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ECOSYSTEM PLAN PHASE 2
by Dave Hallock

In the beginning...

One of the signature works of BCNA is the Ecosystem Plan for Boulder County. The plan was developed by members in the mid-1980s. It incorporates aspects of landscape ecology and conservation biology by depicting an integrated county-wide system of habitat core preserves and connectors. The core preserves are centered on those areas with the highest remaining ecological integrity and the least amount of human development. They range in size from a 100,000 acre Indian Peaks Core Area to 2,500 acres at Table Mountain. Other core areas are centered on North St. Vrain, South St. Vrain/Foothills, Walker Mountain, Fourmile Creek/Bald Mountain, Winiger Ridge, Hawkin Gulch/Walker Ranch/Upper Eldorado Canyon, Boulder Mountain Park/South Boulder, Rabbit Mountain, Boulder Valley Ranch/Beech Open Space, White Rocks/Gunbarrel Hill, and East County. They represent the best of what is left. Habitat connectors include major stream corridors and overland large-mammal migration paths.

The plan has been used to help guide land conservation and management. The plan was adopted as part of the Boulder County Comprehensive Plan in the early 1990s. The core areas are called Environmental Conservation Areas (ECAs). A view of the comprehensive plan map showing the ECAs can be viewed at http://www.co.boulder.co.us/lu/bccp/images/ecas.jpg. The plan also influenced the most recent update to the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest Plan: expansions are proposed for the Indian Peaks Wilderness; a “research natural area” prescription is designated for the North St. Vrain Canyon; Central Gulch is designated as “core habitat” prescription; and a “flora and fauna” prescription is applied to many other core areas and habitat connectors.

To date, the greatest accomplishments in carrying out the plan have been in the area of land conservation. The first priority for protection of core areas is to remove the potential of subdivisions and development, for they have the most direct and permanent adverse impact. The cumulative actions taken by the many public and private entities involved in land protection in Boulder County have exceeded what realistically was envisioned when the Ecosystem Plan was developed. A home run was hit when Boulder County was able to pass an open space sales tax in 1993. The purchases of Hall Ranch, Heil Ranch, Trevarton Conservation Easement, and Caribou Ranch, just to name a few, have been key acquisitions which helped remove development potential and fill in the gaps of habitat core areas.

What’s next?  Phase 2 - Land Management

While much has been accomplished by removing development rights from core areas, there has been increasing interest about how these lands are being managed. Are efforts to reduce wildfire hazards compatible with proper ecosystem management of core areas? Where is recreational use, particularly the proliferation of user created trails and roads, greatly impacting the effective habitat of core areas and habitat connectors?

BCNA wishes to start a new field project (our strength has always been field work) which focuses on the management well-being of habitat core areas and connectors.  Initially, much of the work will concentrate on inventorying what is out there. Hands-on ecosystem management, such as weed pulls and assisting public agencies with management of trail and road systems, will also be part of the project.

Beginning this summer, an initial project will focus on mapping trails and roads on National Forest lands within the core areas and habitat connectors. Over the next decade, the Forest Service will be developing travel management plans for different areas of the Boulder District. We need to help provide information as to what is out there, as well as give input on how the current trail and road system should be changed to better meet ecosystem objectives. Where is motorized recreation occurring in areas designated for non-motorized use? What parts of the core areas should remain off-limits to roads or trails? Where are current trail and road densities too high and causing significant resource damage, weed problems or animal displacement?

We think this will be a valuable and exciting project and one that is sorely needed in a place with an ever growing human influence. Stay tuned for more information of how you can help with this field project. People with an interest can email me at eldoradh@rmi.net.