Conservation Corner

by Mary Mourar, PPG Conservation Committee

Trails, open space and public land planning
South Rampart plan finally released

The Pikes Peak Ranger District finally released the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) Plan for the South Rampart Travel Management Area. This planning area extends from Highway 24 to north of Palmer Lake, Highway 67 on the west and the edge of the national forest on the east. It includes many popular areas including Waldo Canyon, Blodgett Peak, hiking areas west of Palmer Lake, and the motorized routes accessible from Rampart Range and Mount Herman Road.

The preferred alternative (Alternative B) in the Draft EA includes many ideas that will help protect the forest and improve mountain biking and hiking, but other features are unacceptable. Among the features in Alternative B that the Forest Service should be applauded for including:

• Protecting the boundaries of Rampart East Roadless Area (RERA) by closing the end of Forest Roads 300E&D and 324.B and the ends of roads 327 and 324.A;
• Closure of additional roads including the end of 302.A, 311.A and 311 and seasonal closure of roads in Manitou Experimental Forest;
• Acceptance of non-motorized trails in Monument Open Space – trails 4, 11 and 12;
• Designation of a new trail (TR2) to the top of Blodgett Peak;
  and
• New connections for mountain biking in the Schubarth Road and Rampart Reservoir area (routes 310 and TR1).

Threatening new motorized trail

There are several features of the preferred alternative that cause concern and should be objected to. Of greatest concern is the creation of a new single-track motorized trail around RD327, east of Rampart Range Road (RD300). This would allow motorized activity in a new area that is a buffer zone in the heart of the Rampart East Roadless Area. To limit motorized encroachment and protect the rugged landscape in RERA, encourage the Forest Service to accept the Alternative C option, building a 16 mile motorized trail west of 300.

Additional areas to object to include:

• No designated new trails in RERA. The CMC is requesting a new designated trail from Palmer Lake Reservoirs north to Ice Cave Creek and Sundance Mountain;
• Reopening road 322.A across Monument Creek. It’s been closed because of excessive stream degradation, other damage and trash when it was open;
• Acceptance of the large number of user-created spur roads used by dispersed campers and OHVs. The large number will make it difficult to monitor activities and limit abuse of the forest resources.

More information can be found at www.southrampart.net or contact me at marym525@yahoo.com or 633-2614.

Red Rock Canyon Open Space planning

The city of Colorado Springs is developing new plans for the combined areas of Section 16, White Acres, and Red Rock now incorporated under one name Red Rock Canyon Open Space (RRCOS). The updated master plan and new management plan will determine how development and management will occur, as funding allows.

The public workshop meeting held on September 7 discussed ideas such as trail connections within the open space, whether all trails should be multi-use or not, access to climbing areas, and trailhead parking. The planning process will attempt to incorporate the interests of dog walkers, hikers, bicyclists, hang-gliders, horseback riders and rock climbers. However, development and activities must also balance use and conservation and ensure long-term sustainability. A daunting task for an underfunded city parks department. Volunteer groups will continue to be involved in the open space including the Pikes Peak Group CMC maintaining the Section 16 Trail.

Additional planning workshops will be held on October 5 and November 16 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Westside Community Center. More information about the planning process is available at http://www.springsgov.com/page.aspx?navid=2090. See also the Friends of Red Rock Canyon at http://www.redrockcanyonopenspace.org/.

Manitou Incline

The following update was issued by the Trails and Open Space Coalition in August:

The Incline: Efforts continue to develop intergovernmental agreements between the Cog Railroad, the cities of Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs, Colorado Springs Utilities and the US Forest Service. Executing these agreements will allow efforts to move forward with the Incline Site Development Plan that was approved early this year. The key sticking point with the Forest Service approval of the special use permit is the need to legally abandon the Mt. Manitou Scenic Incline Railway use on the Forest Service upper 1/3rd portion of the Incline. The Incline Friends group has written letters to Colorado Senators Bennett and Udall requesting that they look into speeding up the USFS approval process. There is the possibility now, with Colorado Springs signoff, that some site development plan work can be done on the lower 2/3rds of the Incline once the agreements are in place.

Additional Regional Trails

El Paso County Parks, Colorado Springs Parks and Recreation, Trails and Open Space Coalition (TOSC) and others are involved in ongoing expansion of trails in the region including plans for:

Chamberlain Trail from Cheyenne Mountain State Park to Garden of the Gods; historic Ute Indian Trail from Manitou Springs to Cascade; and connecting the city’s biking and walking trails including Midland Trail to Manitou Springs, Rock Island and Shook’s Run Trails to the Pikes Peak Greenway/Monument Creek Trail.

Watch the County Parks, city, and TOSC websites for updates and opportunities to contribute time or dollars to the effort.