We've made some real progress in the last year. Our interactions with city, county, and federal agencies have all yielded some positive results.

In January 2000, BATCO provided a list of recommended trail projects to the City of Boulder Open Space Board of Trustees (OSBT). Subsequently the open space staff prepared an analysis of the BATCO recommendations for those trails that involved open space properties and presented it to the OSBT in July. We were encouraged to find agreement on the importance of most of the trail connections and on the feasibility of many of the alignments. At the July meeting the OSBT suggested that we focus on several short-term trail projects that could be implemented in the next year or so. BATCO submitted a list of candidates for short-term discussions to the open space staff. In August the OSBT approved five near term projects (visit the BATCO website at http://bcn.boulder.co.us/batco/ for additional details of the discussions and see the "City of Boulder Trails Progress" article in this newsletter for descriptions of the near term trail projects).

Positive results from Boulder County include: the approval of a management plan for the Reynolds/Rogers open space that provides a balance between preservation the properties' environmental values and continued support for historical recreational uses; significant progress on the creation of a new multi-use trail .at the Heil Valley Ranch; completion of additional sections of the Rock Creek/Coal Creek trail; and approval of a trail connection from Betasso to Boulder Canyon. We've also had encouraging discussions with the Forest Service's new recreational planner, Martha Moran. We plan to capitalize on these beginnings and initiate some additional projects in the coming year.

As always, we appreciate your continued support. Together we are making progress toward our goal of a regional trail system for Boulder County.

We have developed an e-mail list of the BATCO members who have provided us with their e-mail addresses. We use the list from time to time for special announcements and items we think may be of immediate interest to our membership. We do not share the list with other organizations or allow it to be used for any commercial purposes. If you would like to be included in our notices, send us your e-mail address (via snail mail, the response options on the BATCO web site, or an e-mail to ericvogelsberg@cs.com). If you have been receiving e-mail from BATCO and do not wish to continue to receive it, just reply with a request to be removed from the list.

BATCO memberships are for the calendar year. We ask that continuing members renew in the spring. Memberships received during the last quarter of the year are considered paid in full for all of the next year. We'll be sending out reminders soon to our present members (or you can use the membership form in this newsletter to avoid the spring rush).

If you have friends, neighbors, or anyone else you think would like to help in our efforts, please tell them about BATCO. If you would like some BATCO brochures or additional copies of our newsletters, contact any board member or send us an e-mail via our web site and we'll be delighted to get you some.

This year's ballot contained two important open space issues. Boulder County issue 1B extends the existing 0.10 percent recycling facility tax and allows the County to issue an additional $80 million in bonds. Had the issue failed the County's open space purchases would have ceased. Longmont issue 2B provides the city with a 0.20 percent tax that will raise more than $20 million. It allows the city to create an open space program of its own.

BATCO supports Boulder County's open space programs. Although we may not always agree with all of the recreational management decisions, we believe the success of open space programs is essential to maintain the quality of life in Boulder County. Without open spaces the regional trail system we dream of would be impossible.

We were happy to do what we could to help ensure the passage of the proposed taxes. We forwarded requests for support to our membership e-mail list. We wrote letters in support of the issue to the newspapers (some of which were published) and we made financial contributions to the effort. We were pleased and relieved when both the measures were approved.

From September 15th to the 19th a major forest fire burned on the Walker Ranch. Approximately 1,050 acres burned (400 acres were severely burned). The bulk of the fire occurred between South Boulder Creek and Flagstaff Road, and between Gross Dam Road and the Eldorado Canyon Trail. The most severely burned areas are along the South Boulder Creek Trail and the Columbine Gulch Trail. The fire also crossed Flagstaff Road and burned around a small portion of the Meyers Homestead Trail. That area had been previously thinned, therefore the fire damage was minimal.

Immediately following the fire the entire area was closed to the public. The Meyers Homestead Trail was reopened in early October. The remaining county trails (including the South Boulder Creek Trail and the Columbine Gulch Trail) were closed until this January and are now reopened.

There are many standing dead trees in the burned areas. These present serious safety concerns because they are unstable and could fall without notice. Throughout the winter the county has been felling unsafe trees and creating erosion control structures. This spring portions of the burned areas will be reseeded.

The first two parts of the rehab efforts, contour tree felling and placing straw waddles, are well underway. The majority of this work is being done by contracted sawyers and Boulder County seasonal employees who agreed to continue working through the winter on this project. BCPOS Forestry staff are handling "hazardous tree issues" (a.k.a. slash), felling damaged trees proactively to prevent future windfall, mostly along trails and roads.

As a part of the restoration project, the county intends to organize some volunteer work projects. Groups of volunteers will be enlisted primarily for the seeding and mulching parts of the rehab effort, expected to take place in the spring (late April/early May most likely) after the strongest winds of the season have ended. BATCO intends to provide whatever support we can to help in the rehabilitation of this valuable resource.

The South Boulder Creek Trail itself is in good condition. The Eldorado Canyon Trail was bulldozed to create a firebreak, so it is quite rough. Sections of this trail were on old roadbeds to begin with and have been further widened by fire-fighting crews. The Crescent Meadows Trail is, and has been, open to the public. This trail is entirely on Eldorado Canyon State Park land, and was not impacted by the fire or fire crews.

Note that the reopening of the Walker Ranch trails is a trails only opening. Please stay on the trails! Do not venture onto the surrounding areas--the soils in the fire areas have been heavy damaged and are very fragile. Any off-trail activity will be detrimental to the forest and watershed health.

We have some successes to report with the City of Boulder Open Space (COBOS).

As a result of a series of BATCO trail connection recommendations, the COBOS Board of Trustees in their August 23, 2000 meeting adopted five "near-term" trail development projects.

The five projects involve the following trail connections:

1. Lookout Road north to Cottontail Trail
2. Boulder Feeder Canal from Boulder Reservoir to Niwot Road
3. Greenbelt Plateau to Coalton Trail
4. South 66^th Street connecting Marshall Mesa to Superior
5. A C-93 Underpass, from Greenbelt Plateau to Flatirons Vista Trail Head and to Community Ditch.

Open Space staff used the following criteria to arrive at the above choices:

1. Land ownership and easements (land or easement already owned by the City, or not difficult to acquire).
2. Minimal impact to the environment.
3. Community support.
4. Low cost.
5. Connection to existing trails.

The above projects will add about 8 miles of multi-use trail to city open space.

Additional details of the three South Boulder projects were discussed on a September 12 field trip that included members of the COBOS staff, board of trustees, and public representatives (including several BATCO board members). The staff also sought and received support from the following groups: BATCO, PLAN Boulder, Boulder County Nature Association, the Sierra Club, and Audubon Society.

The trail length is approximately 0.7 mile along a power company service road that would provide a connection to the East Boulder Trial. Cost is estimated at $60,000 - $90, 000. The Transportation Department will provide right of way. The COBOS staff hosted a public meeting with the local neighbors to get their input. BATCO was asked to participate in the meeting and we were delighted by the unanimous support expressed for the project.

The trail length is approximately 1 mile and would cost $30,000 - $50,000. This is the first link of a trail that would eventually extend to Lyons. The land is owned by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and is used by the Northern Colorado Conservancy District to transport water from Carter Lake to a water treatment plant near the Boulder Reservoir. Issues still to be resolved are concerns about water quality and raptors. Because the water from the canal goes directly to a water treatment plant, there is some concern that activity along the canal could negatively impact water quality. However, there are already 46 in-flows from agricultural sources to the Feeder canal!

The trail length is approximately 2 miles and would cost between $20,000 and $40,000. The proposed trail begins at the intersection of C-93 and C-128 (the road that goes east on the north side of Rocky Flats) and travels east-southeast on the north side of road grade to a hilltop vista of Denver and Rocky Flats. The Coalton Trail begins at this hilltop and goes due east to the Rock Creek subdivision. The Coalton Trail is a dirt road fenced on either side. It is County Open Space and thus the lease law for dogs is in effect. There is limited parking at either end of the Coalton Trail.

COBOS staff proposes putting the trail in the 160-foot highway right-of-way, which would require permission from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). Some trustees are supportive of the alternative of placing the trail within Open Space land.

The trail length would be approximately 3.5 miles at a cost of $5,000. The trail would go from the Marshall Mesa Trailhead (Marshall Drive) east along the old railroad grade (currently an informal trail) to South 66^th (the road to the old landfill) and then south until the road turns east-northeast leading to the Town of Superior. This is a county road and they must maintain the portion to the entrance to the lake. Beyond that the road can be "vacated" and become a trail.

This underpass is near the top of the hill going south to Golden, just before the restaurant ruins. The underpass is presently part of an informal trail system used by equestrians to go from the Community Ditch east to the Greenbelt Plateau, then down to the Community Ditch to Marshall Lake, then southwest to the Greenbelt Plateau parking lot, across C-128 to Flatirons Vista Trailhead then west to Doudy Draw and finally back to the Mesa Trail south parking lot.

Staff's proposal is to make this underpass part of an official trail system. The details of the connecting trails are still to be determined. There are three segments to be determined: from the west side a connection up and south to Flatirons Trailhead and a connection west and down to the Community Ditch; from the east side a connection either down and north to the Community Ditch or due east to the old 93 road that leads to the Greenbelt Plateau parking lot.

The Board of County Commissioners has approved a management plan for the Platt Rogers, Reynolds Ranch and Rogers Open Space that provides a balance between preservation of the environmental values of the properties and continued support for historical recreational uses.

The open space properties comprise more than 1,700 acres located east of Nederland along upper Boulder Canyon and Magnolia Roads and are intertwined with Forest Service lands. The management plan protects wetlands and wildlife habitat while recognizing and permitting historical recreational uses. A designated trail system is identified that links the Nederland area to the Dot matrix and Boy Scout trails on adjoining National Forest Lands. County management practices on the properties will be coordinated with Forest Service policies for the adjacent forests.

The management plan was discussed in a series of public meetings with local neighbors, the County Parks and Open Space Advisory committee, and before the Board of County Commissioners. The overall positive responses to the plan demonstrate the public support for the balanced approach taken by the County staff.

A new agreement between the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA), which has its headquarters in Boulder, and the Forest Service will boost local mountain biking. The Forest Service is the largest public land agency in Boulder County (managing more than 100,000 acres and 100 miles of National Forest trails and almost 30,000 acres and 35 miles of Wilderness trails), so the Memorandum of Understanding is of significant local importance.

Signed in October, the new five-year MOU encourages Forest Service staff at all levels to continue to work with IMBA's staff, IMBA affiliated clubs (such as our local Boulder Off-Road Alliance) and individual members to develop new projects and policies that advance low-impact mountain biking. It includes specific points about the difference between mountain biking and motorized vehicle use and it clarifies the status of mountain biking in the Recreational Opportunity Spectrum - a planning tool that the Forest Service uses to help set trail policies.

The Forest Service has historically been supportive of mountain biking: a first MOU between IMBA and the Forest Service was signed in 1994. Mountain bicyclists and the Forest Service work together each year on countless projects that build or maintain trails and promote conservation. The Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew has worked with Forest Service staff in more than 40 states, and affiliates of IMBA's National Mountain Bike Patrol program have become indispensable allies of Forest Service land managers coast to coast.

The new MOU specifically recognizes that bicycles are non-motorized and should be managed "distinct from motorized activities when developing agency policy, forest management plans, and travel management rules." When mountain bike use is grouped with motorized use for the purpose of setting Forest Service travel management rules, bike access is sometimes unnecessarily restricted.

The new agreement clarifies the status of mountain biking in the Forest Service's Recreation Opportunity Spectrum. The ROS was created in the early 1980s to help set travel and trail rules on Forest Service land, but doesn't mention mountain biking. The new MOU calls for the Forest Service to "utilize IMBA's technical expertise to address mountain bicycling management on National Forest Service lands, including but not limited to such documents as the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum and the Forest Service Handbook." The MOU also calls for the Forest Service to distribute copies of IMBA's Rules of the Trail at information centers, trailheads and campgrounds.

It's interesting to note that the U.S. Bureau of Land Management has just released a draft plan that differs fundamentally from the Forest Service and IMBA MOU. The BLM plan groups mountain bikes with motorized vehicles despite the obviously different impacts of the activities. Fortunately for local mountain bikers, the BLM manages very little land in Boulder County and is in the process of transferring its properties to other public and private owners

We've campaigned to open Boulder County's spectacular Heil Valley Ranch to the public. The 1.3 mile Lichen Loop pedestrian trail was opened there last year. This summer, members of BATCO, BOA, BCHA, and the general public participated in a series of projects to help in the construction of the first section of a multi-use trail that will eventually provide a connection from Lefthand Canyon to Lyons. When completed (hopefully by spring of 2001), the new trails will add more than 4 miles to the existing Lichen trail and will provide a round trip in excess of 7 miles.

Scott Robson of the County Transportation Department continues to provide good news about the Rock Creek and Coal Creek trail system. Ultimately the system will consist of two trails following Rock and Coal Creeks from west of Highway 36 in Superior to the east County border where the trails will join together. There will be connections in the west to the County and Boulder City open spaces trails. On the east connections are planned with Broomfield and Weld County trails.

Today a large portion of the Coal Creek trail is a reality. The trail stretches almost continuously from Dillon Road in Louisville to 120th Street. The one 3/4 mile missing section between Public Road and a trail segment west of 120th Street was completed last summer and is officially open. Louisville and Superior continue working with private owners and developers to acquire and construct a westward extension of the trail from Dillon Road under Highway 36 to Superior.

More progress has also been made on the Rock Creek trail component of the system. The County is continuing the construction new trail alignments at the Carolyn Holmberg Preserve/Rock Creek Farm (on National Trails Day last spring almost 50 volunteers and county staff spent the morning constructing portions of a major component of the trail). After a court battle, the county has finally won approval for a grade level crossing of the Burlington Northern RR on the south edge of the property, which will allow a connection with Broomfield's Lac Amora trail to be completed.

The RTD has recently acquired land to the west of the Rock Creek Farm that should provide connection under Highway 36 to Interlocken and Superior. Progress continues to be made on the connection east from the Rock Creek Farm to the Coal Creek Trail. The county has just acquired an 89 acre property in this area that includes more than a half mile of the proposed Rock Creek trail corridor. The final connections here will probably have to wait until the new toll highway from I-25 to Highway 36 is built. The county has requested that the highway plans make provisions for the completion of the trail system.