HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 08/12/2014 - NATURAL AREAS MASTER PLAN - 2014 UPDATEDATE:
STAFF:
August 12, 2014
Mark Sears, Natural Areas Program Manager
John Stokes, Natural Resources Director
Karen Manci, Senior Environmental Planner
WORK SESSION ITEM
City Council
SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION
Natural Areas Master Plan – 2014 Update.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this item is to garner Council review of the draft Natural Areas Master Plan (Plan). This ten-year
Plan will update and replace the current “Land Conservation and Stewardship Master Plan” which was adopted by
Council in 2004. Natural Areas staff spent the last two years gathering input from the citizens of Fort Collins as
well as the citizens of Larimer County as to the future of the City’s natural areas. In short, citizens continue to
have a high level of enthusiasm and satisfaction with the City’s land and habitat conservation and outdoor
recreation efforts. In survey data and in public forums citizens clearly expressed their desire for the City to
continue its efforts to conserve diverse lands and to provide outdoor recreation opportunities, in particular
opportunities for walking, hiking, and biking. This draft Plan identifies a series of priorities that are in alignment
with citizen desires, the foundational language of the citizen-initiated sales taxes, City Plan Principles and
Policies, and the Department’s core conservation mission.
GENERAL DIRECTION SOUGHT AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED
1. Are the priorities and general directions for the next ten years set forth in the Master Plan appropriate and
consistent with Council’s vision for the future of the Natural Areas Department?
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
Attachment 1 highlights some of the major successes of the past twenty years as well as the major priorities for
the Natural Areas Department for the next ten years.
The attached draft of the Natural Areas Master Plan (Attachment 2) provides in-depth review of the past and
describes important efforts for the next ten years. The Appendix contains City Plan Principles and Policies that
are incorporated into the Natural Areas Master Plan as well as survey results from Our Lands Our Future, a
county-wide open space study recently completed by the County, the City, and other partners.
The Natural Areas accomplishments over the last twenty years have been substantial and due, in large part, to
citizen and Council support as well as the City and County ¼-cent sales taxes that fund the effort and its many
successful partnerships.
Major accomplishments to date include:
34,800 acres conserved by acquisition for public use
5,800 acres conserved by conservation easements on lands managed by private landowners
900 acres of recreational rights leased on reservoirs to help protect key wildlife habitat and to provide
recreation opportunities
75% of the land conserved has been conserved since the 2004 Master Plan
110 miles of trails created and maintained on 40 natural areas
Serves over 2 million visitors annually
8-10% of Fort Collins' population participates annually in Department education, outreach, and volunteer
opportunities.
August 12, 2014 Page 2
The Plan identifies key programmatic priorities for the next ten years (please see Chapter 5 of the Plan for the
complete list). The priorities center on land and water conservation, restoration of habitat, recreation and visitor
services, education and outreach, volunteer programs, and public safety. The priorities are based on the ballot
language that established funding for the Department, public outreach and input, City Plan Principles and
Policies, and staff’s professional judgment.
The vast majority of the Department’s funding is provided by Open Space, Yes! and Help Preserve Open Space.
Respectively, these are the City and County sales taxes that currently provide about $10.4 million a year. Going
forward, staff projects that approximately 40% of these funds will be dedicated to land and water conservation, the
remainder to the various other priorities.
Development of the Plan benefited from a variety of outreach efforts. In 2012-2013, Natural Areas staff, in
partnership with Larimer County Open Lands and the other municipalities in Larimer County, participated in the
Our Lands Our Future study to assess citizen desires for the future of land conservation programs throughout
Larimer County. The study gathered county-wide citizen input through extensive public outreach efforts such as:
random mail surveys, online surveys, online comment opportunities, a website, and public meetings. The Our
Lands Our Future survey and outreach results demonstrated strong public support for the work of the Natural
Areas Department, in particular efforts to conserve natural resources as well as the provision of recreation
resources, especially trails (please see Appendix C of the Plan).
Following completion of the Our Lands Our Future study in August 2013, Natural Areas staff began the process of
updating the current master plan, known as the “Land Conservation and Stewardship Master Plan”, and adopted
by Council in 2004.
The updated ten-year master plan which is being called the “Natural Areas Master Plan,” captures the information
and direction received from the county-wide study as well as almost a years’ worth of public outreach specifically
targeted to citizens of Fort Collins. Fort Collins’ specific outreach included: widely advertised open houses and
online comment opportunities, website coverage, press releases, communication to Boards and Commissions, E-
newsletters, social media, and emails to interested individuals and groups. Staff completed a Sustainability
Assessment using a triple bottom line tool prior to beginning the Plan update to better inform the process.
Gauging from public comment, there continues to be strong community support for current Natural Area
Department efforts. Based on this fundamental support, the Plan focuses on pursuit of the Department’s core
mission and its vision as follows:
Vision: Through the work of the Natural Areas Department, a diverse system of conserved and
restored lands will connect community members to nature. These conserved lands will protect
nature and contribute to the health and wellbeing of our community.
Mission: The mission of the Natural Areas Department is to conserve and enhance lands with
natural resource, agricultural, and scenic values, while providing meaningful education and
appropriate recreation opportunities.
Based on the vision and mission, the Department will act to:
Conserve land, water, wildlife corridors, and trail connections.
Restore habitat
Provide visitor and recreation services.
Provide education, interpretation, and volunteer opportunities.
Contribute to the character and culture of our City.
During the course of the planning project and the public outreach, several specific concepts and issues were
explored. For example, staff sought feedback from the community on the appropriate role of the Natural Areas
Department with respect to Poudre River resilience and health efforts. The community supports existing efforts
as well as some strengthening of this role.
August 12, 2014 Page 3
Another topic of note had to do with the potential for new recreation opportunities. For example, back-country
camping was considered at Bobcat Ridge and Soapstone Prairie natural areas. The Plan does not recommend
these activities due to the limited number of people it would serve, the abundance of other regional opportunities,
and the high cost of providing the service. The Plan does identify the potential for additional and enhanced trails,
fishing, and other opportunities.
The Plan addresses the potential for limited hunting at appropriate locations and in accordance with site specific
management plans. For example, the Plan identifies pronghorn hunting at Soapstone Prairie Natural Area as an
appropriate activity that can be pursued in cooperation with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). This
opportunity would be modeled on the successful limited hunting program at Larimer County’s Red Mountain
Ranch.
A few citizens asked for dog off-leash areas. The Plan does not pursue this idea because of its fundamental
incompatibility with the Department’s conservation mission as well as issues related to public safety and
enjoyment.
While there are plenty of opportunities to pursue during the next ten years, there are significant challenges as
well. They include:
1. Funding - Larimer County’s “Help Preserve Open Space” ¼-cent sales tax supports a substantial portion of
the Departments’ operating and stewardship expenses and constitutes approximately 1/3rd of the
Department’s revenues. It expires in 2018. The County Commissioners have referred a 25-year extension of
the tax to the 2014 fall ballot.
2. Visitor Capacity - Natural areas are popular: over 2 million visits occur annually. But with Fort Collins
expected to grow by 100,000 people over the next 25 years, the number of people recreating in natural areas
will put pressure on visitor enjoyment and natural resources. The Master Plan proposes many solutions such
as: opening new natural areas not yet available to the public, acquiring more sites and developing more trails,
monitoring visitor use, improving site access, escalating educational outreach, improving natural surface trail
sustainability and connectivity, and resolving multiuse conflict.
3. Global climate change and extreme weather events are expected to increase and the impacts on natural
resources are likely to be profound, including shifts in plant and animal communities, increased fire and flood
events, and alteration in the Cache la Poudre water temperature, flows, and water quality and quantity. The
stewardship and restoration work of the Department are key local factors in helping to mitigate consequences
of climate change.
In sum, in the next 10 years the Natural Areas Department will implement its mission by conserving land and
water, restoring natural systems to build ecological diversity and resiliency, and providing learning and volunteer
opportunities as well as high-quality visitor experiences. While Fort Collins’ natural areas will be affected by
regional, national, and global trends, with the continued support of the community the Natural Areas Department
will continue to play an important role in meeting these challenges and providing outstanding customer service
over the next decade and beyond.
NEXT STEPS
Council’s formal consideration of adoption of the Master Plan will be on October 7, 2014.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Natural Areas Master Plan Draft Executive Summary (PDF)
2. Natural Areas Master Plan (draft) (PDF)
3. Public Engagement Summary (PDF)
4. Triple Bottom Line Analysis (PDF)
5. Power Point Presentation (PDF)
DRAFT Executive Summary Page 1
There is a growing understanding and appreciation
for the symbiotic relationship between local land
conservation and human wellbeing. The joy of a
child playing at the water’s edge; the deep contentment of an
afternoon spent fly casting in the middle of town; the music
of birdsong on a warm spring day; a quiet walk, or a hard run
on the Foothills Trail as the sun rises – these descriptions
hint at the deeper meaning and values of the City of Fort
Collins natural areas system. Local conservation offers
two fundamentally intertwined benefits: the preservation
and support of the diversity of life, and support for human
health and wellness.
The primary mission of the Natural Areas Department is the
conservation and restoration of habitat. For over 20 years
the Department has been conserving land by purchasing
it outright, or by acquiring conservation easements. Over
40,000 acres have been conserved to date and over the next
ten years land conservation will continue to be at the front
and center of the Department’s efforts.
The land conservation, restoration, and stewardship work
of the Department and its partners has helped provide
and enhance a wide variety of habitat. At the same time,
this fundamental conservation work also contributes to
what human health experts characterize as the highly
beneficial effects to human wellbeing of outdoor activity.
Made possible by a series of citizen-initiated sales taxes,
the Natural Areas Department’s land portfolio provides 110
miles of trails on 40 sites open to public use and provides
numerous opportunities for connecting and re-connecting
with nature.
Fort Collins’ natural areas are an extraordinary expression
of our community’s devotion to the diversity of life,
environmental protection, and human wellbeing. And, – as
demonstrated by the recent flooding – natural areas helped
mitigate potentially disastrous flood flows, proving how
fundamental natural areas are to our economic resiliency
and safety. Valley Loop Trail, Bobcat Ridge Natural Area
(Photo by D. Daniels)
Natural Areas Master Plan
Executive Summary
Naturally Yours: to Protect, to Discover, to Enjoy
DRAFT July 31, 2014
ATTACHMENT 1
DRAFT Executive Summary Page 2
Over 20 Years of
Accomplishments
The Fort Collins community can be deservedly proud
of its role in the local conservation movement. In the
past ten years, the Natural Areas Department has tripled
the acreage of conserved land, substantially increased
education and volunteer efforts, tackled complex
river and grassland restoration projects, plunged into
efforts to improve river health, expanded ranger and
visitor services to meet community needs, opened up
a dozen new natural areas to the public, doubled the
miles of natural surface trails, conserved regional and
even globally important cultural resources, raised the
awareness of the need to conserve local agricultural
lands, stepped up environmental sustainability efforts,
and greatly improved numerous other aspects of land
stewardship for the City’s natural areas.
A Continuous Dialogue:
Community Involvement in the 2014
Master Plan Update
Every year the Department uses a variety of means to
listen to and incorporate ideas from the community. The
2014 Natural Areas Master Plan builds upon a number of
previous and ongoing outreach efforts and partnerships
in order to continuously understand stakeholders and
be responsive to public preferences regarding land
conservation, stewardship, and recreation efforts. From
biennial Fort Collins Citizen Surveys, to Our Lands –
Our Future outreach in 2012 and 2013, to open houses
and online surveys for this 2014 Master Plan outreach
effort, it is crystal clear that Fort Collins citizens remain
enthusiastic about land conservation and outdoor
recreation.
To date, the efforts of the City have
resulted in
• 34,800 acres conserved by acquisition for
public use
• 5,800 acres protected through conservation
easements that are managed by private landowners
• 900 acres of recreational rights leased on
reservoirs to help protect key wildlife habitat.
• 75% of the land conserved has been conserved
since the 2004 Master Plan
• 110 miles of trails created and maintained on 40
natural areas
• Over 2 million visits to natural areas occur
each year
• 8-10% of Fort Collins’ population participates
annually in Department education, outreach, and
volunteer opportunities
Staff, volunteers, and visitors at Gateway Natural Area
(City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo)
DRAFT Executive Summary Page 3
Master Plan Priorities
Continuing the Natural Areas Success Story
Nurturing Nature
The Natural Areas Department works to bring natural
areas into better ecological condition. Resource
Management priorities include:
• Substantially complete grassland restoration in
southwest Fort Collins and foothills natural areas.
• Reintroduce endangered or threatened native
wildlife into suitable landscapes including the
black-footed ferret and bison to Soapstone Prairie
Natural Area.
• Aspire to create “Wilderness in the City”--places
that feel wild and remote and exceed traditional
expectations for urban natural areas.
The Natural Areas
Department will continue to:
• Aspire to its vision: Through the work of the Natural
Areas Department, a diverse system of conserved and
restored lands will connect community members to
nature. These conserved lands will protect nature and
contribute to the health and wellbeing of our community.
• Stick to its core mission: The mission of the Natural
Areas Department is to conserve and enhance lands
with natural resource, agricultural, and scenic values,
while providing meaningful education and appropriate
recreation opportunities.
The Natural Areas
Department will act to:
• Conserve land, water, wildlife
corridors, and trail connections.
• Restore habitat.
• Provide visitor and recreation services.
• Provide education, interpretation, and
volunteer opportunities.
• Contribute to the character and culture
of our City.
Hogback at Coyote Ridge Natural Area
(Photo by Crystal Strouse)
Great horned owl at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area
(Photo by Norm Keally)
DRAFT Executive Summary Page 4
Land and Water
Conservation
The City of Fort Collins Natural Areas
Department conserves land valued by
the community. Sites ranging in size
from 1 acre to 22,258 acres protect a wide
diversity of native plant communities,
including mature cottonwood forests,
foothills shrublands, wet meadows,
emergent marshes, and shortgrass
prairies.
Priorities for land conservation were
identified by focus areas in the 2004
plan and refined for this plan through
the Our Lands – Our Future project
as described in Chapter 3 of this
Master Plan. The intent of the focus
areas is to identify land and water
with conservation values that may
be considered for conservation when
willing owners desire to sell or donate
their land, water, or conservation
easements. A fundamental guiding
principle of this plan is to maintain the
Department’s core focus on biologically
significant lands, or lands that have the
potential to contribute to biological
integrity and richness. An additional
principle is to acquire water in order to
enhance and sustain habitat; to link it to
appropriate lands (such as productive
farmland); and, to satisfy water rights
administrative obligations. Based on
these principles and the focus areas
and in order of priority the Department
will conserve:
• Lands within the local focus areas
particularly the Poudre River,
the Bellvue area, and adjoining
foothills.
• Agricultural land in the Wellington
Separator.
• Regional lands as opportunities
and funding permit.
Successful Partnerships
The tremendous progress toward conservation and stewardship of natural
areas in Fort Collins could not have occurred without the support of the
community and numerous partners within and outside of City government.
These funding, stewardship, and research partnerships will continue to be
extremely important over the next ten years to meet future Department and
community priorities.
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DRAFT Executive Summary Page 5
Outstanding Volunteers and
Invigorated Minds
Natural Area volunteers are incredibly special people who
dedicate their time to education, conservation, and excellent
customer service. In 2013, 1,633 volunteers donated over
10,000 hours, which is the equivalent of five full-time
employees. Master Naturalists and Assistants provided
over 200 educational activities and events about everything
from mountain lions to cultural history to astronomy. Every
educational program offered was free, including field trips
for 1,300 students to natural areas. Specific priorities are to:
• Use diverse and creative strategies to connect people to
nature.
• Ensure offerings engage and reflect the demographics
and diversity of the entire community.
• Meet the community’s expectation to give back to
the places they love by expanding opportunities for
service learning and other volunteer involvement.
The Cache la Poudre River
As it has for over 20 years ago, the Cache la Poudre River
will remain a high conservation priority. Going forward
the Department will place continued emphasis on land
conservation and additional emphasis on conserving and
restoring ecological functions. In addition, the Natural
Areas Department will help convene City departments,
water users, and nonprofit organizations to further
protect and improve the overall health of the Poudre
River ecosystem. Goals include sustaining and improving
water flows, implementing restoration projects that
connect the river to its floodplain, creating rich wildlife
habitat, improving aesthetics, and providing appropriate
recreational opportunities.
Recreation and Visitor Services
Improvements
The Department is passionate about providing enjoyable
and sustainable opportunities for the public to enjoy
the natural and cultural treasures it manages. Public
improvements staff will maintain a natural surface
trail system that supports a variety of recreational
experiences, while minimizing multiuse conflicts and
negative impacts on conservation values. Rangers will
continue to provide visitor services and enforcement to
protect resources and maintain safety. Illegal camping
issues will be addressed through collaboration with the
Social Sustainability Department, Police Services, and
community social service organizations. Maintaining
high quality customer service, as measured by Citizen
Survey reports, is a key metric of success.
Great Blue Heron
(Photo by Norm Keally)
Widow skimmer dragonfly at
Cottonwood Hollow Natural Area
(Photo by Dave Leatherman)
Reservoir Ridge Natural Area
(City of Fort Collins Natural Areas
Department Photo)
DRAFT Executive Summary Page 6
Conserving Our Heritage
Conserving natural resources - the Department’s primary
mission - often means conserving associated cultural and
historic resources and the connection between people
and landscapes. A Master Plan priority is to protect these
irreplaceable resources for future generations to learn from
and enjoy.
The Department will seek to utilize non-Departmental
resources, including grants, to conserve and restore cultural
resources. It also will develop policies to guide its work to
fund and manage cultural resources; and, it will pursue state
or federal historic designation for noteworthy structures,
such as the Warren Ranch buildings on Soapstone Prairie
Natural Area.
Local Agriculture
The Department utilizes agricultural practices on some
lands to benefit habitat and to mimic ecological processes.
These practices can also benefit the local economy. The
Department also holds conservation easements on farmland.
These farms remain in private ownership and provide
community separation as well as economic and some habitat
benefits. In the past few years, various City departments
have explored more ways to support urban agriculture and
local food production for sustainability and human health.
The Natural Areas Department’s local agriculture priorities
are to:
• Conserve working agricultural lands with prime soils
and water, including lands that could be used for
local food production typically through conservation
easement acquisitions.
• Pursue both resource conservation and agricultural
activities on conserved working farms and ranches.
• Utilize appropriate agriculture-based management
activities such as haying and grazing as a tool to aid
in restoration and to help replace lost or impacted
ecological processes.
Soapstone Prairie Natural Area
(Photo by Norm Keally)
Sod Farm Conservation Easement in the Wellington Separator
(City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo)
DRAFT Executive Summary Page 7
Help Preserve Open Space
Larimer County’s “Help Preserve Open Space” ¼–cent
sales tax supports a substantial portion of the Department
operating and stewardship expenses and constitutes
approximately 1/3rd of the Department’s revenues. If
HPOS is not extended beyond its 2018 sunset, and
without changes to the City’s dedicated ¼-cent sales tax
Open Space, Yes!, which contains spending restrictions,
it would be virtually impossible for the Department to
provide adequate maintenance while also continuing to
conserve, restore, and manage habitat.
Larimer County Commissioners have placed an extension
of HPOS on the November 2014 ballot.
The Heat is On
Global climate change and extreme weather events
are expected to increase and the impacts on natural
resources will be profound, including shifts in plant and
animal communities, increased fire and flood events,
and alteration in the Cache la Poudre water temperature,
flows, and water quality and quantity.
Feel the Love
Natural areas are popular: over 2 million visits occur
annually. But with Fort Collins expected to grow by
100,000 people over the next 25 years, the number of
people recreating in natural areas will likely exceed visitor
carrying capacity in the more popular sites. When carrying
capacity limits have been breached, negative impacts can
include damage to natural values that are beyond the site’s
capacity to absorb as well as compromising the visitor
experience beyond acceptable levels.
The Master Plan proposes many solutions such as:
opening new natural areas not yet available to the
public, acquiring more sites and developing more trails,
monitoring visitor use, improving site access, escalating
educational outreach, improving natural surface trail
sustainability and connectivity, and resolving multiuse
conflict. In addition, this Master Plan expands the
spectrum of recreational offerings on select natural areas
to include sport and family-friendly fishing, areas for
solitude, off-trail nature exploration, natural play areas
for children, and limited hunting opportunities.
Three Top Challenges
Gateway Natural Area
(Photo by by Richard Ernst)
Soapstone Prairie Natural Area
(Photo by Lauryn Rae)
Soapstone Prairie Natural Area
(Photo by Charlie Johnson)
DRAFT Executive Summary Page 8
During the next ten years, the Natural Areas Department
will serve our community by implementing its mission to
conserve land and water, restore natural systems to build
ecological diversity and resiliency, and provide learning
opportunities and safe and appropriate user experiences,
Fort Collins’ natural areas will be affected by regional,
national, and global environmental trends, but with the
support of the community, including the voters of Larimer
County, the Natural Areas Department will continue to play
an important role in meeting these challenges over the next
decade and beyond.
Looking Forward
CITY COUNCIL/CITY MANAGEMENT
Karen Weitkunat, Mayor
Gerry Horak, Mayor Pro Tem, District 6
Bob Overbeck, District 1
Lisa Poppaw, District 2
Gino Campana, District 3
Wade Troxell, District 4
Ross Cunniff, District 5
Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Jeff Mihelich, Deputy City Manager
Wendy Williams, Assistant City Manager
Marty Heffernan, Director of Community Services
Community Services
Natural Areas Department
P.O. Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
fcgov.com/naturalareas
970.416.2815
Printed on recycled paper
with soy-based ink
to the Next Decade and Beyond
Milky Way above Bobcat Ridge Natural Area
(Photo by Jeremy White; Courtesy of National Park Service)
CITY OF FORT COLLINS
NATURAL AREAS DEPARTMENT
DRAFT FOR PUBLIC REVIEW
NATURAL AREAS
MASTER PLAN
July 31, 2014
ATTACHMENT 2
Photo Credits: Valley Loop Trail, Bobcat Ridge Natural Area (Photo by D. Daniels);
inserts (top to bottom): Cattail Chorus Natural Areas (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo),
Master Naturalist at McMurry Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo), Great
horned owl at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area (Photo by Norm Keally).
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 iii
PREFACE
Conservation and Wellbeing
In many regards, Fort Collins is the envy of other mid-size communities around the nation. Again and
again, publications and surveys tout its high quality of life. Many factors contribute to the success of Fort
Collins. The physical environment of Fort Collins, with its beautiful location on the Rocky Mountain Front
Range and, in particular, the matrix of conserved natural areas in and around the City, is a fundamental
part of the City’s renowned character. Additional factors include a culture of entrepreneurship, an
accomplished local school system, Colorado State University, an engaged community, and in particular
a devotion to the outdoors and environmental protection. The City’s network of natural areas, made
possible by a series of citizen-initiated sales taxes, constitutes a strong testament to this devotion and
plays a key role in making Fort Collins one of the best places to live in the country.
Fort Collins’ natural areas are a leading expression of our community’s values, hopes, and aspirations.
Moreover, in Fort Collins and other communities around the world, there is growing understanding
and appreciation for the symbiotic relationship between local land conservation and human wellbeing.
This emerging understanding will be a major driver as the Natural Areas Department pursues its core
conservation mission over the next ten years.
The Fort Collins model of conserving land lies squarely within a great American tradition that many
historians trace to the Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt. During his tenure Roosevelt established
numerous National Forests and Parks and protected nearly 230 million acres in the public domain. Since
the turn of the last century, land conservation has become firmly entrenched in the culture and history
of America, and the tradition of conservation continues to be one of our nation’s greatest achievements.
Milky Way above Bobcat Ridge Natural Area
(Photo by Jeremy White; Courtesy of National Park Service)
iv Preface DRAFT July 31, 2014
Two interesting phenomena in the land conservation movement occurred in the latter part of the 20th
century. The conservation land trust movement exploded and there are now over 1,700 land trusts that
have helped conserve nearly 50 million acres nationally. In addition to the private, non-profit sector,
local governments launched their own conservation efforts. This has been especially true in Colorado,
and Fort Collins has been a leader in the local government conservation movement.
An important factor that drove the desire for land conservation in Fort Collins was the booming economy in
the 1990s and early 2000s. Community members in Fort Collins recognized that unless something was done
to set aside key lands, they would be lost to development. Citizen activists orchestrated a series of citizen-
initiated sales tax measures that provided additional resources to acquire important lands and to restore their
ecological value, as well as to provide recreation amenities, public safety, education, and outreach programs.
Fort Collins can be deservedly proud of its role in the local government conservation movement. To
date, the efforts of the City have resulted in the conservation of approximately 41,000 acres. The Natural
Areas Department manages 35,000 acres with a full-time permanent staff of 30 and another 20 seasonal
employees. In addition to the professional staff, volunteers donate thousands of hours of their time
each year. On-the-ground management of the 6,000 acres that have been protected with conservation
easements is conducted by the City’s community partners and private landowners. On an annual basis
the City monitors the eased lands to ensure compliance with the protective terms of the easements.
Of course, the numbers only scratch the surface of the underlying story. They are unable to capture the joy
of a child playing at the water’s edge; the deep contentment of an afternoon spent fly casting in the middle
of town; the music of birdsong on a warm spring day; a quiet walk, or a hard run on the Foothills Trail as
the sun rises. These descriptions hint at the deeper meaning and values of the City’s natural areas system-
-a system that supports two fundamentally intertwined benefits associated with conservation at the local
scale: the preservation and support of the diversity of life, and support for human wellness and health.
Fort Collins is on the leading edge of a movement that is just beginning to appreciate and understand how
supporting the diversity of life at the local scale can also help support the wellbeing of local residents.
Human health experts are beginning to realize, through peer reviewed research, that outdoor activity can
have highly beneficial impacts on both physical and mental health.
In Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv (2005) argues forcefully that children have become too
disconnected from nature in our highly regimented approach to education, sports, and the pervasive use
of electronic media. When the broken connection
to nature is re-established, children are happier,
calmer, and better at solving problems. Similar
results have been shown for adults; for example,
numerous outdoor programs have been established
for war veterans to help them cope with trauma
and re-integrate into civilian society. With over
100 miles of trails and nearly 35,000 acres of land
open to the public, the Natural Areas Department
provides numerous opportunities for connecting
and re-connecting with nature.
"This principle holds that a reconnection to
the natural world is fundamental to human
health, well-being, spirit, and survival."
Richard Louv (2011)
The Nature Principle: Human Restoration and the
End of Nature-Deficit Disorder
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 v
In addition to human wellness, biologists and city planners now understand that supporting a matrix
of conserved lands at the local level can be fundamentally important to sustaining the diversity of life.
For example, conservation at the local level can play a vital role in connecting biological corridors that
would otherwise be disconnected by urban development.
Two examples from the Fort Collins’ experience are the Cache la Poudre River corridor and Soapstone
Prairie Natural Area. In the case of the Poudre, biologists note that riparian corridors in Colorado are
the primary reservoirs of biological diversity in the state. The City’s history of conserving land along
the Poudre, and more recent efforts to reconnect the river to its floodplain and to modify or remove
dams to facilitate fish passage, are intended to restore and sustain important elements of the river’s
biological richness. Public ownership of over 60% of the Poudre River floodplain within Fort Collins
has contributed to multiple community goals, strongly evidenced by the resilience of the river system
to the September 2013 flood event. In the case of Soapstone Prairie, this 22,000-acre property provides a
vital link in a series of protected lands in the 150,000-acre Mountains-to-Plains Laramie Foothills Project
that connects higher elevation habitat to the prairie, a regional connection that is vanishing along the
developing Front Range of Colorado.
Perhaps in a way that our community was not able to anticipate 20 years ago, efforts to enhance wellbeing
and social sustainability as well as efforts to conserve and restore the quality of our natural areas are
symbiotically reinforcing each other. This symbiosis is likely to be one of the most important movements
of the 21st century, especially as population trends place increasing pressure on the resilience of our
economic, social, and environmental fabric.
The Natural Areas Department will continue to implement programs and initiatives that strongly support
the movement towards local resilience, biological conservation, and human health and wellbeing. Looking
forward to the next ten years, the Department will execute its core conservation mission by protecting
land and water, providing a safe and appropriate user experience, sharing through learning opportunities,
and restoring and rehabilitating land and natural systems to build ecological diversity and staying power.
John Stokes
Director of Natural Areas Department (2003–Present)
John Stokes at Two Creeks Natural Area
(City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo)
vi Preface DRAFT July 31, 2014
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department thanks all the citizens who have contributed to the
conservation and stewardship of our community’s natural areas. Your citizen-initiated sales tax dollars
have conserved natural areas, provided visitor services, and restored habitat for generations to come. We
especially thank citizen open space leaders, public officials, conservation partners, volunteers, and City
staff who have supported the natural areas vision over the last 22 years.
City Council
Karen Weitkunat, Mayor
Gerry Horak, Mayor Pro Tem, District 6
Bob Overbeck, District 1
Lisa Poppaw, District 2
Gino Campana, District 3
Wade Troxell, District 4
Ross Cunniff, District 5
City Management
Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Jeff Mihelich, Deputy City Manager and Chief Operating Officer
Wendy Williams, Assistant City Manager
Marty Heffernan, Director of Community Services
Land Conservation and Stewardship Board
Trudy Haines, Chairperson
Gail Dethloff
Kathryn Grimes
Kent Leier
Kelly Ohlson
Ed Reifsnyder
Raymond Watts
Staff, volunteers, and visitors at Gateway Natural Area
(City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo)
Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................1
Plan Fort Collins and the Natural Areas Master Plan 2
The Value of Natural Areas 2
Four Decades of Land Conservation and Stewardship 3
Land Conservation and Stewardship Master Plan (2004) 7
A Continuous Dialogue: Community Involvement in the 2014 Master Plan Update 7
2014 Natural Areas Master Plan Outreach 9
Performance Metrics 12
Chapter 2 Funding and Expenditures ....................................................................................... 13
Historical Funding and Expenditures (1993–2013) 13
Future Funding and Expenditures over the Next Ten Years (2014–2023) with and without Larimer County’s
“Help Preserve Open Space” Sales Tax 14
Other Potential Funding Sources 16
User Fees 18
Chapter 3 Land Conservation ................................................................................................. 21
Inventory of City Natural Areas and Other Protected Sites 21
Conservation Focus Areas 28
Local Focus Areas 30
Community Separators Focus Areas 31
Regional Focus Areas 32
Land Conservation Strategies 33
Chapter 4 Stewardship ........................................................................................................ 39
Staffing 39
Land Conservation and Stewardship Board 40
Policies, Plans, and Procedures 40
Management Zoning System 42
Education 43
Volunteer Coordination 45
Research 46
Resource Management 48
Cache la Poudre River and Other Aquatic Systems 54
Ranger and Visitor Services 59
Recreation 61
Cultural Resources 68
Agriculture 71
Energy Development and Minerals Extraction 73
Utility Easements and Rights-of-Way 74
Private Land Management Assistance 76
Facility Operations 77
Environmental Sustainability 79
viii Table of Contents DRAFT July 31, 2014
Chapter 5 Looking Forward to the Next Decade and Beyond ............................................................ 83
Partnership Opportunities 83
Priorities 84
Challenges 88
References ....................................................................................................................... 89
Appendix A 2014 City Council Resolution to Adopt the Natural Areas Master Plan (Pending) ...................A-1
Appendix B 2011 City Plan Principles and Policies ...................................................................... B-1
Appendix C “Our Lands – Our Future” Results for Fort Collins ....................................................... C-1
List of Figures
Figure 1. Percentage of “Very Good” or “Good” Quality Ratings of Natural Areas Department Programs and
Facilities (Fort Collins Citizen Surveys 2003–2013) ....................................................................8
Figure 2. Natural Areas Revenue, 1993–2013 (Total $184,006,420) ..................................................... 14
Figure 4. Natural Areas Expenditures by Work Group, 1993–2013 (Total $170,444,314) ........................... 15
Figure 3. Change in Distribution of Natural Areas Expenditures over Time ........................................... 15
Figure 5. Natural Areas Estimated Expenditures by Work Group with “Help Preserve Open Space” Sales Tax
over the next Ten Years, 2014–2023 (Total $117,618,251) ........................................................... 17
Figure 6. Natural Areas Estimated Revenue with “Help Preserve Open Space” Sales Tax over the next Ten
Years, 2014–2023 (Total $117,618,251) ................................................................................. 17
Figure 7. Natural Areas Estimated Revenue without “Help Preserve Open Space” Sales Tax Extension over the
next Ten Years, 2014–2023 (Total $93,878,417) ........................................................................ 17
Figure 8. Total Spending and Acres Conserved by Focus Areas (2003–2013) ......................................... 28
Figure 9. Number of Volunteer Hours per Year, 2007–2013 .............................................................. 45
Figure 10. Number of Natural Areas Open to Specific Recreation Types .............................................. 63
Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 ix
List of Tables
Table 1. Current Natural Areas Department Metrics ...................................................................... 12
Table 2. Examples of Conservation and Stewardship Partnerships over the Past Ten Years ....................... 19
Table 3. Natural Areas Inventory of Conserved Lands .................................................................... 24
Table 4. Natural Areas Policies, Plans, and Procedures (2004–2014) ................................................... 41
Table 5. Examples of Special-Permit Research Projects on City Natural Areas over the Last Four Years. ........ 47
Table 6. Selected List of Research Topics to Help Stewardship of Natural Areas over the Next Ten Years ....... 48
List of Maps
Map 1. Local Natural Areas and Community Separators ................................................................ 22
Map 2. Regional Natural Areas ............................................................................................... 23
Map 3. Land Conservation Focus Areas ..................................................................................... 29
x Table of Contents DRAFT July 31, 2014
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 1
INTRODUCTION
Established in 1992, the then City of
Fort Collins Natural Areas Program
evolved into a multi-faceted
department responsible for the conservation
and stewardship of land and water with
natural resource, agricultural, recreation, and
scenic values. The Natural Areas Department
is not alone in this endeavor. Other City of
Fort Collins departments, neighboring cities,
Larimer County, state and federal agencies,
land trusts, and private landowners all partner
with the Department. Above all, the support
of the Fort Collins community itself has made
the original vision of the 1992 Natural Areas
Policy Plan a reality.
The Fort Collins community has conserved
over 40,000 acres and the Natural Areas
Department manages 35,000 of those acres
within 43 local and regional natural areas.
More than 30,000 acres—roughly 75% have
been conserved in just the past ten years. With over 100 miles of trails on the 40 sites open to-date,
natural areas have become a beloved community asset, central to Fort Collins’ identity and quality of life.
This remarkable accomplishment has presented new resource management, natural areas education, and
recreation opportunities, as well as inherent challenges.
City of Fort Collins Mission Statement
Exceptional service for an exceptional community.
Natural Areas Department Mission
The mission of the Natural Areas Department is to
conserve and enhance lands with natural resource,
agricultural, and scenic values, while providing
meaningful education and appropriate recreation
opportunities.
2014 Natural Areas Master Plan Vision
Through the work of the Natural Areas Department,
a diverse system of conserved and restored lands
will connect community members to nature. These
conserved lands will protect nature and contribute
to the health and wellbeing of our community.
Arapaho Bend Natural Area.
(Photo by Norm Keally)
2 Introduction DRAFT July 31, 2014
This 2014 Natural Areas Master Plan summarizes
the accomplishments of the last ten years,
since adoption of the 2004 Land Conservation
and Stewardship Master Plan. The 2014 Plan
establishes the priorities for conservation and
stewardship of the City’s natural areas system
for the next ten years based on ballot measure
language, the values and functions of the natural
areas system as a whole, community input, and
emerging trends and needs. The Master Plan will
also serve as a foundation for future site-specific
management plans.
Plan Fort Collins and the Natural
Areas Master Plan
In 2011, the City adopted its updated comprehensive
plan. City Plan Fort Collins (2011a) provides strong
direction for the Natural Areas Department, with
numerous policies and principles devoted to
environmental health, including a section entitled
“Open Lands” that largely reflects the mission of
the Department. Moreover, a central tenet of Plan
Fort Collins is natural resource and natural area
conservation. Relevant principles and policies of
Plan Fort Collins for economic sustainability, land
conservation, and stewardship of natural areas are
included in Appendix B. While the Department’s
main focus is on natural areas, community
separators and agricultural lands are also conserved
when they meet the Department’s mission.
The Value of Natural Areas
The Fort Collins landscape is endowed with
prairie grasslands, streams and forested river
corridors, and an iconic foothills backdrop of
mountain mahogany shrublands and ponderosa
pine forests that support a high diversity of
natural systems throughout the year. Human-
made reservoirs, gravel ponds, detention ponds,
drainage channels and irrigation ditches contribute
to the diversity of habitats within our urban, built
environment. Pockets of naturalized vegetation
within stormwater drainage features, parks, and
agricultural lands also provide valuable wildlife
habitat.
Fort Collins natural areas offer ecosystem goods
and services, such as filtering the water and
air, providing pollination of crops, stormwater
detention, and flood protection. Our natural
areas support unique native plant populations,
including 36 species listed as rare or sensitive;
two of which are federally threatened species.
Our natural areas provide habitat for 18 species
of animals on the Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Species of Concern List, including seven in the
threatened or endangered category. More bird
species have been recorded from our natural areas
than from such iconic national parks as Rocky
Mountain, Yellowstone, or even the Everglades.
Unique archeological, historical, paleontological,
and geological features can be found on many of
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 3
Sustainability is a core philosophy of the City of
Fort Collins, one that underpins every City effort,
from the smallest of daily tasks to the largest
multi-year initiatives. The central premise of any
sustainable operation is that it considers the three
legs of the sustainability stool: human (social)
capital, economic activity, and environmental
quality in decision-making and management. This
approach to decision making is commonly known
as a “triple bottom line” (TBL) analysis. The
Natural Areas Master Plan project team conducted
a TBL analysis in September 2013 to help
incorporate social, economic, and environmental
considerations into this planning process.
Four Decades of Land
Conservation and Stewardship
The Open Space Plan (1974)
Official City recognition of the value of natural
areas first occurred 40 years ago in 1974 when City
Council adopted The Open Space Plan. This plan
addressed a wide variety of community needs and
led to the establishment of an open space acquisition
and management program. The plan identified
priority areas within and adjacent to Fort Collins to
be included in the City’s Open Space system. The
importance of the area for fish and wildlife habitat
was among the criteria used to identify priority
What is a Natural Area?
“Area of land or water that contains or supports the
continued existence of geological, paleontological,
ecological, or other natural features that are: classified
as endangered or threatened, sensitive to the impact
from human activity, or otherwise in need of protection;
important to the conservation of natural resources
that provide environmental protection, recreational,
educational, scientific, aesthetic, or economic benefits;
or unique or rare examples of our natural heritage.”
(City Plan 2011)
What is a Community Separator?
“Community separators define the area between more
intensely developed urban areas of one municipality and
the same of another. They provide visual and physical
separation between communities by providing transitions
from urban level development using rural/ open lands
(including agricultural uses and clustered residential
development) and lower densities.” (City Plan 2011)
What is Agricultural Land?
“Land in use for agricultural purposes such as pasturage,
farming, dairying, horticulture, animal husbandry, and
related activities.” (City Plan 2011)
Kingfisher Point Natural Area (Photo by Norm Keally)
4 Introduction DRAFT July 31, 2014
Awards to the Natural Areas Department
The City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department has been recognized as an
outstanding organization over the last ten years, including these achievements:
• Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education Award for Best Governmental
Educational Program, 2014
• Friend of Preservation Award, for restoration of historic outbuildings on Bobcat Ridge
Natural Area, 2013
• Colorado Division of Mining Reclamation and Safety and the Colorado Stone, Sand and
Gravel Association- Jack Starner Reclamation Award, for restoration at Running Deer
Natural Area, 2011
• Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals Gold Award, for
interpretive signage at Soapstone Prairie, 2010
• Blue Grama Award, Colorado Open Space Alliance, 2007
• Millions of dollars in grants from competitive grant processes such as Great Outdoors
Colorado, History Colorado, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Poudre
Heritage Alliance
Natural areas are key to Fort Collins’ high quality of life, as recognized by these
prestigious awards:
• Most Satisfied (94.9%) with their City in Nation, Time Magazine, 2014
• 3rd Highest Community (along with Loveland) in Well-being Index for Nation: Gallup
and Healthways Survey, 2014
• Best Towns in America: Outside magazine, 2013
• 4th Healthiest Mid-Size City in the U.S.: Gallup-Healthways Survey, 2012
• Top Ten Places to Retire: CBS Money Watch, 2012
• One of the Top 15 Best Places for triathletes to live and train: Triathlete Magazine, 2011
• One of the Top Ten Places to Retire in the Nation: Charles Schwab’s On Investing, 2011
• One of the Top 25 Best Places to Retire: CNNMoney.com, 2010
• One of the Top 10 Best College Towns: Small-Sized Cities Category, USA Today, 2010
• 6th Best Place to Live in the Nation: Money Magazine, 2010
• One of the Greatest Places to Live in the West: American Cowboy magazine, 2010
• One of Top 20 Places to Thrive: Best Boomer Towns, 2009
• One of the Best Places to Raise Your Kids: Business Week, 2008
• 2nd Best Place to Live: Money magazine, 2008
• Top 10 College Towns for Grown-Ups: Kiplinger’s magazine, 2007
• #1 Best Place to Live in the Nation: Money Magazine, 2006
• Fort Collins is one of the 50 Best Places to Live (ranked 34th): Kiplinger’s magazine, 2006
• American Dream Town. Fort Collins rated as one of the Best Towns in the U.S.: Outside
Magazine, 2005
• Fort Collins & Larimer County Named Top Nature-Friendly Communities, 2005
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 5
sites. Specific areas identified as priorities included
the Poudre River corridor, portions of Spring Creek,
and the foothills west of the City.
Initial funding for the new Open Space Program
was through a referendum passed in 1973 by the
citizens of Fort Collins for a 7-year 1-cent Capital
Improvement sales tax; a portion of which went
for the purchase of open spaces. Through other
funding, the Parks and Recreation Department was
responsible for acquiring and managing natural
areas preserved as open space, with the primary
goal of providing recreational areas. The Parks
Department also acquired areas that were left in
a natural state in conjunction with some of their
developed parks. One of the largest of these was
a portion of Lee Martinez Community Park along
the Poudre River.
By the end of the 1980s, a little over 1,000 acres
of significant foothills and riparian habitat had
been protected through the City’s Open Space
Program. These lands helped maintain corridors
for recreational trails, wildlife movement, and
visual serenity.
Natural Areas Policy Plan (1992)
As development pressures on wildlife habitat in
and around Fort Collins continued to increase
due to expanding residential and commercial
development, the City recognized the need to step-
up land conservation efforts. In 1992, the Natural
Resources Division presented to City Council the
Natural Areas Policy Plan, which focused land
conservation on the protection and enhancement
of natural areas—a change in direction from the
previous efforts to acquire open spaces focused
on providing recreational opportunities. The
policy plan also set forth strategies to protect
habitat through land development regulations,
partnerships with other departments and
agencies, encouraging enhancement of habitat on
privately owned land, and providing education
and interpretive programs to help ensure future
conservation efforts.
Soon after adoption of the Natural Areas Policy
Plan, Fort Collins voters passed the first citizens-
initiated ¼-cent sales tax entirely dedicated to
implementing the plan through 1997. The Natural
Areas Program within the Natural Resources
Division was established and the Parks’ “open
spaces” became known as “natural areas.”
As more land was acquired, site maintenance
duties were transferred from Parks to Natural
Areas and a Ranger Program was established in
1997. The need for a maintenance facility became
critical to the Natural Areas Program’s success. In
Red fox kits at Gustav Swanson Natural Area (Photo by Norm Keally)
6 Introduction DRAFT July 31, 2014
1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
ACREAGE CONSERVED
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
0
FUNDING AND PLANNING
LAND ACQUISITION AND CONSERVATION
STEWARDSHIP AND EDUCATION
Prospect Ponds (1974)
Reservoir Ridge, Salyer (1985)
Red Fox Meadows (1992)
Gustav Swanson (1988)
Ross (1978)
Riverbend Ponds, Fischer (1977)
Maxwell, Pineridge (1976)
Springer, Williams (1990)
Redwing Marsh, Cathy Fromme Prairie (1993)
Coyote Ridge, River’s Edge, Prairie Dog Meadow, Udall (1994)
Fossil Creek Wetlands, Magpie Meander, Arapaho Bend (1995)
The Coterie (2000)
Soapstone Prairie Additions (2009)
Wellington and Timnath Community Separators (2005)
Roberts Ranch CE, Soapstone Prairie (2004)
Gateway, Picnic Rock (2007)
North Shields Ponds (1962)
Open Space Plan adopted (1974)
1-cent Capital Improvement
Sales Tax referendum passed (1973)
Additional 1/2-cent
Capital Funds tax approved (1984)
Natural Areas Policy Plan adopted (1992)
First citizen-initiated 1/4-cent sales tax entirely
dedicated to NAPP implementation (1992)
Larimer County Open Lands established,
citizens initiate 1/4-cent sales tax
for acquisition, maintenance (1995)
Voters extend a portion of the 1/4-cent sales
tax for natural areas for eight years (1997)
Citizen-initiated Help Preserve Open
Space funded (1999)
Open Space Yes! Citizen initiative extends fully-
restored City’s 1/4-cent sales tax to 2030 (2002)
Natural Areas Program
becomes a Department (2011)
Land Conservation &
Stewardship Plan adopted (2004)
Nix Farm Facility completed, 1st
Controlled Burn (2002)
Natural Areas and Trail Rangers Policies and
Procedures Manual (2008)
Natural Resources Division
established (1986)
Land Conservation & Stewardship
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 7
2002, the Nix Farm Facility on Hoffman Mill Road
was completed to house most office staff and all
field crews and rangers. At the end of 2003, the
City had conserved about 11,500 acres of natural
areas and had begun to acquire regional natural
areas, including Bobcat Ridge, and to purchase
conservation easements to conserve agricultural
and viewshed values within community
separators.
Land Conservation and
Stewardship Master Plan (2004)
In response to requests by City Council and
the public to look at more land conservation
opportunities beyond the borders of Fort Collins,
Natural Areas Program staff developed the Land
Conservation and Stewardship Plan, which
was adopted in 2004. This plan focused on
identifying and protecting natural areas within
three major focus areas: (1) Local (Fort Collins
Growth Management Area west to Horsetooth
Reservoir and Bellvue); (2) Community Separators
(Wellington, Timnath, Lower Poudre and Windsor,
Fort Collins-Loveland); and (3) Regional focus
area (high value Larimer County foothills west
of Horsetooth, Rist Canyon, Upper Poudre to
County Road 27, Owl Canyon, Dry Creek, Laramie
Foothills to Plains area).
In 2011, the Natural Areas Program became
a department within the City of Fort Collins
government. The last ten years have been a period
of significant growth as the Department has tripled
the amount of acreage under its management. The
largest site, Soapstone Prairie, is over 22,000 acres
alone.
Today, with annual expenditures over $10
million, the Department has expanded its
efforts to restore degraded natural areas, provide
educational opportunities, and develop public
recreational amenities, including over 100 miles
of natural surface trails. Volunteers provide over
10,000 hours of labor to the Department each year
to support various programs.
A Continuous Dialogue:
Community Involvement in the
2014 Master Plan Update
The 2002 City of Fort Collins “Open Space
Yes!” ballot language describes and directs the
Department’s efforts in fulfilling the community’s
conservation vision. It emphasizes ongoing
community dialog and input on natural areas plans
and policies as well as implementation. Over the
past decade, the Department has used a variety of
means to listen to and incorporate ideas from the
Full Moon setting over Bobcat Ridge Natural Area (Photo by Norm Keally)
8 Introduction DRAFT July 31, 2014
community. The 2014 Natural Areas Master Plan
builds upon a number of previous and ongoing
outreach efforts and partnerships in order to
continuously understand stakeholders and act in a
responsive manner to public preferences regarding
land conservation, stewardship, and recreation
efforts. Three specific efforts that directly
influenced the master plan are highlighted below:
the Fort Collins Citizen Surveys, Our Lands – Our
Future surveys, and 2014 Master Plan outreach.
Citizen Surveys
Numerous quality of life surveys, along with
specific land conservation and recreation surveys,
have demonstrated that Fort Collins citizens
remain enthusiastic about land conservation
and outdoor recreation—a finding that mirrors
statewide trends. In 2013, 2,000 randomly selected
Fort Collins households were asked to rate the
quality of life in the City and their satisfaction
with community amenities and local government,
including satisfaction with City natural areas. Key
findings included the following:
• When asked to rate the quality of 19
recreational and cultural programs and
facilities offered by the City of Fort Collins,
respondents rated natural areas and open
space (95% “very good” or “good”),
recreational trails (96%), and parks (96%) as
the most favorable.
• About 98% of residents indicated that the
same effort (65%) or more effort (33%)
should be devoted to environmental
protection and land conservation.
• Respondents also indicated satisfaction with
Natural Areas Rangers (81% very good or
good) and perceptions of safety in natural
areas (88% always or usually safe).
“Our Lands – Our Future” Survey
Results
From 2012 through 2013, the City of Fort
Collins joined with Larimer County and all of
its municipalities to analyze the challenges,
opportunities, and possible gaps in their collective
land conservation, stewardship, and outdoor
Figure 1. Percentage of “Very Good” or “Good” Quality Ratings of
Natural Areas Department Programs and Facilities (Fort Collins
Citizen Surveys 2003–2013)
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
2003 2006 2008 2010 2012 2013
CITIZENS' RATINGS OF NATURAL AREAS DEPARTMENT
PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES, 2003-2013
"Very Good" or
"Good" Quality
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 9
recreation programs and portfolios. From this
precedent-setting countywide study, called Our
Lands – Our Future: Recreation and Conservation
Choices for Northern Colorado (Larimer County
2013), came a statistical analysis of the conservation
values and outdoor recreational preferences
of Larimer County and Fort Collins residents.
Between June 2012 and June 2013, over 4,200
citizens offered their feedback through statistically
valid surveys, regional events, interactive online
geographic information system (GIS) scenarios,
participation of all open space advisory boards
across the county, and over 45 local presentations.
Many of the events occurred in Fort Collins, and
over 50% of survey respondents were Fort Collins
residents. Key findings included the following:
• The top activities for Fort Collins residents,
children in their household, and the
household overall are walking/hiking/
running on natural surfaces (53%) and paved
surfaces (46%), as well as biking on paved
trails (52%). These activities are closely
followed by camping (44%), biking on roads
(37%), and fishing (34%). Overall, Fort
Collins residents reported greater satisfaction
with nearly all activities offered than other
county residents.
• Respondents identified that more land or
facilities are needed for walking/hiking/
running on natural and paved surfaces, biking
on paved trails, camping, fishing, recreating
with dogs, and watching wildlife/birding.
• All types of land conservation are important,
with “Lands that provide regional trail
corridors to connect to cities and towns”
and “Ecologically sensitive lands” rated
as the most important, while “Working
farms and ranches” were rated as relatively
less important. In order to understand
community attitudes toward land
conservation in greater detail, respondents
identified their single most important
priority. “Ecologically sensitive lands” are
considered the highest priority by Fort
Collins residents (26%), followed by “lands
within our communities near neighborhoods
and schools” (20%), and “lands that provide
regional trail corridors” (16%). On the whole,
Fort Collins residents favor an equal balance
between natural resource preservation and
outdoor recreation.
• There is significant support from respondents
for allocating revenues toward a broad set of
purposes, from land acquisition to ecological
restoration to investing in current facilities.
The regional visioning process also helped
further define the Department’s unique role in
implementing the Our Lands – Our Future vision.
See Appendix C for more information on the City
10 Introduction DRAFT July 31, 2014
Open House #1
The first open house was held on January 30,
2014. The Natural Areas Department presented
a review of Our Lands – Our Future, described
current work, and highlighted changes being
considered in the Master Plan. Participants were
asked to comment on the current level of service
and priorities in recreation, resource management,
education, and land conservation. Specific input
was sought on the Department’s role in local food
production, hunting at Soapstone Prairie Natural
Area, camping at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area,
interpreting and conserving cultural resources,
and conserving and restoring the Cache la Poudre
River. In addition, reactions to an updated mission
statement were also sought.
An opportunity for open-ended input was
provided. Eighty-five people attended the open
house, and 59 written comments were received.
During the online comment period (January 30–
March 3, 2014), 67 online feedback forms were
completed for a total of 126 written comments.
The comments received represented the diversity of
the community that the Natural Areas Department
serves; a variety of viewpoints on each topic
were expressed. But in general, the current level
of service was positively viewed in most areas
including recreation, public amenities, visitor
and ranger services, restoration, education, and
cultural and historic preservation. The feedback
was more mixed on land conservation, with a
positive reaction to proposed priorities and some
requests for additional recreational opportunities
or more of an emphasis on a different focus
area. Most citizens suggested that the Natural
Areas Department be a leader in Poudre River
conservation, with many supporting the current
role.
The question about hunting pronghorn at
Soapstone Prairie Natural Area generated lively
discussion; hunting was generally supported, but
some participants expressed concern. Limited
backcountry camping at Bobcat Ridge Natural
Area received strong support. A slight majority
of the participants supported the Natural Areas
Department’s role in local food production. A
simplified mission statement was supported by
most. The open-ended comment section had a
variety of responses—several gave the Natural
Areas Department kudos, some reiterated support
for hunting, and some expressed a desire to have
Reservoir Ridge Natural Area stay open later in the
evening.
Open House #2
The second open house was on June 19, 2014.
The Natural Areas Department presented the
priorities for the Master Plan at its offices at Nix
Farm. Participants were asked to comment on
the priorities, 80 people attended. Twenty-one
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 11
concern about lack of regional focus, too much
agricultural land conservation, or not enough
conservation easements. Work on the Cache la
Poudre River was supported with some concerns
about lack of family-friendly access, potential
reservoir projects, and proposed water park.
Education and Outreach was supported with
some concern about the concept of reaching 1 in
10 people annually.
Resource Management comments were positive
with interest in reintroductions of species and
some concern about hunting. Views on local
food and agriculture were mixed. Support was
expressed by some while others were concerned
about grazing as a restoration activity, government
involvement in a private sector activity, and
overly ambitious plans. Comments on Ranger/
Visitor Services included concerns about limited
horse trail availability, dogs-off-leash problems, or
not enough dog-off-leash areas. Recreation, Public
Improvements, and Facility Operations generated
several longer comments about hunting (both pro
and con), a request for more emphasis on trails, and
concerns about camping and about remodeling the
little house at Nix.
Cultural resources were important to several
participants with others concerned that this is
not the Natural Areas Department’s role or budget
priority. Mineral development was a concern
for several participants as well as more trails at
Maxwell Natural Area. The “follow-up from Open
House #1” and open-ended comments were quite
varied with mixed support for hunting, dogs-
off-leash, and concerns with trail maintenance,
lack of twitter for trail conditions, and mineral
development. Several ended their input with
positive or encouraging comments.
Outreach to Citizen Boards, City
Departments, and Other Agencies
City and County citizen advisory boards provided
feedback to staff during the Master Plan process:
• Land Conservation and Stewardship
Board—2013-14; monthly updates and
feedback opportunities; discussed draft
plan in July; will make recommendation to
Council in September
• Natural Resources Advisory Board, April
2014
• Parks and Recreation Board, April 2014
• Planning and Zoning Board, June 2014
• Water Board, June 2014
• Larimer County Open Lands Advisory Board,
May 2014
On June 12th, a draft plan was sent to various City
departments and external agencies for review and
comment:
• Park Planning & Development
• Parks and Recreation
• Office of Sustainability
12 Introduction DRAFT July 31, 2014
Performance Metrics
The ongoing dialogues with the community and recent City-wide efforts to systematically measure and
communicate how effectively citizens’ tax dollars are being spent have led to a series of performance
metrics. Each work group within the Natural Areas Department typically keeps track of various
measures for its own management objectives. Now a set of measures is reported to City managers and
the public through an interactive website and through the budgeting process and report. Table 1 lists
the current measures being used and proposed by the Natural Areas Department. Some of the data are
collected and managed directly by Department staff. Other data are collected via the City-wide Citizen
Survey conducted every two years (mentioned above). Some of the Citizen Survey data is directly
related to natural areas and included in the measures listed in Table 1. Over the next ten years these
metrics could change as the Department and the City improve efforts to measure progress.
Table 1. Current Natural Areas Department Metrics
Budgeting for Outcomes Offer Target/Goal
Land and Resource Management
Metric ENV8 Percent of urban natural area acres in greater than 75% native condition 50% by 2030
New Metric Poudre River restoration—linear extent of river channel or riverbank
restored per year
Yet to be determined
New Metric Poudre River restoration—acres of river floodplain restored per year Yet to be determined
Public Improvements, Education and Outreach, Rangers and Visitor
Services, Facility Operations
Metric ENV98 Percent citizens responding very good/good quality of natural areas and
open space, determined by Citizen Survey
Above 80%
Metric CR66 Trail condition 85% of trails in good
condition
Metric CR6 Cumulative program participation per capita Reach 8%–10% of Fort
Collins population each
year
Metric SAFE36 Percent of citizens responding always safe/usually safe in natural areas/
open space, determined by Citizen Survey
85% or higher
Metric SAFE51 Percent of citizens responding very good/good quality Natural Area
Ranger service, determined by Citizen Survey
80% or higher
Land and Water Conservation, Program Management
Metric ENV15 Cumulative land conservation Upward trend annually
New Metric Poudre River in-stream flow—number of days where City has positively
impacted river flows through any given reach
To increase duration and
magnitude of flows
New Metric Poudre River in-stream flow—additional acre-feet added to river as a
direct result of City management action
To increase duration and
magnitude of flows
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 13
FUNDING AND
EXPENDITURES
The Natural Areas Department is fortunate to have funding from both the County - Help Preserve Open
Space ¼-cent Sales Tax and the City - Open Space Yes! ¼-cent Sales tax; both were citizen-initiated.
The anticipated revenue for 2014 from each of these taxes is $3.8 million and $6.6 million, respectfully
for a total $10.4 million. This level of funding allows the Department the ability to manage 35,000 acres of
land on 43 sites and maintain over 100 miles of trails, while still conserving land. Over the next ten years,
the Department anticipates spending 60% of its revenues on stewardship (the operation and maintenance of
already conserved land and developed public improvements) and 40% on land conservation.
Historical Funding and Expenditures (1993–2013)
The primary funding for the Natural Areas Department has come from the following ballot measures:
Fossil Creek Reservoir Natural
Area (Photo by Matt Allen)
1992—City ¼-Cent Sales Tax for Natural Areas
The initial funding for the Natural Areas Program
began with 53% voter approval of this citizen-initiated
5-year ¼-cent sales tax, which expired in 1997.
1995—Larimer County Help Preserve Open
Space (HPOS) Sales Tax
A citizen-initiative approved by 65% of voters
in 1995. This sales tax was collected from 1996
through 2003.
1997—Building Community Choices (BBC) –
City ¼-Cent Sales Tax with a portion going
to Natural Areas
69% of Fort Collins voters approved this seven-
year sales tax, which expired in 2005. This tax also
funded the following capital projects: Community
Horticulture Center (Gardens on Spring Creek),
Fossil Creek Community Park, Community Park
Improvements, and Regional Paved Trails.
1999—Larimer County Help Preserve Open
Space (HPOS) Sales Tax
60% of the voters approved this citizen initiative
for a 15-year extension of this sales tax. This sales
tax will provide funding for the City’s Natural
Areas Department from 2004 through 2018.
2002—Open Space Yes! – City ¼-Cent Sales
Tax for Natural Areas
65% of Fort Collins voters approved this citizen-
initiated 25-year sales tax extension at the fully
restored 1992 ¼-cent level. This sales tax will
be collected through 2030. Eighty percent or
more of these revenues must be spent on land
conservation or land restoration, while 20% or
less of these revenues can be spent on operations
and maintenance.
14 Funding and Expenditures DRAFT July 31, 2014
About 18% of the Natural Areas Department revenue from 1993-2013 came from sources other than the
ballot measures (Figure 2). In 2004, at the time of the Bobcat Ridge and Soapstone Prairie natural areas
purchases, funds for land conservation were depleted. Yet, there were still incredible opportunities
for land conservation, and land values were on the rise. City Council decided to use Certificates of
Participation (COPS), a funding mechanism available to local governments, to create a $15,000,000
reservoir for additional land conservation (Figure 2). The Department will complete its payments for the
certificates in 2019.
In 1993, when the Natural
Areas Program assumed the
responsibility of managing
1,203 acres of already
conserved lands from the
Parks Department, the
focus was primarily on land
conservation with only
minimal focus on stewardship
(operations and maintenance)
and capital site improvements
of the existing 1,203 acres
of natural areas and the few
miles of trails.
As the amount of conserved land and interest in recreation increased, so did the need for capital site
improvements to open sites to the public. Over time, costs associated with site improvements and
stewardship (which includes restoration, long-term operations, and maintenance) have required a greater
proportion of the Natural Areas Department funding (Figure 3). In 2003 the Department spent about 77%
of its revenues on land conservation, while in 2013 it spent only about 41% (Figure 3).
Over the entire 21 years, 60% of the revenues were spent on land conservation (Figure 4). As more land
is conserved and more sites are developed for public the costs to operate and maintain those lands and
public improvements will continue to grow; thus, amount of funding available for land conservation
will continue to decrease, unless additional funding is provided. The Natural Areas Department will
continue to leverage existing land conservation funding through partnerships and grants to maximize
the Department’s land conservation efforts.
Future Funding and Expenditures over the Next Ten Years
(2014–2023) with and without Larimer County’s “Help
Preserve Open Space” Sales Tax
The two primary funding sources for the Department over the next ten years (the life of this Master Plan)
are the “Fort Collins Open Space Yes!” ¼-cent sales tax, which expires in 2030, and Larimer County’s
“Help Preserve Open Space” ¼-cent sales tax, which expires in 2018 (unless renewed by the voters). The
potential expiration of the County tax represents a significant challenge to the Department because the
tax supports a majority of its operating and stewardship expenses.
Figure 2. Natural Areas Revenue, 1993–2013 (Total $184,006,420)
$55,582,659
30%
$45,522,156
25%
$30,113,441
17%
$18,869,473
10%
$15,391,407
8%
$15,034,874
8%
$2,288,382
1%
$1,204,028
1%
1996-2013 HPOS County 1/4 Cent
2006-2013 Open Space Yes! City 1/4 Cent
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 15
Figure 4. Natural Areas Expenditures by Work Group, 1993–2013 (Total $170,444,314) (see page 39
for description of Work Group responsibilities; prior to 2004, “Maintenance” Work Group handled
Public Improvements and Resource Management Activities)
Figure 3. Change in Distribution of Natural Areas Expenditures over Time
$102,324,293
60%
$26,475,560
16%
$14,069,728
8%
$8,194,450
5%
$5,987,769
3%
$5,329,896
3%
$4,722,457
3% $3,340,161
2%
Land Conservation
Public Improvements and Maintenance
2004-2013 Resource Management
Department Management
1998-2013 Rangers
Education
2002-2013 Facility Operations
2005-2013 Land Management
16 Funding and Expenditures DRAFT July 31, 2014
Larimer County Commissioners have placed
an extension of HPOS on the November 2014
ballot.” (for the assumption that they will do this
on July 29th). With the assumed revenues from
extending the “Help Preserve Open Space” sales
tax, potential expenditures by the Natural Areas
Department over the next 10 years are shown in
Figure 5. Please note that these are projected
expenditures and it is likely that spending would
vary at least slightly from these projections.
Assuming that the Larimer County “Help Preserve
Open Space” sales tax is extended, estimated
revenues over the next 10 years (the life of this
Master Plan) would be as shown in Figure 6.
If the Larimer County “Help Preserve Open Space”
sales tax is not extended, it would be difficult for the
Department to provide stewardship of conserved
lands and recreation amenities. Activities such as
maintenance of natural surface trails, restrooms,
parking lots, weed control and programmatic efforts
such as educational programs, ranger services, and
planning would need to be significantly reduced
or eliminated. Addition of new or improved trails
or other recreation amenities would be severely
limited. Revenues from 2014 to 2023 would be
greatly reduced, as shown in Figure 7.
The potential reduction in revenues is made more
difficult because the City ¼-cent sales tax ballot
language requires that 80% or more of the funds be
spent on land conservation and restoration and that
20% or less be spent on operations and maintenance.
In order to meet these requirements without the
County ¼-cent sales tax, public maintenance
and recreation improvements would need to be
significantly reduced or the requirement for the
80/20 split would need to be changed by voters.
Even if the City sales tax 80/20 split were removed
by voters, there would still be no County sales
tax; the City would only have the resources to
maintain existing natural areas at current service
levels—funds for land conservation, restoration,
and capital projects such as new trails would be
very limited.
As directed by City Council in 2003, the
Department has a contingency plan to continue
operating at current service levels from 2018 to
2021 if the County tax is not renewed. However,
land conservation, restoration, and capital projects
would be greatly reduced during this period.
Other Potential Funding Sources
While it would be difficult to predict with any
certainty, the Department anticipates finding
other sources of revenues to enhance its ability to
conserve and steward land, although backfilling
for a potential loss of $3.5 million/year if the “Help
Preserve Open Space” sales tax fails to be renewed
is unlikely. With that said, the Department will
continue to apply for grants and engage in
partnerships to leverage and extend funding.
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 17
Figure 6. Natural Areas Estimated Revenue with
“Help Preserve Open Space” Sales Tax over the
next Ten Years, 2014–2023 (Total $117,618,251)
Figure 5. Natural Areas Estimated Expenditures
by Work Group with “Help Preserve Open Space”
Sales Tax over the next Ten Years, 2014–2023
(Total $117,618,251)
See Page 39
Figure 7. Natural Areas Estimated Revenue
without “Help Preserve Open Space” Sales Tax
Extension over the next Ten Years, 2014–2023
(Total $93,878,417)
$76,633,944
65%
$39,402,784
34%
$1,581,523
1%
$72,310,597
77%
$19,986,297
21%
$1,581,523
2%
2014-2023 Open Space Yes! City 1/4 Cent
2014-2018 HPOS County 1/4 Cent (Not Extended)
Miscellaneous
$47,344,926
40%
$19,736,937
17%
$15,504,463
13%
$9,910,483
9%
$8,459,966
7%
$7,353,634
6%
$5,709,098
5%
$3,598,744
3%
Land Conservation
Resource Management
Public Improvements
Department Management
Rangers
Land Management
Education
Facility Operations
2014-2023 Open Space Yes! City 1/4 Cent
2014-2023 HPOS County 1/4 Cent (Extended)
Miscellaneous
18 Funding and Expenditures DRAFT July 31, 2014
Partnerships
The Natural Areas Department has had the benefit of many partners throughout the program’s history.
Partnerships offer each partner the ability to leverage resources, share expertise, build synergy, and
collaborate to implement innovative community projects. The Department’s most significant partners
have been, and will likely continue to be, Larimer County Department of Natural Resources and Great
Outdoors Colorado, both programs that go before the voters for renewed funding during the time horizon
of this plan. In the last ten years alone, more than 25 partnerships have provided multiple benefits to the
conservation and stewardship of City of Fort Collins natural areas (Table 2).
User Fees
The Natural Areas Department
operates under the informal
philosophy that citizens are
paying taxes for public natural
areas and should not be charged
again for the privilege of visiting
the sites. The exception to this
guideline is Gateway Natural
Area, which was supported by
an entrance fee and a shelter
reservation fee when it was
previously managed by the City
Parks Department. The Natural
Areas Department has kept
these fees due to the higher
costs of maintaining the “park-
like” portion of the natural
area. The only other fee-based operation is the Primrose Studio meeting room at Reservoir Ridge Natural
Area. These rental fees cover the upkeep of the meeting room and the salary of the part-time attendant
for the building. While future funding levels could ultimately dictate whether or not user fees may need
to be charged at some point, at this time the Department intends to continue to maintain its philosophy
of leaving the vast majority of natural areas free to users.
Gateway Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo)
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 19
Table 2. Examples of Conservation and Stewardship Partnerships over the Past Ten Years
Project (Years) Natural Areas Benefits Partners
Multiple Agency Partnerships
Fort Collins – Loveland Community Separator
(2004-present)
Land Conservation Larimer County; Loveland; Great
Outdoors Colorado (GOCO)
Fossil Creek Reservoir Natural Area (2004–present) Land Conservation; Resource
Management; Recreation;
Ranger and Visitor Services;
Education
Larimer County; North Poudre
Irrigation Company; GOCO
Laramie Foothills Mountains to Plains
(2004-present)
Land Conservation Larimer County; The Nature
Conservancy; GOCO; Legacy Land
Trust; Private Landowners
Poudre River Regional Trail (2012-present) Trail Connections Larimer County; Timnath; Windsor,
Greeley; GOCO
Our Lands – Our Future: Regional Land Study
(2012-2013)
Planning; Research Larimer County; All County
Municipalities; GOCO
Multiple City Departments
Riverbend Ponds Flood Control Project
(2006–2007)
Restoration Stormwater Utility; Transportation
Prospect Road Widening (2006-2007) Trail Connections; Restoration Transportation; Stormwater Utility
Red Fox Meadows Stormwater Improvements
(2007–2012)
Restoration; Resource
Management; Recreation
Stormwater Utility
Udall Water Quality and Stormwater Improvements
(2004-2005)
Land Conservation; Resource
Management; Recreation
Stormwater Utility
Multipurpose Land Use Study – Trail, Wildlife, and
Drainage Corridors (2012-2013)
Wildlife Corridors;
Neighborhood Natural Areas;
Trail Connections
Utilities; Parks
North Shields Bridge Improvements (2013–Present) Recreation; Resource
Management
Larimer County; Parks; Stormwater
West Vine Outfall (2013–Present) Land Conservation; Wildlife
Corridor; Trail Connection
Stormwater; Parks
Non-Profit Partners
Neotropical Bird Surveys (2007–present) and
Screech Owl Survey (2013)
Resource Management;
Research
Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory
Corporate Partners
West Main Natural Gas Pipeline Replacement
20 Funding and Expenditures DRAFT July 31, 2014
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 21
LAND
CONSERVATION
The Fort Collins community is fortunate to have a wealth of wildlife habitat and native plant
communities at its doorstep. Over the past 20 years, the Natural Areas Department has worked to
protect special lands both within and outside city limits. From shortgrass prairies to cottonwood
forests and farm fields, the portfolio has grown from a handful of properties to encompass more than
40,000 acres conserved through fee-simple acquisitions, conservation easements, and donations. Working
closely with willing property owners, a number of key acquisitions have involved partnerships with the
Larimer County Department of Natural Resources, Great Outdoors Colorado, the City of Loveland, Legacy
Land Trust, and other conservation organizations. To date, the City of Fort Collins has acquired nearly
34,800 acres of natural areas for public use and protected another 5,800 acres in conservation easements.
The recreational rights are leased on 900 acres of reservoirs to help protect key wildlife habitat.
Inventory of City Natural Areas and
Other Protected Sites
As a result of following the 2002 Open Space Yes! ballot
language, City Council direction, and the 2004 Land
Conservation and Stewardship Master Plan, the Natural
Areas Department has conserved over 30,000 acres with
willing landowners in the last ten years alone (Table 3).
The Department now manages 43 natural areas ranging in
size from one acre to 22,258 acres (Table 3; Maps 1 and
2). A wide diversity of native plant communities have
been protected, including mature cottonwood forests,
foothills shrublands, wet meadows, emergent marshes,
and shortgrass prairies. These areas provide critical habitat
for a suite of native wildlife species.
Soapstone Prairie Natural Area
(Photo by Mario Miguel Echevarria)
Mallard on the Poudre at Riverbend Ponds Natural
Area (Photo by Norm Keally)
22 Land Conservation DRAFT July 31, 2014
Map 1. Local Natural Areas and Community Separators
Cache
l
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Wellington
Fort Collins
Loveland
Local Natural Areas and Community Separators
Public Conserved Lands
City of Fort Collins Natural Area
Other Public Open Space
State Parks and Wildlife
Conservation Easements
City of Fort Collins
City of Fort Collins Shared with others
Others
01234 Miles
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 23
Map 2. Regional Natural Areas
BOBCAT
RIDGE NA
Regional Natural Areas (2014)
Public Conserved Lands
City of Fort Collins Natural Area
Other Public Open Space
State Parks and Wildlife
Federal Land
Conservation Easements
City of Fort Collins
City of Fort Collins Shared with others
Others
01234 Miles
C
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h
e
la
P
oudre
Riv
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GATEWAY NA
PICNIC
ROCK NA
SOAPSTONE
PRAIRIE NA
Fort
Collins
Loveland
LARIMER
24 Land Conservation DRAFT July 31, 2014
Table 3. Natural Areas Inventory of Conserved Lands (Continued)
Site Purchase History
Acres
Conserved
by City1
Acres
Conserved
by Natural
Areas since
2004
Local Focus Areas
Core Natural Areas
Fischer Natural Area2 Donated 1977 to Parks; transferred to Natural Areas. 12
Mallard’s Nest Natural Area2 Acquired3 1985-2002 by Parks, Utilities, and Natural Areas;
Natural Areas and Utilities manage.
7
Red Fox Meadows Natural
Area2
Acquired3 1986-2000 by Utilities, Parks, and Natural Areas;
Natural Areas and Utilities manage.
9
Redwing Marsh Natural Area2 Acquired 1993-1995 by Natural Areas and Utilities; Natural
Areas and Utilities manage.
16
Ross Natural Area2 Acquired 1978 by Parks and Utilities; transferred to Natural
Areas; Natural Areas and Utilities manage.
27
The Coterie Natural Area2 Acquired 2000 by Natural Areas. 5
#13IS1 (not named yet) Acquired 2013 by Stormwater Utility and Natural Areas
(41%); currently managed by Stormwater; no public access
yet.
37 15
Dry Creek Stormwater Wetland Acquired 1999 by Natural Areas and Utilities; managed by
Stormwater Utility; no public access.
7
Horticulture Center (buffer
portion)
Acquired 2001 by Natural Areas for Spring Creek buffer and
native plant demonstration area; managed by Parks.
5
Focus Area Subtotal: 157 15
Poudre River Corridor
Arapaho Bend Natural Area2 Acquired3 1995-2011 by Natural Areas. 302 24
Butterfly Woods Natural Area2 Acquired 1996 by Natural Areas and Parks. 24
Cattail Chorus Natural Area2 Acquired 1997 by Natural Areas; received GOCO Grant. 102
Cottonwood Hollow Natural
Area2
Acquired 1995-1998 by Natural Areas. 93
Gustav Swanson Natural Area2 Acquired3 1955-2002 by City of Fort Collins and Natural
Areas.
12
Kingfisher Point Natural Area2 Acquired3 1979-2013 by Parks and Natural Areas; received
GOCO Grant.
157 17
Magpie Meander Natural Area2 Acquired 1995-2013 by Natural Areas. 21 10
McMurry Natural Area2 Acquired3 1998-2003 by Natural Areas; received GOCO
Grant.
45
North Shields Ponds Natural
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 25
Table 3. Natural Areas Inventory of Conserved Lands (Continued)
Site Purchase History
Acres
Conserved
by City1
Acres
Conserved
by Natural
Areas since
2004
#14PR1 [Woodward; will have
name this summer] Natural Area2
Donated 1990-2014 to Parks and Natural Areas. 37 34
#14PR2 [Shields Pit] Natural Area Acquired 2014 by Natural Areas; not yet open to the public. 50 50
Arnett Conservation Easement Conservation Easement acquired 2013 by Natural Areas;
landowner manages; will have trail easement in future.
25 25
Focus Area Subtotal: 1,540 223
Fossil Creek Corridor
Cathy Fromme Prairie Natural
Area2
Acquired3 1993-2002 by Natural Areas and Larimer County
Open Lands (7%); received GOCO Grants. Total site
acreage=1,083
954
Colina Mariposa Natural Area2 Acquired3 1998 by Natural Areas. 192
Eagle View Natural Area Acquired 2002 by Natural Areas; not yet open to the public. 90
Fossil Creek Reservoir Natural
Area2
Acquired3 1998-2010 by Natural Areas and Larimer County (17%);
810 acres leased from North Poudre Irrigation Company; Natural
Areas started managing in 2010. Total site acreage = 1,399.
1,164 95
Fossil Creek Wetlands Natural
Area2
Acquired 1995 by Natural Areas. 229
Hazaleus Natural Area Acquired3 1999 by Natural Areas; not yet open to the public. 168
Pelican Marsh Natural Area2 Acquired 2002 by Natural Areas. 156
Prairie Dog Meadow2 Acquired3 1994–2003 by Natural Areas. 84
Redtail Grove Natural Area2 Acquired3 1996-2010 by Natural Areas. 51 8
Two Creeks Natural Area2 Acquired3 1999 by Natural Areas. 30
Coventry Hidden Cattails
Conservation Easement
Dedicated 1994 to Natural Areas; sold to Coventry with
Conservation Easement 2005.
3
Swift Farm Conservation
Easement
Conservation Easement acquired 2003 by Natural Areas;
landowner manages; not open to the public.
82
Focus Area Subtotal: 3,203 103
Foothills Corridor
Coyote Ridge Natural Area2 Acquired3 1994–2007 by Natural Areas and Larimer County
Open Lands (11%); a portion of site is also in Fort Collins–
Loveland Separator. Total site acreage = 2,242
2,005 151
Maxwell Natural Area2 Acquired3 1976–1996 by Parks and Natural Areas. 290
Pineridge Natural Area2 Acquired3 1976–2007 by Parks and Natural Areas; 83-acre
26 Land Conservation DRAFT July 31, 2014
Table 3. Natural Areas Inventory of Conserved Lands (Continued)
Site Purchase History
Acres
Conserved
by City1
Acres
Conserved
by Natural
Areas since
2004
Bee Conservation Easement Conservation Easement acquired 2004 by Larimer County
and Natural Areas (50%); landowner manages; not open to
the public. Total site acreage = 139.
70 70
Kerbel Conservation Easement Conservation Easement acquired 2002 by Larimer County
and Natural Areas (50%); landowner manages; not open to
the public. Total site acreage = 84.
42
Kraft Farm II Conservation
Easement
Conservation Easement acquired 2011 by Natural Areas;
received Farm and Ranch Protection Program (FRPP);
landowner manages; not open to the public.
156 156
Lockman Conservation
Easement
Conservation Easement acquired 2011 by Natural Areas;
received FRPP Grant; landowner manages; not open to the
public.
121 121
Maxwell Farm Conservation
Easement
Conservation Easement acquired 2013 by Natural Areas;
landowner manages; not open to the public.
136 136
Phytogen Conservation
Easement
Conservation Easement acquired 2011 by Natural Areas;
received FRPP Grant; landowner manages; not open to the
public.
66 66
Sod Farm Conservation
Easement
Conservation Easement acquired 2005 by Natural Areas;
landowner manages; not open to the public.
453 453
Weber Conservation Easement Conservation Easement acquired 2004 by Larimer County
and Natural Areas (50%); landowner manages; not open to
the public. Total site acreage = 70.
35 35
Focus Area Subtotal: 1,079 1,037
Fort Collins–Loveland
Separator
Prairie Ridge Natural Area Acquired 2000 by City of Loveland Larimer County, and
Natural Areas (25%); received GOCO Grant; City of Loveland
manages; not open to the public yet. Total site acreage = 785.
196
Long View Farm Open Space Acquired 1997 by Larimer County Open Lands and Natural
Areas (33%); received GOCO Grant; Larimer County
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 27
Table 3. Natural Areas Inventory of Conserved Lands (Continued)
Site Purchase History
Acres
Conserved
by City1
Acres
Conserved
by Natural
Areas since
2004
Bobcat Ridge Natural Area2 Acquired3 2003 by Natural Areas. 2,604
Culver Open Space Acquired 2004 by Larimer County and Natural Areas (13%);
County manages; site not open to the public; City holds
Conservation Easement. Total site acreage = 288.
38 38
Devil’s Backbone Open Space
(Indian Creek Property)
Acquired 2003–2004 by Natural Areas (75%) and Larimer
County; received GOCO Grant; Larimer County manages;
open to the public. Total site acreage = 1,545
(Indian Creek only).
1,159 1,159
Rimrock Open Space Acquired 2002 by Larimer County Open Lands and Natural
Areas (10%); Larimer County manages; open to the public.
Total site acreage = 437 acres.
43
Focus Area Subtotal: 3,844 1,197
Upper Poudre
Gateway Natural Area2 Acquired 1930 by City of Fort Collins; management transferred
to Parks in 2002 and then to Natural Areas in 2007.
170 170
Picnic Rock Natural Area2 Acquired 1986–2008 by City of Fort Collins and Natural
Areas; management of 1986 acreage transferred to Natural
Areas in 2007.
323 323
Focus Area Subtotal: 493 493
Meadow Springs
Soapstone Prairie Natural Area2 Acquired 2004–2011 by Natural Areas; received GOCO
Grant; Larimer County holds conservation easement on a
portion of the property.
22,258 22,258
Red Mountain Open Space
(Gallegos Property)
Acquired 2007 by Larimer County and Natural Areas (24%);
received GOCO Grant; Natural Areas holds conservation
easement on the property; open to the public. Total site
acreage = 1,480 (Gallegos Property only).
361 361
Wire Draw Ranch Conservation
Easement
Conservation Easement acquired 2007; by Natural Areas;
landowner manages; not open to the public.
1,150 1,150
Focus Area Subtotal: 23,769 23,769
Laramie Foothills
Roberts Ranch Conservation
Easement
Conservation Easement acquired 2004; by Nature
Conservancy, Larimer County, and Natural Areas (60%);
28 Land Conservation DRAFT July 31, 2014
Conservation
Focus Areas
Land conservation efforts from
1993 to 2003 primarily were
focused within the Fort Collins
Growth Management Area
and the Fort Collins–Loveland
Community Separator Area.
In 2002, City Council directed
the Natural Areas Department
to develop a land conservation
plan that also included a regional
focus. The resulting 2004 Land
Conservation and Stewardship
Master Plan outlined a number of
high-priority land conservation
(“focus”) areas that were
grouped into three categories:
local, community separators,
and regional (Map 3). The ten-
year Master Plan provided guidance that land
conservation funds were to be equally divided
between the three focus area categories. However,
more land conservation opportunities arose
regionally (in particular, the Soapstone Prairie/Red
Mountain acquisitions), and therefore spending
in the Regional Focus Area category outweighed
that of the Community Separator and Local areas
categories. Total spending from 1993 to 2013,
however, is almost equally balanced between the
three focus area categories (Figure 8). Nevertheless,
the acreages conserved are not balanced due to the
differences in land conservation costs in each of
the focus areas. As shown in Figure 8, conservation
of local focus area lands cost more per acre than
separator lands, and regional land conservation is
much less expensive.
In June 2012, local governments within Larimer
County, including the City of Fort Collins,
embarked on an effort, Our Lands – Our Future,
to analyze the future challenges and opportunities
for land conservation. By defining common open
space goals and using the best available geographic
information system (GIS) datasets, the partners
developed maps highlighting agricultural, natural
resource, and regional and local conservation
opportunities. The outcomes of that effort and
other public outreach activities have helped
provide the framework for the next decade’s
conservation vision—one that is shared by Larimer
County and its municipalities. As the Department
looks to the next ten years, the Master Plan’s focus
areas remain the same, but the priorities for land
conservation within and between the focus areas
have been further refined by the outcomes of the
Our Lands – Our Future project and the subsequent
public process.
The intent of the focus areas is to identify properties
within these areas that may be considered for
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 29
Map 3. Land Conservation Focus Areas
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Fort Collins
Loveland
Foothills/Buckhorn/Redstone
Fort
Collins-Loveland
Separator
Lower Poudre
and Windsor
Separator
Meadow
Springs
Laramie
Foothills
Owl
Canyon
Dry
Creek
Upper
Poudre
Wellington
Separator
Rist
Canyon
Timnath
Separator
Fossil Creek
Corridor
Poudre
Corridor
Foothills
Corridor
Bellvue
Core
Natural
Areas
Land Conservation Focus Areas
Local
Community Separators
Regional
Government-Conserved Lands
City of Fort Collins Natural Area
Larimer County Open Space
Other Public Open Space
State Parks and Wildlife
Federal Land
Conservation Easements
City of Fort Collins
City of Fort Collins Shared with others
Others
02468 Miles
30 Land Conservation DRAFT July 31, 2014
Local Focus Areas
Local Focus Areas encompass stream corridors,
foothills habitat, and pockets of open land within
and near Fort Collins city limits that provide
opportunities for a variety of land protection goals
including wildlife habitat, recreation, agriculture,
and viewsheds. Land in the local focus areas tends
to have higher costs for acquisition as a result of
development potential. Stewardship costs are also
typically higher due to greater recreation pressure
and restoration needs due to impacts from past
land use and urbanization. Over the next ten years,
the local focus areas discussed below will be the
primary focus for conservation efforts. This focus is
aligned with public feedback received through the
Our Lands – Our Future Project, Master Plan open
houses, and the Land Conservation and Stewardship
Board. Other City initiatives, such as Nature in the
City (which the Department participates in) and the
Multi-purpose Lands effort (which the Department
is the lead) may provide partnership opportunities
to conserve natural areas in partnership with other
City departments.
Bellvue
Bellvue, a small agricultural community northwest
of Fort Collins lies in Pleasant Valley. The narrow
valley at the mouth of Rist Canyon stretches between
the Dakota Hogback ridge and the foothills. Resource
values are plentiful: wildlife habitat, agricultural
production, scenic viewsheds, community separator,
and the Poudre River floodplain. Key elements
for protection include rare species habitat and
important wetlands, especially along the Poudre
River floodplain and adjacent riparian community.
The Department is interested in conservation
opportunities that would preserve ecosystem
connectivity from the shortgrass prairie to the
foothills forest and linkages to Horsetooth Mountain
Open Space and Lory State Park. Conservation in
the Bellvue area will help maintain the agricultural
heritage and rural character of Bellvue and Laporte.
To date, the City has not completed any conservation
projects within this focus area.
Poudre River Corridor
The Poudre River, often considered the life
blood of the Fort Collins community, is not only
a critical water source for irrigation, drinking,
and industry, but also a haven for wildlife and
recreationists. Resource values include wildlife
habitat, floodplain, and watershed protection. The
City has a strong desire to protect and enhance the
natural state of the river by expanding its current
inventory of natural areas from the canyon mouth
through the City. Continued protection along the
river will ensure floodplain protection, habitat,
and migration/travel corridors for both wildlife
and people. As previously discussed, the Poudre
River corridor has been an important focus since
the beginning of the program, with more than 1,500
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 31
Core (Neighborhood) Natural Areas
Conservation of nature in an urban environment
has many benefits, including aesthetic values,
nearby recreational opportunities, and protection
of islands of habitat that promote biodiversity and
provide a home for species that otherwise would
not be able to exist in an urban environment. In
light of the data gleaned from Our Lands – Our
Future, Plug In To Nature (Design Workshop
2012), and Nature in the City (City of Fort Collins
Planning Department) studies, the Department
is committed to acquiring properties that would
provide enhanced access to nature within the
City’s Growth Management Area and better reach
underserved areas, such as the city’s northeast
quadrant (see Map 1 for current location of natural
areas). Approximately 157 acres have been
protected within this focus area to-date, and 15
acres since 2004.
Fossil Creek Corridor
While the Department has made great strides in
protecting the ecologically sensitive Fossil Creek
area since 2004, some opportunities remain. Land
conservation will help protect rare species and
riparian/wetland areas by expanding upon the
existing Fossil Creek natural areas, will provide
recreation opportunities, and will extend the Fossil
Creek Trail. Additional land protection in this area
contributes to community separation between
Fort Collins and Loveland/Windsor and preserves
views to the foothills and mountains along the I-25
corridor. Within this focus area, more than 3,000
acres have been protected, which mostly consists
of two larger properties, Fossil Creek Reservoir
and Cathy Fromme Prairie natural areas. Just over
100 of these acres have been acquired since 2004.
Foothills Corridor
Land conservation in the foothills will not only
preserve the City’s mountain viewshed, but will
also help conserve unique plant communities,
important wildlife habitat and travel corridors,
and the unique geology of the hogback ridges.
There are opportunities to improve the ecological
connections between the shortgrass prairie and the
foothills, as well as connections to other protected
lands to the west. The Foothills Corridor is
extremely popular for recreationists, particularly
cyclists and trail runners. Land conserved in the
southern portion of this area also functions as a
community separator between Fort Collins and
Loveland. Nearly 4,000 acres have been protected
by the City within this focus area, more than 700
of which have been acquired since 2004.
Community Separators Focus Areas
Community separators are parcels of undeveloped
or minimally developed land that create a buffer
between municipal jurisdictions and preserve the
individual identity of communities. Separators
often consist of undeveloped farmland, low-
32 Land Conservation DRAFT July 31, 2014
community separator focus areas, particularly
those discussed below, is the second highest
conservation priority over the next ten years, due in
part to rising land values and greater development
pressure than lands within the Regional Focus
Areas face.
Wellington Separator
The Natural Areas Department has conserved
more than 1,000 acres in this separator, with more
than 80% of the acreage protected since 2003.
The Department will continue to reach out to
landowners, particularly on the west side of I-25.
Lands in the Wellington Separator Focus Area
provide prime soils for agriculture, an important
viewshed to the foothills and mountains, and a
significant number of irrigated farmlands that are
a staple of the local economy. Partnerships with
the State of Colorado and City of Thornton in this
focus area are warranted, given that each entity
has large landownership positions in this area.
Lower Poudre and Windsor Separator
This separator area, located southeast of Fort
Collins, contains opportunities to protect
rare species habitat, wetland and riparian
communities, and agricultural values along the
Poudre River. The Natural Areas Department has
successfully helped to protect 338 acres along
the Lower Poudre, which in combination with
Fossil Creek Reservoir Natural Area (nearly 1,400
acres) creates community separation between
Fort Collins and Windsor. The Department will
continue to collaborate on conservation efforts
with the Larimer County Department of Natural
Resources, as well as with the Towns of Windsor
and Timnath, including efforts to acquire key
parcels for Poudre River Trail System connections.
Fort Collins–Loveland Separator
The majority of the Fort Collins–Loveland Separator
has already been conserved. In addition to the
1,264 acres within Long View Farm Open Space
(managed by Larimer County) and Prairie Ridge
Natural Area (managed by the City of Loveland),
the 2,242-acre Coyote Ridge and 1,399-acre Fossil
Creek Reservoir natural areas, considered as local
focus areas, contribute greatly to this community
separator. These shortgrass prairies and farmlands
preserve scenic views, wildlife habitat and
travel corridors, and agricultural land. The open
character between Loveland and Fort Collins along
the north-south main arterials helps give each
community its own sense of character. The City
will continue to work with Loveland to protect
additional parcels appropriate for conservation
and regional trail connections.
Regional Focus Areas
The Natural Areas Department has conserved
nearly 31,000 acres in the regional focus areas,
most of which are located in the Laramie Foothills
and Meadow Springs focus areas. The regional
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 33
Foothills: Buckhorn, Redstone, and
Rist Canyon
Land conservation projects in these areas preserve
important wildlife habitat in the foothills transition
zone, while providing ecosystem connectivity and
possible future trail connections to Horsetooth
Mountain Park, Lory State Park, and Coyote Ridge
Natural Area. In addition, conservation efforts will
focus on protection of high-diversity wetland and
riparian areas and maintaining natural viewsheds
and rural/open character in the foothills. To date,
the Natural Areas Department has conserved 3,844
acres in this focus area.
Upper Poudre
The Natural Areas Department will consider
partnership opportunities to conserve lands along
the Upper Poudre River and Poudre Canyon that
will enhance habitat protection and ecosystem
connectivity for migrating wildlife within the
canyon corridor. Land protection projects in this
area will also help maintain a healthy watershed
to ensure a clean and natural river water supply
and provide buffers that help mitigate property
damage from floods and fires. A total of 633 acres
has been acquired by the City within this focus
area. A total of 493 acres has been acquired by the
City for public use within this focus area.
Laramie Foothills–Meadow Springs
The Natural Areas Department will seek to
conserve additional lands in the Laramie
Foothills–Meadow Springs focus areas to further
enhance the conservation of this landscape-
scale wildlife corridor and wildlife area. Land
conservation projects in this area support
opportunities for larger-scale prairie conservation,
including protection of prime pronghorn habitat,
protection of the Foothills-to-Plains wildlife
corridor, reintroduction of native shortgrass
prairie species such as the black-footed ferret and
the American bison, and protection of historical
and archaeological resources. It also sustains
preservation of the I-25 viewshed to the west
with its uninterrupted views of the foothills and
mountains. The Department and its partners have
protected nearly 30,000 acres within this focus
area. The Department has protected 26,600 acres
within this focus area.
Land Conservation Strategies
The City uses three primary strategies to conserve
land: fee ownership, conservation easements,
and land development regulations. The first
two mechanisms can be tailored to specific
opportunities in partnership with willing
landowners, other agencies, and nonprofits.
Fee Ownership
Purchase of Fee Interest in Land
Acquiring the fee interest, that is, obtaining full
ownership, nearly always includes eventual
public access to at least a portion of the site. Land
34 Land Conservation DRAFT July 31, 2014
when public access and recreation, high natural
resource values, large restoration or management
demands, or other issues are present that make
full ownership of a property more advantageous.
It should also be noted that fee acquisition does
not always mean full control of the property.
For example, many parcels the Natural Areas
Department has acquired are considered “split
estate,” or have had some rights (usually mineral
rights) severed from the property. In practice, this
means that the Department must either seek out
and purchase the mineral rights from the owner or
must negotiate with the right owner if it wants to
exercise the right on the property.
Over the last ten years, the Natural Areas
Department has purchased the fee interest on over
25,000 acres in both local and regional focus areas.
Donation of Fee Interest
When a landowner donates a portion or all of the
fee interest to a property, the landowner may be
eligible for a tax deduction (considered a charitable
contribution). Donations have contributed to land
conservation of several natural areas over the last
ten years.
Bargain Sale
A bargain sale is merely a purchase in which a
landowner sells property to the City at a price
below the fair market value. The purchase can
be either fee interest or a conservation easement.
Usually the landowner can take a tax deduction
or credit (treated like a charitable contribution)
for the difference between the fair market value,
as determined by a certified appraisal, and the
sale price.
Conservation Easements
Where public ownership of the land itself is
not essential to the public interest, or when the
property owner is not interested in selling their
property, the City may conserve the property by
acquiring a perpetual conservation easement (also
called the purchase of development rights) from
willing landowners. A conservation easement
limits development rights and places restrictions
on certain activities to achieve desired land uses
and protect important conservation values of a
property. Each conservation easement is tailored
to the specific property, runs with the land in
perpetuity, leaves the land in private ownership,
and usually does not permit public access.
Conservation easements are far less expensive
initially and over the long term than full ownership;
however, the City has perpetual stewardship and
enforcement responsibility to ensure that the
properties are managed consistently with the
terms of the easements.
Swift Farm Conservation Easement adjacent to Fossil Creek
Reservoir Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas
Department Photo)
Reservoir Ridge Natural Area (Photo by Norm Keally)
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 35
Once a conservation easement is placed on a
property, the Department begins the task of
ongoing monitoring of the perpetual easement to
ensure that the deed restrictions placed on the
property are honored. Monitoring also ensures
that the land use on the property is consistent with
the conservation values described in the easement
deed and that any violations are corrected. Staff
conducts annual site visits to each easement
property, takes photos of the property, and files
reports.
In 2011 the Colorado Department of Regulatory
Agencies began administering regulatory oversight
of conservation easements in Colorado to comply
with a series of laws passed by the Colorado
legislature. This oversight included a certification
process for holders of conservation easements, tax
credit caps and rules, and reporting regulations.
The Department was certified as a qualified entity
to hold conservation easements in 2011 and
annually seeks recertification.
Other Land Conservation Strategies
Other conservation mechanisms include leases,
intergovernmental cooperation, and partnerships
with nonprofit groups.
Leases
The City leases surface rights from two irrigation
companies to enhance the wildlife habitat on
and surrounding the reservoirs and to provide
recreation opportunities. Fossil Creek Reservoir’s
recreational rights are leased from North Poudre
Irrigation Company; recreational rights for Dixon
Reservoir (on Pineridge Natural Area) are also
leased.
Intergovernmental Cooperation
The City works cooperatively and in partnership
with other City departments, Larimer County,
and other municipalities on open space
conservation. Many of these efforts have resulted
in joint purchase of open space and conservation
easements by the City and Larimer County and
other local municipalities. Additionally, the
City has worked with other local governments to
develop intergovernmental agreements for master
plans of future land uses in areas of Larimer
County near the participating municipalities to
help guide growth, as well as to protect natural
resources and agricultural land.
Multipurpose Lands
Within the City’s Growth Management Area,
the Department continues to seek out properties
that provide opportunities for partnerships with
the Parks and/or Stormwater departments. Red
Fox Meadows Natural Area is a current example
of “multipurpose land” that serves as both a
neighborhood natural area and an important
stormwater detention site. The Department
will work to connect open lands with protected
corridors, which could serve as wildlife, trail,
36 Land Conservation DRAFT July 31, 2014
Partnerships with Government and Nonprofit
Conservation Organizations
The City has a strong track record of successful
collaborations in land conservation with both
government and nonprofit organizations in all
three major focus areas (see Table 3), including
Larimer County, City of Loveland, and The Nature
Conservancy. The City will continue to look for
new and innovative conservation strategies and
partnerships to conserve sustainable ecosystems
and working farms, including efforts to analyze
the challenges, opportunities, and possible gaps
in their collective land conservation, stewardship,
and outdoor recreation programs and portfolios.
Working together will encourage positive
changes for biodiversity and natural habitats and
agricultural land conservation.
Private Land Conservation
As the first municipality in the country to be
designated as an Urban Wildlife Sanctuary (1987),
the City of Fort Collins has long valued the role
of nature within our urban environment. While
the Natural Areas Policy Plan (City of Fort Collins
1992) placed a strong emphasis on the acquisition
and stewardship of public lands, the plan also
highlighted the many opportunities to partner
with private landowners to achieve the Natural
Areas Department’s mission.
The Department has been involved in developing
and refining a number of tools to ensure natural
resources are protected on private lands. These
tools have included development regulations,
the Certified Natural Areas Program, and specific
subarea plans such as the Fossil Creek Reservoir
Area Plan.
Development Regulations
Initially established in 1997, the Land Use
Code contains an entire section dedicated to the
protection of natural habitats and features. A senior
environmental planner in the Planning Services
Department now administers this code section
from the initial conceptual design submittal
through post-construction monitoring to ensure
resources are protected as designed.
The Land Use Code requires that every site be
analyzed by an environmental professional prior
to the submittal of a development proposal. The
regulations also require that resources be protected
(or mitigated if impacted) and that protected
resources be buffered from the developed portion
of the site to ensure they are not only physically
protected but also functionally protected.
Since these regulations were adopted in 1997,
over 30 natural habitats and features have been
protected through the regulatory process, with
approximately 250 acres of resources and buffer
zones provided.
Certified Natural Areas
In 1994, Natural Areas Department established
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 37
protected. City staff provides assistance in the
planning of this management. The Natural Areas
Department provides monetary assistance in
implementation of management plans through
the Natural Areas Enhancement Fund (see page
77). Landowners can feel proud that they are
contributing to the Fort Collins community’s
goal of resource protection. Not only are they
providing higher-quality habitat for the wildlife
that the landowners enjoy seeing, but they also are
contributing to the protection and enhancement
of the quality of life for all of Fort Collins citizens.
As of 2013, 56 sites and a total of 505 acres have
been certified by the City as a natural area.
Area Plans
In City Plan, the comprehensive plan for the City
of Fort Collins, specific area plans are developed to
focus on a particular subarea of the community. Each
area plan builds on City-wide vision and policies,
while establishing a more specific level of detail
and focus within a subarea. Plans are established
or revisited when there are emerging issues that
could affect development patterns. The Department
is involved in these area plans to a greater or lesser
extent given the need to protect resource values.
One of the key area plans that helped preserve local
natural areas values was the Fossil Creek Reservoir
Area Plan, jointly adopted by the City of Fort Collins
and Larimer County in 1998. The Fossil Creek
Reservoir ecosystem is unique and provides habitat
for over 180 species of birds, including winter
roost sites for bald eagles and has been recognized
as an Important Birding Area by the Audubon
Society. Since adoption of the area plan, the City
and Larimer County have dedicated more than $12
million for land protection along the reservoir’s
shores to protect wildlife habitat and develop an
outstanding regional bird watching area through
public land ownership, leasing and managing
reservoir recreational rights, and conservation
easements on neighboring working farms.
At far less cost, the City also used development
regulations to protect the ¼-mile buffer (established
via the area plan) around Fossil Creek Reservoir.
In 2014, one of the last remaining large parcels
of land to be developed within the Fossil Creek
Reservoir Area Plan, Kechter Farm, was approved
and included over 120 acres of land managed for
wildlife protection and enhancement. These efforts
to implement buffer regulations paid off when bald
eagles successfully nested on the reservoir in 2014
for the first time in at least three decades.
Current Planning Department Efforts
While private land conservation tools have
served Fort Collins well over the past 20 years,
the city’s development patterns are shifting from
greenfield (i.e., land that has never been used for
development, such as agricultural land) to infill
and redevelopment. As these patterns shift, private
38 Land Conservation DRAFT July 31, 2014
under way to ensure our private lands are contributing to
this overall conservation goal:
• Development Regulations. City Planning staff will
continue to implement the Land Use Code standards
for protecting natural resources on private lands.
To ensure compliance with these requirements and
that the resources are adequately buffered from the
development, Planning Services staff is crafting
guidelines to illustrate how to protect and enhance
the site’s ecological value through proper plant
selection, minimizing construction impacts, and
ongoing maintenance requirements.
• Nature in the City. Initially contemplated in the
1992 Natural Areas Policy Plan, City Planning staff
is currently developing a Nature in the City Strategic
Plan to evaluate and plan for the incorporation of
nature into an increasingly urban environment. This
strategic plan will further expand upon community
conservation efforts by looking at how access to
everyday nature can be provided within the urban
environment. This strategic plan is scheduled to be
completed in the spring of 2015.
Widow skimmer dragonfly at Cottonwood Hollow
Natural Area (Photo by Dave Leatherman)
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 39
STEWARDSHIP
The City’s Natural Areas Program has been the major catalyst conserving the finest examples
of native ecosystems and valuable wildlife habitats within and near Fort Collins. Partners,
such as Larimer County, and willing property owners have helped expand the acreage of
habitat conserved beyond the City’s Growth Management Area boundary. Collectively, these diverse
landscapes connect our community to our natural heritage and are emblematic of our active outdoor
lifestyle and our commitment to land conservation. The careful and responsible management or
“stewardship” of these lands is entrusted to the Natural Areas Department by the citizens of Fort
Collins and Larimer County.
STAFFING
From its small beginnings in 1992 of three Natural Resources Division staff and three Parks maintenance
staff, Natural Areas Department staffing has grown along with the acreage and complexity of lands the
department manages. Today, it takes a team of 50 professionals to manage the Natural Areas Department
and its properties. The Department is divided into eight work groups:
Arapaho Bend Natural Area (City of Fort
Collins Natural Areas Department Photo)
• Department Management (finance, budgeting,
strategic planning, policy plan development,
landscape level river issues, Land Conservation
and Stewardship Board support, clerical support)
• Land Conservation (land, water, and conservation
easement acquisitions)
• Education (outreach, community relations,
interpretation, Master Naturalist Program
supervision; volunteer coordination)
• Resource Management (restoration, weed control,
wildlife management, research)
• Land Management (water rights management,
post-gravel mining land restoration, cultural
resources, agriculture and local food production
issues, property leases, energy development and
minerals extraction, utility easements and right-
of-ways on natural areas, conservation easement
stewardship, night sky monitoring)
• Rangers (patrol, visitor contacts, enforcement)
• Public Improvements (recreation amenities,
including trails and trail head parking)
• Facility Operations (maintenance of offices, shops,
storage buildings, ranger/caretaker residences,
and Primrose Studio; recycling; sustainability;
pollution prevention)
40 Stewardship DRAFT July 31, 2014
Stewardship management responsibilities fall across
all department work groups. Members of multiple
work groups work as a team on planning and
implementing various projects throughout the year.
LAND CONSERVATION AND
STEWARDSHIP BOARD
The Land Conservation and Stewardship Board
advise staff and City Council on matters pertaining to
the management and conservation of natural areas.
This nine-member citizen board is the community’s
advocate for natural areas enhancement and
conservation within Fort Collins and regionally.
Specifically, the duties and functions of the Land
Conservation and Stewardship Board are:
1. To advise City Council regarding policy and
budgetary matters pertaining to the Natural
Areas Department, including but not limited
to the expenditure of Open Space, Yes! and
Larimer County Help Preserve Open Space
dedicated sales tax revenues.
2. To advise Natural Areas Department staff and the
City Council in connection with the proposed
acquisition or disposition of land, interests in
land, interests in water, and other interests in real
property for the Natural Areas Department.
3. To advise Natural Areas Department staff
regarding the development of management
plans and public improvements for Natural
Areas Department properties.
4. Upon request of the City Manager or at the
direction of the City Council, to advise City
Council regarding any positive or negative
impacts that particular plans or projects of
the City or of other public or private entities
may have on Natural Areas Department
properties or properties that may be of
interest to the Natural Areas Department.
This provision shall not apply to
development projects for which applications
have been submitted to the City for approval
under the Land Use Code.
5. Upon request of the City Manager or at the
direction of the City Council, to advise City
Council in connection with the proposed
acquisition or disposition of land, interests
in land, interests in water and other interests
in real property for City programs other than
the Natural Areas Department.
POLICIES, PLANS, AND PROCEDURES
Various policies, plans, and procedures guide the
Natural Areas Department in its daily operations
and management of natural areas. The overarching
policies come from the City Council-adopted City
Plan (see Appendix B). Various other policies,
plans, and procedures are established for specific
sites or purposes and approved at different levels
within City government. Management plans and
guidelines are meant to be somewhat flexible
given the reality that changes occur during the
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 41
Table 4. Natural Areas Policies, Plans, and Procedures (2004–2014)
Document Category Document Name
Resolutions
(Adopted by City Council)
• Natural Areas and Open Lands Easement Policy (2012)
• Council Involvement in Acquisitions for the Natural Areas Program (2005)
Regulations
(Adopted by City Council)
• Naming of City Properties and Facilities Ordinance (2011)
• Revisions to Natural Areas Regulations Ordinances (City Code; 2004–2012)
Policies and Procedures
(Adopted by City Manager)
• Use Policy for Primrose Studio at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area (2012)
• Conservation Easement Amendment Policy and Procedure (2011)
• Conservation Easement Monitoring and Enforcement Policy and Procedure
(2011)
• Conservation Easement Phasing Policy and Procedure (2011)
• Land Conservation Due Diligence Procedure (2011)
• Land Conservation Approval Policy and Procedure (2011)
Policies
(Adopted by Service Area Director)
• Community Services—Use of Motorized Mobility Devices on Parks and
Natural Areas Policy (2012; revised 2014)
• Utilities Services—Poudre River Annual Debris and Downed Tree Removal
Policy (2011)
Policies and Position Statement
(Adopted by Natural Areas Director)
• Volunteer Policies and Procedures and Procedures (2013)
• Natural Areas Encroachment Policy (2011)
• Natural Areas Agriculture Position Statement (2011)
• Natural Areas Commercial Use Policy (2010)
• Natural Areas and Trail Rangers Policies and Procedures Manual (2008) (also
adopted by Police Services)
Management Plans
(Adopted by Natural Areas Director)
• Cache la Poudre River Natural Areas Management Plan Update (2011)
• Soapstone Prairie Natural Area Management Plan (2007)
• Foothills Natural Areas Management Plan (2007)
• Fossil Creek Reservoir Regional Open Space Habitat Improvement Plan (2006)
• Bobcat Ridge Natural Area Management Plan (2005)
• Fossil Creek Natural Areas Management Plan (2005)
• Resource Management and Implementation Plan for Fossil Creek Reservoir
Regional Open Space (2003)
Management Guidelines
(Adopted by Natural Areas Director)
• Wildlife Management Guidelines (2007)
• Vegetation Management Guidelines (2007)
Guidelines • User Guidelines for Gateway Natural Area Large Group/Event Permit (2011)
• Policy Regarding Public Use of City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Photos
(2006)
• Natural Areas Permit Conditions (2002)
• Natural Areas Department Identity Standards and Guidelines (2013)
Plans and Manuals • Nix Emergency Action Plan (2014)
• General Resource Protection Standards for Easements or Rights of Way (2013)
• Emergency Preparedness Plan for Fairport Dam, Robert Benson Lake (Pelican
Marsh Natural Area) (2012)
• Fire Management Plan (2012)
• Vegetation Management Field Guide (2011)
• Bobcat Ridge Operations Manual (2011)
42 Stewardship DRAFT July 31, 2014
Over the next ten years, new policies, plans, and
procedures will undoubtedly be developed as the
need arises and brought forward for adoption at the
appropriate level. Master Plan Priorities (Chapter
5) include stewardship policy and procedural
needs identified at this time.
MANAGEMENT ZONING SYSTEM
In 2011, the Natural Areas Department developed
a new system of management zoning to more
effectively manage natural resource protection
and human use within natural areas along the
Poudre River (City of Fort Collins 2011b). This
system will also be used for other natural areas as
new management plans are developed or updated.
The Management Zoning System consists of five
zones (0 to 4) ranging from areas closed to public
use to “focal areas” prescribed for intensive public
use. A modifier is added to the zoning designation
to describe whether on-trail-only or off-trail use
will be permitted:
TRAIL MODIFIERS (REGULATORY ZONING):
• A – On-trail only
• B – Off-trail use allowed
• C – Closed, no trails available (Zone 1)
MANAGEMENT ZONES:
• Zone 0 – Closed Natural Area: The entire
natural area is not open for public access. The
natural area is either not intended for public
use or is not yet open due to lack of public
amenities (e.g., trails, parking lots), which
require construction prior to opening.
• Zone 1 – Closed Zones: Portions of a natural
area that are not open to the public due to one
or more reasons specified below. In closed
zones, trails and other public amenities either
do not exist or are intended for maintenance
purposes only. All Zone 1 – Closed Zones are
modified as “C – no trails available.” Reasons
for closures may include:
- Areas closed for conservation or wildlife
refuge
- Areas where no formal access is provided
- Areas closed due to public safety concerns
- Areas under long-term restoration
(typically 10 years or more)
- Areas closed due to the presence of
cultural artifacts
- Areas closed on leased land because
public access is not allowed by the terms
of the lease
• Zone 2 – Resource Protection Zones: Portions
of a natural area where conservation and
resource protection are the highest priorities.
Visitor access is generally limited to on-
trail or trailside activities. Public amenities
are limited or nonexistent. Temporary or
seasonal closures may be enacted for resource
protection, restoration, or other reasons.
• Zone 3 – Natural Experience Zones: Portions
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 43
• Zone 4 – Focal Recreation Zones: Portions of a
natural area that provide intense and directed
recreation. These are developed areas intended
to provide defined recreation or access to
recreation. Focal areas generally include
parking lots, picnic areas, boating or fishing
access points, designated rock climbing areas,
etc. Temporary or seasonal closures may be
enacted for resource protection, restoration,
or other reasons.
EDUCATION
Natural areas are treasured by the community and
individuals for many reasons, including education,
recreation, scientific, economic, cultural,
ecological, and spiritual values. The mission of
the Education Work Group is to increase citizens’
awareness of natural areas, promote understanding
of natural systems, and foster each individual’s
realization of the importance and meaning natural
places add to our lives.
The goals of the Education Work Group are to:
• Increase recognition, awareness, and support
of natural areas, natural areas values, and
the Natural Areas Department’s vision and
mission.
• Provide a diversity of meaningful experiences
for residents of every age, toddler to seniors,
to facilitate their connections to nature.
• Directly reach a portion of the Fort Collins
community (current goal is 8%–10% annually)
while ensuring participant demographics
match the demographics of the community.
• The Education Work Group strives to meet
these goals through community programs,
school programs, special events, media,
community involvement, and service
learning through volunteer opportunities. The
programs are regularly evaluated to determine
the most effective way to reach the public.
MASTER NATURALISTS
The volunteer Master Naturalist Program began in
1994 and has become the mainstay of the Natural
Areas Education Program. Each certified Master
Naturalist completes over 50 hours of hands-
on training focused on local natural history and
public speaking. In 2013, 164 Master Naturalists
and their volunteer assistants helped the Natural
Areas Department reach out to the community,
donating thousands of hours. Because of their
dedication, the Department is able to provide
nearly 300 educational activities and events each
year, currently reaching approximately 11,000
people annually.
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
The Natural Areas Department arranges community
programs on a variety of topics each year. Programs
are offered through the Tracks & Trails publication,
or listed in monthly press releases and the natural
areas electronic newsletter. Community programs
44 Stewardship DRAFT July 31, 2014
SCHOOL PROGRAMS
AND SPECIAL EVENTS
Field trips to natural areas
for students, grades pre
K-12, are available free of
charge to local schools.
Lessons are taught
by Master Naturalist
volunteers and staff using
unique, standards-based,
interactive activities
developed by the Natural
Areas Department.
Limited transportation
funding is available by
request. School field trips
are offered in the spring
and fall.
The Natural Areas Department sponsors events
and participates in local festivals by providing a
staffed booth with interactive activities. Special
events include the NoCo Nature Festival, Wade the
River, Picnic on the Poudre, Cinco de Mayo, and
National Get Outdoors Day celebrations. These
are an effective way to reach new audiences and
efficiently reach a large number of people. The
Department attends or sponsors an average of two
events a month.
MEDIA
The Natural Areas Department uses a
comprehensive communications strategy to
support community access and enjoyment of
natural areas:
• Interpretive features are installed on the most
visited natural areas. Currently, 23 sites contain
interpretive signage. Signage (free-standing or
on kiosks) has been installed on 13 of these
sites since 2004. These products explain the
natural features of the natural areas, increase
visitor enjoyment, and contribute to visitor
management.
• The Department funded a lobby visitor center
and interactive exhibits at the Fort Collins
Museum of Discovery, which opened in
2012. The highlight of the free natural areas
visitor center is the live black-footed ferret
display, which focuses on the values of the
native shortgrass prairie. An interactive map
and brochures help to orient the public to
the wealth of natural areas available for their
use in the community. Master Naturalist
volunteers staff the exhibit at peak times.
• Technology is part of connecting people
to natural areas, so the Department has an
extensive website and employs social media
as important communication strategies.
• Printed materials, such as maps and
brochures, complement online resources and
provide material that is accessible for field
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 45
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Everyone in the community is invited to
participate in developing the plans and policies of
the Natural Areas Department through frequently
offered feedback and input opportunities, and by
communicating concerns, ideas, and compliments
to staff at any time. The Education Work Group
is responsible for planning and coordinating
community involvement processes in collaboration
with staff leading the plan/policy effort.
PARTNERSHIPS
The Natural Areas Department is involved
in the Fort Collins community and regional
environmental education efforts through
partnerships and collaborations. Education staff
works with relevant professional associations at
the state and national level, related organizations
and agencies, and other City departments on
mutually beneficial work and projects.
BALANCING FUTURE NEEDS
Currently, most educational
activities and events are filled to
capacity. While the education staff
is now able to meet the current
goal of reaching 8%–10% of the
community, with population
growth this may become more
difficult to achieve. Several
approaches could be considered
to address this issue including
decreasing the level of service,
increasing volunteer recruitment
and volunteer management
capacity, increasing staff,
increasing funding, or revisiting
the model of volunteers providing
most of the Department’s education
offerings in order to provide more
reliable staffing.
Keeping up with a changing media landscape
and technology is an issue for all professionals
involved in education. While many new
communications strategies have been introduced
in the last 10 years, the older methods are still
necessary, making communications a more
complex endeavor. The Department will continue
to seek out new opportunities for using technology
to connect people to the natural world.
VOLUNTEER COORDINATION
Citizens support natural areas in many ways
from voting for ballot measures that fund
the conservation of these special lands to
volunteering to participate in stewardship
activities. In 2011, a seasonal educator was hired
to introduce service learning into volunteering.
Service learning volunteer events include an
educational component taught by education staff
or another professional in the natural areas field.
Through these efforts to provide more volunteer
46 Stewardship DRAFT July 31, 2014
Volunteer opportunities for residents to get more
deeply involved in natural areas vary from a
single half-day project to projects spanning over a
year or more. Short-term projects of a half or full
day typically are service-learning stewardship
projects, such as trail building/maintenance,
plantings, weed pulling, and site cleanups. Over
1,000 people participated in service-learning
projects in 2013.
Volunteer projects with a longer time commitment
include Master Naturalists, Master Naturalist
Assistants, Volunteer Ranger Assistants, Adopt-a-
Trail, Adopt-a-Natural Area, and Citizen Scientists.
Although the Master Naturalists and the Adopt-a-
Natural Area Program were in existence since the
mid-1990s, the other volunteer programs have been
established in just the last 10 years. The Master
Naturalist Assistant Program was established in
2009 to help educate and inspire stewardship
by assisting the Certified Master Naturalists in
community and school programs. The Volunteer
Ranger Assistants Program was established jointly
with Larimer County in 2007. The 143 Ranger
Assistants greet visitors, promote outdoor safety,
and monitor natural areas, logging over 2,200
hours in 2013 alone. Adopt-a-Trail volunteers,
established in 2012, are groups that commit to
trail maintenance three times a year or more. Since
2008, Citizen Scientists have collected data about
natural areas, including occurrence of plants and
wildlife (e.g., monitoring motion-activated wildlife
cameras at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area).
RESEARCH
The Natural Areas Department has both supported
and benefited from many research projects
conducted on natural areas even before the program
was established in 1992. Natural areas provide an
excellent opportunity for scientists to conduct
local research across a variety of disciplines and
conditions including habitat types, land uses, and
the urban to rural spectrum.
Research conducted on natural areas include (1)
projects initiated internally or collaboratively to help
the Natural Areas Department manage resources
or (2) research proposed by others through Special
Use Permits to allow external organizations access
to ecosystems on City natural areas and access to
species specific to their research needs.
Checking wildlife cameras at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area (City of
Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo)
Volunteers planting shrubs on Kingfisher Point Natural Area
next to Nix Farm Facility (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas
Department Photo)
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 47
Natural areas serve as valuable resources for local
scientists and managers. On average, 27 Special
Use Permits are now approved each year to allow
access and use of Fort Collins natural areas for
research. Additionally, each year the Natural Areas
Department initiates, or is collaboratively involved
with, a handful of research projects directly tied to
immediate management questions. For example,
archaeological research efforts are underway on
Soapstone Prairie Natural Area, which includes
the Lindenmeier Site, a National Historic Site that
is the largest Paleo-Indian Folsom-era campsite
known in the world.
Research studies that have taken place on City
natural areas have addressed various components
of local ecosystems that demonstrate value, use,
application, and relevance of natural area-based
research to contemporary ecosystem management
issues (Table 5). Projects may be very narrow or
local in scope, or even help to answer population-
or landscape-level questions. Research has
included innovative methods for restoration,
integrated pest management, disease management,
and other resource management topics valuable
for future management of natural areas.
Table 5. Examples of Special-Permit Research Projects on City Natural Areas over the Last Four Years.
Research Category Examples
Plants Rare plant mapping, vegetation recovery following fire and urban disturbances,
population and demography studies, floristic inventories
Insects Rare insects, grasshopper research, collections and species lists, disease vectors (West
Nile virus, plague)
Fishes and Amphibians Boreal chorus frog interactions with greenback cutthroat trout, citizen science
amphibian survey
Wildlife Predator prey relationships with prairie dogs (raptors and potential for ferret
reintroduction), mountain lion and bear behavior and movement patterns in the
urban Front Range, breeding bird studies, wildlife movement on fragmented sites, bat
research, wildlife behavior research, mark and recapture study on deer
Atmosphere and Skies Night-sky light pollution, weather-monitoring stations
Restoration and Integrated
Pest Management
Innovative restoration methods under challenging conditions (prairie dog colonies,
weeds), efficacy of riparian exclosures
Disease management Oral plague vaccine research for prairie dogs, chronic wasting disease prevalence and
movement research for deer
Recreational Impacts Noise impacts on prairie dogs, wildlife camera studies observing wildlife movement
with recreational activity and urban development.
Archaeology Survey and documentation of archeological sites on natural areas
Cache la Poudre River Modeling future river conditions
Educational Research Long term datasets collected by middle and high school students, groundwater wells
and watershed education, undergraduate term projects (wildlife cameras, various mini
research projects), habitat evaluations, testing and teaching protocols for large scale
public agency research (such as wetland inventories)
48 Stewardship DRAFT July 31, 2014
FUTURE RESEARCH NEEDS
Natural Areas Department staff has
identified a number of research topics
that would aid in stewardship of natural
areas over the next 10 years (Table
6). This working list will help direct
local researchers, both student and
professional, toward meeting some of the
needs for site surveys and management.
The Department will continue to provide
opportunities for children, students, and
the community to become involved in
natural areas research and management.
Table 6. Selected List of Research Topics to Help Stewardship of Natural Areas over the Next Ten Years
Research Category Research Topic
Monitoring • Climate change
• Night skies (continue)
Site Inventories • Invertebrates, including aquatic insects and crustaceans
• Herptiles
• Mammals (large and small)
• Fish (especially small streams and ponds)
Management
Techniques
• River woody debris management
• Urban prairie dog management/conservation
• Growing native plant species in greenhouses
• Relationship between soil disturbance, native plant establishment, and mycorrhizal fungi
• Other integrated pest management methods besides herbicide treatments to control cheatgrass,
annual ryegrass, bindweed, and Japanese brome.
• Methods to eliminate smooth brome while causing the least amount of disturbance
• Connections between wildlife populations and vegetation species and structure (creating a link
between what works and what doesn’t so that restoration efforts are more successful)
Values • Ecosystem goods and service values
• Ecological value of really small sites for wildlife species—what can you reasonably attract with
little effort (Nature in the City)
Recreational Use • Creel survey at Pond Sites (and River) in cooperation with Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Black-tailed prairie dogs on Cathy Fromme Prairie Natural Area (Photo by
Steve Nelson)
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
The Resource Management Program focuses on
stewardship of native plant communities and the
wildlife those habitats support. Activities over the
last ten years have included managing nonnative
and invasive plants, restoring native plant
communities (primarily grasslands), rehabilitating
river stream banks, and conducting sustainable
wildlife management. Resource Management staff
oversees the implementation of projects that meet
natural resource objectives outlined in site-specific
natural areas management plans.
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 49
As the City’s inventory of natural areas has
increased, so too has the human population of Fort
Collins and the Front Range. With more people
and development, land stewardship has become
more complex in response to the challenges of
habitat fragmentation, increased recreational
needs, threats to habitat integrity from nonnative
plants and animals, increased demands for water,
and the reality of a changing climate.
Although resource management in an urban
environment poses many challenges, opportunities
abound as well. With careful thought, planning and
adaptive approaches to management our natural
areas can provide a visitor experience that even for a
brief period, transcends the hustle and bustle of life
in the city. The aspiration to provide visitors with
high quality experiences and habitat opportunities
for wildlife beyond the typical generalist urban
species has been termed “wilderness in the city” by
the Natural Areas Department.
Wilderness, when used in the federal land
management context has specific meaning centered
in the concept that lands exist “untrammeled or
unchanged by man, where man himself is a visitor
who does not remain” (1964 Wilderness Act). The
aspiration of the Department, however, is to create
a very high-quality experience in nature even
though it occurs within an urban environment.
The Department will seek to return landscape
level natural disturbances, such a fire, grazing,
and expansion of riparian areas where appropriate
given public safety and urban infrastructure
needs. Where opportunities exist, staff will design
restoration projects to provide habitat for native
species that may be uncommon to this area, but
are known to thrive here if certain habitat elements
exist. High quality habitat and the associated
experience, or feeling, of being in a “wild”
environment dovetails with the Department’s
objectives to restore ecologic function, and to
provide exceptional educational and recreation
experiences.
WEED MANAGEMENT
Local natural areas typically host nonnative plant
communities due to historic land uses such as poor
farming practices, livestock overgrazing, gravel
mining, and poor land management practices.
Those land uses had the unintended consequences
of creating soils deficient in nutrients and organic
matter and creating conditions conducive to weed
species.
For much of the past ten years Resource
Management staff has worked to control
nonnative and invasive plant species under a
typical integrated weed management paradigm.
Significant accomplishments during this time
include the near elimination of Russian olive
(Elaeagnus angustifolia) and salt-cedar (Tamarix
chinensis) within Poudre River natural areas, and
50 Stewardship DRAFT July 31, 2014
nonnative vegetation. The evolution of this
approach has manifested in a grassland health–
based approach, which includes the use of fire
through controlled burns to invigorate native
vegetation and the control of prairie dogs to
promote sustainable native grasslands.
VEGETATION MONITORING
Staff monitors vegetation management to improve
long-term success and determine best methods.
Repeat ground photography (“photo points”) and
weed mapping provide extremely useful data on
the effectiveness of various treatments through
time.
In 2005, the Natural Areas Department developed
the Resource Management Information System
(RMIS), which is a GIS-based planning and tracking
software that records management and monitoring
activities on a management unit (geographic)
basis. This system permits the easy retrieval of
management actions that affect the vegetation on
properties in the natural areas system. RMIS can
generate summary data for year-end reporting and
other data inquiries, as needed.
A key contribution to resource management has
been the implementation of a system-wide rare
plant survey on City natural areas. Only ten rare
plant species were known to occur throughout
the natural areas system in 2004. Over the last ten
years, using a GIS model to focus rare plant surveys
and a dedicated corps of volunteers, Resource
Management staff located 26 additional species of
plants rare to Colorado and, in some cases, even
globally rare. City of Fort Collins natural areas are
the only known locations in Colorado for some
of these rare plant species. Knowledge of rare
plant occurrence on natural areas is critical to
management planning and stewardship.
ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION
In addition to significant efforts at managing
weeds, Resource Management is taking a proactive
approach to restoring degraded lands back to
native plant communities. Restoration efforts have
been initiated and are progressing well in degraded
grasslands of southwest Fort Collins on lands
previously in winter wheat. A more challenging
grassland restoration has been the restoration of
lime waste pits along the Poudre River that began
in 2003. Few thought that these severely degraded
lands would ever support native vegetation, but
today wildlife thrive in a native grassland mix
established on both sides of Timberline Road
south of the Poudre River.
Several natural areas, under joint ownership
and management with Stormwater Utility, have
undergone extensive wetland restoration as part of
flood protection and water quality improvement
projects. With funding support primarily
provided by Stormwater Utility, the Natural Areas
Department staff provides expertise throughout the
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 51
The major focus of restoration for the Natural
Areas Department since 2011 has been the
floodplains and cottonwood forests of the
Poudre River Corridor. In 2011 the first phase
of the McMurry Ponds Restoration Project was
accomplished on the west pond where four acres
of new wetland habitat were created and three
acres of new floodplain cottonwood habitat were
initiated. Likewise in 2013, a major effort began
at North Shields Ponds Natural Area where five
acres of new wetland habitat were created in an
old gravel pond and eight acres of new floodplain
cottonwood habitat were created. Perhaps the
greatest accomplishment was the removal of the
Josh Ames Ditch diversion structure at North
Shields Ponds Natural Area. The structure, no
longer needed for water diversion, was essentially
a small dam in the Poudre River that prohibited
fish passage.
Over the past ten years, a total of 867 acres of natural
areas within the local focus areas of Fort Collins has
been restored to a composition of greater than 75%
native plant species. One important component of
these restoration efforts is the annual monitoring
and adaptive management necessary to ensure that
the goals of each restoration effort are met. Over
the next decade, the Department will continue to
focus on restoration in the Poudre River corridor
in addition to completing the large grassland
restoration projects on the southwest side of the
city on Coyote Ridge Natural Area.
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
For decades, conserving land that supports
black-tailed prairie dogs has been a conservation
priority. However, prairie dog management can be
very controversial. Unlike the natural expansion,
movement, and contraction of prairie dog colonies
throughout the Great Plains of the 1800s and
prior, colonies within the Fort Collins region are
restricted from this natural movement due to
conflicts with urban development and agriculture.
The lack of movement possibilities outside of
the conserved natural area produces a situation
where intensive prairie dog grazing degrades the
health of the grassland to a point where topsoil
becomes exposed and can be easily eroded by
frequent wind events and vegetation composition
becomes dominated by undesirable nonnative
plants. Cyclical periods of drought exacerbate
these conditions.
In the past decade, the Natural Areas Department
has experimented with a suite of management
efforts ranging from a “hands-off”/no-lethal-
control approach to significant lethal control.
Adoption of the Wildlife Management Guidelines
in 2007 created a hybrid approach that seeks to
balance the conservation of prairie dog colonies
with maintaining grassland structure beneficial
to a variety of grassland wildlife species. This
52 Stewardship DRAFT July 31, 2014
Other wildlife management efforts in the past ten
years have included the routine monitoring and
protection of raptors and the initiation of breeding
bird surveys along the Poudre River corridor and
foothill properties. The information gathered from
these surveys guide restoration, recreation, and
management operations on natural areas. Over the
next decade, the Department anticipates examining
how beavers could be managed harmoniously
within the urban environment. Similarly, the
department is seeking to promote healthy aquatic
wildlife (including sport and native fisheries) in
partnership with Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
To date, wildlife management has not included
harvesting of game animals. As regional properties
are added into the natural areas portfolio,
opportunities may exist to add hunting as both
a recreation and wildlife management tool. As
an example, pronghorn hunting for wildlife
management and recreation will be considered
for Soapstone Prairie Natural Area in the next
ten years. As with any hunting program, the
Department will work closely with Colorado
Parks and Wildlife to establish season and harvest
objectives. Implementation of a hunting program
must minimize or avoid conflicts with other
recreation users, be controlled in terms of location
and number of permits issued, and be offered
to the public through a random draw or similar
selection approach.
WILDLIFE REINTRODUCTIONS
The Natural Areas Department is working with
several federal and state agencies to reintroduce
rare and endangered wildlife species to natural
areas through cooperative species conservation
projects.
American Bison
The Natural Areas Department is pursuing the
reintroduction of the American bison to Soapstone
Prairie Natural Area in support of a larger effort to
conserve the plains bison as a wildlife species. Staff
is working with Colorado State University and the
U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service, and others to bring bison
with a genetic background of the Yellowstone herd
to Soapstone Prairie Natural Area.
Black-Footed Ferrets
The City has submitted an allocation request to
release black-footed ferrets onto Soapstone Prairie
Natural Area and the adjacent Meadow Springs
Ranch (owned and managed by Utilities for the
deposition of dry bio-solids). The Soapstone
Prairie Natural Area Management Plan (City of
Fort Collins 2007b) identified the black-tailed
Great horned owls on Cottonwood Hollow Natural Area (Photo
by Aran Meyer)
Black-footed ferret (Photo Courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service)
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 53
prairie dog community as a conservation priority
within the shortgrass prairie system. In May 2014,
Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper signed
HB14-1267 authorizing city and counties to have
the ability to reintroduce experimental populations
of black-footed ferrets to their property.
Rare Native Fishes
The Natural Areas Department is working with
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) to reintroduce
and monitor the status of rare fishes on several
sites. Within Soapstone Prairie Natural Area
and Meadow Springs Ranch, the Department is
working to manage native northern redbelly dace
(Phoxinus eos) and brassy minnow (Hybognathus
hankinsoni) populations, state endangered
and state threatened species, respectfully. The
Department is also partnering with CPW and the
Colorado Water Conservation Board to protect
water flow in four stream stretches on these two
sites to support rare native fish and amphibians,
including the northern leopard frog (a state species
of special concern).
The Natural Areas Department is also working with
CPW to create habitat for native rare fishes within
Fort Collins at a recently acquired gravel mining pit
west of Arapaho Bend between Strauss Cabin and
Ziegler roads. The pit is a typical sand and gravel
lake constructed with steep sides and supporting
little to no wetland or shallow water habitat.
The restoration project will convert the 22-acre
deepwater lake to a mix of shallow wetlands and
deeper, open water. Once complete, the site will
serve as a refugium for several species of rare native
fishes within the Cache la Poudre watershed.
URBAN CHALLENGES OF RESOURCE
MANAGEMENT
Urban natural areas in Fort Collins pose many
challenges for ongoing resource management
and restoration. Among the challenges is the
predominance of highly successful weedy species,
limited ability to use fire or grazing to manage
larger grasslands, inadequate nonlethal methods
for controlling prairie dogs, threats from invasive
tree insect pests, and obtaining funding to cover
the high costs of river and floodplain restoration.
Nonnative, invasive grasses pose a particular
problem for Resource Management, especially in
areas where control is difficult due to terrain or
habitat (e.g., the understory of cottonwood forests;
steep foothills mountain mahogany shrublands).
The threat of invasive grass species in all of our
natural areas cannot be ignored. Species such as
cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), Japanese brome
(Bromus japonicus), smooth brome (Bromus
inermis), jointed goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica),
quackgrass (Elymus repens), exotic strains of reed
canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea), and cereal
rye (Secale cereale) are among the many grasses
that continue to establish on sites. These grasses
54 Stewardship DRAFT July 31, 2014
an urban context where natural colony movement
and expansion cannot take place due to land use
and ownership limitations.
Since the mid-2000s the mountain pine bark beetle
(Dendroctonus ponderosae) outbreak has moved
from the west onto the foothills of the northern
Front Range. At Soapstone Prairie Natural Area,
resource managers have aggressively treated a relict
stand of ponderosa pine on the west edge of the
property that is home to trees that date back to the
early 1500s. Protecting this small stand preserved
a unique plant community and the local climate
history locked within the trees’ annual rings. At
this time, the Natural Areas Department does not
have any plans to treat larger stands of ponderosa
pines, such as those on the City’s foothills natural
areas.
Much of the subcanopy of the cottonwood forests
along the Poudre River and its drainages are in
green ash trees. The invasive emerald ash borer
(Agrilus planipennis) is expected to be present in
the Fort Collins area within the next few years.
Its arrival is likely to greatly reduce the amount
of subcanopy trees in the cottonwood forests and
modify the existing floristic composition of the
Poudre River and other stream drainages in the
city. The high cost annual chemical treatment
necessary to save green ashes has secondary
and nontarget impacts that likely are significant
enough to outweigh the value of saving the trees.
Therefore, staff will focus efforts on planning for
re-vegetation or replacement of ash’s ecological
niche rather than treatment of extant stands.
River and floodplain restoration, while highly
desirable by many in the community for ecological,
social, and economical reasons, can be expensive.
For example, the 2013–2014 project to restore
the Poudre River floodplain and remove the Josh
Ames Ditch diversion dam on North Shields Ponds
Natural Area cost nearly $1 million dollars.
CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER AND OTHER
AQUATIC SYSTEMS
The Fort Collins community recognized the need
to protect the Cache la Poudre River long before
the existence of the Natural Areas Department. In
fact, threats to this valuable resource, primarily
from expanding development, helped drive the
adoption of the City’s Natural Areas Policy Plan in
1992. Along with the Poudre River and its tributary
streams, open water habitat such as ponds and
lakes, as well as the wetlands throughout Fort
Collins play a critical role in supporting the broad
spectrum of wildlife that inhabit our natural
areas in this semiarid region. The river and other
aquatic systems also provide excellent recreation
and educational opportunities highly valued
by the Fort Collins community such as fishing,
experiential and environmental education,
transportation corridors, wildlife viewing, and
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 55
function and scenic beauty of these conserved
properties require a multifaceted management
approach. The Natural Areas Department will
continue to play numerous roles in managing for a
healthy river system.
Land Acquisition
Recognized as critical for natural areas conservation,
the Poudre River Corridor will continue to be a high
priority for land acquisitions. Over the last ten years,
the Natural Areas Department has acquired nearly
200 acres along the river, adding acreage to North
Shields Ponds, Magpie Meander, Kingfisher Point,
Running Deer, and Arapaho Bend natural areas.
Site Management and Habitat Restoration
In 2011, the Natural Areas Department completed
the Cache la Poudre River Natural Areas
Management Plan Update (City of Fort Collins
2011b). This comprehensive plan documented
our understanding of the physical, ecological, and
human dimensions pertinent to management of
Poudre River natural areas. It also included a refined
set of management goals for each site. Ongoing
stewardship of these floodplain properties is a high
priority for the Department. Successes include
efforts to eliminate nonnative Russian olives,
protection of native cottonwood trees with a sandy
paint that deters beavers, restoration of grasslands
within the floodplain, cataloging of rare aquatic
plants, establishing a management zoning system,
and developing trail systems, fishing piers, and other
public amenities that help direct visitor use away
from more sensitive habitats in need of protection.
Restoration in the Poudre River Corridor over
the last ten years has included reconnecting the
river to its floodplain by lowering river banks,
cleaning up and revegetating banks, expanding
shallow water and emergent habitats along ponds,
and creating a diversity of underwater habitats to
support sport and native fishes. Collectively, these
restoration efforts improve and extend quality
habitats to provide a valued urban refuge for the
benefit of both wildlife and people.
Collaboration with City Departments
The Natural Areas Department is collaboratively
engaged in several City projects to enhance overall
visitor experience, safety, and access to the river.
Effective collaboration with Stormwater, Water
Resources, Parks and Recreation, and Planning
has been imperative to the success of complex
projects such as the stormwater improvements
at Riverbend Ponds (L-Path; 2006-07), river
restoration at Woodward Inc. (2013–2014), and
the development of the Poudre River Downtown
Master Plan (2014). The Department is engaged in
many smaller, but equally important, dialogs on
projects such as the ongoing management of wood
debris in the floodplain, and balancing community
safety (flood prevention) with ecological values.
Water Rights and Instream Flows
56 Stewardship DRAFT July 31, 2014
The Natural Areas Department collaborates with
other City departments, irrigation companies,
and conservation organizations in efforts to
provide instream flows to support aquatic habitat
through the urban stretch of Fort Collins. One
approach underway is to identify and define an
instream flow segment and to quantify the flows
necessary to both protect and enhance the natural
environment. From this information, the Natural
Areas Department can better understand the
timing, duration, and volume of flows needed to
sustain a healthy river. However, the Department’s
relatively small water portfolio will be a limiting
factor in providing adequate environmental flows.
The Department is actively working to expand
water-sharing opportunities and is in the process
of completing a Poudre River Operations Study.
The purpose of this study is to better understand
(1) the administration of water rights, particularly
in relation to river flow through the urban reach;
(2) the low-flow and “dry up” locations; and (3)
extreme short-term fluctuations in water levels.
This information will help to identify water
sharing and management opportunities that will
lead to environmental benefits for the river. This
study will also help to identify locations where
measuring devices and bypass structures will
aid in the distribution of water for the health of
the river and will aid in fish passage at diversion
structures.
This water sharing approach does not change
ownership of water or permanently encumber
the water in any way; it simply encourages
willing parties to enter into agreements to utilize
agriculture or municipal water in ways to provide
ecological benefits to rivers and streams while not
injuring other water users.
In addition, the Natural Areas Department currently
owns and manages several wetlands and ponds and
continues to expand ownership of this important
habitat type. Acquisition of wetlands and ponds
may create augmentation requirements to replace
out of priority depletions caused by evaporative
loss from exposed groundwater. The Department
is currently developing an augmentation plan for
several wetlands and ponds owned as of the date
of this document. As the Department continues
to acquire new wetlands and ponds, there will
be a need to secure additional water to meet the
additional augmentation requirements. Meeting
these needs may also involve the appropriation
of new water rights and/or appropriative rights of
exchange, develop water storage, and construct
various facilities related to water management. The
Department plans to use all of the tools available
under Colorado water law to acquire, develop, and
manage water rights and water resources to meet
its goals and objectives.
The Natural Areas Department plans to use its
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 57
TRIBUTARIES
The main tributaries that drain into the Poudre
River through Fort Collins include Spring Creek,
Fossil Creek, Boxelder Creek, Cooper Slough, and
Dry Creek. These urban tributaries run across a
diverse set of land uses and ownership such as
Fort Collins Utilities, Natural Areas, and Parks and
Recreation departments and many private parcels,
including open lands managed by homeowners’
associations. Thus, the Natural Areas Department
has limited direct influence on the overall tributary
system. In spite of that constraint, the Department’s
goal is to support stream projects that help sustain
local aquatic life, restore native vegetation, and
improve connections to the Poudre River.
The Stormwater Utility has begun a long-term
Stream Rehabilitation Program to restore urban
creeks within Fort Collins. The Natural Areas
Department is engaged in a supportive role and
the planning process has identified some exciting
projects and opportunities. Key objectives
include restoring reaches with dangerous and
unsustainable erosion resulting from unnatural
flow patterns, increasing connectivity of aquatic
habitats, and improving stream habitat through
grade control and revegetation.
Several regional natural areas include streams
with extremely important conservation values.
For example, the federally threatened Preble’s
meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius
preblei) occurs in habitat along an intermittent
foothills stream on Bobcat Ridge Natural Area. On
Soapstone Prairie Natural Area, prairie streams
support rare native fishes and amphibians. Closer
to the heart of Fort Collins, 15 rare plants occur
in riparian areas along streams within the Fort
Collins Growth Management Area.
PONDS AND WETLANDS
In the urban reach through Fort Collins, the Poudre
River and its associated tributaries is a highly
altered stream system with few side channels,
floodplain wetlands, or oxbows remaining. One
of the most significant changes to the floodplain
that has occurred over the last 50 years or more
has been the establishment of many ponds as
the consequence of past sand and gravel mining
operations. Ponds range from those resembling
natural wetlands and side channels to ponds
that are steep sided and uniform depths. The
Department also owns Robert Benson Reservoir
at Pelican Marsh Natural Area and leases the
recreation rights to Dixon and Fossil Creek
reservoirs.
Future management objectives for some of the ponds
will focus on creating shallow water conditions to
mimic much of the floodplain wetland functions
lost due to development. Wildlife management,
in partnership with Colorado Parks and Wildlife,
will focus on native fish reintroduction, native
58 Stewardship DRAFT July 31, 2014
stocking) will be in partnership with Colorado
Parks and Wildlife.
The least common but still very important categories
of aquatic system are wetlands not dependent on
the river or its tributaries. Examples include seeps,
bogs, salt flats, and marshes. On the edges of the
Poudre floodplain, a handful of seeps exist on
steep hillsides where groundwater surfaces. Often
these seeps host unique native plant communities,
provide year-round habitat for amphibians, and
provide a winter water supply for birds and other
wildlife. Fens, salt flats, wet meadows, and marshes
are found on some natural areas. Management
approaches to protect these unique habitats may
include limiting public access and protection
during cleanup and improvement projects.
AN INTEGRATED WATERSHED APPROACH
Attention to the Poudre River has grown recently
under pressures of future water depletions and
recent extreme climactic events, including the
forest fires of 2012 and the floods of 2013. Regional
outreach and collaborations will be necessary
to achieve the City’s overarching objective of a
sustainable and healthy river through Fort Collins.
In particular, it will be important to cultivate
awareness of the influence of inputs to the
urban river from the upper watershed as well as
landscape scale issues such forestry and ex-urban
development.
An integrated watershed perspective will help the
community understand and manage the Poudre
River ecosystem and associated ecological values.
To that end, the Natural Areas Department is
building a long-term effort to work with partners
to address the challenges presented by continued
development pressures on the river, coupled with
the potential for more frequent extreme climate-
driven events in the coming years.
The Department will continue to engage in
collaborative initiatives that build partnerships
and influence positive outcomes that collectively
benefit the river on a landscape scale. Some possible
tangible actions that could help maintain a healthy
upper watershed include targeted fee acquisitions
or conservation easements at key locations, use of
best management procedures (BMPs) on stream
segments through City properties, support of key
studies contributing to understanding the health
of the urban reach, and participation in regional
collaborative communication platforms such as
the Poudre River Forum hosted by Colorado Water
Institute in February 2014.
On the landscape scale, and using science as a
guide, the Natural Areas Department initiated the
Ecosystem Response Model (ERM) study in 2012
to help expand our understanding of the drivers,
threats to, and anticipated conditions of, indicator
biota within the Cache la Poudre River System. The
ERM for the Fort Collins reach of the river uses a
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 59
ecosystem. Additionally, the project incorporated
the interaction of other important variables such
as the physical setting, aquatic life, and riverside
vegetation to provide a better understanding of this
ever-changing river ecosystem.
Preliminary results of the ERM indicate that the
Cache la Poudre River system in Fort Collins
has been changing for some time. Current flows,
which reflect existing withdrawals for municipal
and agricultural uses, are approaching the low end
of flow thresholds that are needed for scouring of
algae, aquatic habitat, and channel maintenance.
The modeling process has also shed light on other
factors critical for the City to pay attention to, such
as the poor functionality of hardened (e.g., riprap,
concrete structures) riparian habitats, water
quality concerns related to contemporary land
uses, and the lack of aquatic habitat connectivity
(Ecological Response Model 2014).
RANGER AND VISITOR SERVICES
The natural areas rangers are charged with
providing a safe, peaceful, and enjoyable
environment for all natural area visitors and trail
users while ensuring the protection of natural and
cultural resources. Rangers are responsible for
patrolling all natural areas and trails. Two seasonal
gate attendants help provide visitor services at
Gateway and Soapstone Prairie natural areas.
Over the last ten years, natural areas rangers have
experienced a significant evolution and increased
professionalization of duties. Focus has moved
from primarily enforcement work to a full suite
of visitor engagement, resource protection, and
regional natural area management. During this
time, ranger staff has adapted to emerging needs
within the expanding natural areas system to
include emergency medical care, wildland fire
support, and on-site ranger-managed regional sites
at Bobcat Ridge and Gateway. However, natural
areas patrol and visitor engagement remains the
programs’ primary responsibility.
PATROL AND VISITOR ENGAGEMENT
Natural areas rangers provide dawn-to-dusk
coverage seven days a week. Patrol activities
include enforcement of City Municipal Code,
providing visitor education, and protecting natural
and cultural resources. In 2008, the City’s Natural
Areas and Trail Rangers Policies and Procedures
Manual was adopted by Police Services and the
Natural Areas Department to outline the scope
of the ranger’s duties and set protocols for visitor
safety and resource protection. The City’s Natural
Areas and Trail Rangers Field Training Officer
Handbook (adopted in 2010) outlines standardized
training for all newly assigned rangers in the
practical application of learned information and
provides clear standards for rating and evaluation.
Typically, the Natural Areas Department rangers
cite 800–1,000 municipal code violations per
60 Stewardship DRAFT July 31, 2014
Rangers are on the front-line of natural areas
customer service. Daily interactions, including
friendly and educational contacts, phone inquiries,
agency assists, and more are accomplished by
rangers. Rangers logged over 6,800 visitor contacts in
2013 and recognize that understanding customer’s
needs is critical to providing outstanding service.
Rangers handled over 800 phone inquiries in 2013
from natural area users via the on-duty ranger
phone line, affording visitors the opportunity to
speak with a live person in real time. Rangers use
smartphones to promptly update trail conditions
on the webpage. Quick Response codes on closed
trail signs and kiosks allow visitors to tap into the
current status on conditions.
Ongoing challenges to patrol activities are primarily
related to alcohol possession and illegal camping
in natural areas. Illegal camping is dominated by
Fort Collins’ homeless population who utilize
natural areas, parks, and road underpasses to
camp overnight in the absence of, or in spite of,
available charitable services. Data collected over
a five-year period (2009–2013) show an increasing
trend of illegal homeless camping. In 2009, 6%
of all natural areas, parks, and trails violations
cited by rangers were for illegal camping. In 2010
and 2011, camping violations increased to 9%. In
2012, violations increased to 16%, and in 2013
nearly one-quarter (22%) of all violations cited
by rangers were for illegal, homeless camping.
Moreover, illegal possession and consumption of
alcohol by homeless comprised almost 50% of all
ranger-issued alcohol violations from 2009–2013.
Looking forward, Fort Collins’ effort to eliminate
homelessness by 2020 may require a significant
commitment from Natural Areas staff to support
a holistic community response to a growing
homeless population.
As part of the rangers’ effort to engage the Fort
Collins community and provide stewardship
opportunities for the public, a Volunteer Ranger
Assistant Program, in partnership with Larimer
County Department of Natural Resources, was
created in 2007. In 2013, over 130 trained citizens
participated in monitoring natural areas and
working with ranger staff to ensure visitors remain
safe and enjoy the natural area experience, logging
over 2,500 service hours and making nearly 4,000
contacts with the recreating public.
RANGER STEWARDSHIP EFFORTS
In addition to ongoing patrol responsibilities
and enforcement of the City’s Municipal Code
on natural areas, Rangers have embarked on a
number of significant projects that support the day-
to-day operations of the natural areas system. In
2005, Ranger staff completed a project to identify,
formalize, and sign every legal trail entrance into
natural area properties. Similarly another effort was
undertaken to inventory, mark, and record all gates
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 61
City property is illegal. The project ensures the
proper stewardship of property boundaries while
promoting neighbor awareness.
In 2012, rangers participated in the Park Planning
and Development Department’s project to develop
a long-range plan for the paved recreational trail
system. The Paved Recreational Trail Master Plan,
adopted by City Council in 2013, covers paved
trails managed by Parks and Recreation and Streets
departments, many of which provide access to, or
through, natural areas.
RANGER MANAGEMENT OF REGIONAL
PROPERTIES
The City’s first regional natural area, Bobcat
Ridge, opened in 2006. During the management
planning for this 2,000-acre site near Masonville,
it became apparent that a resident ranger would
be needed to provide on-site security, visitor
assistance beyond normal working hours, and
day-to-day maintenance. Thus, a full-time ranger
was assigned and housed at Bobcat Ridge.
Likewise, in 2007 when Gateway Park was
transferred from the City’s Parks Department to
the Natural Areas Department, a full-time resident
ranger was hired to provide site security, operations,
maintenance, and to collect fees. Gateway Natural
Area was established by the Parks Department as
a fee-based site due to its remoteness and need
for on-site staff, and remains the only fee-based
natural area due to the higher level of park-like
maintenance needed for the site. The Gateway
Natural Area ranger is also responsible for patrol
and management of the Picnic Rock Natural Area
at the entrance of the Poudre Canyon.
The opening of Soapstone Prairie Natural Area
in 2009 marked the creation of the first seasonal
Visitor Services staff who operates the entrance
gate during peak visitation days to orient visitors,
provide educational materials, and be the “eyes
and ears” of the Rangers staff at this remote natural
area. The site does not house a resident ranger;
however, a ranch manager resides on the site year-
round. The manager is employed by the grazing
association that leases land for cattle grazing on
Soapstone Prairie Natural Area.
RECREATION
The Natural Areas Department recognizes the
enthusiastic culture and affinity that citizens have
for spending time in nature. Recreation in natural
areas provides wellness opportunities, improves
quality of life, and provides settings for visitor
experiences ranging from urban to semi-primitive.
Activities in natural areas include walking, hiking,
jogging, horseback riding, fishing, non-motorized
boating, photography, artwork, wildlife viewing,
and relaxing, among others.
The numerous positive impacts outdoor recreation
has on an individual’s physical, mental, and social
health are widely documented. According to the
62 Stewardship DRAFT July 31, 2014
a high quality of life and healthy lifestyle (95.7%),
(2) are central to recreation (83.4%), and (3)
connect people with nature (85.7%).
Although the Natural Areas Department’s primary
land acquisition focus has been the protection of the
natural habitats and features for their conservation
values, these acquisitions have subsequently
created diverse public recreational opportunities.
Over the last ten years, the Department has opened
a dozen new natural areas to the public, including
Bobcat Ridge and Soapstone Prairie—both with
an extensive trail system. Of the 43 natural areas
managed by the Department, 40 currently are open
for some type of recreation. Eventually, all 43 sites
will be opened.
Overarching recreation goals are to:
• Provide diverse opportunities for enjoyable
public use of sites, while minimizing user
conflicts and disturbance to sensitive wildlife
and plant communities
• Provide a variety of nature-based recreation
opportunities, while enhancing user
experience and enjoyment
• Provide access to visitors of all ages and
abilities
• Recognize that City natural areas are an
important bridge to provide a connection
to solitude and peacefulness in an outdoor
setting
• Provide recreation infrastructure that is
modest, adequate, safe, and accessible
• Place trails to avoid or minimize impacts
to sensitive habitat, to increase trail
sustainability, and to reduce maintenance and
need for weather-related trail closures
Providing public recreation has been a key element
in the success of the Natural Areas Department
over the last 20 years. In just the last ten years,
the Natural Areas Trail System has doubled to
over 100 miles and acres open to the public have
tripled to 35,000 acres. Adding regional properties
to the already impressive portfolio has allowed the
Department to expand recreational experiences
even more for visitors.
TYPES OF RECREATION OFFERED
Walking, hiking, running, and biking on natural
surface trails or pavement are the most common
outdoor activities of Larimer County residents
surveyed in the 2013 Our Lands – Our Future
survey (Larimer County 2013); these activities are
also the most frequently available on City natural
areas (Figure 10).
Within the City’s natural areas, the visitor experience
may range from solitude and quiet reflection to
moderately high visitor encounters with high energy
physical challenges. Natural areas support a wide
range of recreation, including walking, hiking, trail
running, wildlife viewing, on-leash dog walking,
off-trail exploration, biking, horseback riding,
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 63
mission. Parks does provide three off-leash dog-
parks in Fort Collins. A larger, off-leash area may
also be compatible with the City’s Parks System.
Properties managed by the Department for
recreation can be categorized as urban, foothills,
or regional properties. These varying property
types offer the public a diverse selection of
aesthetic experiences and recreation opportunities
depending on the location.
Urban
Most urban natural areas are located along
the Cache la Poudre River and its tributaries.
Currently, 18 natural areas are open to the public
along the Poudre River offering a wide range of
land- and water-based recreation. More than 30
of the urban natural areas can be accessed via 36
miles of paved trails managed by Parks, including
the 10.1-mile Poudre Trail, 6.9-mile Spring Creek
Trail, 5.9-mile Fossil Creek Trail, 3.9-mile Power
Trail, and the 3.5-mile Mason Trail.
Foothills
Natural areas within the 3,800 acres of protected
local foothills habitat support over 20 miles of
natural surface trails in ecosystems dominated
by ponderosa pine forests, foothill shrublands,
and native grasslands. These properties consist of
Coyote Ridge, Pineridge, Maxwell, and Reservoir
Ridge natural areas. Year after year, the foothills
natural areas are consistently some of the most
actively used areas by recreationalists, especially
hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians. The
popular 9.6-mile Foothills Trail offers great trail
connectivity along the western foothills as it
crosses City, county, state, and federal lands. This
Figure 10. Number of Natural Areas Open to Specific Recreation Types
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
NATURAL AREAS OPEN TO RECREATION
Birdwatching at Cottonwood Hollow Natural Area
(Photo by Sue Kenney)
64 Stewardship DRAFT July 31, 2014
trail currently links together Pineridge, Maxwell,
and Reservoir Ridge natural areas, and connects
to the Fossil Creek and Spring Creek bike trails at
Spring Canyon Community Park.
Regional
Regional natural areas offer the public some of
the most diverse landscape topography, wildlife
viewing, and recreational opportunities. The four
regional natural areas are Bobcat Ridge, Gateway,
Picnic Rock, and Soapstone Prairie.
Bobcat Ridge Natural Area, located just outside
the town of Masonville, offers recreationalists over
2,600 acres of diverse topography for all visitor
groups’ capability levels, from expert mountain
biking terrain to accessible trails for people with
disabilities. This property’s scenic trails take
visitors along grassy flat valley floors, over rolling
terrain, up through rocky drainages, to scenic
mountain vista views. The historic structures and
features throughout the property also offer users
an educational aspect to their experience as they
tour the property’s rich pioneering, ranching, and
American Indian cultural influences.
Gateway Natural Area is located in the Cache la
Poudre Canyon at the confluence of the Cache
la Poudre River and its North Fork Tributary.
This 170-acre natural area is located adjacent to
thousands of acres of land and water managed
by the City of Greeley (Seaman Reservoir), U.S.
Forest Service (Roosevelt National Forest), and
State Land Board (leased by Colorado Parks and
Wildlife). Gateway has continuously proven to be
popular for recreationalists due to its river access,
boat launch (i.e., kayaks, canoes, tubes, rafts),
picnic shelters, natural playground, and natural
surface trails, among others.
Picnic Rock Natural Area is located downstream
from Gateway in a beautiful section of the Poudre
Canyon. The site has been a very popular picnic,
wading, and tubing area for families and students
for many years. The Natural Areas Department
took over management of the site in 2007. The
site presents various management challenges that
will need to be addressed in the future. The City
owns very little land (1.5 acres) in the area heavily
frequented by visitors. Most of the surrounding
land is owned by Colorado Parks and Wildlife
(CPW) and the City operates under the terms of
Memorandum of Understanding with CPW. The
City is able to provide minimal services to the site
(trash pick-up, bathroom cleaning, etc.); however,
the City’s jurisdiction is very limited.
Soapstone Prairie Natural Area, located on the
Colorado/Wyoming border, offers recreationalists
over 20,000 acres of unique trails, wildlife
viewing, and interpretive features that focus on
world-renowned cultural resources. This area
offers over 40 miles of natural surface trails open
to hiking, mountain biking, and equestrians,
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 65
wide open vistas and mountain views, and trail
connectivity options that lead to Big Hole Open
Space (City of Cheyenne) and Red Mountain Open
Space (Larimer County).
VISITATION SUMMARIES
To assess current visitor use and for future
recreation planning, the Natural Areas Department
collected data from on-site visitor counts and
surveys in 2006 and 2010. The Fort Collins Resident
Survey (National Research Center 2011) and the
Our Lands – Our Future survey (Larimer County
2013) also help to identify visitor satisfaction and
expectation of future recreation needs.
General findings from these surveys indicated:
• Nearly 47,000 unique visitors enter City
natural areas annually with high repeat
visitations resulting in over 2 million annual
visits
• The annual number of visits per year per
natural areas visitor ranges from 20 to 80
• 60% of visitors arrive by car
• 26% of visitors arrive by bike
• 75% of those surveyed spend 1–2 hours in a
natural area per visit
• Hiking/walking and biking are the most
popular activities pursued in natural areas
In relation to the experience of visitors, 93% of
visitors reported that crowding is slight or not at
all (National Research Center 2011). Crowding
was not perceived as a negative impact in 90%
of responses and of the remaining percentage of
those who reported a negative experience in a
natural area within the last year the incident was
related to dogs or other animals.
To decrease negative experiences of overcrowding,
which also can result in resource degradation,
Natural Areas Department staff use professional
experience, input from other land management
agencies with similar resources, research into
accessibility from neighborhoods and commuters,
and design standards to create visitor use limits
on natural areas properties so that site visitor
use capacity (sometimes referred to as carrying
capacity) is not exceeded. New recreational
features, such as trails, are designed to minimize
impacts to natural resources and to be more
sustainable over time.
Managing recreation over the next ten years will
continue to involve adapting to increased visitor
use due to expected increase in human populations
(Colorado Conservation Trust 2012) and balancing
natural resources protection with increased
recreational demands. Opportunities for additional
land acquisition over the next ten years are
unknown at this time: however, the Natural Areas
Department will continue to expand its portfolio of
properties to provide more trails and recreation.
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS
Public improvements are the built recreational
66 Stewardship DRAFT July 31, 2014
Although all 43 natural areas will eventually be
open to the public, not all areas within a particular
natural area are accessible to the public. Public
improvements have potential impacts on wildlife
and native plant communities. Natural Areas
Department staff evaluates potential impacts from
trails, parking lots, and other public improvements
during planning, design, and construction phases.
Trails and other public improvements may be
restricted or even absent in a particular area of a
site to protect sensitive wildlife species, rare plant
communities, archeological resources, historical
structures, or fragile geologic features. Public
improvements are planned in accordance with
individual site management plans, site restoration
plans, or determined among natural areas work
groups for smaller projects.
Trails
Trails on natural areas provide directed routes for
recreation, reducing the impact to other portions of
the sites and, thus, the overall impacts to wildlife
populations and native plant communities. Proper
trail placement helps avoid or minimize impacts
to sensitive habitats and features, while increasing
trail sustainability and reducing maintenance and
need for weather-related trail closures. The Natural
Areas Department provides “natural surface” trails
comprised primarily of native material found on
the site. Sometimes, gravel, recycled asphalt, dirt,
or crusher fines are imported into the site to provide
a more sustainable surface. Wooden (or recycled
plastic lumber) footbridges and boardwalks are
built where necessary to alleviate drainage issues.
Over 100 miles of natural surface trails have been
built on City natural areas and an additional 3.5
miles of concrete trails in areas where use levels
or accessibility needs are greater.
Parks and Recreation designs, constructs, and
maintains the concrete trails that form the Fort
Collins Paved Trail System; eight miles of the
paved trails run through natural areas. The paved
trail system is accessible to persons in wheelchairs.
Funding for the paved trails comes from the Parks
and Recreation Department, the Natural Areas
Department, the Conservation Trust Fund, and
Great Outdoors Colorado grants.
Parking Lots
Parking lots at natural areas are primarily
constructed for the convenience of the public, but
they also help to reduce site impacts. Parking lots
are designed to meet the specific needs of each site
and to minimize the physical and visual impact to
the site. Currently, the Natural Areas Department
maintains 29 parking lots, varying in size from
five-car to 50-car lots. Only a few of the urban
lots are paved (asphalt). Most lots are gravel for
permeability of water and to blend-in with the
natural landscape.
Amenities at the newer parking lots typically
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 67
Picnic Tables and Benches
Over the last ten years, picnic amenities have
increased within the natural areas system. As of
2014, ten natural areas have picnic shelters and/
or picnic tables. Only one site—Gateway Natural
Area—has shelters that can be reserved, with a fee,
for site-compatible events.
Benches provide a comfortable viewing and
resting spot for visitors and help to limit off-trail
impacts. Older benches, constructed from lumber
or recycled plastic lumber, are being gradually
replaced by stone benches. The stone benches last
longer and are more resistant to graffiti.
Fishing and Wildlife Observation Structures
Fishing and wildlife observation structures help
to reduce impacts to natural areas by providing
a convenient, practical place to fish or watch
wildlife. These structures often provide access
for site visitors who are less mobile, including
those who use wheelchairs. Fishing piers are
especially useful in reducing bank erosion around
popular fishing ponds. Restoration work on old
gravel ponds along the Poudre River provide good
opportunities for the creation of gravel fishing
“pods” along the bank.
Signage
Signs on natural areas identify sites, mark boundaries,
inform the public of restricted use and regulations,
mark trails, and provide user safety information. Staff
is conscious of the need to limit signage because it
can be a source of “visual pollution,” impacting the
users’ experience in nature.
Fencing
Fencing the perimeter of natural areas is often
needed to prevent illegal access by vehicles,
people, and/or livestock from adjacent properties.
Barbed-wire and electric fencing is prohibited
within the city limits. Barbed-, electric-, and
smooth-wire fencing can be potentially hazardous
to wildlife when poorly designed and/or located,
particularly raptors that can be severely injured
or killed when their wings hit the wire upon
swooping down or up when hunting prey under
the fence. Fort Collins is within a major migratory
and wintering corridor for bald eagles, ferruginous
hawks, and other raptors. Whenever feasible,
wire fencing is removed and replaced with wood
fencing where illegal access problems create a
need for fencing.
Previously, the signature fencing style in natural
areas was the buck-and-rail style, popular for its
“western” look. However, over the last ten years,
the Natural Areas Department has shifted toward
using single-rail fencing, which is less obtrusive
on the landscape. Single-rail fences are now used
as the standard parking lot fence.
Maintenance
Ongoing maintenance of public improvements is
essential for preserving wildlife habitat and native
68 Stewardship DRAFT July 31, 2014
With over 100 miles of trail, keeping up with trail
maintenance can be difficult. Volunteers help
crews maintain the trails from spring through
fall. In addition, Public Improvements Crews
now include a dedicated seasonal trails crew for
the summer months. In 2013, the Natural Areas
Department actively maintained or improved 25%
of the trail system. About 80% of the trails were
in good condition by the end of the year and only
1% in poor condition. Our goal during the next
ten years is to continue to improve maintenance
so that 85% of the trails are in good condition and
0% in poor condition at the end of each year.
Whether trails, parking lots, kiosks, fences, or
another type of public improvement, repairs
can be quite unexpected due to a weather event
or vandalism. A major weather event, such as
flooding that occurred in September 2013, puts
additional and unexpected strains on material
and labor budgets for the Public Improvements
Work Group. With global climate change, extreme
weather events will likely increase and could
impact the Natural Areas Department’s ability
to accommodate the public’s desire for well-
maintained recreational amenities.
Future Improvements
While most new improvements over the next ten
years will be associated with future acquisitions,
the Department does have plans for improving
access on several existing natural areas. New
parking lots and associated amenities are expected
to be built at:
• Arapaho Bend (replaces smaller lot)
• North Shields Bridge (new lot to provide
parking for river access)
• Kingfisher Point (north side of the Poudre
River, will include a natural surface trail)
• Eagle View (will include a natural surface
trail)
In addition, concrete trails constructed by Park
Planning and Development in the next few years
are expected to be built on:
• Redtail Grove (west to Fossil Creek Drive)
• Arapaho Bend (east to I-25; north to
Horsetooth)
• Fossil Creek Wetlands (south of Trilby and
west of railroad tracks)
• Hazaleus (south to Trilby)
• Colina Mariposa (Trilby to Long View Farm
Open Space)
CULTURAL RESOURCES
Northern Colorado has a rich history of human
occupation and use of the landscape. As such,
many properties conserved by the Natural Areas
Department contain evidence of Paleo-Indian
artifacts, remnants of pioneer homesteading,
historic buildings from ranching and farming
operations, and remnants of significant industries
from the early 1900s.
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 69
human connection to landscapes and the critical
connection between healthy natural systems and
healthy communities.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES
Archaeological resources are found throughout
the natural areas system and are generally
described as material remains of human activities
that are at least 100 years of age and capable of
providing understandings of past human behavior
and cultural adaptation. Generally, remains are
physical evidence of human habitation, use, or
activity.
Survey efforts have revealed archaeological sites
on many of the City natural areas, both urban and
regional. The best known site is the Lindenmeier
Site, a National Historic Landmark located within
Soapstone Prairie Natural Area. The Lindenmeier
Site is the largest Folsom-era campsite known in
the world. All sites, from single points or tools to
larger campsites, are protected by city code and
state law. Removal of artifacts is unlawful unless
done so under permit by the Colorado State
Historical Society and by a qualified professional.
When archaeological artifacts are discovered, the
Natural Areas Department’s preferred approach is
to leave the item in place. The Department consults
with Colorado State University and the Fort
Collins Museum of Discovery to document the site
and make the final determination if the artifact is
to remain in place. In general, known sites will not
be excavated unless damage to the site is expected
to occur from a planned activity. If approached
with requests for excavations, the Natural Areas
Department will consult with the Fort Collins
Museum of Discovery and other professional
archaeologists to understand the merits of the
requests. As a natural resource conservation
organization, the continued conservation and
interpretation of cultural resources is the primary
focus of management efforts and can often be done
so without any additional excavation. Surveys are
required when surface disturbance will occur and
excavation may be necessary to remove artifacts.
In all cases, artifacts removed from City property
will be housed at the Fort Collins Museum of
Discovery.
Public interest in archaeological resources is
high and few opportunities exist for the public to
volunteer or participate in resource survey efforts.
The Department will continue to partner with
Colorado State University’s Center for Mountain
to Plains Archaeology to identify outreach and
volunteer opportunities. Possible projects include:
• Volunteer participation in site surveys.
• Volunteer participation in excavations.
• Establishment of a “permanent” excavation
at a select site and use for public education.
The project would be in partnership with
other entities and protected with a building
70 Stewardship DRAFT July 31, 2014
The office is also contacted when any potentially
significant structure is encountered during site
maintenance activities.
The Department will focus its historic restoration
efforts on a few select building sites and features
that provide an opportunity for public access and
education and that represent significant historic
value to the City. Sites to date include the Nix Farm
Facility and Bobcat Ridge Natural Area. Both sites
represent well-preserved and fairly complete farm
and ranch facilities.
Future sites for restoration activities may include
F.E. Warren Ranch headquarters on Soapstone
Prairie Natural Area. The Great Western Sugar Beet
Factory Flume on Kingfisher Point, currently being
considered for National Register of Historic Places
designation, may possibly also have a future reuse
as a pedestrian bridge if the design can adequately
preserve the historic character of the structure. The
“A” on the hillside of Maxwell Natural Area, another
National Register historic feature, is maintained
by Colorado State University as stipulated in the
easement established before City ownership of the
land. Additional sites will be considered based on
criteria and funding. Typically, funding for these
efforts will use outside sources, such as State
Historic Grant funds, in combination with Natural
Areas Department dollars.
More commonly, historic structures found on
natural areas properties are well beyond repair
or represent a modest opportunity for restoration
and outreach. However, management activities
will include a survey and inventory of the site to
record the historic value. The site will be managed
to avoid impacts associated with maintenance
activities and public use, but over time, features will
eventually degrade and blend into the landscape.
An example of this includes the remains of the
brick factory operations, which date from the early
1900s to late 1940s, on Redtail Grove and Cathy
Fromme Prairie natural areas. Another example
is the Strauss Cabin located within Arapaho Bend
Natural Area. However, interpretation for both
sites is planned for the future.
On occasion, a historic structure will be reused
for another purpose such as the White Pine Fire
Lookout cab on Running Deer Natural Area. The
fire lookout tower was in service until 1967 on
West White Pine Mountain, about 35 miles west
of Fort Collins. In 1978, the U.S. Forest Service
had the fire lookout cab moved by helicopter to
Lee Martinez Park in Fort Collins. In the mid-
1990s, it was moved to Colorado State University’s
Environmental Learning Center, and finally, in
2011 it was moved again to Running Deer Natural
Area where Natural Areas Department staff and
volunteers refurbished the cab for use as a viewing
Great Western Sugar Company Beet Effluent Bridge on Kingfisher
Point Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 71
structure. While quite a bit of historic integrity was
lost when the cab was moved off the original site,
interpretation of the structure’s history provides a
visitor amenity on Running Deer Natural Area.
ART IN PUBLIC PLACES
Since 1995, the Natural Areas Department has
been required to incorporate art into capital
construction projects over $250,000 on natural
areas. The Department has also been the recipient
of art projects required for adjacent capital road
improvements. The City of Fort Collins has
successfully worked with artists to incorporate
natural and cultural history into natural areas
facilities. Art can be an asset to a natural area in
a variety of ways, including providing unique
opportunities for site interpretation and reducing
future maintenance costs of structures.
Currently, a dozen art-in-public places projects are
located on natural areas and four projects grace
the Nix Farm and Primrose Studio facilities. Art
can help to “soften” concrete structures on our
natural areas and can help prevent graffiti. Graffiti
artists seem to respect other artists, as evidence of
the widespread utility box art within Fort Collins.
Modern art is particularly useful in interpretation
or simply highlighting the cultural history of
a natural area. For example, both historic and
prehistoric people are showcased through several
of the art pieces incorporated into structures for
modern recreational and educational use on
Soapstone Prairie Natural Area.
AGRICULTURE
The protection of agricultural land became more
of a priority for the Natural Areas Department
in the City’s 2004 Land Conservation and
Stewardship Master Plan. Agricultural lands
worth conserving were identified in all three focus
areas: local, community separators, and regional.
In 2011, the Natural Areas Department adopted
an Agriculture Position and Policy Statement. The
intent of this document was to clarify the value
of agriculture to the Department; to articulate the
role of the Department in acquiring, operating,
and maintaining valued agricultural lands; and
to define policies with respect to appropriate
agricultural production and uses on natural areas
managed by the Department. In the past few years,
the City as a whole has started looking at more
ways to support urban agriculture and local food
production for sustainability and human health.
Agricultural production on appropriate natural
areas can be a beneficial use for the community
when conducted in a sustainable manner.
Agriculture can benefit the community when
utilized as a vegetation management tool (e.g.,
Art-in-Public Places Artist Joe McGrane’s “Ghost Kitchen” on
Reservoir Ridge Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas
Department Photo)
Cattle on Soapstone Prairie Natural Area (Photo by Zoë Whyman)
72 Stewardship DRAFT July 31, 2014
grazing, haying) as well as a land use (e.g.,
traditional farm, urban farm, pasture). As a
management tool, agricultural practices can help
managers achieve desired resource goals such as
controlling invasive plants or helping manage
habitat for grassland wildlife species. As a land
use, agriculture serves to provide a local food base,
contributes to the local economy, helps minimize
urban sprawl, and provides a community
connection to the rural culture. In addition,
agriculture is an important historical land use and
is an integral component to the local history of
Fort Collins and Larimer County. Preservation and
interpretation of this important and declining land
use is a benefit to the community from a historical
context. Whether as a land management tool or a
land use, agriculture can provide both ecological
benefits and community benefits.
Operation and Maintenance of Agricultural
Lands
Several options for operation of properties that
have agricultural values and that are owned in fee
simple by the Natural Areas Department may be
used independently or in conjunction with each
other:
Restore Land in Agricultural Crop Production to
Native Vegetation Communities
Enhancing lands with existing or potential natural
features typically involves restoring these lands
to native vegetation, which may then benefit from
agricultural practices (e.g., grazing or haying).
Prescription Grazing
Prescriptive grazing techniques can be used to
mimic natural ecological processes. Situated on
the western edge of the shortgrass prairie and
deep within the rain-shadow effects of the Rocky
Mountains, the open lands around Fort Collins
are dominated by grassland ecosystems that
have evolved with a diversity of native grazing
animals. Native grazers now generally exist in
numbers too few to provide the same ecological
benefits. As such, managed grazing systems using
domestic livestock are often used in an attempt to
mimic the natural ecological process. However,
poorly managed grazing does have the potential
to cause significant negative effects, including
vegetation loss or vegetation community change;
soil compaction and erosion; riparian area overuse
and degradation, including bank destabilization
and woody vegetation loss; and destruction
of biological soil crusts. Thus, it is extremely
important to properly manage grazing.
Mowing and Haying
Mowing and haying grasslands mimic the grazing
process, thus removing plant biomass and
stimulating grassland vigor. This plant material
often needs to be removed by raking and burning
so that litter does not accumulate. Although these
techniques cannot provide all of the ecological
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 73
ENERGY DEVELOPMENT AND
MINERALS EXTRACTION
The Natural Areas Department owns and manages
roughly 35,000 acres in Larimer County. In addition,
the Department is responsible for the stewardship
on another 17,000 acres of conservation easements.
All of the properties are subject to impacts from a
variety of energy development including oil and
gas exploration, wind and solar development
and associated electric transmission lines, and
sand and gravel mining. While gravel mining has
occurred on natural areas since the beginning
of the program, renewable energy development
and oil and gas exploration and production are
relatively new issues that have emerged in the
last ten years. They are likely to continue into the
foreseeable future.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
The Natural Areas Department supports the
exploration and development of renewable energy
such as wind and solar generation. However,
impacts on natural and cultural resources can and
do occur from commercial-scale development.
Current policy is to not allow commercial-scale
wind or solar development to occur within
properties owned fee simple. Additionally, the
Department will continue to work to provide
siting and other recommendations for wind farms
that occur within viewsheds of conserved lands.
The Natural Areas Department does typically
allow small-scale energy development on lands
protected with conservation easements. The intent
is to allow renewable energy to be developed for
meeting the needs of the conserved property, not
for commercial venture. Natural Areas Department
staff works with the owners of the property to
locate the infrastructure to avoid or minimize
impacts on natural resource values.
MINERAL RIGHTS AND DEVELOPMENT
The majority of lands owned by the Natural
Areas Department are considered “split estate,”
meaning that the surface estate is owned by the
City and underlying minerals are owned by
separate entities. Current state law allows mineral
owners access to their mineral estate. How access
is granted is a negotiated agreement between the
surface owner and mineral owner.
In 2010, the City was approached by mineral
owners interested in developing the mineral
estate underlying portions of Soapstone Prairie
Natural Area. In response, the City worked with
the mineral owners to better understand and
address this possibility and ultimately these
efforts lead to the Mountains to Plains Energy by
Design (EBD) planning process between the City;
Larimer County; The Nature Conservancy; and the
Colorado State Land Board, which is the owner of
a significant mineral estate underlying Soapstone
Prairie (The Nature Conservancy 2013).
74 Stewardship DRAFT July 31, 2014
resources (such as wetlands, rare species, nesting
bird habitat, viewshed corridors, and cultural
sites). Additionally, the approach entails a “no net
loss” strategy that requires the mining companies
to protect habitat of equal value or restore habitat
to equal value. This can be accomplished through
on-site or off-site mitigation (including land and
water conservation).
If energy development is to occur within City
natural areas or other conserved properties, a
process similar to EBD will occur to understand
how to best avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts
on natural, cultural, scenic, and recreational
values of the site.
The Natural Areas Department does own the
mineral estate underlying some properties.
Requests for leasing the minerals for development
will be denied in most cases. However, the
Department may use the opportunity to explore
pooling agreements to access the mineral estate
from inevitable off-site development to generate
income. Second, the Department will work to
leverage the value of the mineral estate to avoid,
minimize, and mitigate resource impacts from the
off-site development.
Soapstone Prairie Natural Area represents a unique
situation where the Department is working with
the State Land Board to lease the State’s underlying
mineral estate. The intent is to keep the minerals
in a nondevelopment status for a period of time.
However, given the checkerboard pattern of mineral
ownership, it is conceivable that an adjoining
private mineral owner will desire to develop their
mineral estate underlying an adjacent section. The
Department will use the EBD approach and work
with all interested parties toward an outcome
that avoids or minimizes impacts to the highest
resource values, and mitigates the impacts using a
“no net loss” strategy.
UTILITY EASEMENTS AND
RIGHTS-OF-WAY
As with any property, when land is acquired by
the Natural Areas Department all of the easements
granted by former landowners “run with the
land,” or are conveyed with the property to the
next landowner. These easements include utility
easements and road rights-of way. Properly
managing existing and new easements and rights-
of-way is an ongoing and important component of
protecting important resources on natural areas.
In 2001, the City of Fort Collins Natural Areas
and Open Lands Easement Policy was adopted to
establish the practices and procedures used to grant
requests for utility easements or rights-of-way on
City natural areas and other open lands managed by
the Natural Areas Department. This policy served
as the guidance document for negotiating and
granting easements and rights-of-way until 2013,
when an update to the policy was adopted by City
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 75
sewer, drainage, flood control, electric power,
wind generation, solar generation, pipelines,
oil and gas and minerals exploration, and
telecommunications facilities. The policy applies
to projects of the City and to those proposed by
other public entities, such as special Utility
Districts, and private parties. The policy does not
apply to trails, parking lots, interpretive features,
or other facilities that are proposed as part of the
management of public natural areas.
APPLICABILITY
The Natural Areas Department administers existing
and new requests for easements or rights-of-way
on owned and/or managed properties, as well
properties where the City holds a conservation
easement. Because these lands were acquired
by the City for the specific purpose of protecting
natural areas and other conserved lands, the
general policy regarding easements and rights-
of-way on natural areas properties is that any
application should be considered in that context
and approval should only be given if impacts are
minimized or eliminated, and the project cannot
reasonably be relocated to another property (City
of Fort Collins 2012).
ALTERNATIVES AND REGULATORY
CONSISTENCY
Applicants for easements or rights-of-way are
typically required to conduct an alternative route
analysis to seek out other alignments besides
crossing a natural area, and must demonstrate
why it is not economically or structurally feasibly
to do so. A summary of the alternative analysis
is presented to the Land Conservation and
Stewardship Board and City Council as part of the
approval process.
Additionally, applicants must show that their
project is consistent with applicable regulatory
guidance, City Plan Fort Collins (City of Fort
Collins 2011a), site-specific natural areas
management plans, and the Natural Areas Master
Plan. Applicants must also show that they have
coordinated with other utility providers with
infrastructure in the area to ensure that they do not
object or want to partner on a project to minimize
construction impacts. Finally, applicants must
adhere to the rights of existing easements or rights-
of-way on the property.
RESOURCE PROTECTION, COMPENSATION, AND
MITIGATION
Applicants are required to adhere to a comprehensive
list of Resource Protection Standards to help
ensure that the project will be completed in a high-
quality manner and ensure that impacts to wildlife,
vegetation, water courses, and other sensitive
natural systems are kept to a minimum.
The City is compensated for the value of the easement
or right-of-way across the property, typically in
cash compensation, but in-kind compensation can
76 Stewardship DRAFT July 31, 2014
REVIEW PROCESS
Applicants requesting an easement on a City-
owned natural area or conserved land are
required to arrange for a public meeting at which
information regarding the proposed easement and
related project will be provided, and at which
questions regarding the easement and related
project will be taken. The Land Conservation and
Stewardship Board then review the easement
proposal and makes a recommendation in its
advisory role to the City Council. Finally, since an
easement or right-of-way conveys a property right,
Council must approve the easement by ordinance.
Once a utility easement or right-of-way is
approved, Natural Areas Department staff monitor
the construction, restoration, and mitigation of the
project and work with the easement or right-of-way
holder to ensure that all project requirements and
restrictions are adhered to before a release of the
project is approved. The Natural Areas Department
will continue to use GIS technology to map
easements and rights-of-way on its properties, try
to vacate abandoned easements and rights-of-way,
and work with existing easement and right-of-way
owners to update agreements when opportunities
arise to include more contemporary easement
language and resource protection standards.
PRIVATE LAND MANAGEMENT
ASSISTANCE
Although Natural Areas Department staff are
always willing to provide any landowner
information or advice on protecting and enhancing
land for natural areas values, the two primary
means of assisting private landowners are through
conservation easements or the Certified Natural
Area Program.
CONSERVATION EASEMENT STEWARDSHIP
A perennial issue that arises in the ongoing
stewardship of conservation easement properties
is that of landowners being willing, but unable, to
enhance the conservation values of the site. For
example, while not required by the conservation
easement deed, replacing an existing stretch
of 5-strand barbed wire fencing with wildlife
friendly fencing would allow better movement of
wildlife through an important travel corridor. The
landowner may be willing to make the change,
but might not be able to afford efforts like this
not directly tied to the economic viability of their
operation. In the past, Department staff would
recommend the changes but not be able to partner
on making improvements.
Recognizing that the Natural Areas Department
has a vested and perpetual interest in the best
management of these easement properties, moving
forward the Department will consider establishing
a competitive grant process to work more pro-
actively with landowners on enhancement
projects. Such projects could include wildlife
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 77
NATURAL AREAS ENHANCEMENT FUND
The Natural Areas Department encourages site
management practices that focus on protecting,
restoring, and enhancing native animal and
plant communities on private lands certified
by the City as a natural area. City staff provides
assistance in the planning of site management
through the certification process. The Natural
Areas Enhancement Fund was created to provide
monetary assistance in the implementation of
management plans on private properties. Typically,
five to nine applicants receive funding from the
$15,000 available each year to plant native plants,
restore native grasslands, or remove exotic shrubs.
Since its inception in 1994, the Fund has provided
over $262,000 for enhancement of 65 sites. Thirty-
two homeowner associations, five neighborhood
groups, seven private landowners, eleven schools
from elementary to college, and two businesses
have been among the recipients over the last 19
years.
FACILITY OPERATIONS
The Natural Areas Facility Operations staff is
responsible for the maintenance of buildings that
support the Department’s staff and programs.
Natural Areas Department building needs are met
through natural areas dedicated tax revenues and
are not funded by the City’s General Funds through
the Facility Operations Service Area. In the past
ten years, the number of facilities increased from
one to six, primarily due to the expansion of the
Department’s conservation efforts to include
regional properties.
NIX FARM
The historic Nix Farm has been the Natural
Areas Department’s main facility since 2002. The
renovated 1920s-era home provides offices and
meeting space, while the early 1900s-era barn
and loafing sheds provide room for equipment
and materials storage. The maintenance shop,
constructed in 2002, provides crew work space
and secure equipment, tool, and vehicle storage.
Also on the property is small late-1800s-era house,
currently used for educational materials storage
and has not been remodeled yet.
Nix Farm Facility provides a central location for
Natural Areas Department staff and operations,
conveniently located near major roads that
provide efficient access to local natural areas.
The Nix complex is adjacent to over 1,000 acres
of protected natural areas along the Poudre River.
Designated as a local Historic District by the Fort
Collins Landmark Preservation Commission in
2001, both the historic barn and small house have
received State of Colorado Historic Preservation
Funds to stabilize and protect the structures.
Unfortunately, the renovated historic home was
not large enough to accommodate offices for all
Natural Areas Department staff, even in 2002.
78 Stewardship DRAFT July 31, 2014
PRIMROSE STUDIO
In 2001, the late Rob and Dorothy Udall, advocates
for conservation and social work, donated their
home, art studio, and about 26 acres of surrounding
land to the Natural Areas Department. The Udall’s
wish was that the land be conserved as part of the
adjacent Reservoir Ridge Natural Area and that the
studio be available for groups to use, in particular
nonprofit groups.
The remodeled Primrose Studio opened for public
rental in November 2007. The studio’s unique
design is inspired by the spectacular setting and
Dorothy Udall’s art, some of which is displayed
at Primrose Studio. Artist Barb McKee of Surface
Strategies, Inc., painted images of native grasses
from Dorothy’s compositions on the face of several
doors and cabinets as part of the City’s Art in
Public Places Program.
A building attendant for the Primrose Studio rents
the Udall’s former home on the property. The
attendant orients each rental group and is available
should an issue arise during the rental. Over the
last five years, the studio has been rented for up
to 140 days per year with May and August being
the most heavily rented months. Nonprofit and
government rates are reduced by half compared
to private groups. Other than routine maintenance
and minor improvements, no extensive new
improvements or additions are expected to be
needed over the next ten years for either the studio
or building attendant’s residence.
GATEWAY ON-SITE RANGER
Gateway Natural Area is owned by the City of Fort
Collins Water Utility, which still manages Poudre
River Canyon land surrounding the site for water
resources. The historic water treatment building
on the site dates back to 1903 when the facility
first opened. The site was opened for public
recreational use in the late 1930s but then closed
by the late 1970s. The City of Fort Collins Parks
and Recreation Department opened the Gateway
Mountain Park site again to the public in 2002.
In 2007, the Natural Areas Department took over
management of Gateway Mountain Park and
renamed it Gateway Natural Area.
Two homes on the property, built in the 1970s,
were retained for on-site ranger use. One is rented
to the ranger as a residence, and the other is used
for the ranger office and shop. In the last few years,
a room in the office building has also been rented
to a seasonal employee who helps the ranger
manage the site. Although the Gateway Facility
buildings have required routine maintenance and
minor improvements (e.g., energy conservation
features) over the last six years, no extensive new
improvements or additions are expected to be
needed over the next ten years. The Water Utility
owns and manages the historic water treatment
building, which is not open to the public.
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 79
Four historic structures to the east of the ranch
house are being restored with funds provided by
the History Colorado – Colorado Historic Fund and
the D.R. Pulliam Family Charitable Trust (former
owners of the property). Restoration of the 1888
chicken house and pioneer barn was completed in
2013. Restoration of the cinder block turkey house
and metal equipment shed will take place in 2014.
Only the equipment shed is currently being used
for storage.
FOSSIL CREEK RESERVOIR FACILITY
Fossil Creek Reservoir Regional Open Space was
opened to the public in 2004 by the Larimer County
Department of Natural Resources. The site, jointly
acquired and developed by the Natural Areas
Department and Larimer County, includes a small
building with public restrooms, ranger offices, and
a single-bay maintenance garage. In 2010, the City
started managing the site, in accordance with the
terms of an interagency agreement that provided for
transfer once the site was incorporated into the City
of Fort Collins Growth Management Area. In 2014,
the site was renamed Fossil Creek Reservoir Natural
Area and joined with over 930 acres of adjacent
parcels managed by the City. However, Larimer
County Department of Natural Resources rangers
continue to occupy the office and use the garage
in exchange for site patrol and light maintenance.
Repairs and any improvements to the facility are
the responsibility of the Natural Areas Department.
Larimer County rangers will move out of the facility
once their new ranger office facility is built, possibly
within the next ten years. At that time, the best use
for the office and garage may be for a satellite City
Ranger Office or perhaps a small education center.
SOAPSTONE PRAIRIE FACILITY
The Soapstone Prairie Facility consists of an
older 1960s-era cabin in usable condition for a
field office and a newer (2012) pole barn garage/
maintenance shop. These two buildings support
the Natural Areas technician and seasonal staff
assigned to the 22,000-plus acres of Soapstone
Prairie from March through November each year.
No additional structures are expected to be added
to the facility over the next ten years; however,
solar power may be added to the garage, which
currently relies on a gas generator. A 1960s-era
house and several older outbuildings exist on the
eastern boundary of the property and are currently
used to house a ranch manager employed by the
current grazing tenant.
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
The Natural Areas Department is committed
to environmental sustainability through
pollution prevention practices, recycling, waste
management, energy and water conservation, and
the implementation of best management practices.
Protection of natural habitats and features is at
the core of the Natural Areas Department mission;
80 Stewardship DRAFT July 31, 2014
The following policy statement was developed
from the Action Plan:
The City of Fort Collins will serve as a community
leader in sustainability by conducting daily
operations and through balanced stewardship of
human, financial, and environmental resources
for present and future generations.
The Natural Areas Department will continue to
embrace the City’s overall environmental policies
by reducing our operational environmental
impacts.
POLLUTION PREVENTION
Since 2009, the Natural Areas Department has
performed annual pollution prevention (P2)
assessments at the Nix Farm Facility and every few
years at Bobcat Ridge, Primrose Studio, Gateway,
Fossil Creek, and Soapstone facilities. The P2
assessments are intended to identify potential
pollution mitigation improvements, risks, and
mitigation actions. The systematic inspections
require a continual improvement approach to
pollution prevention, including, but not limited
to pesticide usage, recycling, inventory control,
housekeeping, and training. P2 assessments
have continually led to improvements with fuel
storage, chemical management, and recycling
efforts. Every year new opportunities are
identified and implemented. These assessments
are meant to review facility and field processes
and determine if any of those processes require
additional management or if there are additional
opportunities for improvement.
WASTE MANAGEMENT AND RECYCLING
The Natural Areas Department strongly emphasizes
the practice of recycling and waste management.
As the City of Fort Collins moves toward reducing
its overall waste, the Department continues to
be an early adopter of efforts to recycle office
materials (cardboard, paper, electronics, green
waste, plastics, and organics), as well as metal
and harder-to-recycle materials such as pesticide
containers.
In 2013, the Natural Areas Department recycled
the following:
• 27,588 pounds of metal
• 64 cubic yards of comingled papers, plastics,
and cardboard
• 107 signs and 52 pieces of Telespar signposts
• 139.6 tons of old concrete and pavers
• 832.5 cubic yards of organic material
(branches, grass, chipped trees, tree stumps)
• Additional items such herbicide containers
and electronics, batteries, furniture, and tires
abandoned on natural areas
ENERGY CONSERVATION
In 2012, the Natural Areas Department installed
solar panels atop the Nix Farm Shop building in
an ongoing effort to reduce the carbon emissions
associated with coal-derived power. The solar
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 81
year-to-date comparison), the presentation of fuel
reduction driving techniques, and an emphasis on
making responsible vehicle choices. For example,
predefined routes are used in order to reduce fuel
use associated with refuse collection and restroom
cleaning on natural areas.
WATER CONSERVATION
The Natural Areas Department has long been a
proponent of water-wise landscaping, using native
plant materials to reduce the requirements for
irrigation on natural areas and at facilities. Rain
sensors were installed at Nix Farm, Bobcat Ridge,
and Fossil Creek Reservoir to reduce the quantity
of water used for landscape irrigation, resulting in
an annual water reduction of 25%–50% per site.
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
The Natural Areas Department pursues the
implementation of additional best management
practices that act to reduce the impact of operations
on the environment.
PESTICIDE USE
Natural areas field technician training for use of
pesticides exceeds state and federal standards.
Additionally, the Natural Areas Department
conducts an annual review of the pesticide-related
toxicity literature to reevaluate the risk associated
with applications and to seek out effective, less
toxic pesticides.
The Department recognizes the risks associated
with the application of herbicides for weed control;
thus, it uses an integrated pest management
approach that emphasizes competitive plantings,
prescribed fire, and biological controls, where
appropriate. Staff tries to mitigate neighbor
conflicts with prairie dogs through public
education; early intervention; and, when
necessary, the use of rodenticides that cause the
least possible environmental impact.
NEW BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
The Natural Areas Department has just completed a
new office building at the Nix Farm Facility, adjacent
to the existing office building and operations shop.
The building was constructed to meet Leadership
in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold
Standards; however, the building was not actually
certified, partly because its size is under the City’s
5,000-square-foot threshold. The building is heated
and cooled by heat pumps using geothermal energy
from four 500-foot-deep geothermal wells; the
building envelope is extremely air tight and well
insulated; windows are designed for passive solar
heat gain in the winter and shading in the summer;
and photovoltaic solar panels provide a portion of
the electrical needs for the building. Solar tubes
have been installed on the second floor to use
natural lighting throughout the year.
FUTURE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
While the full benefits of implementing a
formal environmental management system are
82 Stewardship DRAFT July 31, 2014
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 83
LOOKING FORWARD
TO THE NEXT DECADE
AND BEYOND
Over the last ten years, the Natural Areas Department has tripled the acreage of conserved land,
substantially increased education and volunteer efforts, tackled monumental river and grassland
restoration projects, plunged into efforts to improve river health, expanded ranger and visitor
services to meet community needs, opened up a dozen new natural areas to the public, doubled the
miles of natural surface trails, protected regional and even globally important cultural resources, raised
the awareness of the need to protect local agricultural lands, stepped up environmental sustainability
efforts, and greatly improved numerous other aspects of land stewardship for the City’s natural areas.
Looking ahead, while the Department will continue to make land conservation a high priority, a greater
amount of revenues now needs to be placed on land stewardship simply because there is so much more
land to care for. At this time, the Department spends about 60% of its overall revenues on stewardship
activities and 40% on land and water conservation.
As from the beginning of the Natural Areas Program over 20 years ago, the Cache la Poudre River will
remain a high priority for the Department, with more emphasis on protecting and restoring the ecological
functions to help ensure that this working river continues to provide outstanding wildlife habitat,
recreational opportunities, and flood protection for the Fort Collins community.
While the Natural Areas Department, along with other Front Range conservation agencies, will likely
face some major challenges over the next decade and beyond, the Department looks forward to the many
outstanding opportunities to advance conservation for the Fort Collins community.
PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
The tremendous progress toward conservation and stewardship of natural areas in Fort Collins could
not have been made without the support of the community and numerous partners within and outside
of City government, as noted throughout this Master Plan. Moving forward, these partnerships will
continue to be extremely important over the next ten years to meet future Department priorities. A few
examples of key opportunities include:
Geese in migration
(Photo by Norm Keally)
84 Looking Forward to the Next Decade and Beyond DRAFT July 31, 2014
FUNDING
• Partner with other City departments,
government agencies, nonprofit organizations,
and private individuals and companies to
leverage financial resources.
• Seek grants from agencies such as Great
Outdoors Colorado, Colorado Parks and
Wildlife, the Natural Resources Conservation
Agency, History Colorado, Colorado Water
Conservation Board, among others to
supplement revenues.
STEWARDSHIP
• Implement habitat management activities
in partnership with fee owners of conserved
lands and/or other public lands to increase
regional biological diversity and species
richness.
• Collaborate with other City departments,
water users, and nonprofit organizations on
broad watershed issues to help protect and
improve water quality, water quantity, and
overall health of the Poudre River ecosystem.
RESEARCH
• Pursue opportunities with college students
and professionals to conduct research on
important topics, including climate change, site
inventories, management techniques, ecological
values, and recreational use, which will benefit
future management of natural areas.
PRIORITIES
The Natural Areas Department looks forward to
the next ten years with enthusiasm for continuing
land conservation and stewardship efforts to meet
the needs of the Fort Collins community. Priorities
emerging out of this Master Plan portray the
dedication to not only natural resource protection,
but efforts to restore ecosystem functions, enhance
recreational experiences, expand community
outreach, and maintain visitor safety. Agriculture
lands, cultural resources, and environmental
sustainability are recognized as valuable
components of the natural areas system.
In all, the Department has established 36 priorities
for the next ten years:
LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION
A fundamental guiding principle of this Master
Plan is to maintain the Department’s core focus
on biologically significant lands, or lands that
have the potential to contribute to biological
integrity and richness. An additional principle is
to acquire water in order to enhance and sustain
habitat; to link it to appropriate lands (such as
productive farmland); and, to satisfy water rights
Continuing the Natural Areas
Success Story
The Natural Areas Department will
continue to:
• Aspire to its vision: Through the
work of the Natural Areas Department,
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 85
administrative obligations. Based on these
principles and the focus areas and in order of
priority the Department will conserve:
• Lands within the local focus areas particularly
the Poudre River, the Bellvue area, and
adjoining foothills.
• Agricultural land in the Wellington Separator.
• Regional lands as opportunities and funding
permit.
THE CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER
• Help convene City departments, water
users, and nonprofit organizations on broad
watershed issues to further protect and
improve water quality, water quantity, and
overall health of the Poudre River ecosystem.
• Work to sustain and improve water flows to
boost ecologic function of the Poudre and
other important streams.
• Implement restoration projects that connect
the river to its floodplain, create abundant
wildlife habitat, improve aesthetics, and
provide recreational opportunities.
• Develop and implement comprehensive
water augmentation and water supply plans
to address water administration needs for
consumptive and non-consumptive water use.
EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND VOLUNTEER
COORDINATION
• Use diverse and creative strategies to connect
people to nature.
• Ensure offerings engage and reflect the
demographics and diversity of the entire
community.
• Meet the community’s expectation to give
back to the places they love by expanding
opportunities for service learning and other
volunteer involvement.
Gateway Natural Play Area (Photo by Jen Shanahan)
Poudre River (Photo by Norm Keally)
Reservoir Ridge Natural Area (Photo by Norm Keally)
86 Looking Forward to the Next Decade and Beyond DRAFT July 31, 2014
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
• Substantially complete grassland restoration
in southwest Fort Collins and foothills natural
areas.
• Reintroduce endangered or threatened native
wildlife into suitable landscapes including
the black-footed ferret and bison to Soapstone
Prairie Natural Area.
• Aspire to create “Wilderness in the City” –
places that feel wild and remote and exceed
traditional expectations for urban natural areas.
RANGER AND VISITOR SERVICES
• Maintain high quality customer service, as
measured by Citizen Survey reports.
• Conduct daily patrols of natural areas and
trails to provide visitor safety, assistance
and education while protecting natural and
cultural resource values.
• Collaborate with Social Sustainability
Department and Police Services to resolve
homeless issues.
• Monitor visitor use and capacity and seek out
techniques to resolve multiuse conflicts.
RECREATION, PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS,
FACILITIES
• Construct improvements to open sites in the
natural areas network not yet open to the public.
• In collaboration with other agencies and
departments, improve access to the Poudre
River by completing at least three new parking
lots and associated trail connections.
• Use innovative design and management
techniques to adapt to changing environmental
and recreational conditions while not exceeding
visitor use carrying capacity of each site.
• Maintain a natural surface trail system that
supports a variety of recreational experiences,
while minimizing user conflicts and negative
impacts on conservation values. Improve trail
sustainability and connectivity.
• Expand the spectrum of recreational
opportunities compatible with the Natural
Areas Department mission, such as sport and
family-friendly fishing, areas for solitude, off-
trail nature exploration, natural play areas for
children, and limited hunting opportunities.
• Proactively maintain all staff facilities to
reduce future repair costs, expand Nix Farm
Facility shop and remodel small historic
house to meet anticipated operational needs,
and make energy and safety improvements to
Anheuser-Busch volunteers planting shrubs on Kingfisher Point all facilities.
Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department
Photo)
Snapping turtle on Cottonwood Hollow Natural Area (Photo by
Norm Keally)
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 87
CULTURAL RESOURCES
• Use primarily non-departmental resources,
including grants, to conserve and restore
cultural resources.
• Develop policies to guide the Department in
funding and managing cultural resources.
• Pursue state or federal historic designation for
noteworthy structures, such as the Warren Ranch
buildings on Soapstone Prairie Natural Area.
LOCAL AGRICULTURE
• Conserve working agricultural lands with
prime soils and water, including lands that
can be used for local food production typically
through conservation easement acquisitions.
• Pursue both resource conservation and
agricultural activities on conserved working
farms and ranches.
• Utilize appropriate agriculture-based
management activities such as haying and
grazing as a tool to aid in restoration and to help
replace lost or impacted ecological processes.
MANAGEMENT PLANNING AND
IMPLEMENTATION, ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY
• Prepare or update management plans and
agreements for all natural area sites.
• Document mineral ownership and develop
a minerals extraction policy that helps to
avoid, minimize, or mitigate negative impacts
on natural areas from energy development.
Investigate opportunities for mineral
purchase or lease arrangements that benefit
the Department’s conservation mission.
• Influence Utility Easements and Rights-of-
Way projects on natural areas to minimize
impacts and maximize mitigation efforts to
achieve Department goals. Update agreements
and vacate abandoned rights-of way to
contemporary standards.
• Support the City’s Planning Department’s
efforts to protect natural resources through
the development review process.
• Support the City Planning Department’s
Nature in the City effort, a long-range planning
program to ensure all residents have access to
nature close to where they live and work.
• Manage the perpetual stewardship
responsibilities for City-held conservation
easements using best management practices
(BMPs) and establish an enhancement
grant program for conservation easement
landowners.
• Expand internal Facility Operations Pollution
Prevention Team and set targets for ongoing
environmental sustainability improvements.
Bobcat Ridge Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas
Department Photo)
Cribari II Conservation Easement (City of Fort Collins Natural
Areas Department Photo)
88 Looking Forward to the Next Decade and Beyond DRAFT July 31, 2014
CHALLENGES
Although it is impossible to predict all the
challenges that the Natural Areas Department will
face over the next decade, the top three challenges
that emerge throughout this Master Plan are:
1. Financial—if Larimer County’s “Help
Preserve Open Space” ¼–cent sales tax
would not be extended beyond the 2018
sunset. This sales tax provides approximately
one-third of the Department’s revenues.
Larimer County officials currently are
planning to refer the measure to the ballot in
fall of 2014.
2. Visitor Carrying Capacity—if the number of
people recreating in natural areas increases
to the point of negatively impacting
resources and visitor experience beyond
acceptable levels. Population estimates for
Colorado are projected to nearly double
to between 8.6 and 10 million people by
2050 (State of Colorado 2011), with Larimer
County having one of the highest populations
in the State. Fort Collins alone is projected
to add nearly 100,000 people by 2040
(North Front Range Metropolitan Planning
Organization 2014).
3. Climate Change—if global climate warming
and/or occurrence of extreme weather
events continue to increase. A recent study
conducted on behalf of Fort Collins found
that by 2050 average annual temperatures
are likely to increase from about 2.5 to 3.5
degrees Fahrenheit (Rocky Mountain Climate
Organization 2014). The impacts of higher
heat on natural resources are likely to be
profound, including shifts in floral and
faunal communities, increased fire events,
and alteration in the Cache la Poudre water
temperature, flows, and water quality and
quantity.
Clearly, Fort Collins’ natural areas will be affected
by these regional and global trends of increased
human populations and climate change, but with
the support of the community, including the voters
of Larimer County, the Natural Areas Department
will continue to play an important role in meeting
these challenges over the next decade and beyond.
"The portion of the planet characterized as urban is
on track to triple from 2000 to 2030—that is, we are
already almost halfway there. Meanwhile, 17 percent
of the 800 or so North American bird species are in
decline, and all 20 species on the Audubon Society's
list of 'common birds in decline' have lost at least half
their population since 1970."
Richard Conniff
Urban Nature: How to Foster
Biodiversity in World's Cities
Yale Environment 360, January 6, 2014
Storm over the Poudre River at North Shields Ponds Natural Area
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 89
REFERENCES
City of Fort Collins. 2014. Poudre River Downtown Master Plan. City of Fort Collins, Park Planning,
Utilities, and Natural Areas, Fort Collins, Colo. [XX pp.]. [Not final yet]. http://www.fcgov.com/
poudre-downtown/.
City of Fort Collins. 2013. Paved Recreational Trail Master Plan. City of Fort Collins, Park Planning and
Development, Fort Collins, Colo. 19 pp. + appendices.
City of Fort Collins. 2012. Natural Areas and Conserved Lands Easement Policy. City of Fort Collins,
Natural Areas Department, Fort Collins, Colo. 7 pp.
City of Fort Collins. 2011a. City Plan Fort Collins. City of Fort Collins, Planning Department, Fort Collins,
Colo. 165 pp. + appendices
City of Fort Collins. 2011b. Cache la Poudre River Natural Areas Management Plan Update. City of Fort
Collins, Natural Areas Program, Fort Collins, Colo. 147 pp. + appendices.
City of Fort Collins. 2010. Natural Areas and Trail Rangers Field Training Officer Handbook. City of Fort
Collins, Natural Areas Program, Fort Collins, Colo. 46 pp.
City of Fort Collins. 2008. Natural Areas and Trail Rangers Policies and Procedures Manual. City of Fort
Collins, Natural Areas Program, Fort Collins, Colo. 51 pp.
City of Fort Collins. 2007a. Wildlife Management Guidelines. City of Fort Collins, Natural Areas Program,
Fort Collins, Colo. 96 pp. + appendices.
City of Fort Collins. 2007b. Soapstone Prairie Natural Area Management Plan. City of Fort Collins,
Natural Areas Program, Fort Collins, Colo. 101 pp. + appendices.
City of Fort Collins. 2004a. Action Plan for Sustainability: Policy and Recommended Strategies. City of
Fort Collins, Fort Collins, Colo. 20 pp. + appendices.
City of Fort Collins. 2004b. Land Conservation and Stewardship Master Plan. City of Fort Collins, Natural
Areas Program, Fort Collins, Colo. 46 pp. + appendices.
City of Fort Collins. 1998. Fossil Creek Reservoir Area Plan. City of Fort Collins, Planning Department,
Fort Collins, Colo. 42 pp.+ appendices.
City of Fort Collins. 1992. City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Policy Plan. City of Fort Collins, Natural
Resources Division, Fort Collins, Colo. 98 pp. + 5 Technical Memoranda.
City of Fort Collins. 1974. The Open Space Plan: An Element in the Comprehensive Plan of the City of
Fort Collins. City of Fort Collins, Planning Division, Fort Collins, Colo. 27 pp.
90 References DRAFT July 31, 2014
Colorado Conservation Trust. 2012. Colorado’s Rapidly Increasing Population: Impacts on Our Land and
Water. Presentation, Spring 2012.
Design Workshop. 2012. Plug in to Nature: Finding Connections to the Outdoors for Youth and Families
in Larimer County. Larimer County Open Lands, Loveland, Colo. 91 pp.
Ecological Response Model Team. 2014. Ecological Response Model for the Cache la Poudre River. City
of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department, [XX pp.]. [Not final yet].
Kay-Linn Enterprises. 2013. Overland Mountain Bike Club Trail Vision Plan. Overland Mountain Bike
Club, Fort Collins, Colo. 14 pp.
Larimer County. 2013. Our Lands – Our Future: Recreation and Conservation Choices for Northern
Colorado. Larimer County Open Lands, Loveland, Colo. 95 pp.
Louv, R. 2011. The Nature Principle: Human Restoration and the End of Nature-Deficit Disorder.
Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, N.C. 352 pp.
Louv, R. 2005. Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. Algonquin
Books of Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, N.C. 336 pp.
National Research Center. 2011. City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Resident Survey Report of Results.
National Research Center, Inc., Boulder, Colo. 20 pp. + appendices.
North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization. 2014. Socio-Economic Forecast. [XX pp.]. [Not
final yet]. http://nfrmpo.org/Projects/SocioEconomic.aspx.
Rocky Mountain Climate Organization. 2014. Fort Collins Extreme Heat. The Rocky Mountain Climate
Organization, Louisville, Colo. 14 pp. + appendices.
Sargent-Michaud, J. 2010. A Return on Investment: The Economic Value of Colorado’s Conservation
Easements. The Trust for Public Land, Washington D.C. 9 pp.
State of Colorado. 2011. Colorado’s Water Supply Future: Colorado Water Conservation Board Statewide
Water Supply Initiative 2010. Final Report. Colorado Water Conservation Board, Denver, Colo.
240 pp.
The Nature Conservancy. 2013. Mountains to Plains Energy by Design Report to the Colorado State Land
Board. The Nature Conservancy, Fort Collins, Colo. 53 pp. + appendices.
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 A-1
APPENDIX A
2014 CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION TO
ADOPT THE NATURAL AREAS MASTER PLAN
(PENDING)
Place holder for now
A-2 Appendix A DRAFT July 31, 2014
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 B-1
APPENDIX B
2011 CITY PLAN PRINCIPLES AND POLICIES
The following are excerpts from the “Principles and Policies for Economic Sustainability, Land
Conservation, and Stewardship of Natural Areas” section of the City Plan Fort Collins (City of
Fort Collins Planning Department 2011).
PPrinciple ENV 2
Open lands and natural areas within Fort Collins, the Growth Management Area, and the region
will be conserved, preserved, and protected to provide habitat essential to the conservation of
plants, animals, and their associated ecosystems, and to benefit the citizens of Fort Collins by
providing opportunities for education, scientific research, nature interpretation, fishing, wildlife
observation, hiking, and other appropriate recreation activities, and protecting view-sheds.
Policy ENV 2.1 – Maintain System of Open Lands
Maintain a system of publicly-owned open lands to protect the integrity of wildlife habitat and
conservation sites, protect corridors between natural areas, conserve outstanding examples of
Fort Collins' diverse natural heritage, and provide a broad range of opportunities for educational,
interpretive, and recreational programs to meet community needs.
Policy ENV 2.2 – Outreach to the Public
Promote understanding and enjoyment of local and regional open lands through appropriate
recreational activities, formal and non-formal education, and interpretive programs.
Policy ENV 2.3 – Partner, Collaborate, and Coordinate on Open Lands
Develop effective local and regional partnerships, and collaborate and coordinate within the City,
and with other public and private agencies for the protection and conservation of locally and
regionally valued open lands. Also, seek the cooperation and assistance of citizens, businesses,
community groups, conservation organizations, and governmental agencies in the development
and implementation of programs to protect and conserve local and regional open lands.
Policy ENV 2.4 – Inventory Open Lands
Develop and maintain a data inventory on local and regional open lands to aid the City and the
public in decisions about these areas, including management of publicly owned lands.
Policy ENV 2.5 – Provide Land Conservation and Stewardship
Acquire, manage, maintain, and enhance public open lands and natural areas in accordance with
the 2004 Land Conservation and Stewardship Master Plan (including the plan’s Conservation
Focus Areas Map) to ensure the ongoing conservation of plants and animals in need of protection
and their associated ecosystems, to support biodiversity, to control the invasion and spread of
undesirable non-native plants, to improve aesthetics, and to provide opportunities for appropriate
public use.
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 B-
Policy ENV 2.6 – Manage Conflicts
Manage conflicts between people and public open lands through site design, public information
and education, habitat manipulation, and plant and animal population management techniques.
Policy ENV 2.7 – Involve and Inform the Public
Involve citizens in planning the management of public open lands, and collect, maintain, and
distribute up-to-date information about publicly owned open lands including maps, reports on the
conservation values and current resource conditions, and reports on the management needs of
local and regional open lands.
Policy ENV 2.8 – Seek Supplemental Funding Sources
Seek supplemental funding sources to further implement open lands policies and programs
including private, State, and Federal grants and donations of money, property, and in-kind
services.
Policy ENV 2.9 – Provide Access
Design trail routes in open lands to minimize ecological impacts, while enhancing access and
recreation. Determination of type of trail or suitability for access will be made through an
analysis of potential ecological impacts and recreation needs. Special attention will be given to
environmentally sensitive trail design, location, and construction.
PPrinciple ENV 3
Open lands will benefit the City by providing a well-defined edge, establishing community
separators, directing development, and conserving rural character.
Policy ENV 3.1 – Utilize Conservation Tools
Purchase open lands and conservation easements, and use other tools such as development
regulations, transfer of development rights, and Growth Management Area planning for the
purposes of defining and protecting community edges and establishing community separators.
Policy ENV 3.2 – Plan for Community Separators
Identify strategic open lands that serve as community separators outside the Growth
Management Area for either public ownership or other land conservation measures.
Policy ENV 3.3 – Coordinate to Create Community Separators
Actively work with local, regional, State, and Federal agencies, as well as private entities, to
acquire open lands and conservation easements to create community separators.
Principle ENV 4
The City will pursue new opportunities to provide multifunctional open lands.
B- Appendix B DRAFT July 31, 2014
Policy ENV 4.1 – Improve Connectivity
Explore opportunities for land conservation partnerships between Stormwater, Parks and
Recreation, Transportation and Natural Areas departments to provide and enhance trail corridors
to connect open lands; to enhance wildlife habitat and corridors; and, to improve bicycle and
pedestrian access to schools, parks, natural areas, rivers, shopping areas, and neighborhoods.
Policy ENV 4.2 – Enhance and Restore Streams
Explore opportunities for Stormwater, Parks and Recreation, and Natural Areas departments to
partner on acquiring and rehabilitating lands to enhance streams.
Policy ENV 4.3 – Improve Water Quality and Detention
Explore opportunities for Stormwater, Parks and Recreation, and Natural Areas departments to
partner on acquiring lands to incorporate stormwater systems that improve water quality and
contribute to the ecologic functioning of urban watersheds.
Policy ENV 4.4 – Provide Neighborhood Natural Areas
Explore opportunities for Stormwater, Parks and Recreation, and Natural Areas departments to
partner on acquiring lands for neighborhood natural areas.
Policy ENV 4.6 – Utilize Corridors
Provide public access, promote wildlife movement, and link neighborhoods, parks, and activity
centers, commercial centers, and streets through a network of open lands and trails along
streams, drainageways, and irrigation ditch corridors, where compatible with natural habitats,
utilizing environmentally sensitive trail design.
PPrinciple ENV 5
To reduce net community energy use for new construction from conventional fossil fuel sources,
the City will expand on current efforts and develop new strategies for increased energy
efficiency and use of renewable energy.
Policy ENV 5.1 – Demonstrate Leadership in Public Buildings
Serve as a model to the community by building public facilities to a higher energy efficiency
standard than applies to other buildings (e.g., Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) Gold certification) and by using on-site renewable energy in new buildings and facilities
where technically and economically practical.
Principle ENV 24
The City will support a healthy and resilient Cache la Poudre ecosystem and protect, enhance
and restore the ecological values of the River
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 B-
Policy ENV 24.1 – Support Ecological Resilience
Support a healthy river ecosystem that is resilient; i.e., a river ecosystem that has the capacity to
persist and adapt over time in the face of natural and human-caused challenges. Protect or
enhance opportunities for natural processes to drive ecosystem renewal.
Policy ENV 24.2 – Conserve Natural Features
Conserve and protect important natural areas and natural values within the Poudre River
Corridor. This will include acquiring land for public natural areas and conservation easements to
protect natural area values on privately owned lands, establishing appropriate cooperative
agreements with adjacent landowners, developing and applying development regulations and
design standards, and promoting public education and outreach programs and other appropriate
techniques.
Policy ENV 24.4 – Restore and Enhance
Restore or enhance degraded or disturbed areas of the Poudre River Corridor to improve natural
habitat conditions, biodiversity, and aesthetic and recreational values. Restoration and
enhancement projects may be performed cooperatively with adjacent private landowners and
volunteer community groups.
Policy ENV 24.5 – Coordinate to Provide Adequate Instream Flows
Work to quantify and provide adequate instream flows to maintain the ecological functionality,
and recreational and scenic values of the Cache la Poudre River through Fort Collins.
PPrinciple ENV 25
The City will provide enhanced recreation opportunities within the Poudre River Corridor, with
an emphasis on scenic values, heritage education, and interpretation while avoiding or
minimizing impacts to environmentally sensitive areas.
Policy ENV 25.1 – Minimize Impacts
Locate and design recreational features within the Poudre River Corridor in a way that avoids or
minimizes impacts to natural areas, wildlife habitat, water quality, and other environmental
values.
Principle ENV 27
Historic landmarks, cultural landscapes, and scenic and aesthetic qualities will be protected
within the Poudre River Corridor.
Policy ENV 27.1 – Protect Historic Landmarks and Cultural Landscapes
Protect historic landmarks and significant cultural landscapes within the Cache la Poudre River
National Heritage Area, which extends for 45 miles and includes the lands within the River’s
100-year floodplain. Protection of the historic and cultural resources will be accomplished using
B- Appendix B DRAFT July 31, 2014
land acquisition, local landmark designation, conservation easements, land use policies, and
development and design standards.
Policy ENV 27.4 – Restore and Enhance
Restore or enhance degraded or disturbed areas of the Poudre River Corridor to improve
ecological conditions, aesthetics, and recreation access. Restoration and enhancement projects
may be performed cooperatively with private landowners and volunteer community groups.
PPrinciple ENV 28
The City will encourage learning and community awareness of the Poudre River’s historic,
cultural, and natural heritage through education and interpretation.
Policy ENV 28.1 – Support Educational and Environmental Learning Opportunities
Support and provide historical, cultural, and environmental learning opportunities in the Poudre River
Corridor. The Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area was formed to provide for the interpretation
of the unique and significant contributions of cultural and historic lands, waterways, and structures to
our national heritage. Integrate education with interpretation, which may include interpretive trails and
educational facilities as well as outdoor laboratories for lessons on wildlife habitat, gravel extraction and
reclamation, floodplain management, rural heritage, farming, pollution prevention, and conservation/
reconstruction of historic sites and structures.
Principle ENV 29
The City will collaborate with gravel mining interests to ensure that mining operations are
conducted to meet community values and restore ecological function.
Policy ENV 29.1 – Gravel Mined Land Purchases
Evaluate areas along the Poudre River that have been mined for gravel for acquisition for public
open lands purposes.
Principle LIV 42
Rural lands and agricultural land uses will be a valuable component of Fort Collins’ economy,
culture, and heritage, and be used to create an edge to the community.
Policy LIV 42.1 – Protect Rural Lands
Work with Larimer County to protect rural lands, including agricultural and low intensity
residential areas that form part of a community separator. Work with the County on the planning
of new residential development adjacent to the Growth Management Area, encouraging clustered
development to protect rural lands.
Policy LIV 42.2 – Encourage Agricultural Uses
Encourage sustainable agricultural uses that are compatible with watershed qualities and wildlife
habitats.
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 B-
Policy LIV 42.3 – Collaborate on Rural Lands Development
Develop and maintain effective partnerships with Larimer County, other governmental
organizations and jurisdictions, and the private sector for the protection of rural landscapes and
the continuance of regional agricultural activities.
PPrinciple SW 2
The City will provide opportunities for residents to lead healthy and active lifestyles.
Policy SW 2.1 – Plan and Maintain Facilities
Provide opportunities for engagement, activity, and recreation through the ongoing maintenance
of existing facilities and planning for new recreational and cultural facilities, bicycle lanes,
sidewalks, parks, trails, and natural areas in accordance with the Parks and Recreation Policy
Plan, Land Conservation and Stewardship Master Plan, and Cultural Plan.
Principle HI 1
Encourage and celebrate volunteerism and philanthropy throughout the community.
Policy HI 1.3 – Welcome and Support Volunteerism in the City Organization
Provide a range of opportunities for citizens to volunteer for and learn about the City of Fort
Collins organization (e.g., Citizens Police Academy, City Works 101, Natural Areas, Parks and
Recreation, and other opportunities).
B- Appendix B DRAFT July 31, 2014
B-2 Appendix B DRAFT July 31, 2014
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 C-1
APPENDIX C
“OUR LANDS – OUR FUTURE”
RESULTS FOR FORT COLLINS
IIntroduction to “Our Lands – Our Future”
With the recognition that change will inevitably occur and that unprotected open land is a
diminishing resource in the urbanizing Front Range, Larimer County and all of its municipalities
joined together in 2012 to analyze the challenges, opportunities, and possible gaps in their
collective land conservation, stewardship, and outdoor recreation programs and portfolios. All of
the local government programs in Larimer County are motivated by a desire for coordinated,
science-based planning to conserve land-based resources and meet public recreation needs and
desires. The local governments assembled a county-wide Partners Team and Advisory Board
consisting of individuals intended to represent the diversity of Larimer County.
The Partners Team and Advisory Board guided a precedent-setting, county-wide study and
comprehensive program of public engagement to document the conservation values and outdoor
recreational preferences of Larimer County residents, and develop a grassroots vision for the
future of the county’s critical landscapes (Larimer County 2013). Between June 2012 and June
2013, over 4,200 citizens offered their feedback through statistically valid surveys, regional
events, interactive online geographic information system (GIS) scenarios, participation of all
open space advisory boards across the county, and over 45 local presentations.
Public Input Received Apart from “Our Lands – Our Future”
The Our Lands – Our Future study built upon a number of previous and ongoing outreach efforts
and partnerships in an effort to continuously understand stakeholders and be responsive to public
preferences regarding land conservation, stewardship, and recreation efforts. Numerous quality
of life surveys, along with specific land conservation and recreation surveys, have demonstrated
that Larimer County and Fort Collins citizens remain enthusiastic about land conservation and
passive outdoor recreation, with high program performance ratings in all surveys – a finding that
mirrors statewide trends. For example, when asked to rate a list of programs offered by the City
of Fort Collins, the most favorable quality ratings in 2012 were often natural areas and open
space (94% “very good” or “good”), recreational trails (93%), and parks (93%). While residents
felt that less effort and funding is needed for parks and recreation, more effort is needed for
environmental protection and land conservation (National Research Center 2012). A separate
survey in 2013 asked County residents to list “the top three to five things Larimer County should
focus on in the future.” Protection of open spaces was seen as the single most important concern
(Gilliland 2013).
Survey Methods
Our Lands – Our Future study conducted two surveys through the survey firm RRC Associates
of Boulder, Colorado: one in 2012 and a follow-up survey in 2013. The survey program was
designed to probe usage characteristics of parks, trails, and other facilities; community values
with respect to natural areas; satisfaction with current facilities; the importance of various natural
area features; views on natural area and trail management; and communication. This feedback
and subsequent analysis were designed to assist the partner agencies in future planning and
policy formulation efforts.
C-2 Appendix C DRAFT July 31, 2014
Findings were organized around the following subject areas:
About Individuals and Their Household
Outlines respondent demographics, such as the location of residence and years spent
living in Larimer County, and size and makeup of the household.
Use of Natural Areas/Nature-Based Facilities
Explores the frequency of visits to countywide natural areas, the location of these visits,
and reasons that inhibit use of natural areas. This section also provides an in-depth look at
the activities commonly participated in by respondents, children in the household, and the
household overall.
Values Placed on Natural Areas
Investigates attitudes regarding conservation/acquisition and recreation. Respondents
were asked about funding allocation and preferred sources of funding.
Communication
Presents results on current and preferred methods of receiving information about natural
areas. Respondents’ familiarity with natural areas and natured-based opportunities in the
county is also examined.
Then and Now
Compares similarities and differences between respondents’ preferences reported in these
2012/2013 surveys and those reported in a similar survey conducted in 2001.
Suggestions and Comments (Open-Ended Responses)
Respondents had many opportunities to express opinions, including elaborating on
“other” items not listed within survey questions, voicing additional comments or
suggestions regarding methods to obtain additional funding, commenting on land
conservation priorities, and other considerations related to natural areas important to
them. Open-ended responses totaled over 153 pages.
The methods and major findings with particular relevance to the Natural Areas Master Plan are
summarized below. Fort Collins results (in red) are isolated from all other Larimer County
responses (in blue), which include other cities, towns, and unincorporated areas, for questions
where more than a 5% difference exists.
2012 Survey Methods
The first survey in 2012 was conducted using three methods: (1) a mail-back survey, (2) an
online invitation-only survey to further stimulate response from those residents already within
the defined random sample, and (3) an open link online survey for members of the public who
were not part of the random sample. A total of 7,500 surveys were mailed to a random sample of
Larimer County residents in August 2012, with 7,250 being delivered after subtracting
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 C-3
undeliverable mail. The final sample size for this statistically valid survey was 922, resulting in a
response rate of 12.7% and a margin of error of approximately +/-3.4% points.
1
Results from the
open link survey generated an additional 1,248 responses.
2
In total, 2,170 responses were
received, of which 1,170 (54%) were Fort Collins residents. Throughout this document, the
sample size used for the survey results is approximately 2,170 (both the open-link and invitation
survey).
2013 Follow-Up Survey Methods
A follow-up web survey in early 2013 gathered additional information concerning planning and
funding for open lands, land conservation, and an assessment of user experiences. Surveys were
mailed to participants that provided emails and expressed a willingness to participate. In addition
an “open link” version of the survey was again created and publicized at public meetings. The
open-link version of the survey provided an opportunity for a broad cross section of County
residents to participate in the follow-up survey. It collected 324 responses from the original
sample of participants (termed the Invitation respondents) and 344 from the open link
respondents. The follow-up survey results present a tool for further examining local opinions and
evaluating relative preferences for various options.
3
Results from the resampled respondents and
open-link respondents are, for the most part, similar, which indicates that there are widely held
opinions on most of the topics measured through this survey.
1 For the total random sample size of 922 margin of error is +/-3.4% calculated for questions at 50% response. Note
that the margin of error is different for every single question response on the survey depending on the resultant
sample sizes, proportion of responses, and number of answer categories for each question. Comparison of
differences in the data between various segments, therefore, should take into consideration these factors. As a
general comment, it is sometimes more appropriate to focus attention on the general trends and patterns in the data
rather than on the individual questions.
2 As responses to the open-link version of the questionnaire are “self-selected” and not a part of the randomly
selected sample of residents, results from the open-link questionnaire differed in some cases from the results of the
other two methods. However, the results of the questions presented in this section were not significantly affected by
the open-link survey responses.
3 Unlike the random sample of respondents to the 2012 survey, the follow-up survey was based on randomly
sampled respondents who expressed a willingness to participate in the Our Lands – Our Future study. Therefore, the
methods allowed for greater self-selection than the first survey. As a result, the responses should be used with some
caution—they were not randomly obtained nor are statistically valid—but offer one more valuable means of
understanding public preferences.
C-4 Appendix C DRAFT July 31, 2014
SSurvey Findings
Just over half of the survey respondents resided in Fort Collins (54%), which allowed for a
nearly even comparison of survey results between Fort Collins and the rest of Larimer County.
While the sample size of Fort Collins residents was similar to that of the rest of the county, the
demographics of Fort Collins respondents differed notably. The majority of respondents from
Fort Collins were in the age groups of 35–49 or under, with the 18–24 age student group most
represented. At the same time, the older age group was also overrepresented, with both City
respondents above age 65 (13%) and County respondents (23%) exceeding the census profile for
Fort Collins (9%) and Larimer County (13%). This generally reflects the actual demographics in
the region, as the median age in Fort Collins is 29, and that of Larimer County as a whole is 35
(U.S. Census Bureau 2010).
Part of the difference in age profiles for Fort Collins compared to the rest of the county can be
explained by the large presence of college students in Fort Collins. Twenty percent of Fort
Collins respondents were students, compared to only 6% of the other Larimer County
respondents. As such, both age and student status should be considered when reviewing the
survey results.
Survey Question:
Which of the following areas best describes the location of your home in the county?
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 C-5
Fort Collins
Larimer County
Survey Question:
Age of respondent.
Fort Collins
Larimer County
Survey Question:
Are you currently a student?
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%
18 - 24
25 - 34
35 - 49
50 - 64
65 or older
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Yes
No
C-6 Appendix C DRAFT July 31, 2014
Walking, hiking, running, and biking on either pavement or natural surfaces are the most
common activities engaged in by respondents, children in their household, and the household
overall for both Fort Collins and the rest of Larimer County. Overall, Fort Collins residents
reported greater satisfaction with nearly all activities offered than other county residents, though
satisfaction with these activities is generally high for the county as a whole.
Frequent walking, hiking, running, and biking activity emerges in other parts of the survey as
well. Respondents plan to increase their participation in these activities within the next year, and
would like to see more land or facilities provided for walking/hiking/running on natural surfaces
and pavement, and biking on paved trails. Similar to the rest of Larimer County, the top activities
Fort Collins residents identified were walking/hiking/running on natural surfaces (53%) and
paved surfaces (46%), as well as biking on paved trails (52%). For Fort Collins residents, these
activities were closely followed by camping (44%), biking on roads (37%), and fishing (34%).
The top ten activities with an anticipated increase in participation were generally similar for both
Fort Collins and the rest of the county, though the order of activities varied slightly. On the
whole, more Fort Collins residents plan to increase their participation in nearly all activities than
other county residents, with the exception of motorized boating and wildlife watching/birding.
Related to increased activity participation, respondents also identified up to three activities for
which they would like to see more land or facilities provided. Seven of the top ten activities
differed only slightly between Fort Collins and the rest of Larimer County—
walking/hiking/running on both natural and paved surfaces, biking on paved trails, camping,
fishing, recreating with dogs, and watching wildlife/birding. In comparing Fort Collins to the
greater region, there was greater demand from the city’s residents for shooting/archery, road
biking, and backpacking/backcountry camping.
From both sets of responses, there is very high demand for new trails (both natural and paved
surface), additional on-street bike facilities, and moderate demand for added shooting/archery,
fishing, recreating with dogs, and camping opportunities to serve Fort Collins residents, so
increasing opportunities to engage in these activities may be worthwhile.
Despite high participation rates and considerable demand for an array of recreational activities,
there are still barriers that prevent Fort Collins and Larimer County residents from using natural
areas and nature-based facilities to the extent they would prefer. In Fort Collins, a lack of
awareness and/or time is most likely to prevent someone from using natural areas or nature-
based facilities. Interesting, cost was also a factor despite the fact that no user fees are charged at
Fort Collins natural areas, with the exception of Gateway. In the rest of the county, the
preference for federal lands or other parks outside the county is a much greater barrier. This
indicates that Fort Collins resident would prefer to recreate within Larimer County and closer to
home, but are more constrained by time and cost factors than other county residents. The results
also suggest a need for more targeted communication efforts regarding the free, nature-based
recreation opportunities available in Fort Collins.
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 C-7
Fort Collins
Larimer County
Survey Question:
Identify which activities your household plans to increase participation in
over the next 12 months.
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Large group picknicking (10 people or more)
Other
Snowmobiling
Geocaching
Community gardening
Education programming (learning about nature and history)
Rock climbing/bouldering
Hunting
Horseback riding
Boating, motorized
Watching wildlife/birding
Boating, non-motorized (canoe, kayak, etc)
Photography/drawing/painting
Shooting/archery
Biking on unpaved trails
Camping - backpacking or backcountry
Picknicking
Recreating with dog(s)
Winter activities (snowshoeing, skiing, ice skating, etc)
Fishing
Biking on roads
Camping
Walking/hiking/running on pavement: roads or trails
Biking on paved trails
Walking/hiking/running on natural surfaces: roads or trails
C-8 Appendix C DRAFT July 31, 2014
Fort Collins Larimer County
Survey Question:
For which activities would you most like to see more land or facilities provided?
0% 10% 20% 30% 40%
Geocaching
Large group picnicking (10 people or more)
Snowmobiling
Other
Photography/drawing/painting
Rock climbing/bouldering
Horseback riding
Education programming (learning about nature and history)
Picnicking
Boating, motorized
Hunting
Boating, non-motorized (canoe, kayak, etc )
Biking on unpaved trails
Winter activities (snowshoeing, skiing, ice skating, etc)
Community gardening
Watching wildlife/birding
Camping - backpacking or backcountry
Recreating with dog(s)
Camping
Walking/hiking/running on pavement: roads or trails
Biking on roads
Fishing
Shooting/archery
Walking/hiking/running on natural surfaces: roads or trails
Biking on paved trails
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 C-9
Fort Collins
Larimer County
Survey Question:
If you don’t use natural areas or nature-based facilities in Larimer County,
what are the reasons?
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
Unsuitable condition of natural areas &
facilities/amenities
Feels unsafe
Not enough parking
No way to get there
Don't have the programs or facilities I want
Too far from home
No interest
Prefer other parks/locations such as
RMNP/outside county
Other
Regulations are too restrictive
Too many people
Too expensive/fees are too high
No time
Not aware of natural areas or facilities
C-10 Appendix C DRAFT July 31, 2014
To elicit feedback on priorities for future expenditures, one survey question asked, “If you had
$100 in public funds to spend on natural areas, agricultural land, and/or construction of
nature-based recreation facilities, how would you allocate those funds?” Respondents were given
the option of allocating funds toward fifteen categories of “buy” and “invest” expenditures,
broken into various types of new land acquisitions (“buying”) and maintenance improvements
(“investing”). The responses provide an overall prioritization of investments for both Fort
Collins residents and other county residents.
Most respondents demonstrated broad support for a variety of goals related to land
conservation/acquisition over investing in current management or infrastructure. Respondents
generally favored buying land or acquiring rights over investing in existing lands. However, all
categories received some degree of financial support. Fort Collins residents would spend slightly
more on management and maintenance of existing natural areas and facilities, as well as buying
land or acquiring rights for greenways or trail corridor connections, than other county residents.
For each category/choice, no more than 2% of respondents opted to allocate the full $100 to that
particular choice, and a strong majority of respondents spread the $100 over a large number of
choices. This indicates significant support from respondents for allocating dollars to a broad set
of purposes, and in a related question the vast majority of respondents supported the use of
public funds for land conservation activities. In general, preferences for allocating public funds
were similar for Fort Collins and the rest of the county.
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 C-11
Fort Collins
Larimer County
Survey Question:
How would you allocate $100 in public funds?
$0 $2 $4 $6 $8 $10 $12 $14 $16
Invest in renovation of historic structures that allow for public benefit
Other
Buy land or acquire rights to preserve historic and archaeological
sites in natural areas
Invest in restoration and rehabilitation, such as weed management, or
grassland habitat enhancement
Buy land or acquire rights to protect scenic views
Buy land or acquire rights to protect in-stream water flows
Invest in additional/upgraded trailheads, parking, restrooms, shelters
and signs
Invest in more natural surface trails (usually 2-4 feet wide, dirt-surface
trails)
Invest in more paved trails (usually 10 feet wide and concrete)
Buy land or acquire rights to preserve working farms and ranches
Buy land or acquire rights for more outdoor recreation opportunities
Invest in management and maintenance of current natural areas and
facilities
Buy land or acquire rights to create greenways or trail corridors that
connect communities and parks
Buy land or acquire rights to protect wildlife habitat and rare species
Buy land or acquire rights to protect lakes, rivers, streams, and
preserve water quality
C-12 Appendix C DRAFT July 31, 2014
The survey measured community priorities regarding land acquisition and conservation for six
different categories of lands found throughout Larimer County. Respondents answered using a 5-
point scale: 1 = “Not at all important” and 5 = “Very important.” As shown in the graph,
“Ecologically sensitive lands” and “Lands that provide regional trail corridors to connect to cities
and towns” were rated as the most important, while working farms and ranches were rated as
relatively less important. However, in all categories approximately half of respondents or more
called the land preservation choice either a “4” or “5” on the 5 point scale. Also, it should be
noted that the statistical margin of error is ±3.4 percent. In other words, there are relatively slight
differences placed on the top five categories of land preservation.
Respondents were asked to consider which of the same categories represented their single most
important priority, in order to understand community attitudes in greater detail. Fort Collins
residents ranked “ecologically sensitive lands” as the single highest priority (26%), while other
Larimer County residents ranked community separators as the single most important priority
(29%). Perhaps not surprisingly, Fort Collins residents considered “lands within our
communities near neighborhoods and schools” more important, while others in the county
considered regional trail corridors a higher priority.
While Fort Collins residents have a strong preference for the protection of ecologically sensitive
lands, respondents valued both outdoor recreation and natural resource preservation. In response
to a question that asked respondents to place themselves on a scale where “strong emphasis on
resource conservation and protection” was at one end, and “strong emphasis on outdoor
recreation” was at the other end, more than 40% of respondents from both Fort Collins and the
rest of Larimer County favored an equal balance. However, in both cases the responses did not
fit a perfect bell curve from one extreme to another, but rather indicated a greater emphasis on
outdoor recreation, overall. This is an interesting finding when compared to the results of the
previous question, and could reflect a desire for both protection of ecologically sensitive areas
and recreational access to those areas.
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 C-13
Fort Collins
Larimer County
Survey Question:
How important should each of the following be in prioritizing
land acquisition or conservation throughout the county?
Fort Collins
Larimer County
Survey Question:
Which do you consider to be the single most important
priority to acquire/conserve?
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5
Working farms and ranches
Regional lands (greater than two square miles) generally
located within 30 minutes from cities and towns
Community separators, or open lands between our cities and
towns
Lands within our communities near neighborhoods and schools
Lands that provide regional trail corridors to connect cities and
towns
Ecologically sensitive lands (significant wildlife
habitat, wetlands, rare plants)
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%
Community separators, or open lands
between our cities/towns
Working farms and ranches
Regional lands located within 30 min. of
towns/cities
Lands that provide regional trail corridors
Lands within our communities near
neighborhoods and schools
Ecologically sensitive lands
C-14 Appendix C DRAFT July 31, 2014
Fort Collins
Larimer County
Survey Question:
Please indicate what emphasis you would like to see
Larimer County and our cities and towns pursue.
In the 2013 follow-up survey, respondents were asked to rank the importance of conserving four
types of natural areas and open space. Respondents ranked regional open space and trails as the
most important, followed by natural resource and wildlife areas. However, Fort Collins
respondents indicated greater support for the conservation of urban open space and trails and less
support for conservation easements on working farms and ranches than did other county
respondents. These results do not suggest that there is weak support for the lower-rated
categories. Rather, the ratings are relative to one another and show that on average certain
categories rank higher than others.
Fort Collins
Larimer County
Survey Question:
Two most important conserved land types.
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
1=Strong Emphasis (Natural resource
preservation/protection)
2=Slight Emphasis (Natural resource
preservation/protection)
3=Equal Balance
4=Slight Emphasis (Outdoor recreation in
natural setting)
5=Strong Emphasis (Outdoor recreation
in natural setting)
0% 20% 40% 60% 80%
Working Farms & Ranches -
Conservation Easements
Urban Open Space & Trails
Natural Resource & Wildlife
Areas
Regional Open Space & Trails
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 C-15
In conclusion, the Our Lands – Our Future study and the subsequent 2014 Natural Areas Master
Plan are greatly informed by public and stakeholder input. The above survey results are one
important perspective on community values, satisfaction levels, needs, and priorities for the
Master Plan, and will be combined with feedback from public meetings and other outreach
methods. It is clear that protection and proper management of natural areas is strongly supported
and one of the most important concern facing Fort Collins’ future as a world-class community.
C-16 Appendix C DRAFT July 31, 2014
AAppendix C References
Gilliland, D. L. 2013. Larimer County Citizen Survey 2013 Analysis. Larimer County, Fort
Collins, Colo. 43 pp.
Larimer County. 2013. Our Lands – Our Future: Recreation and Conservation Choices for
Northern Colorado. Larimer County, Colo. 104 pp. + appendices.
National Research Center. 2012. City of Fort Collins Citizen Survey Results. National Research
Center, Inc., Boulder, Colo. 36 pp. + appendices.
U.S. Census Bureau. 2010. American Community Survey, 2010. Demographic Profile Data for
Larimer County, Colorado, and Fort Collins, Colorado. American FactFinder.
http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml (accessed in 2012).
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan DRAFT July 31, 2014 C-17
C-2 Appendix C DRAFT July 31, 2014
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT SUMMARY
PROJECT: Natural Areas Master Plan
OVERALL PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT LEVEL: Inform & Consult
BOTTOM LINE QUESTION: What are your thoughts on the master plan?
KEY STAKEHOLDERS: Natural area visitors, recreationists, environmental
interests, neighbors, business community, school district, community
organizations, CSU/scientific community, health community, local food
community, non-traditional natural area visitors, City Council and City Leaders
TIMELINE:
2012 - 2013
Our Lands, Our Future study (county-wide extensive public
outreach and public opinion surveys)
2013
August Project Kick-Off Meeting
November 19 Natural Areas Staff Retreat- 10 year visions
December 11 LCS Board Input- vision
2014
January 30 First Open House
Spring Board presentations and input
June 19 Second Open House
Draft Master Plan available for comment
July 19 Comment period closed, Draft Plan finalized
August 12 City Council Work Session
October 7 Plan presented to City Council for adoption
Key Messages:
Please share your input.
The first priority is conservation of natural habitats and features while
providing education and recreation for the Fort Collins community.
Highlight proposals for change/ new ideas
Tools and Techniques
Broad invitations to open houses and online comment opportunities including
online calendar listings, random and online surveys, website coverage, press
releases, communication to Boards and Commissions, enewsletters, social
media, and email to interested individuals and groups.
Look for opportunities to reach out to diverse and underrepresented stakeholder
groups. Stakeholder listening sessions, as needed.
Website devoted to this project with feedback form.
ATTACHMENT 3
ATTACHMENT 4
1
City Council
August 12, 2014
ATTACHMENT 5
2
General Direction Sought
Are the priorities and general directions for the next
ten years set forth in the Master Plan appropriate
and consistent with Council’s vision for the future of
the Natural Areas Department?
3
Naturally Yours
• Conservation, restoration
• Support the diversity of life
• Human wellbeing
4
NATURALLY YOURS
• 34,800 acres
• 5,800 acres of conservation easements
• 110 miles of trail
• 2 million visitors annually
5
Public Outreach
How would you allocate $100 dollars in public funds?
7
Focus Areas
8
Priority: Land and
Water Conservation
– Biologically significant (or potential) lands
– Water for habitat
– Local areas including Poudre River, Bellvue,
foothills
– Agricultural land in the Wellington Separator
– Regional lands as opportunities and funding
permit
Should Open Space tax dollars be used to purchase water rights
for the following purposes?
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Irrigation for farms and ranches
Recreation on lakes and/or rivers for fishing, boating, etc
Wildlife habitat (creating riparian areas or ponds)
In-stream flows (water to support healthy rivers,
wetlands, fish, etc )
Legend
Fort Collins Larimer County
10
Priority: Cache la Poudre River
11
Priority: Volunteers and
Interpretation
12
Priority: Resource Management/
Restoration
13
Priority: Recreation and
Visitor Services
Activities your household participates in most frequently
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
Rock climbing/bouldering
Community gardening
Snowmobiling
Camping - backpacking or backcountry
Other
Boating, non-motorized (canoe, kayak,…
Education programming (learning about…
Large group picnicking (10 people or more)
Picnicking
Hunting
Boating, motorized
Winter activities (snowshoeing, skiing, ice…
Shooting/archery
Horseback riding
Photography/drawing/painting
Biking on unpaved trails
Watching wildlife/birding
Camping
Fishing
Recreating with dog(s)
Biking on roads
Walking/hiking/running on natural…
Walking/hiking/running on pavement:…
Biking on paved trails
Geocaching
Legend
Fort Collins
Larimer County
15
Priority: Heritage Conservation
16
Priority: Agriculture
17
Challenges
• Help Preserve Open Space
• Visitor Capacity
• Climate Change
18
NEXT STEPS
Refinements
Proposed Adoption by Resolution, October 7
19
General Direction Sought
Are the priorities and general directions for the next
ten years set forth in the Master Plan appropriate
and consistent with Council’s vision for the future of
the Natural Areas Department?
(Photo by Michael Van Beber)
Soapstone Prairie Natural Area (Photo by Norm Keally)
a diverse system of conserved and
restored lands will connect community
members to nature. These conserved
lands will protect nature and contribute
to the health and wellbeing of our
community.
• Stick to its core mission: The mission
of the Natural Areas Department
is to conserve and enhance lands
with natural resource, agricultural,
and scenic values, while providing
meaningful education and appropriate
recreation opportunities.
The natural Areas Department will act to:
• Conserve land, water, wildlife corridors,
and trail connections.
• Restore habitat.
• Provide visitor and recreation services.
• Provide education, interpretation, and
volunteer opportunities.
• Contribute to the character and culture
of our City.
understood by the Natural Areas Department,
the current operations of the Department do not
require implementation of a certified system at
this time. Certain standards of certified systems,
such as the new LEED-standard building, might be
adopted or used as examples for future building
improvements.
Native prickly poppy on Pineridge Natural Area (Photo by Zoë
Whyman)
panels have resulted in a 25% reduction in
electrical use from the power grid.
The Natural Areas Department has tracked fuel
consumption since 2011. The Department is
committed to reducing its fuel use through an
informal program of communicating fuel use (a
Installation of solar panels on Nix Farm Maintenance Shop (City
of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo)
however, improving all aspects of environmental
performance is a core value of the City
organization. Although the Department currently
has no certified environmental management
system in place, pollution prevention practices,
along with environmental management processes
and standards have been established.
The Department’s commitment to reducing its
negative impacts on the environment is bolstered
by the City of Fort Collins overarching position
on sustainability. In 2004, City staff developed
the visionary Action Plan for Sustainability
(City of Fort Collins 2004a). This plan provides
recommended policy, goals, and targets for
advancing sustainability within City operations
with a unified, cross-departmental approach.
Fossil Creek Reservoir Facility (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas
Department Photo)
BOBCAT RIDGE ON-SITE RANGER
In 2003, the Natural Areas Department purchased
the first parcel of Bobcat Ridge Natural Area, which
now encompasses 2,600 acres west of Masonville.
The site was opened to the public in 2006. Shortly
after opening, the Department began remodeling
the historic (late 1890s) portion of the ranch home
into a ranger office and removed the late-1940s
addition to accommodate the addition of a ranger
residence. A new garage and small attached shop
was also built. A 1940s calving shed, hay pole barn,
and corrals were retained for their historic value.
No extensive new improvements or additions are
expected over the next ten years.
Primrose Studio (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department
Photo)
Thus, a second office building at Nix Farm was
constructed in early 2014. Management staff from
215 North Mason moved to the new building,
as well as Education staff from the overcrowded
historic Nix Farm house. Natural Areas Department
may need to add another office building at some
time in the future. However, enlarging the shop
and improvements to the interior of the small
house are higher priorities for the next ten years.
Conservation Easement and Certified Natural Area in southwest
Fort Collins (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo)
friendly fencing, native grass and shrub plantings,
and noxious weed management resources. These
grants, funded by the Department, would provide
the landowner with cost sharing, planning
resources, facilitation of other grant funding
sources, and other resources needed to complete
the enhancement project.
Surveying in monitoring wells at site along the river (Photo by
Dave Myers)
be mutually advantageous as well. The applicant is
billed for the City staff time spent working on their
request, and a mitigation value is also calculated
to offset impacts of the project to natural systems,
which can also be in cash or in-kind.
Mitigation requirements are calculated using a
model created for the Trust for Public Land that
valued different types of land cover types based on
the natural goods and services they provide to the
ecosystem (Sargent-Michaud 2010). For example,
wetlands are excellent at filtering pollutants in
stormwater, which saves the costs of treating
that water in a treatment plant. In this model, a
per acre value is placed on each major land cover
type. Staff calculate the impact to the respective
land cover types for the period of time before the
system is completely restored, typically ten years.
The applicant must then create an on- or off-site
mitigation plan (at staff’s discretion) to help offset
project impacts. Restoration of the affected land to
its original condition is also required for release of
the project.
Council to include more contemporary issues and
evolve a compensation model to include impacts
to ecosystems by construction projects.
The policy applies to requests for new easements
or rights-of-way and to projects within existing
easements, as appropriate, which provide for a
wide variety of purposes, including streets, water,
Powerline on Kingfisher Point Natural Area (City of Fort Collins
Natural Areas Department Photo)
Essentially, the EBD process is designed to bring
together all of the parties-in-interest, including
surface owners, mineral rights owners and
lessees, and local experts and stakeholders
in order to develop a common understanding
of natural, cultural, scenic, agricultural, and
recreational resources. Once those resources
have been carefully identified and understood,
the participants design an approach to minerals
exploration and production activities intended
to direct surface activities away from critical
Wind turbines on Ponnequin Wind Farm in Colorado (Photo
courtesy of National Renewable Energy)
benefits associated with carefully managed
grazing, mowing and haying can replicate some
of the aspects of vegetation removal and may be
more logistically feasible than grazing on some
properties.
Partner with a Third Party to Perform
Agricultural Activities
The Natural Areas Department recognizes the
potential benefits from agricultural practices
and uses, but it is not the Department’s intent to
solely bear the financial burden of agricultural
infrastructure (specialized farm equipment,
livestock costs, etc.). The Department can, under
certain circumstances, benefit financially and/or
provide ecological benefits from partnering with
third-party producers (lessees) to provide food
and/or fiber for the community. These partnerships
can also accomplish social goals such as local
employment. Examples include haying or grazing
as a vegetation management tool, growing local
produce that benefits the local food bank, or other
mutually beneficial activities. In all partnerships,
the Department will ensure that agricultural
activities incorporate best management practices
and demonstrate ecologically centered agricultural
practices.
Photo)
White Pine Fire Lookout Cab on Running Deer Natural Area (City
of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo)
or similar structure to prevent access.
HISTORIC RESOURCES
Historic resources on natural areas are generally
structures and buildings related to farming,
ranching, or industry. The City’s Historic
Preservation Department is consulted on a regular
basis for newly acquired sites with buildings.
Lindenmeir Site on Soapstone Prairie Natural Area (City of Fort
Collins Natural Areas Department Photo)
The Natural Areas Department’s primary mission
is to conserve natural resource values. However,
the Department recognizes the value of cultural
and historic resources and the connection between
people and landscapes. As such, the Department
strives to protect these nonreplaceable resources
for future generations to learn from and enjoy.
Furthermore, the Department will continue to
focus education and outreach efforts around the
Trail improvement on Reservoir Ridge Natural Area (Photo by
Todd Juhasz)
plant communities, as well as providing site visitors
a high-quality, safe outdoor experience. Although
some maintenance activities increase when sites
are opened to the public (e.g., cleaning restrooms,
regrading parking lots, and trail maintenance), other
activities (e.g., site cleanup, fence repair) remain the
same. Vandalism repair, such as graffiti removal,
can occur on sites open or closed to the public,
but is more prevalent when public improvement
structures and interpretive features are present.
Magpie Meander Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas
Department Photo)
include vault toilets, informational kiosks, bike
racks, and concrete handicapped spaces. Some
smaller, older lots do not have all these amenities.
Vault toilets cannot be constructed in the 100-year
floodplain, which has restricted their installation
on some sites along the Poudre River.
Kiosks help orient the visitor to the site, provide
educational information, provide a place to post
City notices related to natural areas, display
regulatory information, and provide additional
information as needed.
Reservoir Ridge Natural Area (Photo by Crystal Strouse)
amenities that enhance visitor use of a natural
area. They serve two important functions: (1) help
the public to more safely use and enjoy natural
areas and (2) help protect natural resource values.
Natural areas accommodate visitors through trails,
parking lots, restrooms, kiosks, benches, signage,
and observation structures. The need for public
improvements varies from site to site and not all of
these improvements are needed at each site open
to the public. Fencing may be needed regardless of
whether a site is open to the public or not.
Soapstone Prairie Natural Area (Photo by Norm Keally)
that wrap around rolling prairie terrain, with
Reservoir Ridge Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas
Department Photo)
Poudre River fisherman (Photo by Norm Keally)
nonmotorized boating, fishing, picnicking, sledding,
rock climbing. Most of the City’s natural areas are at
least partially accessible to people with disabilities
via the Parks or Natural Areas paved trail system and
designated parking areas.
The Natural Areas Department will be pursuing
offering limited hunting of pronghorn on
Soapstone Prairie Natural Area in cooperation
with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) over
the next ten years. CPW has indicated a need to
harvest pronghorn in the Soapstone area when
animal densities reach thresholds that cause
increased disease issues, impacts to habitat, and
surrounding landowner agricultural damage.
The Department does not foresee pursuing
backcountry camping over the next ten years due
to the limited number of people it would serve,
abundance of other regional opportunities, and
the high cost of this service. Dogs off-leash areas
are also not being considered because of their
incompatibility with the Department’s conservation
2011 Fort Collins Resident Survey Report, 70% of
respondents believed that natural areas contribute
to a “great extent” to the communities overall
wellness, while 79% of respondents believed
natural areas contribute to the recreational
opportunities available to the community to a
“great extent.” In a study conducted by Kay-Linn
Enterprises (2013), Northern Front Range survey
respondents strongly agreed that trails (1) promote
Volunteer Ranger Assistant at Gateway Natural Area (City of Fort
Collins Natural Areas Department Photo)
and administrative access points in the natural
areas system. In the mid-2000s, Ranger staff began
marking property boundaries of natural areas.
This effort was followed in 2010 with the creation
of a property boundary encroachment policy and
monitoring effort designed to correct property
encroachments occurring on nearly one-third of
natural area boundaries shared with neighborhoods.
Violations continue to decline, from the high of 100
in 2011 to only 18 in 2013, indicating that neighbors
of natural areas understand that encroaching on
Ranger on patrol at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area (City of Fort
Collins Natural Areas Department Photo)
year. Through the years, the rangers’ enforcement
efforts have resulted in a significant reduction in
the numbers of animals off leash in the natural
areas system. In part, this may have resulted
from a two-year period (2004–2005) when a zero-
tolerance policy for animals off leash was enacted.
This effort seems to have turned the tide in gaining
compliance for the leash ordinance in natural
areas. A recent observation/trail count survey to
support the 2013 Paved Recreational Trail Master
Plan showed that 95% of dogs (965 observed) on
paved trails were leashed.
Ranger assisting visitor on Kingfisher Point Natural Area (Photo
by Kristin Powell)
multidisciplinary approach to evaluate the river
system. The model will foster a more informed
dialog with a broad audience of stakeholders as to
the current and anticipated use and condition of the
Poudre River. Moreover, it will inform management
and investment decisions. Built by a team of expert
river scientists, the ERM is based on a wealth of
accumulated knowledge of river science combined
with local data. The model is based on the overarching
theory that flows are the master variable of the
Gateway Natural Area (Photo by Richard Ernst)
amphibian management, and creating a functional
self-sustaining wetland system.
Many of the deeper ponds function as excellent
sport fisheries and will continue to be managed to
provide recreational opportunities for the public.
A portion of the shorelines may be managed to
create shallow wetlands, while still providing
fishing access. Fisheries management (including
Butterfly Woods Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas
Department Photo)
current and future water portfolio in conjunction
with the water sharing approach to build strong
conservation partnerships with other City
departments, irrigation companies, agriculture
interests, and conservation organizations and to
focus on collaborative projects designed to:
• Protect and enhance stream flows through
agreements that provide multiple use and
benefits of water, avoid injury or conflicts
with other users, and avoid the costly need to
permanently encumber water rights;
• Enhance permanently conserved lands and
habitats adjacent to rivers and streams;
• Emphasize concepts and recommendations
identified in Colorado’s Statewide Water
Supply Initiative (State of Colorado 2011) and
appropriate Basin Roundtables;
• Provide funding to offset transaction costs in
terms of conveyance loss or similar costs to
the project; and
• Provide funding for the design and
construction of bypass structures (for both
water and aquatic species) and measuring
devices necessary for water administration as
it relates to the water sharing agreements.
The Natural Areas Department owns a small water-
rights portfolio acquired during the purchase of
properties in and around Fort Collins. Over the
last ten years, acquisition efforts were focused
on conserving natural lands, riparian areas, and
agricultural properties, and not water rights.
However, the Department has now begun to focus
more effort on the purchase of water rights and
managing water rights to improve stream health
and habitat restoration. The Department continues
to pursue opportunities to conserve environmental
flows (i.e., flows necessary to sustain an ecologically
functioning river system) and will work to pursue
partnerships, as needed, to accomplish this goal.
Mink plunging into the Poudre River (Photo by Norm Keally)
places for families and children to explore.
MANAGING A HEALTHY RIVER SYSTEM
The City of Fort Collins is situated along more than
ten miles of the Cache la Poudre River, and through
efforts by the Natural Areas Department and other
City departments such as Parks, Stormwater, and
Water Utility, the City has conserved more than
60% of the floodplain. Natural areas adjacent to
the Poudre River help protect and conserve unique
natural features. However, the long-term ecological
Poudre River spring flooding, 2011, on Kingfisher Point Natural
Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo)
are more difficult to control than typical weeds
because of their resistance to herbicides, extensive
root systems, and hardiness. Invasive grasses
also pose more of a wildfire threat compared to
broadleaf weeds.
Periodic burning, mowing, or grazing of restored
grasslands is necessary to mimic natural
disturbance regimes that maintain native
grasslands. Prescribed burns and livestock grazing
on smaller properties within Fort Collins can be
operationally difficult in the urban environment.
Unfortunately, prairie dogs, a native grazer, can
cause considerable damage to native grasslands in
Assessing prevalence of weeds on Cathy Fromme Prairie Natural
Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo)
approach manages colony acreages below system
“maximums” observed from 2004 to 2006 toward
overall improvement of grassland health. Looking
forward, the Department will continue to carefully
monitor and manage prairie dog colonies while
exploring innovative techniques that promote
prairie dog communities in harmony with
grassland health.
Removal of the Josh Ames Ditch diversion structure at North
Shields Ponds Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas
Department Photo)
planning and implementation process. The largest
project, to date, has been the Canal Importation
and Ponds Outfall Project that included a major
portion of the Red Fox Meadows Natural Area.
Between 2008 and 2011, the Department and
Stormwater Utility restored over 26 acres of
this natural area to wetlands and native upland
vegetation through an award-winning project that
improved water quality, reduced neighborhood
flooding, and enhanced wildlife habitat.
Prescribed burn at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area (City of Fort Collins
Natural Areas Department Photo)
the substantial reduction in acreage of problematic
weeds such as leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula),
Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), Dalmatian
toadflax (Linaria dalmatica ssp. dalmatica), purple
loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), field bindweed
(Convolvulus arvensis), kochia (Bassia scoparia),
and cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) throughout
the natural areas system. Likewise major gains
have been made to reduce residual agricultural
grasses, including crested wheatgrass (Agropyron
cristatum) and cereal ryegrass (Secale cereale).
Weed management actions are based on the
integrated pest management (IPM) philosophy: a
combination of chemical, mechanical, cultural,
and biological treatments. Herbicides are selected
for use based on lowest environmental toxicity,
selectivity to the target species, and effectiveness.
By using the most effective chemical in
combination with other treatments, the Natural
Areas Department is seeing improved control
lasting multiple years and promoting a competitive
advantage for native plants.
More recently, management actions have focused
on promoting the health of native vegetation in
contrast to a sole focus on management against
opportunities, the Department now receives more
than 10,000 hours of volunteer support each year
(Figure 9).
Figure 9. Number of Volunteer Hours per Year, 2007–2013
(Note: The drop in 2013 resulted from 6 weeks of program
cancelations due to the September flood event).
experiences. Maps and brochures are provided
at most trailhead kiosks. The Natural Areas
Map is the most popular brochure; it is printed
and updated as needed. New in 2010 was the
popular Tracks & Trails, the Department’s
guide to free education-sponsored activities,
May–October. Site brochures are provided
for the most visited sites such as Soapstone
Prairie, Bobcat Ridge, Gateway, and Coyote
Ridge. An annual report is produced to report
on the Departments revenues, expenditures,
and accomplishments. The School Program
Guide is created annually to promote
free student field trips sponsored by the
Department. Other publications highlight
wildlife, native plants, current projects, trails,
and cultural resources.
• Communications and marketing focus on
sharing information about Natural Areas
Department events, activities, and public
input opportunities. These include a monthly
e-newsletter (available by free subscription),
social media postings, targeted emails,
newspaper columns, paid advertising, direct
mail, and press releases.
Master Naturalist at Wade
the River 2013 (City of
Fort Collins Natural Areas
Department Photo)
can also be requested by groups for a mutually
agreed upon topic or date.
Master Naturalist at McMurry Natural Area (City of Fort Collins
Natural Areas Department Photo)
of a natural area that are intended to provide
visitors with a place to connect with nature
and enjoy site appropriate recreation. Off-
trail use is generally allowed and public
amenities may exist, though, not to the scale
or frequency of a focal area. Temporary or
seasonal closures may be enacted for resource
protection, restoration, or other reasons.
Osprey at Riverbend Ponds Natural Area (Photo by Jack Hicks)
• Gateway Natural Area Operations and Maintenance Manual (2011)
• Natural Areas and Trail Rangers Field Training Officer Handbook (2010)
• Natural Areas Sign Manual (2005)
life of these plans that were not anticipated
when initially written. Since the 2004 Land
Conservation and Stewardship Master Plan, the
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department has
created more than 35 documents to help guide its
daily operations (Table 4).
Poudre River Projects Open House, June 2013 (City of Fort Collins
Natural Areas Department Photo)
land conservation priorities are also shifting from
protecting individual natural resources to ensuring
that natural systems in developed or informal
natural areas are conserved and that everyone in
our community has access to nature.
To ensure that nature is protected within the urban
fabric of our community, the following efforts, led
by the Planning Services Department, are currently
Bald eagles at Fossil Creek Reservoir Natural Area
Photo by Dawn Wilson)
the Certified Natural Areas Program for private
landowners and non-City public landowners to
encourage the protection of lands with existing
natural areas values as well as lands that could
be restored or enhanced to provide those values.
Land certified as a natural area is managed
by the landowner so that native animal and
plant communities are enhanced, restored, and
Fossil Creek Meadows Certified Natural Area (City of Fort Collins
Natural Areas Department Photo)
or drainage corridors and sometimes as all
three. Multipurpose lands may meet two or
more of the following objectives: increased
local flood protection, prevention of stormwater
pollution, improved water quality in streams and
groundwater, enhanced wildlife habitat/corridors,
and increased recreational (e.g., trail connections)
and educational opportunities.
Wire Draw Ranch Conservation Easement adjacent to Soapstone
Prairie Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas
Department Photo)
costs to obtain fee ownership is generally two to
three times more than purchase of a conservation
easement, which in contrast allows continued use
of the land by the private landowner. In addition,
owning a property creates a long-term maintenance
obligation. Fee acquisition is most appropriate
Mule deer on Soapstone Prairie Natural Area
(Photo by Daylan Figgs)
focus areas, in comparison to the other two focus
categories, have lower acquisition costs due to
lower development pressure and lower stewardship
costs due to lower recreational pressure and higher
quality habitat. Opportunities exist to conserve
a wide range of conservation values, including
wildlife habitat, scenery, agricultural, watershed
protection, and recreation.
Sod Farm Conservation Easement in the Wellington Separator
(City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo)
density rural developments, floodplains, or
other areas that may or may not be desirable
for residential or commercial development. A
separator can be achieved through a variety of
mechanisms, including conservation easements,
fee purchase of land for natural areas or other
open space uses, or zoning restrictions. Separators
are often implemented along major roadways
connecting municipalities in order to preserve the
open viewshed that provides a natural boundary
between two communities. Land within the
The Plug in to Nature study found that
while 87% of survey respondents reported
their child’s connections with nature as
very high, 79% of respondents wanted
their children to spend more time in
nature than they currently do. Time,
location, and cost were the three greatest
barriers to increasing access to nature,
highlighting the need for more nature
closer to home (Design Workshop 2012).
acres protected adjacent to the river, of which 223
acres have been protected since 2004.
Riverbend Ponds Natural Area (Photo by Norm Keally)
conservation when willing landowners desire to
sell or donate their land or conservation easements.
As described in Chapter 2 (Funding), the
Department’s ability to achieve the community’s
future land-conservation aspirations hinges on the
extension of Larimer County’s Help Preserve Open
Space! sales tax.
$25,597,953 $25,531,992
$27,513,765
3,656
5,764
31,129
$0
$5,000
$10,000
$15,000
$20,000
$25,000
$30,000
$35,000
Local Separators Regional
Costs in $1,000s
LAND COSTS FOR LAND CONSERVATION BY FOCUS AREAS
Land Costs
Acres Protected
Figure 8. Total Spending and Acres Conserved
by Focus Areas (2003–2013)
received GOCO Grant; landowner manages; not open to the
public. Total CE acreage = 4,557.
2,734 2,734
Stonewall Creek Ranch
Conservation Easement
Conservation Easement acquired 2005 by Larimer County;
Natural Areas contributed (71%) to purchase, but does not
hold easement. Total CE acreage = 136 acres.
97 97
Focus Area Subtotal: 2,831 2,831
Total Acres Conserved by City: 41,550
Acres Acquired for Public Use: 34,842
Conservation Easments: 5,815
Leased: 893
Total Acres Conserved by Natural Areas since 2004: 30,844
Table Notes:
1Current acres may not correspond to 2004 document due to change in names of sites or combining sites together.
2These sites are open to the public and managed by the Natural Areas Department.
3Includes partial donation, dedication, and/or reduced purchase price.
manages; not open to the public. Total site acreage = 479.
159
Focus Area Subtotal: 355
Lower Poudre and Windsor
Separator
Three Bell I & II Conservation
Easements
Conservation Easements acquired 2010 by Larimer County
and Natural Areas (28%); landowner manages; not open to
the public yet. Total site acreage = 338.
169 169
Focus Area Subtotal: 169 169
Timnath Separator
Cribari I & II Conservation
Easements
Conservation Easements acquired 2005 by Natural Areas;
landowners manage; not open to the public.
73 73
Hansen I & II Conservation
Easements
Conservation Easements acquired 2004-2012 by Natural
Areas; landowner manages; not open to the public
82 82
Person I & II Conservation
Easements
Conservation Easements acquired 2005-2013 by Natural
Areas; landowner manages; not open to the public.
141 141
Focus Area Subtotal: 296 296
Regional Focus Areas
Foothills/Buckhorn/Redstone
Dixon Reservoir leased.
744 83
Reservoir Ridge Natural Area2 Acquired3 1985–2008 by Parks and Natural Areas. 764 297
Hazelhurst Conservation
Easement
Conservation Easement acquired4 2005; landowner manages;
not open to the public.
35 35
MacEwen Conservation
Easement
Conservation Easement acquired4 2005; landowner manages;
not open to the public.
45 45
Million Conservation Easement Conservation Easement acquired 2011; landowner manages;
not open to the public.
100 100
Focus Area Subtotal: 3,983 711
Community Separator Focus Areas
Wellington Separator
Area2
Acquired3 1962-2014 by City of Fort Collins and Natural
Areas.
54 44
Prospect Ponds Natural Area2 Acquired 1974 by Utilities; Natural Areas manages. 25
River’s Edge Natural Area2 Acquired 1994-2001 by Natural Areas. 8
Riverbend Ponds Natural Area2 Acquired31977-1999 by Parks and Natural Areas. 220
Running Deer Natural Area2 Acquired 1998-2011 by Natural Areas; received GOCO Grant. 294 19
Salyer Natural Area2 Donated 1985 to Parks; transferred to Natural Areas. 24
Springer Natural Area2 Donated 1990 to Parks; transferred to Natural Areas. 21
Udall Natural Area2 Acquired3 1994 by Natural Areas and Utilities; Natural Areas
and Utilities manage.
25
Williams Natural Area2 Donated 1990 to Parks; transferred to Natural Areas. 1
Project (2012–Present)
Land Conservation;
Restoration; Recreation
Xcel Energy
Woodward Development Project (2013–Present) Land Conservation; Resource
Management; Recreation
Woodward, Inc.
Rigden Water Storage Reservoir (2013–Present) Land Conservation; Wetland
and Pond Conservation
Flatiron Company; Fort Collins
Water Utility
Nature Tracker Software (2012-2013) Enhanced Customer Service;
Volunteer Coordination
Squarei, Technologies, Inc.
State and Federal Partners
Nix Farm Historic Barn Restoration (2005) Cultural Resources History Colorado
Bobcat Ridge Historic Outbuilding Restorations
(2011–Present)
Cultural Resources; Education History Colorado; Pulliam
Charitable Trust
Shields Pit Restoration (2013-present) Wetland Restoration Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Museum of Discovery Displays (2011-2012) Education U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Soapstone Prairie Black-Footed Ferret
Reintroduction (2013-present)
Resource Management;
Education
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Bobcat Ridge Trail Easement (2007) Recreation U.S. Forest Service
In addition, the Department will participate in
the City’s budget process to compete for “Keep
Fort Collins Great” discretionary sales tax funds
or general funds that are administered by City
Council. The Department may also benefit from
renewal of the existing ¼-cent capital projects
sales tax.
Canada geese in flight (Photo by Norm Keally)
1998-2005 BCC City 1/4 Cent
1993-1997 Choices 95 City 1/4 Cent
2004 COPS
Grants and Donations
Miscellaneous
1993-2003 General Fund
• Planning Department
• City of Loveland Natural Areas Program
• Larimer County Department of Natural
Resources
• Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife
• The Nature Conservancy
• Legacy Land Trust
Taken as a whole, public
feedback made it clear
that protection and proper
management of natural
areas is strongly supported
and is vital to ensuring
Fort Collins’ future as a
world-class community.
comment forms were submitted either on paper at
the Open House or online in the 30 days afterwards.
The vision and mission were positively viewed
with a few requests for more focus on recreation
and providing public access. Land conservation
priorities were positively received with some
January 2014 Open House for Natural Areas Master Plan (City of
Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo)
of Fort Collins survey results.
2014 Natural Areas Master Plan
Outreach
In addition to Citizen Surveys and the 2013
Our Lands – Our Future survey results, the Fort
Collins community provided specific feedback
on the 2014 Natural Areas Master Plan through
two open houses, online comment opportunities,
and relevant City Boards and Commissions. A
Coloradoan newspaper article invited the public
to the open houses, and comment opportunities
were promoted through press releases, email
invitations to approximately 350 people and
organizations, announcements in Natural Areas
E-news (2,500 subscribers), communication
with volunteers, and social media postings. The
website devoted to the Master Plan featured open-
house materials, an online comment opportunity,
and related materials. The website had 1,099 page
views as of July 21, 2014.
Bobcat Ridge Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural
Areas Department Photo)
Board established (2005)
Wildlife and Vegetation Management
Guidelines, Soapstone Prairie and Foothills
Management Plans adopted (2007)
Energy by Design and Our Lands - Our Future
planning processes (2013)
Poudre River Forum participation (2014)
1st
Restoration Project completed
(Gustav Swanson) (1986)
1st
Interpretive Signs installed
(Gustav Swanson) (1990)
Adopt-a-Natural Area Program
established (1993)
Master Naturalist Program
established (1994)
Ranger Program established (1997)
1st
Art-in-Public Places Project
installed (1998)
1st
Annual Volunteer
Appreciation Picnic held (1999)
1st
Onsite Ranger (Bobcat Ridge) (2006)
Ranger Program established;
Gateway transferred from Parks;
Primrose Studio opens (2007)
Soapstone Prairie opens to public (2009)
Tracks and Trails debuts (2010)
Museum of Discovery opens; Adopt-a-Trail
Program established (2012)
100th
mile of Natural Surface Trails opened; North
Shields Ponds Floodlpain Restoration (2013)
6WDWH&HUWLÀFDWLRQIRU&RQVHUYDWLRQ(DVHPHQWV
Pineridge Open Space opens (1976)
Riverbend Ponds Open Space opens (1978)
Reservoir Ridge Open Space opens (1985)
%XWWHUÁ\:RRGV.LQJÀVKHU3RLQW5HGWDLO*URYH
Cottonwood Hollow, Cattail Chorus (1997)
Colina Mariposa, McMurry, Running Deer (1998)
Hazaleus, Two Creeks (1999)
Eagle View, Mallard’s Nest, Pelican Marsh (2002)
Bobcat Ridge, 1st
Conservation Easement (CE)
(Swift Farm) (2003)
1st
GOCO Grant for land conservation (1994)
Poudre River ERM Study initiatied (2012)
McMurry Floodplain Restoration Project (2014)
Fossil Creek Reservoir (2001)
Windsor Community Separator (2010)
Wire Draw Ranch CE (2008)
.LQJÀVKHU3RLQW$GGLWLRQV
our natural areas. The Lindenmeier Archaeological
Site on Soapstone Prairie Natural Area is listed
on the National Register of Historic Places and
is recognized as a site of international cultural
significance.
Natural areas provide a respite from the urban
environment—a place to hike, bike, walk your
dog, ride your horse, fish, picnic, create art, or
just enjoy some quiet time outdoors. Natural
areas give everyone the opportunity to connect to
nature’s spiritual qualities. Each person has their
own reason for caring about natural areas. Among
others, Fort Collins residents value them for their
ecological, recreational, educational, scientific,
economic, cultural, and spiritual significance.
Conserved natural areas add economic value
to the community and contribute to make Fort
Collins a highly desirable place to live and work.
The high quality of life provided in part by natural
areas amenities helps support the City’s healthy
economic climate. Nature-based recreation areas
also play an important role in providing enjoyable
experiences for visitors and also offer active living
options for residents.
Loveland
Foothills/Buckhorn/Redstone
Fort
Collins-Loveland
Separator
Lower Poudre
and Windsor
Separator
Meadow
Springs
Laramie
Foothills
Owl
Canyon
Dry
Creek
Upper
Poudre
Wellington
Separator
Rist
Canyon
Timnath
Separator
Fossil Creek
Corridor
Poudre
Corridor
Foothills
Corridor
Bellvue
Core
Natural
Areas
Land Conservation Focus Areas
Local
Community Separators
Regional
Government-Conserved Lands
City of Fort Collins Natural Area
Larimer County Open Space
Other Public Open Space
State Parks and Wildlife
Federal Land
Conservation Easements
City of Fort Collins
City of Fort Collins Shared with others
Others
0 2 4 6 8 Miles
The City’s ability to achieve the community’s future land-conservation
aspirations hinges on the extension of Larimer County’s “Help Preserve
Open Space” sales tax (see Chapter 2, Funding and Expenditures). Extending
this county-wide funding source would enable the Department to conserve
additional land over the next ten years while appropriately stewarding the
lands it currently manages.
Geese in migration
(Photo by Norm Keally)