Forestry project at Heil Valley Ranch begins Monday
Jun 17th
Boulder County, Colo. – The Boulder County Parks and Open Space Department has hired a local contractor to mechanically treat approximately 150 acres of ponderosa pine forest in Heil Valley Ranch beginning on Monday, June 20.
The thinning project will conclude in September. Park visitors will likely hear the operations along the Ponderosa Loop Trail during the next three months and are strongly advised to stay on-trail for personal safety and that of the equipment operators.
“Like so many ponderosa pine forests, this area is unnaturally dense due to years of fire suppression,” Parks and Open Space Outreach Coordinator Pascale Fried said. “This project will create a mosaic of openings and uneven-aged groupings of trees. The goal is to have a healthier forest that is less susceptible to insects, disease and catastrophic wildfires.”
The treatment utilizes a harvester that fells, delimbs and bucks trees into standard log lengths, and a forwarder to haul wood material away from the site. The logs will be used in biomass plants that heat the county Parks and Open Space and Sheriff’s Office buildings.
Smaller wood material, including branches and small trees, will initially be used as a road base for equipment to prevent erosion, then piled and burned in the next few years as conditions permit.
For additional information, contact Forest Specialist Nick Stremel at 303-678-6290 or nstremel@bouldercounty.org.
Grant to allow Youth Corps to hire 12 for land stewardship
Jun 16th
Boulder County, Colo. – The Boulder County Youth Corps will hire 12 additional people next summer thanks to funding approved on Wednesday by Great Outdoors Colorado.
The GOCO board voted to disperse $500,000 in lottery funds statewide to local government and open space organizations for critical outdoor recreation and land conservation projects that will enhance Colorado’s trails, parks, open spaces and wildlife habitat. The BCYC will receive $20,093 of those funds for local projects in support of the City of Longmont’s Button Rock Preserve Watershed.
The funding results in 12 jobs for young people in Longmont to help with much needed forestry work, noxious weed removal and fire prevention activities at Button Rock Preserve.
Statewide, local governments will receive a total of $250,000 and open space organizations will receive $250,000 to hire youth corps to implement land stewardship projects.
“This is good news for our youth, who gain valuable transferable skills and get a great outdoors experience,” BCYC program manager Judy Wolfe said. “And it’s good news for our community and environment, which can reap the benefits of our young people’s dedication and hard work for generations to come.”
About Boulder County Youth Corps
The BCYC provides opportunities for Boulder County youth to develop a sense of community involvement through personal accomplishment, teamwork and service to the County. BCYC delivers the most ambitious and highest quality entry-level work experience available to Boulder County youth. It provides an experience of excellence by recruiting and training a staff committed to accomplishment through hard work, respect for people and the environment, and belief in an ideal that work can be fun. We ensure the betterment of our community by providing work opportunities for youth that contribute to the legacy of Boulder County while providing a proving ground for young leaders that challenges them to inspire the youth entrusted to their guidance. More information is available at www.bouldercounty.org/youthcorps.
About Colorado Youth Corps Association
The CYCA is a statewide coalition of 10 accredited youth conservation corps that employ and train youth and young adults on land, water and energy conservation projects. Youth corps is a proven strategy for engaging young people in service to their communities and stewardship of their environment while cultivating valuable skills to meet the challenges of the 21st century. For more information about CYCA or the statewide youth corps coalition, visit www.CYCA.org.
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OSMP to start pilot parking fee program at three trailheads June 27
Jun 16th
The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) department will be implementing a pilot parking fee program at South Mesa, Doudy Draw and Flatirons Vista trailheads. This is an expansion of the parking fee program that has been in place for more than 20 years at trailheads on Flagstaff Mountain.
Staring on Monday, June 27, all non-Boulder County registered vehicles will be subject to a $5/day fee for parking at these three trailheads located in the southern part of the OSMP system. An annual pass that costs $25 is available at OSMP offices located at 66 South Cherryvale Road.
Jim Reeder, Land and Visitor Services Division manager, said, “We want to emphasize a few points. First, this applies only to vehicles that are registered outside of Boulder County. Second, this program is the same as the parking fee program that has been in place for some time at trailheads on Flagstaff Mountain. And, third, it is a pilot program, meaning we will monitor it throughout the remainder of 2011 and then review it in early 2012.”
Reeder indicated that the options for the program at the end of the monitoring period are keeping the program, expanding it to include other trailheads or terminating the program.
Motorists will be asked to pay by cash or check, leaving their money in a locked box at the trailheads. All money raised as a part of this program will go to OSMP for system maintenance and possible future enhancements.
For more information visit www.osmp.org or call Jim Reeder, Land and Visitor Services Division manager, 720-564-2080.
