (2%). On some properties such as Betasso Preserve, Hall Ranch, and
Walker Ranch, mountain biking comprises about 50% of all use. Horseback riding is most
popular at Hall Ranch (7% of all use) and Rabbit Mountain (4% of all use). Most hikers (71%)
like to go a distance of between 1-5 miles; mountain bikers (85%) favor distances over 5 miles,
as do all equestrians; anglers (67%) favor a distance of a mile or less. Additionally, 81% of open
space users claim to stay on designated trails; those who wander off generally go less than 2
mile. Finally, 23% of open space users have lived in the county less than 1 year; 19% have
resided 1-4 years; 25 % have resided 5-10 years; and 33 % have resided in the county for more
than 10 years.
The field staff of Boulder County Parks and Open Space conducts and/or coordinates
construction, maintenance, patrol, and resource management activities on open space lands.
Currently, this staff is comprised of approximately 80 full-time and over 45 seasonal employees.
The field staff is split into the following divisions:
Resource Management
: Conduct resource inventories (wildlife, plants, forests, cultural)
and resource management projects; provide patrol and law enforcement; plan interpretive
facilities and programs; coordinate volunteer activities.
Operations
: Maintain facilities, buildings, roads, and fencing; mow where necessary;
conduct trash collection; construct and maintain trails; construct trailhead facilities,
picnic areas, group shelters, interpretive facilities and aids; produce and repair signs.
Agricultural Resources
: Manage agricultural and grazing leases, and activities.
Weed District
: Plan and conduct weed management activities.
10.7 Patrol
Several staff activities will provide patrol of the property. Primary law enforcement
responsibilities will be provided by commissioned Sheriff=s Deputies assigned full-time to
patrol open space properties. Open Space Rangers have a limited commission to enforce parks
and open space regulations only. They also help educate the public about rules and regulations,
land management issues, and current resource management projects.
Field Interpreters will also patrol the property to interact with park visitors, interpreting
natural and cultural resources, discussing land management issues, explaining current resource
management projects, and explaining rules and regulations. While not having law enforcement
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responsibilities, Field Interpreters provide a presence and can call in enforcement personnel, if
needed.
Property Managers live on Hall Ranch and Heil Valley Ranch open space properties.
They provide a wide range of services, including general maintenance, and provide a continual
presence on the property. A Property Manager position will be established on or near Caribou
Ranch Open Space to provide coverage of the property.
10.8 Emergency Services
Emergency response is provided by a host of agencies, organizations, and fire protection
districts. These activities are initially coordinated through a call to the Boulder County Sheriff=s
Dispatch Division. From here, depending on the nature of the emergency, appropriate response
agencies are called.
Fire protection districts generally provide initial response and coordination for fighting
fires. For Caribou Ranch Open Space, this is the Nederland Fire Protection District. This is
supplemented with help from Boulder County Sheriff=s Emergency Team, Boulder County
Wildland Firefighters, Boulder County Fire Management Team, Colorado State Forest Service,
and possibly Federal crews and other fire fighting crews that may have been brought into the
area during fire seasons. The mode of operation is to aggressively control all fires and extinguish
them at the earliest time possible.
10.9 Volunteer Opportunities
For interested citizens and organizations, many volunteer opportunities exist through
Boulder County Parks and Open Space to help maintain the land and provide services to visitors.
Most of these programs are organized through the Boulder County Parks and Open Space
Interpretive Services, unless otherwise noted. Volunteer opportunities include:
Adopt a Park/Trail
: This program gives families, schools, community groups, and
businesses an opportunity to be part of the County=s park maintenance system.
Generally, there is an adopted site, such as a body of water or trail. Work can include
trash pick-up, trail construction/maintenance, weed control, wildlife habitat enhancement,
and other park improvements. Parks and Open Space staff provides training.
Park Hosts
: Park Hosts work at specific open space properties orienting visitors to the
recreational opportunities, resources, and places to enjoy. Park rules may also be
discussed with visitors. Parks and Open Space staff provides training.
Volunteer Naturalists
: Volunteer Naturalists are trained to provide environmental
education programs to the public, school groups, and organizations. Each year one class
of 20-25 people, chosen from applicants, completes the training program.
Cultural History Volunteers
: Cultural History Volunteers conduct research on the history
of open space properties, lead interpretive programs, and are involved with living history
special events.
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Volunteer Work Projects: Volunteer work projects allow individuals to participate in a
variety of activities helping the department undertake and complete resource and
interpretive projects. Projects have included waterfowl census, raptor monitoring, trail
building maintenance, plant restoration, forest stand improvement, interpretive writing,
wildlife projects, bat monitoring, and fire management. Recruitment for volunteers for
these projects is advertised through a Parks and Open Space quarterly listing (Wildwork)
and coordinated by a lead staff person for the project.
Adopt a Weed-Patch
: This program allows groups and individuals the chance to help the
county control noxious weeds by hand pulling and cutting. To volunteer, contact the
Boulder County Weed District.
The Boulder County Youth Corps
is an opportunity for younger people to get involved in
community activities, some of which will be conducted on open space. Youths from the ages of
14-17 can apply. The program is designed to provide youths lifetime skills by involvement in
specific programs. The Administrative Services Division of Boulder County coordinates the
program.
11.0 RESOURCE MONITORING
The Caribou Ranch Open Space Management Objectives emphasize:
• Monitor the well being of the natural and cultural resources, as well as the visitor
experience, and amend the plan when appropriate.
Resource monitoring is done to determine if management objectives are being achieved.
Monitoring provides a feedback mechanism for decision-making that keeps the plan dynamic
and responsive. Monitoring provides information on what changes are occurring on the property.
Some resources may be adversely affected resulting in a change in management. Other resources
may improve as a result of management activities.
The monitoring of specific resources is performed on a periodic basis. Some inventories
are ongoing and occur through routine staff activities. Others are scheduled annually (raptor nest
monitoring), or every 5 years (detailed weed mapping). Still other monitoring projects are
triggered by particular events, such as the vegetative monitoring needed before and after a
controlled burn. Every 5 years, a major evaluation of management direction will be undertaken.
Following are the monitoring activities to be undertaken on this property.
• Vegetation Resources Monitoring
o Monitor changes in the structure and composition of the vegetation by shooting
photo points every 3 years, conducting quantitative transects every 5 years, and
analyzing aerial photographs every 10 years. Analyze the information to assist in
planning of vegetation treatments, including forest health activities, grazing, and
restoration projects, as well as assessing wildlife habitat.
o Update weed mapping every 5 years. Use the information to plan priorities for
weed management.
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o Monitor riparian restoration along DeLonde Creek every 3 years. The information
will be used to evaluate and plan restoration activities.
o Monitor for forest insects and disease annually and plan appropriate forest health
projects.
o Routinely monitor grazing and range resources, whenever grazing is occurring, to
insure that objectives are achieved and adverse impacts are minimal.
• Wildlife Resource Monitoring
o Monitor the population of the elk herd. Coordinate with the Colorado Division of
Wildlife on herd population estimates. Conduct vegetation browse plots every 3-5
years to look for resource damage. The information will be used to decide, in
coordination with the Colorado Division of wildlife, if additional population
control measures are needed.
o Monitor northern goshawk and other raptor nest sites annually. Use the
information to evaluate achievement of wildlife management objectives.
o Conduct a regular sampling and monitoring program of fish in North Boulder
Creek and DeLonde Creek, in cooperation with Colorado Division of Wildlife.
The program should be conducted every 3-5 years. The information will be used
to evaluate achievement of wildlife management objectives, and influence fishing
regulations on North Boulder Creek.
o Regularly monitor the water quality in ponds and streams to determine effects on
aquatic wildlife. As part of this program, search for amphibians, particularly
boreal toads, during appropriate times. Information will be used to evaluate
achievement of wildlife management objectives.
o Monitor the populations of breeding birds by conducting surveys every 3-5 years.
Information will be used to evaluate whether wildlife management objectives are
being achieved.
o Monitor the populations of bats, with special emphasis on Townsend’s Big-eared
bat, every 3-5 years. Information will be used to evaluate whether wildlife
management objectives are being achieved.
o Continue monitoring the presence and distribution of mid-sized predators with
scent-stations at least every 3 years. Information will be used to evaluate whether
wildlife management objectives are being achieved.
• Cultural Resource Monitoring
o Routinely monitor the cultural resources open to public visitation through regular
department activities, including patrol. Appropriate action will be taken to correct
problems in a timely manner.
o Monitor other cultural resources annually. Appropriate action will be taken to
correct problems in a timely manner.
• Visitor Services Monitoring
o Routinely monitor trails, fencing, buildings, and recreational facilities to identify
safety hazards and maintenance needs, and correct them in a timely manner.
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o Monitor the property for development of undesignated trails, trailhead capacity,
roadside parking, and vandalism. Appropriate action will be taken to correct
problems in a timely and responsible manner.
o Monitor water quality, in coordination with the City of Boulder Water Quality
Division, to identify impacts from use of the property. The information will be
used to evaluate whether watershed objectives are being achieved.
o Monitor for erosion and sedimentation problems where trails cross streams, and
along North Boulder Creek within the Cultural Heritage Area annually.
Appropriate action will be taken to correct problem areas.
o Collect visitor data consistent with current methods, including vehicle counters,
spot studies, and staff observations. Use the information to help update the
management direction for the property.
o Monitor who is using the property and how the property is used, as well as the
experience of the public, through questionnaires every 5 years. Use the
information to help update the management direction for the property.
Caribou Ranch Management Plan
Page 53
APPENDIX 1
CARIBOU RANCH OPEN SPACE MANAGEMENT TEAM
Dave Hallock, Resource Planner and Project Manager
Ron Stewart, Director, Parks and Open Space Department
Therese Glowacki, Resource Management Manager
Dan Wolford, Park Operations Manager
Brent Wheeler, Park Operations Manager
Rich Koopmann, Resource Planning Manager
Tina Nielsen, Open Space Assistant
Claire DeLeo, Plant Ecologist
Randy Coombs, Forestry
Rob Alexander, Agricultural Resource Specialist
Cindy Owsley, Weed Coordinator
Mark Brennan, Wildlife Specialist
Dave Hoerath, Wildlife Specialist
Pascale Fried, Interpretive Specialist Supervisor
Megan Davis, Field Interpretation
Lynette Anderson, Parks Interpreter
Cole Early, Cultural History Interpreter
Larry Colbenson, Natural History Specialist
Libby Henits, Law Enforcement
Chris White, Law Enforcement
Jeff Hiebert, Law Enforcement
Jim Creek, Sheriff’s Department
Bob Buxton, Maintenance Supervisor
Don Burd, Cultural Resource Maintenance
Barry Shook, Trails Supervisor
Al Hardy, Trails Supervisor
Brian Hannegan, Landscape Architect
Matt Phillips, Landscape Architect
Kevin Lyles, Landscape Architect
Jeff Moline, GIS Mapping
Brad Seaman, GIS Mapping
Janet Bellis, Web Site Management
Caribou Ranch Management Plan
Page 54
APPENDIX 2
CONSULTANTS AND ADVISORS
Phyllis M. Pineda, Colorado Natural Heritage Program (Rare Plants, Plant Communities and
Animals)
Stephan M. Kettler, Colorado Natural Heritage Program (Rare Plants, Plants Communities and
Animals)
Michael B. Wunder, Colorado Natural Heritage Program (Rare Plants, Plant Communities and
Animals)
Douglas J. Stevenson, Colorado State Forest Service (Forestry)
Peter M. Brown, Rocky Mountain Tree-Ring Research, Inc. (Fire History)
Alan T. Carpenter, Land Stewardship Consulting (Conservation Planning)
Carron A. Meaney (Mammals)
Ron Beane, Da Ti Mbi Enrivonmental, (Mammals)
Randy VanBuren, Colorado Division of Wildlife (Fisheries, Amphibians)
Janet George, Colorado Division of Wildlife (Biology)
Dr. Ruben Mendoza, Medicine Bow Consultants (Cultural Resources)
Dr. Charles Cambridge, Medicine Bow Consultants (Cultural Resources)
Carol Ellinghouse, Water Resources Coordinator, City of Boulder Utilities Division (Water
Resources)
Amy Struthers, Water Quality Supervisor, City of Boulder Utilities Division (Water Resources)
Becky Parmenter, Boulder District, USFS (Biology)
Bev Baker, Boulder District, USFS (Biology)
John Oppenlander, Boulder District, USFS (Recreation)
Martha Moran, Boulder District, USFS (Recreation)
