Boulder County Parks and Open Space Proposals
Proposal #1: Mayhoffer Farm Management Plan
Project Lead:
Tina Nielsen, Special Projects Manager
Executive Summary:
This project offers the opportunity to create a new management plan from start to finish and/or to create agreements to operationalize an existing management plan. The Harney- Lastoka and Mayhoffer Farm properties form part of the buffer between the cities of Lafayette and Louisville, and are jointly owned and managed by Boulder County, City of Lafayette, and City of Louisville. The properties have active agricultural leases, interpretive opportunities associated with the history of coal mining, recreational trails and opportunities to expand them, and challenges related to wildlife management in an urbanizing environment.
The Harney-Lastoka Management Plan, adopted in 2004, forms the basis for operations and management of the Harney-Lastoka complex with its active agricultural operation, complex water administration, and various assets related to the history of coal mining on the property. The three ownership agencies have identified a need for two agreements to operationalize the management plan: an intergovernmental agreement setting forth governance for the property; and a water management agreement to deal with the complex water conveyance situation.
Purchased in 2017, the Mayhoffer Farm is adjacent to the Harney-Lastoka property. The management plan will set the vision for future management of this property, including expanded trail connections; assessment of the current agricultural operation; and incorporating the Rex #2 Coal Mine into the mix of cultural opportunities on the Harney- Lastoka property. The Mayhoffer Farm Management Plan supports the Boulder County Commissioners’ strategic priority to collaborate with municipalities to create more trail connectivity among municipal neighborhoods, local open spaces, and regional trails.
Key words:
Land management, public outreach, mutli-use lands, plan development, policy
Links:
View full proposal
Watch partner video
Access networking event Zoom link
Proposal #2: Heil Valley Ranch, Forestry Treatment and the Cal-Wood Fire
Project Lead:
Stefan Reinhold, Senior Forestry Resource Specialist
Executive Summary:
Boulder County Parks and Open Space (BCPOS) had completed almost 1000 acres of various treatments across the landscape at Heil Valley Ranch. Treatments include:
- Thinning only
- Thinning with Prescribed Fire
- Forest Restoration
- Forest Restoration with Prescribed Fire
- Forest Mastication
- Prescribed fire only
Much of this work was completed in order to decrease potential fire behavior and create a forest structure that was able to withstand low to moderate fire intensity. On October 17th 2020 the Calwood Fire started near the Calwood Education Center and burned through Heil Valley Ranch affecting/testing many of the above treatments. This fire burned with high intensity and we are hoping to learn how and if these treatments changed or did not change fire behavior.
MENV students would need to coordinate with researchers who are already completing or plan to research these types of topics. MENV Students could work closely with a researcher to help them re-sample past projects. Additionally, the students could develop their own research questions to pursue.
Key words:
Fire mitigation, fire ecology, fire research, wildfires