COBirders,
Today we received updates from Mr. Ross Williams (El Paso County Parks) re public comments on the 10-year DRAFT Master Plan for Fountain Creek Regional Park (FCRP). We appreciate his work re park use and planning. Tyler and I also summarized for you proposed FCRP development plans in a May 1 email, as well as our concerns, objections to key parts of the plan. If you submitted a letter, you also may have received the update from Mr. Williams at 5:06 PM today!
By our count, it appears that Mr. Williams and El Paso County Parks received letters from about 98-99 citizen-birders. Excellent! Thank you very much for your prompt support – It made a HUGE difference. Letters from some of you also offered an excellent ecological or historical perspectives, such as going back to reasons for initially establishing FCRP. While there are still details that we need to follow, here's a summary of today's good news. J
First, the county has withdrawn the proposal for a dog park encompassing Area 2 (i.e., key riparian segment next to "mile marker 18" and "the spa."). They appear to have gotten the message that this is a vital part of the riparian corridor for migrant and resident wildlife, particularly birds (it's not just some cottonwoods with "brush"….). Second, their wording regarding riparian management appears more reserved, nuanced, and includes possible appropriate consultation with other professionals (e.g., "natural resource specialists" see below….not quite sure what that means, but it's better than before!). We're hoping that we can keep working with them to preserve some relatively undisturbed, distal riparian sections of the park. Lots of great brush there.
If you didn't get the update from El Paso County, below this email we copy for you 2 key paragraphs in the email from Mr. Williams this afternoon.
As next steps, a few of us in Colorado Springs will follow closely to keep the birding community informed regarding proposed developments. For example, a possible re-routing of Fountain Creek right through valuable riparian habitat of Area 7 may be a next concern. (Argh) But for now, the revised FCRP Master Plan will be posted June 3 (that's tomorrow!) at this site, and we need to review it:
http://adm.elpasoco.com/CommunityServices/planning/Pages/FountainCreekRegionalParkPlanning.aspx
Then, the revised June 3 plan will be presented to the El Paso County Park Advisory Board on June 8th at 1:30 PM in the Centennial Hall Hearing Room, 200 South Cascade Avenue, Colorado Springs.
Thank you very much for your interest and support for FCRP (and cottonwood riparian habitat in Colorado! J). Please let us know if you have questions.
Best,
Steve Getty
Tyler Stuart
FCRP Annual Bird Count Leaders
Colorado Springs
Key excerpts from email late today (Thurs, June 2) from Mr. Ross Williams regarding adjustments to FCRP Master Plan:
The proposed dog park at Willow Springs Ponds generated the largest number of comments. Many of the emails were written with concerns about the location of the dog park in the Willow Springs Ponds area, near the active bird habitat areas known as "The Spa" and Mile Marker 18. As such, the dog park has been relocated to the Duckwood Active-Use Area, in a section of the property that is not considered as sensitive in terms of wildlife habitat, nor is in a riparian, wetland, or floodplain environment. We were able to relocate the dog park without the loss of other recommended improvements.
Other concerns were centered around the forest management recommendation, and how they relate to the removal of cottonwood trees, undergrowth, and deadfall within known wildlife habitat areas. In response to these concerns, the recommendation has been modified to encourage the completion of ongoing forest stewardship efforts that maintain forest biodiversity, regeneration capacity, and vitality while addressing wildlife habitat and public safety concerns. In addition, the efforts will include utilizing generally accepted forest management principles and consulting with El Paso County natural resource specialists.
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