PUMA's vision for recreation management in the Magnolia area consists of low-impact (Leave No Trace: see www.lnt.org) recreational use in areas that can support human activities without habitat damage and displacement or disturbance of sensitive wildlife species. PUMA recommends that:
PUMA desires for the public land management agencies to encourage appropriate recreational use of the Planning Area by means of educational programs and appropriate development and maintenance of recreational facilities. PUMA desires for the public land management agencies to discourage unacceptable recreational use, as discussed above, by 1) use of educational programs, 2) documentation of conflicts, violations and abuse, 3) development of appropriate management actions, and 4) enforcement. PUMA hopes that the public land management agencies will rigorously inventory their resources in the Magnolia area and document current recreational uses and their effects on wildlife and habitat as part of a recreational planning process. This will be a welcome change from the historical "laissez faire" management style that has permitted trails to develop, grow, and infiltrate indiscriminately in our area, regardless of the impacts on wildlife, wildlife movement corridors, designated Environmental Conservation Areas and private landowners.
The signage, gates and spur road closures on CR68J appear to have solved many of the problems associated with this corridor. PUMA recommends:
The heavily abused FR359, Winiger Ridge and Winiger Gulch areas obviously need more law enforcement, signage, and spur road closures. Given that Denver Water plans for no motorized vehicle use at Gross Reservoir, and that the Forest Service plans to close FR359 at the Lazy Z subdivision connection (County Road 97E) to motorized travel, PUMA recommends that all of FR359 be closed to motorized vehicles. This portion of the Planning Area has been designated by Boulder County as an Environmental Conservation Area (ECA) and is potentially highly effective habitat for wildlife. By closing the road to motorized travel, this area can be restored to a more pristine state and can create a recreational experience more in keeping with plans for Forest lands adjacent to Gross Reservoir. Camping in this area should only be permitted at designated sites and all sites should be accessed by non-motorized means. If car camping is prevented, littering, dumping and inappropriate behavior at campsites should be minimized. Given the close proximity of campsites to residential areas and the extreme fire danger, we do not support the Forest Service's plan for open fires. We believe that campers should use only camp stoves. The Forest Service permits shooting on federal lands. PUMA feels strongly that shooting should not be allowed in the Magnolia area because of adjacent residential development, congested recreational sites on public lands, and obvious safety and quality of life issues for residents.
PUMA believes that Gross Reservoir should be managed primarily for flora and fauna, with aggressive reclamation of abused sites and a return to its rural, natural state. Spur roads, social trails, and trails leading to riparian regions and sensitive wildlife habitats should be closed and revegetated, noxious weeds should be controlled, and open fires should be prohibited. Ultimately, motorized vehicles should be prohibited on the west shore of Gross Reservoir. PUMA wants Gross Reservoir to be managed conscientiously, with the specific goals of mitigating environmental impacts now and in the future and maintaining a firm stance against increased recreation development, promotion or use. The area should be reclaimed in order to promote a healthier forest, a weed-free ecosystem where native plants can flourish, and a boat-free body of water that can act as a natural water supply for wildlife and humans.
PUMA is in agreement with the POSD representative and the Gross Reservoir Recreation Subgroup that the number of campsites on the reservoir's western shoreline should not be increased and that a loop trail be created to access the six presently existing sites to prevent additional habitat fragmentation and replace the maze of trails and 4WD roads in this area. There has been no evidence to suggest that 10 sites are needed nor that the additional sites should be situated in the steep and sensitive habitat area on Winiger Ridge as indicated on the RMP maps.
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