Stearns Lake at Carolyn Holberg Preserve at Rock Creek Farm

Carolyn Holmberg Preserve at Rock Creek Farm
Management Plan Update

An updated management plan was approved on Jan. 5, 2021. The plan will better balance the multiple uses of Carolyn Holmberg Preserve at Rock Creek Farm.

Final Plan Approved

On Jan. 5, 2021, the Board of County Commissioners approved and adopted the management plan update at a business meeting. The commissioners requested an additional amendment regarding the 104th Street trail. Staff incorporated the additional approved amendments into the plan, which included changes to Chapter 3 Management Direction (changes marked on pages 51 and 55).

Approved Updated Management Plan
Download and view the PDF in Acrobat Reader to see all the appendices and attachments.

Public Input Process

Approved Updated Management Plan
Download and view the PDF in Acrobat Reader to see all the appendices and attachments.
Public Comments on Draft Plan
Initial Public Comments

Jan. 5, 2021: Board of County Commissioners

The Board of County Commissioners approved and adopted the management plan update on Jan. 5, 2021.

Dec. 15, 2020: Public Hearing

The Board of County Commissioners held a public hearing on Dec. 15 to consider approval and adoption of the management plan update. The meeting was held virtually and public comment was accepted.

The commissioners passed a motion to approve the plan with the following changes:

Update the prairie dog management recommendation to acknowledge that the proposed population thinning/reduction methods will be a pilot project informed by the consultation and knowledge of outside experts.
Remove the proposed future trail along the historic railroad grade.
Remove the proposed trailhead development at the end of S. 104^th Street.
Clarify BCPOS role in efforts to address Rock Creek water quality issues.
Prioritize additional parking opportunities as follows:
1. Explore off-site parking opportunities in collaboration with agency partners and adjacent municipalities.
2. Further evaluate and improve the existing Stearns Lake Trailhead if possible.
3. Study the proposed Brainard Drive Trailhead including an analysis on estimated changes in visitation.

Watch the Meeting (starts at the 1:09:17 timestamp)
Staff Memo to the Commissioners
Draft Management Plan Update (December 2020)
Download and view the PDF in Acrobat Reader to see all the appendices and attachments.

Nov. 19, 2020: Parks & Open Space Advisory Committee

Staff presented the proposed management plan update to the Parks & Open Space Advisory Committee on Nov. 19. Public comments were accepted. The committee voted to accept the plan as presented by staff with modifications to 1). Defer new trailheads to explore off-site parking balance options and 2). Balance a sustainable population of prairie dogs, predators, and grasslands.

Nov. 5, 2020: Historic Preservation Advisory Board Meeting

Information item with staff presentation to the Historic Preservation Advisory Board with discussion on the draft plan update, with an emphasis on cultural resources. Public comment was not accepted as was an information item only.

Meeting Agenda & Information Packet

Oct. 27, 2020: Virtual Public Meeting

Staff presented an overview of the draft plan update, recommendations, and the public input and approval process. A question and answer session followed the presentation.

April 23, 2020: Parks & Open Space Advisory Committee

Staff presented an update at a virtual meeting of the Parks & Open Space Advisory Board (Parks & Open Space Advisory Committee). The update included analysis of public comments received thus far. The meeting was livestreamed and allowed the public to submit written comments which were read to Parks & Open Space Advisory Committee members for their consideration.

March 11, 2020: Open House

An open house was held on March 11. Staff shared information and gathered input on what is working well, areas for enhancement, and opportunities and constraints to consider in developing redefined management direction.

Objectives

The primary objectives of the plan update are:

Create a working document that shows and respects the values and interests of all stakeholders.
Is balanced, flexible, and innovative in its approach.
Has been thoroughly analyzed through a thorough and transparent process.
Limits current and future conflicts.
Provides for the preservation and management of the area’s important agricultural, natural, cultural, and recreational resources.

The updated management plan is envisioned to:

Document the most up-to-date information about the property including its agricultural, natural, cultural, and recreational resources and open space activities.
Identify opportunities for enhancement to balance and optimize multiple resource priorities.
Consider input from public stakeholders and agency partners.
Inform future budget allocations and annual funding requests.

Background

Carolyn Holmberg Preserve at Rock Creek Farm is a multi-faceted open space that encompasses a wide variety of resource activities including agriculture and water resources, wildlife, plant ecology, trails and recreation, education and outreach, cultural and historic preservation.

Purchased beginning in 1980, it is located along Highway 287 and Dillon Road and encompasses approximately 1,130 acres. The property borders the City and County of Broomfield to the south and City of Lafayette to the northwest. The previous management plan was adopted in 2002. Key features include:

An active producing farm with irrigated and dryland cropland and rangeland.
Leases for agricultural operation and Birds of Prey Foundation rehabilitation center.
Over three miles of public trails including the Rock Creek Regional Trail and the Stearns Lake Trailhead with access to fishing and picnic facilities.
Visited by over 70,000 recreationalists in 2018.
Locally designated cultural landscape with seven prehistoric and 18 historic sites.
Three designated Critical Wildlife Habitat areas, a 40-acre prairie dog preserve, and an additional 158-acre Habitat Conservation Area for prairie dogs.
Two riparian creek corridors, 25+ acres of wetlands, and 64+ acres of significant natural communities include native short-grass prairie.
Four operating oil and gas wells.

Background

CHP/RCF was purchased by BCPOS starting in 1980. It is a multi-faceted property used for agriculture, recreation, and protection of native plant and animal habitat.

The requested amendment would allow for a trail along the east side of 104th Street from the Stearns Lake Trailhead to the CHP/RCF northern property boundary at Dillon Road. The trail would then continue north to complete a connection to the Coal Creek Trail utilizing the 104th Street roadway right of way and/or open space properties identified in the Jointly Owned Boulder County-Lafayette-Louisville Open Space Management Plan adopted in 2004 by the City of Louisville, City of Lafayette, and Boulder County.

While reviewing the need for this plan amendment, the department considered performing a full update of the entire CHP/RCF Management Plan since there are several resource and management issues in the full property that also need resolution. However, it is anticipated that a nine- to 12-month planning process would be needed to allow for plan development. The proposed amendment to include a conceptual trail alignment for the 104^th Street Connector Trail is being requested now because the impacts to open space resources are anticipated to be minimal, and the City of Louisville in partnership with Lafayette and Boulder County was awarded grant funding in August to design and construct the 104^th Street Connector Trail. This small, trail-corridor-only plan amendment can be completed quickly to keep the trail project on schedule and the larger update to the CHP/RCF will commence later this fall and last into next year.

A site visit in early July by BCPOS staff representing disciplines from Agriculture, Recreation and Facilities, Resource Management, and Resource Planning did not identify major concerns with the connection.

Input from staff is included:

The Glacier View parcel encompasses the NW portion of CHP/RCF bordering Dillon Road and S. 104^th It is agricultural cropland that is irrigated with a center pivot. An existing recycled asphalt, surface farm access road parallels S. 104^th Street. It is envisioned that the trail could be located between the farm access road and S. 104^th Street roadway.
The proposed trail alignment would use the public right-of-way adjacent to a private parcel along the east side of S. 104^th However, potential acquisition of an easement or land may be needed if right-of-way width is limited.
While S. 104^th Street is a dirt road south of Dillon Road, a short stretch at the low point in the topography was improved to a concrete surface due to potential stormflows/drainage overtopping the roadway. The proposed trail design may also need to accommodate drainage in this area.
The proposed trail alignment would cross a freshwater emergent wetland associated with the inlet to Stearns Lake and adjacent Goodhue irrigation ditch lateral. Impacts to the wetland area can be minimized by installing a bridge/boardwalk over the feature approximately 170 feet in length from start to end that spans both the wetland and ditch. The trail should attempt to cross this feature most directly for the smallest wetland impact (and smallest cost, should a bridge or boardwalk be required). Construction of the bridge/boardwalk over this habitat should be timed to avoid the nesting season (April 15 through Aug. 1). Depending on the design of the bridge/boardwalk, there could be some minor impacts to the wetland during construction. Any disturbance, however, with the exception of any posts and pilings, would be temporary in nature, and all standard conservation and erosion control measures would be adhered to during construction.
Staff did not observe any recently active raptor nests or burrowing owls along the route. However, the route will be monitored and mitigation identified as appropriate if needed before construction.

Regional Trail Context

The Boulder County Comprehensive Plan states that the county will work with the Consortium of Cities to assure linkages of county trails and connections between communities. This connector trail would provide a link between two popular regional trails and allow residents of Lafayette, Louisville, and Broomfield to access CHP/RCF and its trail system.

The City of Louisville submitted a grant application for the design and construction of the connector trail, which would fund 50% of the $950,000 estimated project cost. The City of Louisville, City of Lafayette, and Boulder County would each contribute $158,333.33, which would fund the local match balance of the total project cost.

Public Process

Property owners within 1,500 feet of proposed 104^th Street Connector Trail on the impacted open space parcels at CHP/RCF received a letter by direct mail in advance of both this BOCC hearing and a July POSAC meeting. BCPOS staff shared information about the proposed management plan amendment and provided details regarding the respective public meeting date, time and location, and opportunity to attend and provide verbal testimony.

On July 18, BCPOS staff representatives met on-site with an adjacent private property owner to discuss the potential trail alignment. The property owner expressed support for a trail along the east side of S. 104^th Street, in front of their property and a willingness to work with the county should potential acquisition of an easement or land be needed if right-of-way width adjacent to their property is limited.

POSAC Recommendation

The staff recommendation was brought to the Parks & Open Space Advisory Committee (POSAC) on Thursday, July 25. Links to the meeting materials presented, as well as video and minutes are available on the POSAC Open Meeting Portal.

During the public comment period of the meeting, two community members spoke on behalf of Groundwork Ranch, a non-profit organization located on the NE corner of S. 104^th Street and Dillon Road. Groundwood Ranch provides equine-assisted learning programs. Both speakers expressed support for the trail, yet also shared concern for the proximity of the trail to their horse-riding facility citing trail user, client, and horse safety as well as privacy as issues. They offered suggestions for incorporating privacy screening such as a mature hedge, fencing, or trees. They would like to be kept updated on the trail and also suggested a site visit to discuss in person. BCPOS staff advised POSAC that this property is located within Louisville, and that the comments would be shared with the project team and that BCPOS staff anticipates that Louisville will work with the ranch since it is within their jurisdiction.

After a staff presentation, POSAC unanimously made a recommendation that the BOCC support the staff recommendation to amend the Carolyn Holmberg Preserve at Rock Creek Farm Management Plan to include a conceptual alignment for the 104^th Street Connector Trail along the east side of the roadway.

Staff Recommendation

Staff recommends the BOCC approve this amendment to the Carolyn Holmberg Preserve at Rock Creek Farm Management Plan to establish a formal trail connection from the Stearns Lake Trailhead/Rock Creek Trail northward to the northern property boundary at 104^th Street and Dillon Road.

Next Steps

Upon approval of this amendment, BCPOS will enter into an IGA with the City of Louisville and City of Lafayette to provide specific conditions related to the trail connection such as responsibility for trail design, construction, routine and capital maintenance, and the designation of trail use rules, regulations, and enforcement.

The City of Louisville will be the fiscal agent for the state-funded grant project. Funding will be received in October 2019. Design of the trail would begin in late 2019 and the trail would be constructed in 2022. As part of the initial steps of the design process, the project agency partners will schedule public forums to get input from community stakeholders.

Carolyn Holmberg Preserve at Rock Creek Farm
Management Plan Update

Final Plan Approved

Public Input Process