Guiding planning documents that direct management of public lands in the Planning Area include:
POSD has recently acquired three properties in the Planning Area; these properties are briefly described in Table 7.1. The management of these properties will be yet another exercise in integrating and balancing recreation with ecological preservation. To this end, POSD conducted a public meeting on October 23, 1997 to receive input from the public concerning management of these properties.
On October 8, 1998, Dave Hallock, Boulder County Parks and Open Space biologist, gave a presentation to POSAC (Parks and Open Space Advisory Committee) about possible management plans for Reynolds/Rogers open space properties. Opportunity was provided for public input. Mr. Hallock divided the lands into three categories: high priority conservation areas, scenic backdrops and back-country recreation areas. 1) High Priority Conservation Areas: includes Rogers property (with nesting goshawk, old growth ponderosa pine, black bear activity, three toed woodpeckers, olive-sided flycatchers, and veerys) and Reynolds Ranch homestead area (with wetlands, elk migration corridor, nesting savannah sparrows). Proposed Management: steer formal trail use away from conservation areas. 2) Scenic Backdrops: mainly land along Boulder Canyon. Proposed Management: accept historic recreational uses (e.g. ice climbing and rock climbing) and discourage ice farming (which is used to create additional ice climbing routes). 3) Back Country Recreation Areas: a fairly extensive trail system already exists in the area north of Magnolia Road and the Reynolds homestead. This includes the Boy Scout trail (dot) system and the trails to Nederland and Barker Dam. Proposed Management: allow recreational use to continue in this already fragmented, heavy use area.
The Reynolds Ranch was purchased to protect part of the elk migration corridor between high elevation summer range to the west and winter range in the vicinity of Walker Ranch to the east. A portion of Reynolds Ranch (480 acres) will be maintained as a working cattle ranch for the next 20 years and will not be open to the public. While the County develops a final management plan, the following rules apply to the remaining portions of the ranch: 1) historical trail use of the trails from the Big Springs area and the trail near the Magnolia Road powerline are permitted, 2) the "Boot Trail" and surrounding area is closed, and 3) any trails that involve trespass across private property are not available for recreational use. The Aqueduct Trail (which crosses Boulder County Open Space lands) is not an officially designated trail by the County, although casual use has been allowed to occur. Resource inventories have been conducted at all three open space properties (Boulder County Parks and Open Space Department, 1998) and final management plans for these properties are expected in the near future.
Table 7.1 Acquisitions by Boulder County Parks and Open Space Departments in the Planning Area
| Name | Size (Acres) | Location | Reason for Acquisition |
| Rogers Memorial Park | 780 | central Boulder Canyon | 1. riparian habitat 2. scenic view-shed 3. wildlife habitat 4. bargain price |
| Reynolds Ranch | 860 | western Magnolia Road | 1. wildlife habitat 2. scenic view-shed |
| Rogers Property | 88 | western Boulder Canyon | 1. scenic view-shed 2. riparian habitat |
Recreation-related designations in the Boulder County Comprehensive Plan (BCCP) for the Planning Area are two "conceptual" County trails. The southern trail corridor, approximately 14 miles in length, would connect Eldorado Canyon State Park with the Town of Nederland. The northern trail, approximately 9 miles in length, would use portions of the Public Service Company aqueduct that connects Barker Reservoir, east of the Town of Nederland, to Kossler Lake on Flagstaff Road. This trail could serve as a major connection between the City of Boulder, the Town of Nederland and the Peak to Peak Highway.
The Boulder County Planning Commission met on October 21, 1998 to hear a presentation from Jeff Moline of Boulder County Parks and Open Space concerning recommendations for changes to the trails portion of the BCCP. The Planning Commission decided to remove the aqueduct trail (the northern trail corridor) from the BCCP. The southern trail corridor remains on the BCCP map, generally in the area of CR68J, 68J, Aspen Meadows, Pine Glade Road, and Magnolia Road.
Other BCCP designations that are also of relevance to recreation development and use of the Planning Area include:
Twin Sisters Peak natural landmark
Winiger Ridge natural landmark, large mammal movement corridor and Environmental Conservation Area (ECA)
Hawkin Gulch ECA, critical elk range and large mammal movement corridors
The following recreation related goals and policies, applicable to issues in the Planning Area, are excerpted from the Open Space Element of the BCCP.
OS 2.03 The County shall provide management plans and the means for the implementation of said plans for all open space areas that have been acquired by or dedicated to the County.
OS 2.03.01 The foremost management objectives of individual open space lands shall follow directly from the purposes for which the land was acquired.
OS 2.03.02 Management of County open space lands shall consider the regional context of ecosystems and adjacent land uses.
OS 2.03.03 Management of individual open space lands, including those under agricultural leases, shall follow good stewardship practices and other techniques that protect and preserve natural and cultural resources.
OS 2.04 The County, through its Parks and Open Space Department, shall provide appropriate educational services for the public which increase public awareness of the County's irreplaceable and renewable resources and the management techniques appropriate for their protection, preservation, and conservation.
OS 4.03 Recreational use of County open space land may be permitted where such use is consistent with the management plan for the property and does not adversely impact natural and cultural resources or other management objectives of the property.
OS 4.03.01 Recreational use shall be passive, including but not limited to hiking, photography or nature studies, and, if specifically designated, bicycling, horseback riding, or fishing. Only limited development and maintenance of facilities will be provided.
OS 4.05 Any development of regional County facilities or of County park or open space land shall be based on a plan approved by the County Commissioners after review by the Parks and Open Space Advisory Committee.
OS 6.01 Trails and trailheads shall be planned, designed, and constructed to avoid or minimize the degradation of natural and cultural resources, especially riparian areas and associated wildlife habitats...
OS 6.02 Adverse effects on private lands shall be minimized insofar as possible by trail and trailhead placement, posting of rules and signs against trespassing, installation of containing fences where critical, and any other appropriate measures.
OS 6.03 The County shall acquire trail rights-of-way through purchase, lease, donation or dedication from any public or private entity. When appropriate and beneficial, existing roads and rights-of-way will be used.
OS 6.07 Where appropriate, trails should be incorporated into and be provided by new development and linked to established trails, if possible.
Management of Forest lands are subject to numerous federal regulations. Management direction for specific geographic areas of Forest lands is typically directed by the Land and Resource Management Plan which is updated every 10 to 15 years. The Management Plan has been recently completed but is under administrative appeal. Specific management direction that pertains to the Planning Area can be found under the Thorodin and Sugarloaf Geographic Areas in the Management Plan. In general, Forest land in the Magnolia area will be managed with an emphasis on preservation and enhancement of flora and fauna while providing appropriate recreation opportunities. The following management direction will apply to recreation in the Planning Area:
The following policy statements are excerpted from the Revised Land and Resource Management Plan.
130. (Forest Plan Goal) Close, rehabilitate, or otherwise mitigate dispersed sites when:
131. (Forest Plan Goal) Close areas to firearms where shooting poses a danger to other users or landowners. Restrict shooting in areas of concentrated public use.
132. (Forest Plan Guideline) If use exceeds the area capacity for a given Recreation Opportunity Spectrum class, the following management actions, in order of priority, should be employed to address the impacts or effects to the recreation setting.
Provide dispersed recreation opportunities outside critical periods for wildlife. Restrict recreational use to the extent necessary to protect the values for which the area is designated...Discourage motorized recreation away from primary travelways, but access to existing areas of high use may be provided. Prohibit motorized use in some areas and limit seasonally in others...Nonmotorized use is not encouraged during critical wildlife periods. Restrictions and controls are noticeable.
There are very few developed or designated recreational facilities...Manage the minimum road system to provide access for management activities, recreational access, and fire protection. Road and trail construction activities rarely occur and are primarily for obliteration or relocation of travelways that are causing resource damage.
There may be significant road closures and obliteration to help restore important meadows and wildlife winter range, particularly in the vicinity of Winiger Ridge.
Manage recreational uses and road and trail networks to reduce erosion or deterioration of riparian areas and watershed conditions.
Table 7-2. Thorodin Geographic Area Travel Management Strategy| Mode | Existing System | Convert Ways | New Roads/Trails | Extent of Additions | Extent of Obliteration |
| 4WD | Reduce | No | No | None | High |
| Motorized Trail | Nonexistent | No | No | None | None |
| Winter Mtr. Trail | Nonexistent | No | No | None | None |
| Winter Non-motorized | Nonexistent | No | No | None | None |
| Nonmotorized Trail | Adequate | No | No | Low | Low |
Twins Sisters and Winiger Ridge, both designated as Boulder County Environmental Conservation Areas, are targeted for the Forest Service's six year fuels and forest health management program. Although wildfire mitigation drives this program (refer to Section 4.6), implementation of this project will have direct bearing on recreation management, as follows:
A primary PUMA concern with this program is that roads developed for vegetation management could, once vegetation management is completed, become focal points of inappropriate recreational use as has happened in the case of CR68J and FR359.
Denver Water's Recreational Management Plan (RMP) has been completed and is being reviewed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The overriding objective of the RMP is "no net increase in recreation". RMP direction for the western side of Gross Reservoir will keep the area relatively undeveloped, with designated wildlife habitat zones, noxious weed management, 4WD closure on portions of FR359, closure and revegetation of social trails and recommendations to maintain the rural, semi-primitive integrity of the area.
This latest version of the RMP recommends the following concerning camping on the western shoreline of Gross Reservoir:
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