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TOSC Advocacy Report
April - May 2013 (5-14-13)
1. Waldo Canyon Fire Area Access:
The U.S. Forest Service has announced it will reopen Rampart Reservoir Friday, May 24th for camping and hiking. Rampart Reservoir, its trail network, Rampart Road from Woodland Park to the Reservoir, Pike National Forest trails and roads north of the reservoir and Stanley Canyon Trail from the Air Force Academy will all open.
Waldo Canyon Trail, Williams Canyon Trail, Rampart Range Road between Colorado Springs and Rampart Reservoir, Blodgett Peak Trail and Queens Canyon Trail will all remain closed. There will still be hazards in the soon to open trail system and they urge people to keep their heads up and watch for falling trees. Work crews will be performing post-fire mitigation work so visitors need to be prepared for heavy truck traffic.
The Trails and Open Space Coalition will be in contact with U.S. Forest Service officials to bring you the latest user information as it becomes available. We want to see Waldo and Williams Canyons re-opened to hikers and bicyclists as soon as possible with a balanced approach that protects the revegetation efforts and the newly emerging vegetation and doesn’t expose users unnecessarily to flood hazard, falling trees and unstable ground.
The USFS has released their fire watershed assessment report which ‘provides a basis for setting mitigation and restoration priorities’. ‘Priorities were developed based on total sediment supply from hillsides, roads, and stream banks.’ The highest priorities include Douglas Creek, followed by Camp Creek and Fountain Creek. While no path to public opening was provided, it can be concluded that it is unlikely that any trails will be opened until the mitigation and restoration actions have been addressed. TOSC is pursuing information regarding openings.
Restoration work is underway at the COS Blodgett Peak Open Space. Other areas, including Williams Canon, Waldo Canyon, Rampart Range road, Queens Canyon and Blodgett Peak USFS trail will remain closed. The Forest Service will re-evaluate the progress of restoration/recovery efforts next year at this time. TOSC is following these developments closely.
2. Banning Lewis Ranch
From the Colorado Springs Open Space Plan - yellow added
TOSC advocate for the Big Picture shown above. With the future of the 18,000 acre southern portion of Banning Lewis Ranch undecided, TOSC has brought to the forefront our Dec 2011 TOPS applications for the Regional Corral Bluffs Open Space and the Jimmy Camp Creek Corridor Open Space. TOSC has also expressed interest in the East Sand Creek area and the original Rock Island Railroad right of way. The latter would provide an important link for continuing the Rock Island Trail to the east. The City of Colorado Springs Parks Department is ‘at the table’, but the negotiation processes involving multiple partners will take some time.
Building on the acceptance of the present 600 acre Corral Bluffs open space as a registered Colorado Natural Area, TOSC is advocating a vision for a large 7500 acre regional open space that would protect the nationally significant paleontological resources and provide many miles of hiking/biking trails. It would also protect the historically significant Jimmy Camp Creek, one of the few year-around water sources east of Colorado Springs.
3. COS City Council Election - Implications for Advocacy:
A majority of the new Council appear favorable to TOPS and are unwilling to take steps so Council could bypass the Advisory Committees processes and appropriate funds directly from TOPS. At issue was an appropriation of $280,000 from TOPS in Red Rock Canyon and Blodgett Peak for protection and fire restoration work. This would supplant $280,000 coming from the general fund reserve account. Per the City attorney, changes to TOPS specified processes would have to go back to the voters for approval, as TOPS was initiated and approved by the voters,. The appropriation from general fund (rather than TOPS) was approved on a 7-1 vote. There may be further challenges to TOPS so TOSC will need to be vigilant in protecting the integrity of the TOPS ordinance.
4. Bear Creek Watershed and Rainbow Cutthroat Trout
As part of the NEPA (National Environmental Protection Act) process the USFS has released its watershed analysis detailing plans for protecting the unique Greenback Cutthroat Trout in the Bear Creek Watershed. To reduce the sedimentation of the creek, the primary threat to their survival, 3.5 miles of along Bear Creek and adjacent trails in the watershed are to be closed to all users. Non-motorized trail decreases from 4.61 miles to 3.71 miles.
The existing trails just to the south of the watershed will remain seasonally open to all users provide access to Jones Park and the South Slope. New motorized multiuse trail would be constructed in the adjacent North Cheyenne Creek watershed to the south to connect USFS 667 to 622 to allow motorized access to the west. New nonmotorized trail off of High Drive would provide a mostly nonmotorized loop back to High Drive.
During the just concluded (April 30) comment period, TOSC expressed our support for protecting the Greenback Cutthroat habitat and requested that USFS to provide the best and most accurate science to determine action on any proposed non-motorized or motorized trail closure plan. TOSC also supported the proposals for new trails to ensure that connectivity is maintained to the south slope of Pikes Peak. We have requested a schedule for the completion of proposed trail reroutes be provided. www.fs.usda.gov/detail/psicc/home/?cid=STELPRDB5397304.
Future USFS NEPA milestones:
· Project scoping open house - Spring 2013
- Develop alternatives - Summer 2-13
- Analyze effects - Summer 2013
- Initial consultation with the federal Fish and Wildlife service - Summer 2013
- 330 day comment period - Summer/fall 2013
- Decision and action - Fall 2013
- Implementation actions - late fall/winter 2013
5. Bear Creek Park (EPC) Conservation easement:
The revised draft conservation easement was presented to endorsed by the El Paso County Parks Board on March 13. TOSC supports placing Bear Creek Park under conservation easement, but does not support the County proposed zone definitions and zones that might result in significant changes to the present recreation and natural areas of the park. TOSC is developing an alternate proposal that may address the concerns of opponents and provide the future park land use flexibility the County seeks.
6. Ute Valley Park open space addition:
There has been no new information since the last report. We don’t have a date that this TOPS acquisition will come before the Working Committee, but we expect the July - Sept time frame. As reported last month, representatives from the lead agency, the Trust for Public Lands, hosted a hike on the property for GOCO representatives on April 17. Representatives from COS Parks, Palmer Land Trust and TOSC attended on a cold and snowy day. TOSC is advocating that the TOPS program participate in acquiring the south eastern portion of the HP property consisting of 203 acres of mixed conifer, grass land and riparian habitat east of the present Ute Valley Park. We have facilitated forming a Friends group to advocate for acquiring HP property and they are providing ongoing maintenance assistance. The HP addition has by use become an integral part of Ute Valley Park. A new trail from the present west park area would connect with the Greenway. A new trailhead will be established in the area of the present HP facility. TOSC, with the assistance of the Friends of Ute Valley Park, has presented a TOPS application urging purchase of the HP property.
7. Regional Bicycle and Trails Master Plan:
Bids have been received and PPACG in the process of negotiating a contract. The Colorado Springs Bicycle and Trail Master Plan will be a sub-plan of the regional plan. There is a lot of interest in making the overall system work better by closing the missing links. Without system connectivity, the true value of the system is not realized. Bike lanes connectivity will also be stressed. TOSC efforts to date have focused more on addressing the connectivity issues to the greenway, specifically, at Shooks Run, Rock island, Cottonwood, Sand Creek and University Park connections in Colorado Springs. Several of these connections have been on lists for many years. In the County, the Ute Pass Trail (Regional Connector) is high priority. The Intemann Trail (Regional Connector) is high priority for Manitou Springs.
COS does not plan to fill the departed Kristen Bennett position responsible for non-motorized and pedestrian street improvements until August 2013. TOSC is concerned that this may negatively affect the development of the Master Plan. Also, the recently developed Bicycle map may be discarded by COS Traffic Engineering and replaced with a new version more in line with the emerging philosophy of moving away from bike lanes.
8. Economic Benefits of Bicycling in the Pikes Peak Region:
TOSC has revised the economic benefits study plan to become a Request for Proposal (RFP) that went on bid as part of the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments (PPACG) bid package for the Regional Bicycle and Trails Master Plan. It was a stand alone bid and 5 of the 6 bidders responded with proposals and costs of the economic benefits analysis. Currently PPACG is negotiating with one of the bidders and hope to be on contract by June 1.
The study results will be used to inform the regional policymakers of the importance of investing in bicycle infrastructure, trails, and bikeways to accommodate on-street/road bicycle use. The study will identify the economic benefits in terms of jobs and dollars. The factors would include bicycle manufacturing/sales, bicycle professional services, events and races, and transportation, tourism, recreation impacts and the induced economic impacts. Some benefits can be quantified and others are qualitative. TOSC will continue to partner with PPACG for the study implementation process.
9. Ute Pass Regional Trail:
Construction of the loop at the end of the phase 1 trail will be complete in July and the 3.5 Mile section from the Incline to the loop in October. The interpretive loop will highlight the importance and history of the Ute Pass Trail. Discussions with property owners and trail advocates to enable extending the trail to the Chipita Elementary School are continuing. TOSC advocates for completing the Ute Pass Trail as soon as possible. The UPT is a key link in the Ring the Peak Trail, the American Discovery Trail and the America the Beautiful Trail.
10. Incline status:
The Incline opened Feb. 2 and heavy weekend use continues. Manitou Springs is installing pay parking in the downtown and on Ruxton which hopefully will drive users to the Shuttle and to the town lots. The Shuttle to the COG R/R and the Incline is now running, 6am-6pm daily. Main parking is at the Tajine Alami restaurant at Old Man’s Trail and Manitou Avenue. The Shuttle also stops at other in-town lots. Construction drawings for the Incline renovation are almost complete (90%). Volunteer days for remediation work addressing safety concerns are being planned. COS Parks will apply for a $200K GOCO grant in October. Other funding sources in addition to Incline Friends is CSU, and Indy Give. The Incline Friends fundraising breakfast raised $2800. A 5k running race will be held in Cheyenne Canon on July 27 to benefit the Incline renovation efforts.
12. Westside Action Plan:
Nothing New. The Plan is being developed to plug the no-mans-land hole in west side on Colorado Avenue. The goal is to create a plan that envisions physical changes to increase walkability and provide safety and transportation improvements between 31st St and The US-24 west overpass. Another goal is to increase the economic viability of this area. Current plans do not show bike lanes on Colorado Ave or Manitou Ave. An alternative may be to increase the width of the outside lanes by 5 ft to accommodate bicycles using a 5 ft wide pan. The differentiation between the concrete pan and the asphalt would provide some demarcation in theory, however, no striping and no bike lane signs. This COS approach has been reconfirmed in the last few days. TOSC will continue to advocate for marked and signed bike lanes.
13. El Paso County Parks Master Plan update:
A draft of the Master Plan was released May 13 and is available in the office. It will guide planning and budgeting for parks system improvements and recreation and cultural services for the next 5 to 10 years. Most of the County proposed PPRTA-2 trails excluded from PPRTA-2 are now included. La Foret Trail, Jackson Creek North and South and Fox Run Trails will now be part of the plan. Ring the Peak, the new Intemann Trail connecting section and a more detailed regional trail system at Corral Bluffs connecting with the proposed COS Rock Island and Jimmy Camp Creek trails have been added. TOSC developed a Corral Bluffs regional trails map for County consideration and inclusion.
14. Flying W Ranch:
Nothing new. Fire remediation work continues. A pole barn will be built to enable the Ranch to continue with their western dinner and show tradition. It has been reported that several detention pond facilities have been build in an attempt to control anticipated fire debris flows. Due to the fire, a 100 year flood event is now estimated to be a 25 year event. At risk are areas on the drainages east of Flying W, Mtn. Shadows and Manitou Springs. Flying W has formed a non-profit that would focus on western heritage and environmental education as part of reconstructing the ranch itself. We have briefly discussed the possibility of some form of acquisition of the mountain backdrop portion of the ranch with an owner and non-profit representative.
15. COS/TOPS Conservation Easements:
Nothing new. Parks/TOPS is moving forward with plans to add conservation easements as a working tool for land acquisition as permitted by the TOPS Ordinance. A Colorado Open Space Alliance document will serve as a basic starting point for developing a specific policy for Colorado Springs and TOPS.
18. Blodgett Peak Open Space:
The City is working to open the open space as soon as possible. Three volunteer workdays were held to perform remediation work, downing burned trees, building flood mitigation structures etc. There is a possibility that Blodgett may open later this year.
19. Intemann Trail:
Work continues on identifying a trail routing across Iron Mountain that will satisfy all user groups. This section of the Intemann will be called the Iron Mountain Trail. The Intemann Trail is part of the Ring the Peak Trail system. Resolution should come soon from the Open Space Advisory Committee so trail work can begin. The first workday is tentatively scheduled for Aug 11.
20. Bicycle issues:
- Regional Bicycle/Trails Master Plan - see item 7
- Westside Bike Lanes - see item 12,
- Economic Benefits of Bicycling Study - see item 8
- COS Non-motorized traffic engineering position - Kristen Bennett’s old position will be filled per COS traffic engineering. Schedule: by August 2013. Anthony Pratt’s contract position will not be filled.
- Waldo Canyon Fire area Mtn. Bike access - See item 4
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