HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020CV30833 - City Of Fort Collins V. Planning Action To Transform Hughes Stadium Sustainably Corp, Et. Al - 025B - Exhibt 17B - Part 2 Resolution 089, October 201452 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 24, 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 fi sheries) 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 confl icts 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 City 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, 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 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)
identifi ed the black-tailed prairie dog community
as a conservation priority within the shortgrass
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 FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014 53
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. The fi rst release of ferrets occurred
in early September 2014.
Rare Native Fishes
The City is working with Colorado Parks and
Wildlife (CPW) to reintroduce and monitor the
status of rare fi shes on several sites. Within
Soapstone Prairie Natural Area and Meadow
Springs Ranch, the Natural Areas Department is
working to manage native northern redbelly dace
(Phoxinus eos) and brassy minnow (Hybognathus
hankinsoni) populations, state endangered
and state threatened species, respectively. The
Department is also partnering with CPW and the
Colorado Water Conservation Board to protect
water fl ow in four stream stretches on these two
sites to support rare native fi sh 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 fi shes 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
fi shes 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 fi re 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 fl oodplain restoration.
Nonnative, invasive grasses pose a particular
problem for Resource Management, especially in
areas where control is diffi cult 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 the
City’s 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
are more diffi cult to control than typical weeds
because of their resistance to herbicides, extensive
root systems, and hardiness. Invasive grasses
also pose more of a wildfi re 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 diffi cult 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)
54 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 24, 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 fl oristic 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 signifi cant
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 fl oodplain 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 fl oodplain 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 fi shing,
experiential and environmental education,
transportation corridors, wildlife viewing, and
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 fl oodplain. Natural areas adjacent to
the Poudre River help protect and conserve unique
natural features. However, the long-term ecological
Poudre River spring fl ooding, 2011, on Kingfi sher Point Natural
Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo)
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 24, 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, Kingfi sher 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 refi ned
set of management goals for each site. Ongoing
stewardship of these fl oodplain 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 fl oodplain, cataloging of rare aquatic
plants, establishing a management zoning system,
and developing trail systems, fi shing 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 fl oodplain 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 fi shes. Collectively, these
restoration efforts improve and extend quality
habitats to provide a valued urban refuge for the
benefi t 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 fl oodplain, and balancing community
safety (fl ood prevention) with ecological values.
Water Rights and Instream Flows
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
fl ows (i.e., fl ows 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)
56 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014
The Natural Areas Department collaborates with
other City departments, irrigation companies,
and conservation organizations in efforts to
provide instream fl ows to support aquatic habitat
through the urban stretch of Fort Collins. One
approach underway is to identify and defi ne an
instream fl ow segment and to quantify the fl ows
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 fl ows needed to
sustain a healthy river. However, the Department’s
relatively small water portfolio will be a limiting
factor in providing adequate environmental fl ows.
The City 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 fl ow through the urban reach;
(2) the low-fl ow and “dry up” locations; and (3)
extreme short-term fl uctuations in water levels.
This information will help to identify water
sharing and management opportunities that will
lead to environmental benefi ts 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 fi sh 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 benefi ts 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
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 fl ows through
agreements that provide multiple use and
benefi ts of water, avoid injury or confl icts
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
identifi ed 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.
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 24, 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 infl uence 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 identifi ed some exciting
projects and opportunities. Key objectives
include restoring reaches with dangerous and
unsustainable erosion resulting from unnatural
fl ow 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 fi shes 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.
DITCHES AND CANALS
Fort Collins has numerous ditches and canals that
function to direct irrigation and storm water above
ground through the city. Many ditches and canals
serve as wildlife corridors and some even resemble
an intermittent stream with thick riparian wooded
habitat. Although typically not managed by the
City, ditches and canals offer opportunities for
working with irrigation companies to enhance
wildlife habitat or provide trail corridors.
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,
fl oodplain wetlands, or oxbows remaining. One
of the most signifi cant changes to the fl oodplain
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 fl oodplain wetland functions
Butterfl y Woods Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas
Department Photo)
58 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014
lost due to development. Wildlife management,
in partnership with Colorado Parks and Wildlife,
will focus on native fi sh reintroduction, native
amphibian management, and creating a functional
self-sustaining wetland system.
Many of the deeper ponds function as excellent
sport fi sheries 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
fi shing access. Fisheries management (including
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 fl ats, and marshes. On the edges of the
Poudre fl oodplain, 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 fl ats, 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 fi res of 2012 and the fl oods 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 infl uence 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 infl uence positive outcomes that collectively
benefi t 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,
Gateway Natural Area (Photo by Richard Ernst)
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014 59
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
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 fl ows are the master variable of the
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 fl ows,
which refl ect existing withdrawals for municipal
and agricultural uses, are approaching the low end
of fl ow 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 Team 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 signifi cant 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 fi re
support, and on-site ranger-managed regional sites
at Bobcat Ridge and Gateway. However, natural
areas patrol and visitor engagement remains the
program’s 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 Offi cer
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.
Ranger assisting visitor on Kingfi sher Point Natural Area (Photo
by Kristin Powell)
60 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014
Typically, the Natural Areas Department rangers
cite 800–1,000 municipal code violations per
year. Through the years, the rangers’ enforcement
efforts have resulted in a signifi cant 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.
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
customers’ 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 fi ve-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 signifi cant
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 on patrol at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area (City of Fort
Collins Natural Areas Department Photo)
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014 61
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 signifi cant 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 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
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 fi rst 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 fi rst 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 ranger 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.
Volunteer Ranger Assistant at Gateway Natural Area (City of Fort
Collins Natural Areas Department Photo)
62 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014
RECREATION AND PUBLIC
IMPROVEMENTS
The City recognizes the enthusiastic culture
and affi nity 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
include walking, hiking, jogging, horseback riding,
fi shing, non-motorized boating, photography,
artwork, wildlife viewing, and relaxing, among
others. Public improvements enhance recreational
opportunities on natural areas.
The numerous positive impacts outdoor recreation
has on an individual’s physical, mental, and social
health are widely documented. According to the
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
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
confl icts 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 City 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 refl ection to
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014 63
Figure 10. Number of Natural Areas Open to Specifi c 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)
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,
nonmotorized boating, fi shing, picnicking, sledding,
and 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
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 Natural Areas
Department for recreation can be categorized as
urban, foothills, or regional properties. These
varying property types offer the public a diverse
64 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014
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
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 fl at valley fl oors, 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 infl uences.
Gateway Natural Area is located in the Cache la
Poudre Canyon at the confl uence 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,
Reservoir Ridge Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas
Department Photo)
Poudre River fi sherman (Photo by Norm Keally)
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014 65
Soapstone Prairie Natural Area (Photo by Norm Keally)
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 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,
that wrap around rolling prairie terrain, with
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 fi ndings 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
66 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014
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
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.
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 fi nes 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 Reservoir Ridge Natural Area (Photo by Crystal Strouse)
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014 67
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 specifi c 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
fi ve-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
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
fl oodplain, 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.
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 graffi ti.
Fishing and Wildlife Observation Structures
Fishing and wildlife observation structures help
to reduce impacts to natural areas by providing
a convenient, practical place to fi sh 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 fi shing ponds. Restoration work on old
gravel ponds along the Poudre River provide good
opportunities for the creation of gravel fi shing
“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.
Magpie Meander Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas
Department Photo)
68 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014
For example, raptors 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
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 graffi ti removal,
can occur on sites open or closed to the public,
but is more prevalent when public improvement
structures and interpretive features are present.
With over 100 miles of trail, keeping up with trail
maintenance can be diffi cult. 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
fl ooding 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 City 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)
• Kingfi sher Point (north side of the Poudre
River, will include a natural surface trail)
• Eagle View (will include a natural surface
trail)
Trail improvement on Reservoir Ridge Natural Area (Photo by
Todd Juhasz)
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014 69
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 natural areas conserved by the City contain
evidence of Paleo-Indian artifacts, remnants of
pioneer homesteading, historic buildings from
ranching and farming operations, and remnants of
signifi cant industries from the early 1900s.
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
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 qualifi ed 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 fi nal 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
Lindenmeir Site on Soapstone Prairie Natural Area (City of Fort
Collins Natural Areas Department Photo)
70 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014
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
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.
The offi ce is also contacted when any potentially
signifi cant 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 signifi cant 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 Kingfi sher 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
Great Western Sugar Company Beet Effl uent Bridge on Kingfi sher
Point Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department
Photo)
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014 71
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
fi re 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 fi re 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 fi nally, 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
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 natural
areas and can help prevent graffi ti. Graffi ti 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.
Art-in-Public Places Artist Joe McGrane’s “Ghost Kitchen” on
Reservoir Ridge Natural Area (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas
Department Photo)
White Pine Fire Lookout Cab on Running Deer Natural Area (City
of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo)
72 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014
AGRICULTURE
The protection of agricultural land became more of
a priority for the City in its 2004 Land Conservation
and Stewardship Master Plan. Agricultural lands
worth conserving were identifi ed 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 defi ne 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 benefi cial use for the community
when conducted in a sustainable manner.
Agriculture can benefi t the community when
utilized as a vegetation management tool (e.g.,
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 benefi t to the community from a historical
context. Whether as a land management tool or a
land use, agriculture can provide both ecological
benefi ts and community benefi ts.
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 City 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 benefi t 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
benefi ts. 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
Cattle on Soapstone Prairie Natural Area (City of Fort Collins
Natural Areas Department Photo)
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014 73
to cause signifi cant 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
benefi ts 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 City recognizes the potential benefi ts from
agricultural practices and uses, but it is not the
Department’s intent to solely bear the fi nancial
burden of agricultural infrastructure (specialized
farm equipment, livestock costs, etc.). The
Department can, under certain circumstances,
benefi t fi nancially and/or gain ecological benefi ts
from partnering with third-party producers (lessees)
to provide food and/or fi ber 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 benefi ts the local food
bank, or other mutually benefi cial activities. In all
partnerships, the City will ensure that agricultural
activities incorporate best management practices
and demonstrate ecologically centered agricultural
practices.
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
monitoring 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 City 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 natural areas owned
fee simple. Additionally, the City 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.
74 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014
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 signifi cant mineral estate underlying Soapstone
Prairie (The Nature Conservancy 2013).
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 identifi ed and understood,
the participants design an approach to minerals
exploration and production activities intended
to direct surface activities away from critical
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 a natural area is
acquired by the City 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.
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014 75
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
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,
sewer, drainage, fl ood control, electric power,
wind generation, solar generation, pipelines,
telecommunications facilities, and oil, gas, and
minerals exploration. 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 specifi c 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-specifi c 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.
Powerline on Kingfi sher Point Natural Area (City of Fort Collins
Natural Areas Department Photo)
76 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014
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
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
values 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 fi ltering 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.
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
Surveying in monitoring wells at site along the river (Photo by
Dave Myers)
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014 77
conservation easements or the Certifi ed Natural
Areas 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
fi ve-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, City staff would recommend
the changes but not be able to partner on making
improvements.
Recognizing that the City has a vested and
perpetual interest in the best management of these
easement properties, moving forward the Natural
Areas Department will consider establishing a
competitive grant process to work more pro-actively
with landowners on enhancement projects. Such
projects could include wildlife friendly fencing,
native grass and shrub plantings, and noxious
weed management resources. These grants, funded
by the City, would provide the landowner with
cost sharing, planning resources, facilitation of
other grant funding sources, and other resources
needed to complete the enhancement project.
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 certifi ed
by the City as a natural area. City staff provides
assistance in the planning of site management
through the certifi cation process. The Natural
Areas Enhancement Fund was created to provide
monetary assistance in the implementation of
management plans on private properties. Typically,
fi ve 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, fi ve 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
Conservation Easement and Certifi ed Natural Area in southwest
Fort Collins (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo)
78 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014
renovated 1920s-era home provides offi ces and
meeting space, while the early 1900s-era barn
and loafi ng 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
effi cient access to local natural areas. The Nix
Farm 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 offi ces for all
Natural Areas Department staff, even in 2002.
Thus, a second offi ce 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. The Department may
need to add another offi ce building at some time
in the future. However, enlarging the shop and
improvements to the interior of the small house
will likely be higher priorities for the next ten
years.
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
nonprofi t 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 fi ve years, the studio has been rented for up
to 140 days per year with May and August being
the most heavily rented months. Nonprofi t 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
Primrose Studio (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department
Photo)
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014 79
River Canyon land surrounding the site for water
resources. The historic water treatment facility on
the site dates back to 1903 when the fi rst sediment
removal basins were constructed. 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 offi ce and shop. In the last few years,
a room in the offi ce 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.
BOBCAT RIDGE ON-SITE RANGER
In 2003, the City purchased the fi rst 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 offi ce 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.
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 start in late 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 City
and Larimer County, includes a small building
with public restrooms, ranger offi ces, 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 offi ce 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 offi ce facility is built, possibly within the next
ten years. At that time, the best use for the offi ce and
Fossil Creek Reservoir Facility (City of Fort Collins Natural Areas
Department Photo)
80 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014
garage may be for a satellite City Ranger Offi ce 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
fi eld offi ce 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;
however, improving all aspects of environmental
performance is a core value of the City
organization. Although the Department currently
has no certifi ed 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 unifi ed, cross-departmental approach.
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, fi nancial, 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.
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
The Natural Areas Department pursues the
implementation of best management practices
that act to reduce the impact of operations on the
environment. These practices include pollution
prevention, solid waste diversion and recycling,
energy and water conservation, and pesticide
impact reduction. The Department will continue
to seek additional best management practices by
maintaining a forward thinking approach to fi eld
and facility operations.
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 Reservoir, and Soapstone
Prairie 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
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014 81
to improvements with fuel storage, chemical
management, and recycling efforts. Every year new
opportunities are identifi ed and implemented.
These assessments are meant to review facility
and fi eld 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 offi ce
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 Maintenance
Shop in an ongoing effort to reduce the carbon
emissions associated with coal-derived power.
The solar panels have resulted in a 25% reduction
in electrical use from the power grid. In 2014,
solartubes were installed to reduce energy use for
shop lighting.
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
year-to-date comparison), the presentation of fuel
reduction driving techniques, and an emphasis on
making responsible vehicle choices. For example,
predefi ned 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.
Pesticide Use
Natural areas fi eld 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.
Installation of solar panels on Nix Farm Maintenance Shop (City
of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department Photo)
82 Stewardship FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014
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 fi re, and biological controls, where
appropriate. Staff tries to mitigate neighbor
confl icts 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 offi ce building at the Nix Farm Facility, adjacent
to the existing offi ce 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
certifi ed, 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 fl oor to use
natural lighting throughout the year.
FUTURE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
While the full benefi ts of implementing a
formal environmental management system are
understood by the Natural Areas Department,
the current operations of the Department do not
require implementation of a certifi ed system at
this time. Certain standards of certifi ed 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)
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014 83
L OOKING FORWARD
TO THE NEXT DECADE
AND BEYOND
Over the last ten years, the City of Fort Collins 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.
Looking ahead, while the City 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 Natural Areas Department spends about 60% of its overall revenues on
stewardship activities and 40% on land and water conservation.
As even before the beginning of the Natural Areas Program over 20 years ago, the Cache la Poudre River
will remain a high priority for the City, 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 fl ood 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 City priorities. A few examples
of key opportunities for the Natural Areas Department include:
Geese in migration
(Photo by Norm Keally)
84 Looking Forward to the Next Decade and Beyond FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014
FUNDING
• Partner with other City departments,
government agencies, nonprofi t organizations,
and private individuals and companies to
leverage fi nancial 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 nonprofi t 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 benefi t
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 35 priorities
for the next ten years:
LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION
A fundamental guiding principle of this Master
Plan is to maintain the Natural Areas Department’s
core focus on biologically signifi cant 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
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,
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
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014 85
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.
THE CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER
• Help convene, and collaborate with, City
departments, water users, and nonprofi t
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 fl ows to
boost ecologic function of the Poudre and
other important streams.
• Implement restoration projects that connect
the river to its fl oodplain, 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 refl ect 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 FINAL DRAFT September 24, 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 confl icts.
RECREATION, PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS,
FACILITIES
• Construct improvements to open sites in the
natural areas network not yet open to the public
and collaborate with other agencies and City
departments to improve access to the Poudre
River.
• 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 confl icts and negative
impacts on conservation values, and improve
trail sustainability and connectivity.
• Expand the spectrum of recreational
opportunities compatible with the Natural
Areas Department mission, such as sport and
family-friendly fi shing, 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
all facilities.
Anheuser-Busch volunteers planting shrubs on Kingfi sher Point
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 FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014 87
CULTURAL RESOURCES
• Seek to utilize 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 benefi t
the Department’s conservation.
• Infl uence utility easements and rights-of-
way projects on natural areas to minimize
impacts and maximize mitigation efforts to
achieve Department goals, update agreements
to contemporary standards, and vacate
abandoned rights-of-ways.
• Support the City’s Planning Department’s
efforts to protect natural resources through
the development review process.
• Support the City’s 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)
Soapstone Prairie Natural Area (Photo by Norm Keally)
88 Looking Forward to the Next Decade and Beyond FINAL DRAFT September 24, 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 Commissioners have placed
an extension of HPOS on the November 2014
ballot.
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 fl oral and
faunal communities, increased fi re events,
and alteration in the Cache la Poudre water
temperature, fl ows, and water quality and
quantity. Land conservation and restoration
could play a role in mitigating some of the
effects of local climate change.
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
(Photo by Michael Van Beber)
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 24, 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. [Draft].
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 Offi cer 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 FINAL DRAFT September 24, 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, Fort Collins, Colo. [Draft].
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-Defi cit 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-Defi cit 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. North Front
Range Metropolitan Planning Organization, Fort Collins, Colo. [Draft].
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 FINAL DRAFT September 24, 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 FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014 B-1
APPENDIX B
2011 CITY PLAN PRINCIPLES AND POLICIES
The following are relevant principles and policies of City Plan Fort Collins (City of Fort Collins 2011a)
for economic sustainability, land conservation, and stewardship of City natural areas.
PRINCIPLE 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 benefi t the citizens of Fort Collins by providing opportunities
for education, scientifi c research, nature interpretation, fi shing, 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.
B-2 Appendix B FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014
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.
POLICY ENV 2.6 – MANAGE CONFLICTS
Manage confl icts 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.
PRINCIPLE ENV 3
Open lands will benefi t the City by providing a well-defi ned edge, establishing community separators,
directing development, and conserving rural character.
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014 B-3
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 defi ning 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.
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.
B-4 Appendix B FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014
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.
PRINCIPLE 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 effi ciency 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 effi ciency standard
than applies to other buildings (e.g., Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold
certifi cation) 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
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.
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014 B-5
POLICY ENV 24.5 – COORDINATE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE INSTREAM FLOWS
Work to quantify and provide adequate instream fl ows to maintain the ecological functionality, and
recreational and scenic values of the Cache la Poudre River through Fort Collins.
PRINCIPLE 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 signifi cant 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 fl oodplain.
Protection of the historic and cultural resources will be accomplished using 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.
PRINCIPLE 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 signifi cant contributions of cultural and historic lands, waterways, and structures to
B-6 Appendix B FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014
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, fl oodplain 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.
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.
PRINCIPLE SW 2
The City will provide opportunities for residents to lead healthy and active lifestyles.
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014 B-7
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-8 Appendix B FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014 C-1
APPENDIX C
OUR LANDS – OUR FUTURE
RESULTS FOR FORT COLLINS
INTRODUCTION 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 specifi c 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 fi nding 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 fi ve things Larimer
C-2 Appendix C FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014
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 fi rm 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.
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 fi ndings 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.
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014 C-3
2012 SURVEY METHODS
The fi rst 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 defi ned
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 undeliverable mail. The fi nal 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 1,2482
responses. 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 signifi cantly 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 fi rst 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 FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014
SURVEY 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 profi le for Fort Collins (9%) and Larimer County (13%). This generally
refl ects 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 profi les 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?
54%
15%
4%
2%
2%
4%
1%2%13%
3%
Which of the following areas best describes the location of
your home in the County?
City of Fort Collins
City of Loveland
Town of Estes Park
Town of Berthoud
Town of Wellington
Town of Windsor
Town of Johnstown
Town of Timnath
Unincorporated Larimer County
Other
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014 C-5
Survey Question:
Age of respondent.
Survey Question:
Are you currently a student?
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.
Fort Collins Larimer County
Fort Collins Larimer County
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 FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014
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
identifi ed 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 fi shing (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 identifi ed 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, fi shing, 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, fi shing, 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 FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014 C-7
Survey Question:
Identify which activities your household plans to increase participation in over the next 12 months.
Fort Collins Larimer County
0%10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Large group picknicking (10+ people)
Other
Snowmobiling
Geocaching
Community gardening
Education programming (nature/history)
Rock climbing/bouldering
Hunting
Horseback riding
Boating, motorized
Watching wildlife/birding
Boating, non-motorized (canoe/kayak)
Photography/drawing/painting
Shooting/archery
Biking on unpaved trails
Camping - backpacking or backcountry
Picknicking
Recreating with dog(s)
Winter activities (snow/ice)
Fishing
Biking on roads
Camping
Walking/hiking/running - pavement
Biking on paved trails
Walking/hiking/running - natural surfaces
C-8 Appendix C FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014
Survey Question:
For which activities would you most like to see more land or facilities provided?
Fort Collins Larimer County
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 FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014 C-9
Survey Question:
If you don’t use natural areas or nature-based facilities in Larimer County, what are the reasons?
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 fi fteen 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 fi nancial 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 signifi cant 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.
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 or 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
Fort Collins Larimer County
C-10 Appendix C FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014
Survey Question:
How would you allocate $100 in public funds?
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 fi ve categories of land preservation.
Fort Collins Larimer County
$0 $5 $10 $15 $20
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
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014 C-11
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 fi t a perfect bell curve from one extreme to another,
but rather indicated a greater emphasis on outdoor recreation, overall. This is an interesting fi nding
when compared to the results of the previous question, and could refl ect a desire for both protection of
ecologically sensitive areas and recreational access to those areas.
Survey Question:
How important should each of the following be in prioritizing
land acquisition or conservation throughout the county?
Fort Collins Larimer County
0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0
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)
C-12 Appendix C FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014
Survey Question:
Which do you consider to be the single most important priority to acquire/conserve?
Survey Question:
Please indicate what emphasis you would like to see Larimer County
and our cities and towns pursue.
Fort Collins Larimer County
Fort Collins Larimer County
0%10% 20% 30% 40%
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
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)
City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Master Plan FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014 C-13
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.
Survey Question:
Two most important conserved land types.
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.
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
Working Farms & Ranches - Conservation Easements
Urban Open Space & Trails
Natural Resource & Wildlife Areas
Regional Open Space & Trails
Fort Collins Larimer County
C-14 Appendix C FINAL DRAFT September 24, 2014
APPENDIX 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 Profi le Data for Larimer
County, Colorado, and Fort Collins, Colorado. American FactFinder. http://factfi nder2.census.
gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml (accessed in 2012).