Research projects and inventories help us monitor management practices, improve resources and park visitor experiences.
Research on Open Space
Research Permits
A permit is required to conduct research activities or to collect any biological resource elements from open space. After completing the application, a more detailed research proposal may be requested.
Drone Permits
If you are interested in using Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), also known as drones, please see the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Policy.
Small Grants Program
Parks & Open Space awards small grants for research and biological inventories on open space lands. These research projects and inventories provide valuable data to monitor management practices, advance our ability to adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change, and improve resources and park visitor experiences.
- Grants are awarded up to $10,000.
- Preference will be given to proposals that address the priority research topics, but all proposals will be considered.
- It is strongly encouraged to contact the appropriate staff members to discuss research topics before submitting your proposal.
- The deadline for proposals has been extended until Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.
- Research Proposal Requirements & Priority Research Topics
The deadline for proposals was Jan. 20. Late applications are not accepted.
Interagency Research
Did you know that City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks and the City of Longmont Public Works & Natural Resources also fund research? To discuss the possibilities of a shared research project, please visit Interagency Research Proposals.
Research Reports
More than 170 research projects have been completed since 2000. Below you will find final reports from the Small Grants Program as well as other scientific papers, studies and staff reports.
| Subject | Report Title | Year | Researcher Name |
Property | Keywords |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visitor Studies | Regional and Neighborhood Trails Visitor Study Report | 2023 | Staff | Various | Visitors, Users, Surveys |
| Visitor Studies | 2022 Parks & Open Space Visitation Report | 2022 | Staff | Various | Visitors, Users, Trail Counters |
| Wildlife | Survey of Bats at Corona Hill, Hall Ranch: Twin Lakes, Walden Ponds, Overwintering Activity at Ingersol Quarry, High Elevation Building Roosts, and Lefthand Canyon Elevational Transect | 2022 | Rick A. Adams, PhD | Corona Hill, Hall Ranch, Twin Lakes, Walden Ponds, Ingersol Quarry, Lefthand Canyon | Bats, Post-Fire, Cal-Wood Fire, Elevational Migration, Overwintering, Abundance, Species Richness, Sonar Survey, Forest Thinning, Foraging Patterns |
| Wildlife | Rearing and assessing populations for the Hudsonian emerald, Mountain emerald, and American emerald at DeLonde Ponds | 2022 | Sara Stevens, Richard P. Reading | Caribou Ranch | Odonate, Dragonfly, Rearing, Headstarting, Species Conservation and Recovery Plan, Somatochlora hudsonica, Somatochlora semicircularis, Cordulia shurtleffii |
| Plant Ecology | Assessing the Effects of Cattle Grazing on Riparian Vegetation, Groundwater, and Soils and Implications for Carbon Storage Potential | 2022 | Esa K. Crumb | St. Vrain Creek, Gage | grazing, exclosures, wetland, vegetation, riparian, groundwater, carbon storage |
| Visitor Studies | Five-Year Visitor Study | 2021 | Parks & Open Space Staff | Various | Visitor experience, demographics, satisfaction survey |
| Wildlife | Study of Bat Populations on BCPOS Properties, Seasonal Migrations, Overwintering Activity, High Elevation Roost Sites, and Effects of the Cal-Wood Burn at Heil Valley Ranch | 2021 | Rick A. Adams, PhD | Various | Bats, Post-Fire, Cal-Wood Fire, Elevational Migration, Overwintering, Abundance, Species Richness, Sonar Survey, Forest Thinning, Foraging Patterns |
| Plant Ecology / Weeds | Incorporation of indaziflam (Rejuvra®) into Boulder County Parks and Open Space Weed Management: A Post‐Fire Assessment | 2021 | Christina Alba, PhD, Michelle DePrenger-Levin | Heil Valley Ranch | plant community, Rejuvra, herbicide, weed control, fire treatment, Cal-Wood Fire, recruitment, Bromus tectorum, Bromus japonicus, habitat degradation |
| Forestry | Fuels treatments and their impact on carbon stocks and fire severity in Boulder and Jefferson Counties and the city of Boulder | 2021 | Dr. Brian Buma, Dr. Anthony Vorster, Erin Twaddell | Heil Valley Ranch, Jefferson County Open Space, City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks | Fire, carbon stocks, fuel treatments, thinning, prescribed burning, Cal-wood, wildfire, remote sensing |
| Forestry | Ashes to asters: the short-term impact of the Cal-Wood Fire on plant communities | 2021 | Camille Stevens-Rumann and Paula Fornwalt | Heil Valley Ranch | wildfire, fire recovery, severity, thinning, treatments, plant community, species diversity, management, seeding |
| Forestry | Impacts of pre-fire forest structure and wildfire severity on understory vegetation and tree mortality | 2021 | Dr. Megan S. Matonis | Heil Valley Ranch | Wildfire, thinning, prescribed burn, restoration, forest management, fire severity, fire effects, wildfire recovery, tree mortality, understory vegetation, non-native species, species richness |
| Wildlife | Breeding Hudsonian Emerald (Somatochlora hudsonica, Hagen) Under Human Care | 2021 | Sara Stevens and Richard P. Reading | Caribou Ranch | Dragonfly, Odonata, Invertebrate, Conservation, Headstarting, Life History, Corduliid |
| Ecosystems | Permeable landscapes for climate change adaptation in and around Boulder and northern Jefferson Counties | 2020 | Dr. David M. Theobald | All properties of Boulder County Parks & Open Space, City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, and Jefferson County Open Space | wildlife connectivity, landscape permeability, climate adaptation, habitat types, habitat fragmentation |
| Visitor Studies | Use Preferences and Visitor Experiences of People with Disabilities on Parks & Open Space | 2020 | Staff | Various | amenities, visitation patterns, ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act, parks, trails, trailheads, parking |
| Ecosystems | Impact of Esplanade® Herbicide on Pollinators and Pollinator Resources | 2020 | Dr. Scott Nissen, Janet Hardin and Dr. Shannon Clark | Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain, Colp, Trevarton, Hall Ranch | floral visitors, downy brome, indaziflam, bees, pollinator habitat, floral resources |
| Wildlife | Study of Seasonal Altitudinal Migrations, Overwintering Activity Patterns, and Continued Surveys for Bats on Boulder County Open Space | 2020 | Dr. Rick Adams | Heil Valley Ranch, Hall Ranch, Walden Ponds, Twin Lakes, Cardinal Mill, Blue Jay Mine, Platt-Rogers Memorial Park, Rocky Mountain Mammoth, Hall Ranch, Adams-Cowger, and Randolf-Pratt | Bats, Elevational Migration, Overwintering, Abundance, Species Richness, Sonar Survey, Forest Thinning, Foraging Patterns |
| Ecosystems | Ecological Status of Lagerman Reservoir | 2020 | Maggie Anderson, Dr. Sarah Spaulding, Dr. Diane McKnight | Lagerman Reservoir | Water Quality, Cyanobacteria, Bluegreen Algae, Algal Bloom, Salinity, Ecological Conditions, Fish Kill, Impoundment |
| Ecosystems | Impacts of Cheatgrass on Mammal, Bird, and Butterfly Populations in a Rocky Mountain Foothills Grassland | 2020 | Anyll Markevich, Stephen R. Jones, and Christel Markevich | Heil Valley Ranch | Wildlife, habitats, invasive plants |
| Visitor Studies | 2019 Parks & Open Space Visitation Report | 2019 | Parks & Open Space Staff | Various | Visitors, Users, Trail Counters |
| Other | Paleontological Survey Summary | 2019 | Dr. Joseph Sertich | Various | Dinosaurs, Cretaceous fossils |
| Ecosystems | Effects of fire and thinning disturbances on biodiversity of wild bee communities in the Front Range Colorado | 2019 | Thomas Seth Davis, Ryleigh Gelles, Boris Kondratieff, Camille Stevens-Rumann | Bald Mountain, Gold Hill Area, Hall Ranch, Heil Valley Ranch, Heil Valley Ranch 2 | Ecosystem management, biodiversity, community ecology, fire, native bees, ponderosa pine |
| Ecosystems | Plant Inventory: Red Hill Study Area | 2019 | John Vickery | Heil Valley Ranch, Trevarton, Red Hill, North Foothills Open Space | Potential Conservation Area, Plant species diversity, Asclepias stenophylla, Carex oreocharis, Claytonia rubra, Crepis atribarba, Helianthus rigidus, Lactuca ludoviciana, Linaria canadensis, robanche multiflora, Physaria belli, Triodanis leptocarpa, Vicia ludoviciana |
| Visitor Studies | Recreation Conflicts Focused on Emerging E-bike Technology | 2019 | Staff | Various | Bikes, bicycles, non-motorized passive recreation, accessibility, inclusion |
| Visitor Studies | E-bike Pilot Study Results | 2019 | Staff | Various | Bikes, Class 1 and class 2 e-bikes, non-motorized passive recreation |
| Wildlife | Environmental influences on bioturbation and nest architecture of montane ants | 2019 | Madison Sankovitz | Mud Lake, Reynolds Ranch | Ants, nests, Formica podzolica, soil, temperature |
| Visitor Studies | Agricultural Heritage Center Visitor Survey | 2018 | Parks & Open Space Staff | Agricultural Heritage Center | Visitors, Amenity & Exhibit Preferences, Demographics & Visitation Patterns |
| Visitor Studies | 2018 Parks & Open Space Visitation Report | 2018 | Parks & Open Space Staff | Various | Visitors, Users, Trail Counters |
| Ecosystems | Assessing the Potential for Beaver Restoration and Likely Environmental Benefits | 2019 | Julianne Scamardo and Ellen Wohl | Various | American Beaver, BRAT Model, Reintroduction, Ecosystem Engineer, Habitat Suitability, Spatial Modeling |
| Ecosystems | Forest Vulnerability to Disturbances | 2018 | Camille Stevens-Rumann | Various | Forest management, Wildfire, Anthropogenic Forest Disturbance, Fire Severity, Understory Plant Community |
| Ecosystems | Identifying a mass extinction in Front Range open space: Age & environments of the Lykins Formation | 2018 | James Hagadorn et al | Six Mile Fold, Heil Valley Ranch, Steamboat Mountain | Mass extinction, Paleontology, sedimentology, diagenesis, geochemistry, geochronology, Lykins Formation, Boulder County, Front Range |
| Wildlife | Seasonal variation in bee abundances in rangeland ecosystems of the Front Range region is affected by land-use | 2018 | Khum Thapa-Magar and Thomas S Davis | Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain, AHC | Rangeland ecosystems, Land Use, Native Bees, Pollinator Biodiversity, Grasslands, Grazing, Invasive Species |
| Plant Ecology / Weeds | Bringing back flowering plants and pollinators through effective control of invasive winter annual grasses with Esplanade® herbicide | 2018 | Arathi Seshadri and Janet Hardin | Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain | Esplanade, Invasive Grass, Herbicide, Pollinators, Grasslands, Front Range, Winter Annual, Forbs |
| Wildlife | A qualitative assessment of wild bee habitat features on Boulder County open spaces | 2018 | Adrian L. Carper | Various | Riparian pollinators, Downed Wood, St. Vrain Creek, Pollinator Nesting Habitat, Ecological Restoration, Bee Forage, Stream Management, Bee Nesting |
| Wildlife | Habitat Fragmentation Analysis of Boulder County | 2018 | Paul Millhouser and Paige Singer | Various | wildlife populations and behavior, human-wildlife conflicts, FRAGSTATS |
| Wildlife | 2018 Butterfly Inventories in Nine Open Space Areas | 2018 | Janet Chu | Various | butterflies |
| Wildlife | Report for Continued Surveys for Bats on Boulder County Open Space | 2018 | Rick A. Adams & Amanda Bevan | Various | Sonar surveys |
| Wildlife | Herptile Response to a Controlled Burn at Rabbit Mountain Open Space | 2018 | Hunter Johnson and Joseph Ehrenberger | Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain | fire effects on amphibians and reptiles, |
| Wildlife | Preliminary assessment of pollinators on Red Wagon Organic Farm and notes on potential conservation practices to promote wild bees | 2018 | Adrian L. Carper and Tobin J. Hammer | Red Wagon Organic Farm | pollinators, native bees |
| Wildlife | A study of feral honeybee colonies adaptability to temperature variations relating to their overwintering survivability | 2018 | Corwin Bell | Rock Creek | cold weather, pollinators, bees |
| Wildlife | Investigating Bullfrog Management on the Front Range | 2018 | Kelly Triece, Joseph Ehrenberger, Norma Davenport | Various | American Bullfrogs, funnel traps, bucket traps, hand-capture, cost-effectiveness, Front Range |
| Ecosystems | Assessment of the Three-Dimensional Structure of Riparian Habitat Along Foothills and Plains Streams | 2018 | Jessica Salo, Edward Gage, Gabrielle Katz, and Jason Stoker | Various | Preble’s meadow jumping mouse, LiDAR, riparian, habitat, remote sensing, habitat connectivity |
| Wildlife | The conservation value of woody debris for cavity-nesting bees on Boulder County Open Space | 2017 | Adrian L. Carper and M. Deane Bowers | Various | pollinators, riparian areas, |
| Wildlife | Pollinator Habitat Conservation Activity Plan for Boulder County | 2017 | Jennifer Hopwood, Rae Powers, Scott Black, Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation | Various | pollinators, agriculture, farms |
| Wildlife | Hudsonian Emerald Dragonfly (Somatochlora hudsonica, Hagen) in Boulder County | 2017 | Kristofor Voss, Katrina Loewy | Various | dragonfly, aquatic ecosystems, |
| Ecosystems | Influence of Crack Willow on Stream Geomorphology, Wildlife, and Native Plant Community Composition | 2017 | John Giordanengo | Various | stream geomorphology, bank erodibility, understory native plant communities, avian community |
| Forestry | Topoclimate effects on growing season length and montane conifer growth in complex terrain | 2017 | D M Barnard, H R Barnard, and N P Molotch | Betasso Preserve | forest growth, sapflow, montane ecosystem, complex terrain, growing season length, topoclimate |
| Visitor Studies | Examining Outdoor Recreation Barriers, Amenity Preferences, and Communication and Outreach Needs of the Latino/Hispanic Community | 2017 | The Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources | Various | survey, demographics, outdoor recreation, park amenity preferences, communication and outreach, |
| Ecosystems | Global Change in Alpine Aquatic Ecosystems | 2016 | Kelly Loria | Mud Lake | Alpine lakes, zooplankton, plankton, water chemistry, nitrogen deposition, climate change |
| Wildlife | A pilot study of potential effects of human recreation activity on Abert’s squirrel and dusky grouse in Boulder County | 2017 | Sarah E. Reed | Betasso Preserve, Walker Ranch, Hall Ranch, Heil Valley Ranch | recreation activity, wildlife communities, dog policy, mountain biking, hiking |
| Plant Ecology / Weeds | Competition and community interactions of the western tent caterpillar | 2016 | Elizabeth Barnes | Betasso Preserve, Walker Ranch | entomology, caterpillar, ecology, pest, chokecherry |
| Plant Ecology / Weeds | Extending the Duration of Annual, Biennial, and Perennial Weed Control with Esplanade Tank Mixes | 2016 | Derek Sebastian | Mayhoffer, Hillside, Kenosha | Esplanade, downy brome, Dalmatian toadflax, musk thistle, scotch thistle, diffuse knapweed, moth mullein, weeds, herbicide |
| Ecosystems | Fall 2015 Review of Selected Boulder County Properties Affected by 2013 Floods | 2016 | Laura Backus | Left Hand Creek, Boulder Creek, St. Vrain Creek | riparian conditions, vegetation, plant growth |
| Wildlife | A General Herpetofauna Assessment and Mapping of Hibernacula at Rabbit Mountain Open Space | 2015 | Joseph Ehrenberger, Kevin Urbanek, and Tom Mathies | Rabbit Mountain Open Space | reptiles, amphibians, lizard, snakes, |
| Plant Ecology / Weeds | Agricultural Practices on Boulder County Open Space: Implications for Pollinator Conservation | 2015 | C. A. Kearns, D. M. Oliveras, and A. L. Carper | Various agricultural properties | ag, agricultural, crops, insects, pollinators, bees |
| Plant Ecology / Weeds | Alternative methods for delineating seed transfer zones: comparisons of genetic and common garden data | 2015 | Taylor Crow and Kristina Hufford | Hall Ranch | true mountain mahogany, |
| Visitor Studies | Boulder County Fairgrounds 2015 Economic Impact Study | 2015 | Leeds School of Business, University of Colorado Boulder |
Fairgrounds | buyers, sellers, farmers’ market, commerce, exhibits |
| Wildlife | Rabbit Mountain Herp Survey Adaptation Environmental | 2015 | Unknown | Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain | Snakes |
| Ecosystems | Evidence for climatic and hillslope-aspect controls on vadose zone hydrology and implications for saprolite weathering | 2015 | Abigail L. Langston, Gregory E. Tucker, Robert S. Anderson, Suzanne P. Anderson | soil moisture, vadose zone, weathering, north and south facing slopes | |
| Ecosystems | Exhumation by debris flows in the 2013 Colorado Front Range storm | 2015 | Scott W. Anderson, Suzanne P. Anderson, and Robert S. Anderson | Boulder Creek | topographic differencing, aerial lidar, sediment transport volumes, erosion rates |
| Forestry | Fire effects for different slash management techniques in lower montane ponderosa pine forests | 2015 | Erin Berryman, Michael Battaglia, Chad Hoffman | Heil Valley Ranch | fire hazard, fuel loads, forest densities |
| Visitor Studies | Five-Year Visitor Study | 2015 | Parks & Open Space Staff | Various | Visitor experience, demographics, satisfaction survey |
| Wildlife | Identification of Winter Dens of Prairie Rattlesnakes on Rabbit Mountain Open Space | 2015 | Tom Mathies, Joseph Ehrenberger, Kevin Urbanek, Bryon Shipley | Rabbit Mountain Open Space | Prairie Rattlesnakes, |
| Ecosystems | Rapid Stream Stability Assessment Validation Study | 2015 | Joel Sholtes, John Giordanengo | South St. Vrain, Hall-II, St. Vrain Creek, Western Mobile | flood restoration, bank stabilization, watershed, riparian, stream bed and stream bank stability |
| Forestry | Recovery of small pile burn scars in conifer forests of the Colorado Front Range | 2015 | Charles C. Rhoades et al. | Various | Fuel management, Forest restoration, Soil disturbance, Fire effects, Burn severity, Prescribed fire |
| Wildlife | Report on Census of Bats at Hall Ranch and Continued Research at Heil Valley Ranch and Hall II | 2015 | Rick Adams | Heil Valley Ranch, Hall II | sonar survey, brown bats, small-footed myotis |
| Forestry | The role of precipitation type, intensity, and spatial distribution in source water quality after wildfire | 2015 | Sheila F Murphy, Jeffrey H Writer, R Blaine McCleskey, Deborah A Martin | Boulder Creek, Fourmile Creek | wildfire, forests, water quality, landscape disturbance, rainfall intensity, climate change, North American Monsoon |
| Ecosystems | 2014 Riparian Inventory and Assessment of Post-Flood Conditions | 2014 | Laura Backus & Susan Sherrod | Left Hand Creek, Boulder Creek, St. Vrain Creek | Noxious weeds, hydrology, erosion potential |
| Visitor Studies | Communication Practices Evaluation of Boulder County Parks & Open Space | 2014 | Blakely & Company | Various | Visitor experience, communication materials tools |
| Ecosystems | Greenhouse Gas Inventory from Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Uses for Boulder County | 2014 | Mark Easter et al. | Various | greenhouse gas GHG forecast of carbon emissions soil biomass carbon |
| Ecosystems | Pre- and Post-flood Assessment and Monitoring of Boulder County Riparian Areas | 2014 | Edward Gage & David Cooper | Boulder Creek, Lefthand Creek, St. Vrain River | Lidar, multispectral imagery, flood, |
| Wildlife | Report on Continued Research on the Effects on Bats of Forest Structure Changes Caused by Fire and Human Manipulation, Dietary and Heavy Metal Contaminant Analyses and Bats at Hall II Property | 2014 | Rick Adams, University of Northern Colorado |
Heil Valley Ranch, Hall Ranch II | bats, post-flood analysis, forest thinning |
| Visitor Studies | Alternative Day Use at Betasso Preserve | 2013 | Parks & Open Space Staff | Betasso Preserve | survey, biking, hiking, running |
| Visitor Studies | Amenity Preferences of Older Adults | 2013 | Corona Insights | recreation amenities, picnic shelters, restrooms, trails | |
| Wildlife | Butterflies, Birds and Blossoming Plants… A Continuing Study of Populations On Boulder County Parks and Open Space With A Look at Herptiles | 2013 | Janet Chu | Hall II, Anne U White, Heil Valley Ranch, Reynold’s Ranch, Rabbit Mountain, Walker Ranch, Caribou Ranch | Butterflies, Herptiles |
| Ecosystems | Critical zone evolution: Climate and exhumation in the Colorado Front Range | 2013 | Suzanne P. Anderson et al, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research |
Boulder Creek, Betasso Preserve | erosion, weathering processes, geology |
| Forestry | Historical forest structure and fire history in lower elevation ponderosa pine forests | 2013 | Peter M. Brown, Michael A. Battaglia, Laurie S. Huckaby, and Paula J. Fornwalt | Hall Ranch, and Heil Valley Ranch | wildfires, forest conditions |
| Ecosystems | Investigating late Pleistocene and Anthropocene flood deposits along North Boulder and Caribou Creek, Colorado Front Range | 2013 | Christopher R. Halcsik | North Boulder Creek and Caribou Creek | Lake Devlin flood deposits Caribou Creek |
| Forestry | Investigations of Mountain Mahogany Establishment | 2013 | Taylor Crow | Hall Ranch | shrub True Mountain Mahogany |
| Wildlife | Monitoring Bumblebee Populations in Boulder County | 2013 | Carol Ann Kearns & Diana Oliveras , University of Colorado |
Various | bumble bees pollinators |
| Ecosystems | Tree root mounds and their role in transporting soil on forested landscapes | 2013 | Benjamin S. S. Hoffman and Robert S. Anderson | Boulder Creek | microtopography, biogeomorphology, tree root mounds, mobile regolith transport |
| Visitor Studies | Visitation and Use on Boulder County Regional Trails | 2013 | Stacey Schulte and Travis Flohr | Coal Creek Trail, Rock Creek Trail, Lyons to Boulder LOBO Trail | |
| Forestry | Assessing Limber Pine Stand Conditions after White Pine Blister Rust and Mountain Pine Beetle Outbreaks in Boulder County Parks and Open Space | 2012 | Christy Cleaver and William Jacobi, Colorado State University |
Pine Beetle, climate change, | |
| Wildlife | Conservation Status and Population Structure Comparisons of Abundant and Declining Bumblebee Species | 2012 | Carol Ann Kearns and Diana Oliveras | Minnick, Mud Lake | bumblebee, bees |
| Ecosystems | Effects of forest restoration treatments on ponderosa pine ecosystems in Boulder County, Colorado | 2012 | Jenny Briggs and Paula Fornwalt | Hall Ranch, Heil Valley Ranch | ponderosa, forest, lower montane, restoration, treatment |
| Wildlife | Habitat Use of Northern Leopard Frogs in the Front Range | 2012 | Maxwell B Joseph & Pieter TJ Johnson | Mayhoffer, Hodgeson Harris Reservoir | water bodies, buffer zones, |
| Plant Ecology / Weeds | Impacts of seeding and seeding plus mulching treatments on exotic plant invasion and native plant recovery following the 2010 Fourmile Canyon Fire, Colorado | 2012 | Paula J. Fornwalt, USDA Forest Service |
Fourmile Fire Area | seeding, mulching, fire, rehabilitation |
| Forestry | Modeling of the Effects on Bats of Forest Structure Changes Caused by Fire and Human Manipulation | 2012 | Rick A. Adams & Katelin Craven | Heil Valley Ranch | bats, burned, fire, forest, meadows |
| Visitor Studies | Regulation Compliance Study | 2012 | Parks & Open Space Staff | demographics, satisfaction, five year study, visits, visitors | |
| Plant Ecology / Weeds | Synthesis of Observations to Date on Effects of Prairie Dogs on Vegetation of Boulder County Open Space: 2001 to 2011 | 2012 | Parks & Open Space Staff | Various | black-tailed prairie dogs, vegetation, plague, |
| Wildlife | Butterfly Inventories | 2011 | Jan Chu | Various | Inventory Butterflies |
| Wildlife | Conservation Status and Population Structure Comparisons of Abundant and Declining Bumblebee Species | 2011 | Carol Ann Kearns | Minnick, Mud Lake | bumblebee, bees |
| Ecosystems | Distribution of an invasive species and an amphibian pathogen in the Front Range of Colorado | 2011 | Anna C. Peterson, University of Colorado |
Various | bullfrogs, wetlands |
| Wildlife | Seasonal Variation in Wildlife Community Dynamics in Relation to Urbanization and Human Activities on the Front Range | 2011 | Jesse Lewis, Colorado State University |
Various | bobcats, mountain lions, domestic cats |
| Plant Ecology / Weeds | Sustainable Agriculture Literature Review | 2011 | Natural Capitalism Solutions | cropland policy ag production systems | |
| Ecosystems | Using the Lichen Xanthoparmeila to Monitor Concentrations of Nitrogen in Urban and Wilderness Environments | 2011 | Joseph Arehart | Heil Valley Ranch, Betasso Preserve, Walker Ranch | atmosphere pollutants, lichens, nitrogen concentrations |
| Ecosystems | Year End Report: Host plant choice in Fall Webworms (Hyphantria cunea Drury) | 2011 | Katrina Loewy, University of Denver |
Betasso Preserve | moths, larvae, trees, caterpillars, |
| Wildlife | Boulder County Bumblebees: Population monitoring and conservation genetics | 2010 | Carol Ann Kearns and Diana Oliveras | Minnick, Mud Lake | bumblebee, bees, |
| Wildlife | Butterfly Inventories | 2010 | Jan Chu | Various | Inventory Butterflies |
| Wildlife | Changes in Avian Species Composition in a Riparian Habitat | 2010 | Mysti Martin | Allegra Collister Nature Preserve | Long-term Bird Banding Data |
| Forestry | Effects of Mechanical Thinning, Fire, and Mastication on the Spatial Structure of the Forest Floor | 2010 | Scott Franklin, University of Northern Colorado, School of Biological Sciences |
Heil Valley Ranch | mechanical thinning, mastication, fire, fuels, soil, vegetation |
| Visitor Studies | Five-Year Visitor Study | 2010 | Parks & Open Space Staff | Various | Visitors Users Recreation |
| Forestry | The susceptibility of ponderosa pine to mountain pine beetle in the Colorado Front Range | 2010 | Meredith H. Gartner | Various | Mountain pine beetle |
| Plant Ecology / Weeds | AFLP Evaluation of Genomic Variation and Population Structure in Andropogon gerardii | 2009 | Ryan Lynch | Multiple | Plant Studies Big Bluestem |
| Ecosystems | CZO: Boulder Creek Critical Zone Observatory – Weathered Profile Development in a Rocky Environment and Its Influence on Watershed | 2009 | Susanne Anderson, University of Colorado Boulder |
Betasso | critical zone weathering erosion processes |
| Ecosystems | Impact of ponderosa pine thinning on Abert’s squirrel (Scuirus aberti) populations on Heil Valley Ranch | 2009 | Kelly Worden, Regis, Science Dept |
Heil Valley Ranch | Forest Thinning Aberts Squirrel |
| Wildlife | Inventory of Butterflies in Boulder County | 2009 | Jan Chu | Multiple | Inventory Butterflies |
| Wildlife | Landscape Effects on Disease and Demography in the Blacktailed Prairie Dog, Cynomys ludovicianus | 2009 | Katherine McClure, CU Boulder, Dept of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology |
Multiple | Plague Prairie Dog |
| Plant Ecology / Weeds | Managing Downy Brome Seed Production and Litter to Exhaust its Soil Seed Reserve | 2009 | George Beck, CSU Fort Collins, Dept of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management |
Multiple | Weed Control Downy Brome |
| Plant Ecology / Weeds | Slash pile burn scar restoration in montane forests of Boulder County, Colorado | 2009 | Paula J. Fornwalt and Chuck R. Rhoades, USDA Forest Service |
Reynolds Ranch | slash piles, soils, plants, fires, |
| Ecosystems | The Effects of Elevation and Associated Environmental Conditions on the Roosting Behavior of Five Species of Myotis Bats and Continued Analysis of Bat Species Abundance and Reproduction at Heil and Caribou. | 2009 | Mathew Willey, UNC Greeley, School of Biological Sciences |
Multiple | Environmental Bats |
| Wildlife | Butterfly Inventory of the Benjamin Property | 2008 | Jan Chu | Benjamin | Inventory Butterflies |
| Plant Ecology / Weeds | Establishing Native Plants on Abandoned Farmland 2006-2008 | 2008 | Cynthia Brown, CSU Fort Collins, Dept of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management |
Rabbit Mountain | Survey Visitor Demographics |
| Plant Ecology / Weeds | Boulder County Diffuse Knapweed Mapping and Biocontrol Agent Report | 2008-2009 | Phil Westra, PhD, Andrew Norton, PhD, and Melissa Bridges, PhD Student – Colorado State University | Various | invasive weeds, biocontrol insects, Sphenoptera |
| Forestry | Impacts of woodchip amendments and soil nutrient availability on patterns of understory vegetation establishment following thinning of a ponderosa pine forest | 2008 | Elisa Miller, CU Boulder, Dept of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology |
Heil Valley Ranch | Forest Management Understory Vegetation |
| Visitor Studies | Latino and Hispanic Perceptions | 2008 | Abby Hickcox, CU Boulder, Dept of Geography |
Multiple | |
| Wildlife | Mammal and Flea Occurrence in Association with Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) Colonies: Implications for Interspecific Plague Transmission | 2008 | Robert Brinkerhoff, CU Boulder, Dept of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology |
Multiple | Survey |
| Visitor Studies | Natural and Cultural History Programs: A Survey of Participants from 2006 to 2008 | 2008 | Parks & Open Space Staff | Various | Natural Cultural History Programs |
| Ecosystems | Ponderosa Pine Thinning on Aberts Squirrel | 2008 | Kelly Worden, Regis, Science Dept |
Heil Valley Ranch | Cattle Weed Control Diffuse Knapweed |
| Forestry | Rehabilitating Slash Pile Burn Scars In Upper Montane Forests | 2008 | Paula Fornwalt, USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station |
Multiple | Native Plants |
| Ecosystems | Stopover Use of Thinned vs Unthinned Ponderosa Pine Forests by Neo-tropical Migrant Passerines | 2008 | Clark Rushing | Multiple | Forest Thinning Aberts Squirrel |
| Ecosystems | Survey of Critical Biological Resources in Boulder County | 2008 | Stephanie Neid, Colorado State University, Colorado Natural Heritage Program |
Multiple | Survey Visitor Demographics |
| Visitor Studies | Walker Ranch Management: A Survey of Visitors and Neighboring Landowners at Walker Ranch Open Space | 2008 | Parks & Open Space Staff | Walker Ranch | Walker Ranch Visitors |
| Plant Ecology / Weeds | We’d Eat It! | 2008 | Kathy Voth, Livestock for Landscapes, LLC |
Cohig | Survey Resources |
| Ecosystems | Bat Species Abundance and Distribution, the Effects of Forest Thinning and Burning on Bat Foraging Activities and Incidence of West Nile Infection in Bats, and Calcium Water Hole Experiments at Heil Valley Ranch, 2007 | 2007 | Rick Adams, Colorado Bat Society |
Heil Valley Ranch | Survey Resource Management Policy |
| Plant Ecology / Weeds | Broadleaf Rangeland Herbicide Effects on Established and Seedling Native Forbs, Shrubs, and Grasses | 2007 | George Beck, CSU Fort Collins, Dept of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management |
Multiple | Forest Thinning Bats |
| Plant Ecology / Weeds | Eldorado Fire at Walker Ranch: Vegetation Reestablishment Monitoring 2007 | 2007 | Patrick Murphy, Ecotone Corporation |
Walker Ranch | Plague Prairie Dog |
| Plant Ecology / Weeds | Establishing Native Plants on Abandoned Farmland at Rabbit Mountain Open Space (Cemex): Year 2 | 2007 | Cynthia Brown, CSU Fort Collins, Dept of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management |
Rabbit Mountain | Weed Control Kochia |
| Plant Ecology / Weeds | Evaluation of the Potential for Teaching Cattle to Graze Late Season Diffuse Knapweed | 2007 | Kathy Voth, Livestock for Landscapes, LLC |
Mayhoffer/Singletree | Prescribed Burn Tree Regeneration |
| Wildlife | Life after Plague: Black-tailed Prairie Dog Demography in Repopulated Colonies | 2007 | Katherine McClure, CU Boulder, Dept of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology |
Multiple | Native Plants |
| Visitor Studies | Managing Your Natural Resources – Living Near Boulder County Parks and Open Space Forest Ecosystems | 2007 | Parks & Open Space Staff | Forest Management Policy | |
| Ecosystems | Mechanical Thinning Effects on Herbaceous Species Distributions and Invasion Pathways in Ponderosa Pine Forests of Boulder County, CO. | 2007 | Brett Wolk, CSU Fort Collins, Dept of Forest, Rangeland and Watershed Stewardship |
Various | Fire Vegetation Reestablishment |
| Plant Ecology / Weeds | Analysis of Canada Thistle Biomass Reduction from NOP Approved Non-Tillage/Cultivation Control Methods | 2006 | Adrian Card, CSU Extension, Cooperative Extension |
Pachamama Organic Farm | Weed Control Canada Thistle |
| Ecosystems | Bat Species Abundance and Distribution, the Effects of Forest Thinning and Burning on Bat Foraging Activity, Incidence of West Nile Virus in Bats, and Calcium Water Hole Experiments at Heil, 2006. | 2006 | Rick Adams, University of Northern CO, Dept of Biological Sciences |
Heil Valley Ranch | Forest Thinning Bats |
| Plant Ecology / Weeds | Boulder County Weed Mapping Project: Species Base Maps | 2006 | Phil Westra, CSU Fort Collins, Dept of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management |
Various | Forest Thinning Understory Vegetation |
| Plant Ecology / Weeds | Broadleaf Rangeland Herbicide Effects on Established and Seedling Native Forbs, Shrubs, and Grasses | 2006 | George Beck, CSU Fort Collins, Dept of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management |
Multiple | Weed Control Kochia |
| Wildlife | Butterfly Inventory and Research on Open Space Properties | 2006 | Jan Chu | Multiple | Inventory Butterflies |
| Wildlife | Effects of Dogs on Wildlife | 2006 | Ben Lenth, CSU Fort Collins, Dept of Ecology and Dept of Forest, Rangeland and Watershed Stewardship |
Multiple | Forest Thinning Understory Vegetation |
| Forestry | Effects of Forest Thinning and Chipping on Soil Properties and Understory Vegetation at Heil Valley Ranch | 2006 | Elisa Miller, CU Boulder, Dept of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology |
Heil Valley Ranch | Weed Mapping |
| Forestry | Effects of Thinning and Chipping on Tree Regeneration and Understory Plant Communities in a Ponderosa Pine Forest. | 2006 | Brett Wolk, CSU Fort Collins, Dept of Forest, Rangeland and Watershed Stewardship |
Heil Valley Ranch | |
| Plant Ecology / Weeds | Establishing Native Plants on Abandoned Farmland at Rabbit Mountain Open Space (Cemex): Year 1 | 2006 | Cynthia Brown, CSU Fort Collins, Dept of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management |
Rabbit Mountain | Native Plants |
| Plant Ecology / Weeds | The Role of Soil Nitrogen Availability of the Defensive Chemistry of an Invasive Plant Linaria Dalmatica Scrophulariaceae | 2006 | Mary Jamieson, CU Boulder, Dept of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology |
Multiple | Survey Dogs |
| Wildlife | An Inventory of Butterflies on Open Space Properties | 2005 | Jan Chu | Multiple | Inventory Butterflies |
| Ecosystems | Bat Species Abundance and Distribution, the Effects of Forest Thinning and Burning on Bat Foraging Activities and Incidence of West Nile Infection in Bats, and Calcium Water Hole Experiments at Heil Valley Ranch | 2005 | Rick Adams, University of Northern CO, Dept of Biological Sciences |
Heil Valley Ranch | Survey Visitor Demographics |
| Visitor Studies | Five-Year Visitor Study | 2005 | Parks & Open Space Staff | Betasso Preserve | Survey Adjacent Landowners |
| Plant Ecology / Weeds | Kochia Control to Aid Establishment of Perennial Grasses and Forbs | 2005 | George Beck, CSU Fort Collins, Dept of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management |
Multiple | Forest Thinning Bats |
| Visitor Studies | Nature as Your Neighbor: Results of the 2005 Survey of Adjacent Landowners | 2005 | Stacey Schulte, Planning Alternatives |
Multiple | |
| Plant Ecology / Weeds | The Effects of a Fall and Spring Prescribed Burn on the Control of Cheatgrass and Japanese Brome at Rabbit Mountain Open Space | 2005 | Michelle DePrenger-Levin, Denver Botanic Gardens |
Rabbit Mountain | Prescribed Burn Japanese Brome |
| Wildlife | An Inventory of Butterflies – Heil Valley Ranch Open Space 2002 – 2004 and Caribou Ranch Open Space 2004 | 2004 | Jan Chu | Multiple | Inventory Butterflies |
| Ecosystems | Bat Species Abundance and Distribution, the Effects of Forest Thinning and Burning on Bat Foraging Activity and Incidence of West Nile Infection in Bats at Heil Valley Ranch, 2004 | 2004 | Rick Adams, UNC Greeley, Dept of Biological Sciences |
Heil Valley Ranch | Survey Dogs |
| Wildlife | Effects of Dogs on Wildlife Communities | 2004 | Ben Lenth, CSU Fort Collins, Dept of Ecology and Dept of Forest, Rangeland and Watershed Stewardship |
Multiple | Habitat Fragmentation Bees |
| Ecosystems | Effects of Forest Management, Trail Use and Wildfire on Ponderosa Pine Forest Birds on Heil Ranch, Boulder County Open Space | 2004 | Alexander Cruz, CU Boulder, Dept of Environmental, Population and Organismic Biology |
Heil Valley Ranch | |
| Plant Ecology / Weeds | Management Strategies for the Establishment of Warm and Cool Season Grasses in Downy Brome Infested Rangeland | 2004 | George Beck, Colorado State University, Dept of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management |
Multiple | Forest Thinning Bats |
| Ecosystems | Pollination in an Urbanizing Landscape: Effects of Habitat Fragmentation on Wild Bee Assemblages | 2004 | Sarah Jack Hinners, CU Boulder, Dept of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and CIRES |
Multiple | Prescribed Burn Japanese Brome |
| Wildlife | Spatial Patterns of Historical Plague Incidence on Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys Ludovicianus) Colonies | 2004 | Amelia Markeson, CU Boulder, Dept of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology |
Multiple | Survey Dogs |
| Plant Ecology / Weeds | The Effects of Fall and Spring Prescribed Burns on the Control of Cheatgrass and Japanese Brome at Rabbit Mountain Open Space | 2004 | Michelle DePrenger-Levin, Denver Botanic Gardens |
Rabbit Mountain | Forest Management Ponderosa Pine |
| Visitor Studies | Visitor Support for Dog Restriction at Heil Valley Ranch, Hall Ranch and Rabbit Mountain | 2004 | Parks & Open Space Staff | Heil Valley Ranch, Hall Ranch, Rabbit Mountain | Dogs Dog Walking |
| Wildlife | Butterfly Survey | 2003 | Jan Chu | Heil Valley Ranch | Inventory Butterflies |
| Visitor Studies | Characteristics and Preferences of Mountain Bikers on Boulder County Parks and Open Space | 2003 | Stacey Schulte, Planning Alternatives |
Multiple | Survey Mountain Bikes |
| Ecosystems | Continued Study of Bat Abundance and Distribution at Heil Valley Ranch and the Effects of Forest Thinning on Bat Foraging Activities in Foothills Ecosystems | 2003 | Rick Adams, University of Northern CO, Dept of Biological Sciences |
Heil Valley Ranch | Survey Mountain Bikes |
| Ecosystems | Eastern Colorado Paleoenvironment | 2003 | Kevin Gilmore, University of Denver, Dept of Geography |
Mud Lake | |
| Ecosystems | Effects of Forest Management and Trail Use on Ponderosa Pine Forest Birds on Heil Ranch, Boulder County Open Space | 2003 | Alexander Cruz, CU Boulder, Dept of Environmental, Population and Organismic Biology |
Heil Valley Ranch | Weed Control Downy Brome |
| Forestry | Feasibility Study of a Biomass Energy System for Boulder County Parks Department | 2003 | McNeil Technologies, Inc. | Various | bio mass heating wood fuel boiler |
| Plant Ecology / Weeds | Management Strategies for the Establishment of Warm and Cool Season Grasses in Downy Brome Infested Rangeland | 2003 | George Beck, CSU Fort Collins, Dept of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management |
Multiple | Survey Recreation Conflict |
| Visitor Studies | Mountain Bike Use and Compliance on the Canyon Loop Trail at Betasso Preserve | 2003 | Parks & Open Space Staff | Betasso Preserve | Visitors Users Recreation Biking Hiking |
| Visitor Studies | Recreation Conflict at Six BCPOS Properties: A Baseline Study | 2004 | Parks & Open Space Staff | Betasso Preserve | Visitor Conflicts Equestrians Dogs Hiking Bike |
| Plant Ecology / Weeds | The Effects of a Fall verses Spring Prescribed Burn on the Control of Cheatgrass and Japanese Brome at Rabbit Mountain Open Space | 2003 | Michelle DePrenger-Levin, Denver Botanic Gardens |
Rabbit Mountain | PaleoEcology |
| Plant Ecology / Weeds | The Use of Mycorrhizal Fungi in Restoration of Highly Disturbed Soils at Heil 2003 | 2003 | Michelle DePrenger-Levin, Denver Botanic Gardens, Research and Conservation Department |
Heil Valley Ranch | Scent Stations Predators |
| Wildlife | Utilization of Scent-Station Surveys to Determine Predator Abundance and Spatial Use on Caribou Ranch Open Space (2nd Year of Baseline for Response to Recreation) | 2003 | Bill Given, Western Wildlife Institute |
Multiple | Forest Management Ponderosa Pine |
| Wildlife | Butterfly Survey at Heil | 2002 | Jan Chu | Heil Valley Ranch | Inventory Butterflies |
| Ecosystems | Effects of Forest Management and Trail Use on Ponderosa Pine Forest Birds on Heil Ranch. | 2002 | Alexander Cruz, CU Boulder, Dept of Environmental, Population and Organismic Biology |
Heil Valley Ranch | Forest Management Ponderosa Pine |
| Plant Ecology / Weeds | Eldorado Fire at Walker Ranch Vegetation Reestablishment Monitoring 2002 | 2003 | Patrick Murphy, Ecotone Corporation |
Walker Ranch | Wildfire Effects Montane Zone |
| Wildlife | Final Report: Census and Radio Telemetry of Bats at Heil Valley Ranch 2002 | 2002 | Rick Adams, Colorado Bat Society |
Heil Valley Ranch | Radio Telemetry Bats |
| Wildlife | Patterns of Small Mannal Species Richness and Abundance on Prairie Dog Colonies of Various Densities | 2002 | Eric Stone, CU Boulder, Dept of EPO Biology |
Multiple | Fire Vegetation Reestablishment |
| Forestry | The Historic Range of Variability of Fire in the Montane Zone: Past Fire Types and Fire Effects. | 2002 | Rosemary Sherriff, CU Boulder, Dept of Geography |
Multiple | Species Richness Prairie Dog |
| Plant Ecology / Weeds | The Use of Mycorrhizal Fungi in Restoration of Highly Disturbed Soils | 2002 | Michelle DePrenger-Levin, Denver Botanic Gardens |
Heil Valley Ranch | Revegetation Mycorrhizal Fungi |
| Wildlife | Utilization of Scent-Station Surveys to Determine Predator Abundance and Spatial Use on Caribou Ranch (Baseline for Response to Recreation) | 2002 | Bill Given, Colorado Urban Wildlife Institute |
Multiple | Scent Stations Predators |
| Ecosystems | Effects of Thinning, Prescribed Burning, and Trail Use on Ponderosa Pine Forest Birds on Heil Ranch 2001 | 2001 | Alexander Cruz, CU Boulder, Dept of Environmental, Population and Organismic Biology |
Heil Valley Ranch | Prescribed Burn Ponderosa Pine |
| Forestry | Effects of Wildfire on Ponderosa Pine Ecosystems at Walker Ranch | 2001 | Eric Petterson, WP Natural Resource Consulting, Inc. |
Walker Ranch | Wildfire Effects Ponderosa Pine |
| Wildlife | Monitoring of Prairie Dogs on Boulder County Open Space 2001 | 2001 | Carron Meaney | Multiple | Prairie Dog |
| Ecosystems | Spiranthes diluvialis Habitat Assessment and Survey Report | 2001 | Leigh Rouse, ERO Resources Corporation | Gage-Marlatt | Ute ladies’ -tresses orchid |
| Ecosystems | Revegetation Experiment in an Active Prairie Dog Town, Second Year Monitoring Report | 2001 | Patrick Murphy, Ecotone Corporation |
Kenosha | Revegetation Prairie Dog |
| Wildlife | Breeding Bird Survey Mud Lake Open Space | 2000 | Dave Hallock | Mud Lake | Avian Species of Special Concern, ringnecked duck, pygmy nuthatch, golden-crowned kinglet, MacGillivray’s warbler and western tanager |
| Ecosystems | Effects of Prescribed Burning and Trail Use on Ponderosa Pine Forest Birds on Heil Ranch. Analysis of Pre-treatment Years (1999-2000). | 2000 | Alexander Cruz, CU Boulder, Dept of Environmental, Population and Organismic Biology |
Heil Valley Ranch | Prescribed Burn Ponderosa Pine |
| Ecosystems | First Year Community Analysis for Prescribed Fire Sites | 2000 | Eric Petterson, WP Natural Resource Consulting, Inc. |
Multiple | Prescribed Burn |
| Ecosystems | Forest Fire Effects on Benthic Invertebrate Populations | 2000 | Nada Sroysaard | Walker Ranch | Fire Benthic Invertebrates |
| Wildlife | Monitoring of Prairie Dogs on Boulder County Open Space 2000 | 2000 | Carron Meaney | Multiple | Prairie Dog |
| Ecosystems | Revegetation Experiment in an Active Prairie Dog Town with Vegetation Graphics | 2000 | Patrick Murphy, Ecotone Corporation |
Kenosha | Revegetation Prairie Dog |
| Wildlife | Utilization of Scent-Station Surveys to Determine the Response of Predators to Recreation on Heil Ranch. | 2001 | Bill Given, Colorado Urban Wildlife Institute |
Heil Valley Ranch | Scent Stations Predators |