Rocky Mountain Field Institute Garden of the Gods Community Restoration Program 2017 Annual Project Report

Transcription

1 1 Garden of the Gods Community Restoration Program 2017 Annual Project Report December 21, 2017 Report prepared by: Kelly Kaufmann, Senior Field Coordinator 815 South 25 th Street, Suite 101 Colorado Springs, CO Dedicated to the conservation and stewardship of public lands in Southern Colorado

2 2 SUMMARY In 2017, the (RMFI) completed its 16 th year of stewardship work in the Garden of the Gods Park. RMFI staff developed an ambitious work plan for the year that included addressing new high priority impacts identified by the City of Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services Department (PRCS). The work showcased the organization s diverse technical skill set and the commitment of the community to care for a treasured natural landscape. RMFI s 2017 Garden of the Gods work objectives centered on two main areas: work areas on the west side of the park and work areas on the east side of the park. Objectives on the west side project sites included stabilization of segments of designated trail with timber steps and the recurrent objective of social trail closure and restoration. The goal of this work was to improve and stabilize designated trails and restore areas devoid of vegetation. This area features multi-use trails and rock formations of interest, which have drawn visitors off-trail, causing negative impact. Objectives on the east side project sites included the closure and restoration of social trails and erosion gullies, installation of check-dams and other erosion control structures, and construction of trail stabilizing and enhancement structures. The goal of work on the east side areas was to stabilize and restore degraded and down-cut sections of trail, which suffered damage due to weathering and high levels of user impact, while eliminating access to unauthorized social trails that degrade both wildlife habitat and the park s scenic qualities. In 2017, a total of 860 volunteers representing local and regional community groups and businesses worked 4,636 hours over the course of 59 workdays for a total work value of $120, (at $25.97 per hour, independentsector.org). A list of the groups that volunteered with RMFI in 2017 can be found at the end of this document. In addition, RMFI staff contributed 1, hours of on-the-ground work between 17 staff-only workdays and leading volunteer workdays. This year s important work in the park was made possible with the generous support from Ms. Lyda Hill, the Friends of the Garden of the Gods (FoGG), the Garden of the Gods Trading Post, the Broadmoor Garden Club, the City of Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services Department, and the Lodgers and Automobile Rental Tax (LART). BACKGROUND Considered the crown jewel of the Colorado Springs parks system, the Garden of the Gods is the most heavily used park in the City. The park was recently projected to draw in nearly 4 million visitors in 2017, an increase of up to twenty percent from past years. Measuring only 1,300 acres in size, the park s visitor density is rising to nearly 200 times greater than that of Rocky Mountain National Park. In 2014, Garden of the Gods was awarded Trip Advisor s Travelers Choice Award as the best park to visit in the United States, and in 2016, the park was voted the second best free attraction in the nation by USA Today. Preserving the park and managing the impacts associated with such extraordinary levels of use have long been an exceptional challenge for the City of Colorado Springs.

3 3 Most of the trails in the Garden were established in the 1930 s and were never designed to accommodate the current level of use. As a result, mazes of social trails, deep gullies, and large areas devoid of vegetation caused by park visitors looking for a shortcut or a respite off the beaten path exist in several areas of the park. In addition, many of the climbing access trails follow direct paths up to the base of climbs, and do not consider the surrounding topography and effects of water from heavy rains. Over time, these social trails have become a conduit for water and erosion, resulting in incised trails and deep gullies that in some areas are over two feet below the surrounding terrain. The situation is worsened by the fact that the soils in the park are the most erodible in El Paso County-up to 5 times that of other soil types. In 2002, RMFI initiated the Garden of the Gods Community Restoration Program, which was the result of a two-year study of the ecological state of the park. The study documented an array of threats affecting the park s ecological health including severe soil erosion, damage to the park s native plant communities, infestations of noxious plants, a deteriorating trail system, and lack of visitor awareness. Since the program's inception, RMFI has mobilized nearly 16,000 volunteers who have contributed over 75,000 hours towards the park's restoration initiatives. Since 2002, RMFI has leveraged roughly $500,000 of program funding into $1.77 million worth of on-the-ground trail and restoration labor. The primary goals of RMFI s Garden of the Gods Community Restoration Program are to: Provide stewardship opportunities for a broad spectrum of the community including individuals, local schools, community organizations, businesses, and other groups; Foster community awareness about the ecology and natural history of the Garden of the Gods Park; Educate the community about the current threats to the park; Complete critical restoration work in the most severely degraded areas of the park. WORK NARRATIVE During the 2017 work season, RMFI focused on project areas in the west and east sides of the park with work objectives centered on designated trail improvements and area restoration to counter impacts from off-trail travel. RMFI, along with PRCS staff, identified 11 work sites within the two general areas mentioned above. In addition to ongoing social trail closure efforts, other objectives at these 11 sites ranged from trail stabilization to gully restoration. Project objectives at each site were accomplished through community volunteer workdays, corporate group volunteer workdays, youth volunteer workdays, RMFI crew workdays, and an educational summer camp, all with RMFI staff oversight. Community volunteer workdays, typically held on weekends, were available to anyone in the community who wanted to give back to the City s most treasured park. RMFI partnered with businesses, such as Starbucks and Apple, Inc., to provide community service workdays for their employees. Lastly, RMFI partnered with the Catamount Institute, a local environmental education nonprofit, for a third consecutive year to provide education and service learning during their weeklong day camp, Dirt Camp, for year olds. Twenty-one students participated in the day camp and volunteered for about 15 hours each over the course of the week.

4 4 A typical volunteer day was 6.5 hours in length. Volunteers were initially given an orientation including an introduction to the Garden of the Gods, the work site, and project goals. Volunteers were briefed on environmental and safety hazards as well as proper use of tools. RMFI supplied all tools, personal protective equipment, and water for use by the volunteers. RMFI staff assigned volunteers with specific tasks based on project needs and volunteer interests. Activities included constructing timber steps, building erosion control structures, and restoring and closing social trails. RMFI field staff, trained in restoration techniques and volunteer management, supervised all work events WORK SITES West Garden Work in this area focused largely on designated trail improvements on the Siamese Twins and Cabin Canyon Trails with simultaneous objectives to restore social trails and areas devoid of vegetation. Trail improvements on the Siamese Twins and Cabin Canyon Trails were made on sections of the trails that PRCS staff could not access with machinery. RMFI staff and community volunteers completed the projects ensuring maximum efficiency. This area in the West Garden is a popular destination for hiker and equestrian traffic because of the unique and prominent rock formations found there. Siamese Twins Trail. On the Siamese Twins Trail (Site 1 in Appendix A), RMFI focused efforts to complete trail improvements on a section of trail where several timber riser steps had become damaged and severely undercut. As the Siamese Twins formation is one of the most sought-after points of interest in the park, the trail sees countless hikers and significant commercial and private equestrian traffic that has caused severe damage to previously placed timber steps. RMFI installed 29 new timber box steps and maintained several existing steps that were in good shape, improving linear feet of trail (Figure 1). Staff made special considerations to equestrian traffic, ensuring the landings between steps can accommodate horses. While on site, equestrian users expressed their gratitude for the much-needed trail improvements. Conditions of these steps before improvements were unfavorable for hikers and horses and presented hazards encouraging many to braid the trail around undercut steps, negatively impacting the fragile landscape adjacent to the trail. In addition to repairing the steps, staff and volunteers restored user-created routes (social trails) stemming from the main trail. Using the social trail closure and restoration techniques outlined in Appendix B, crews restored 182 linear feet of social trail and restored 5,700 square feet of degraded land devoid of vegetation with 9.5 pounds of seed (composition in Appendix C), 864 square feet of erosion control matting, and 8 sub-surface stabilization structures placed in the fall-line social trail that had developed into a deep gully.

5 5 Figure 1. Before and after photos of newly constructed timber box steps on the Siamese Twins Trail. These new steps will allow hikers and equestrian traffic to enjoy the trail sustainably. Figure 2. Before and after photos of new timber box steps on the north end of Cabin Canyon Trail. This photo also shows the retaining wall constructed to protect the sides of the trail from erosion. Cabin Canyon Trail. Similar to the Siamese Twins Trail, Cabin Canyon is a high-traffic trail with severe weathering and high user impacts (Site 2 in Appendix A). To prevent further damage, RMFI constructed 18 timber box steps, 8 rock riser steps, and 21 timber riser steps on the north end of Cabin Canyon, improving 241 linear feet of trail (Figure 2). Crews constructed square feet of retaining wall along the sides of the timber box steps to prevent further erosion. Additionally, staff and volunteers constructed 6 rolling drain dips, including a large armored drain to more effectively move water off the trail. With assistance from PRCS staff, RMFI identified a system of social trails to close and restore in the area surrounding the north end of Cabin Canyon Trail. In total, RMFI closed and restored a total of 1,815 linear feet of social trail and 5,687 square feet devoid of vegetation using 14.5 pounds of native seed and 174 native transplants. On the south end of the trail, crews installed 5 subsurface stabilization structures to bring the trail back up to the grade of the surrounding slopes. Finally, linear feet of mono-

6 6 wall was placed on sections of trail that cross over bare rock to serve as way finders. Old Colorado City Trail/Buckskin Charlie Trail. In April 2017, RMFI staff met with Gayle Allen to visit project sites in the Old Colorado City Trail and Buckskin Charlie Trail area where Gayle had completed trail improvements as recently as 2015 (Site 9 in Appendix A). Gayle received special permission from the City to perform these trail improvements. For the third consecutive year, RMFI partnered with the Catamount Institute to host week-long summer camp called Dirt Camp. RMFI led 21 kids ranging in age from on a trail improvement project, social trail closure and restoration project, and gully restoration project in the Old Colorado City Trail and Buckskin Charlie area. RMFI staff and Dirt Campers constructed 3 rock check dams in a gully nearby the trail, maintained 10 drains, and closed and restored 730 linear feet of social trail with 2 pounds of seed and 100 transplants (Figure 3). Balanced Rock/Cabin Canyon. Along Garden Lane, areas devoid of vegetation were causing hillslope erosion and sedimentation on the road (Site 10 in Appendix A). With Colorado Springs School s 8 th grade, staff and volunteers restored 4,571 square feet of bare hillsides with 6.5 pounds of native seed. The crew also dispersed 5.5 cubic yards of mulch Figure 3. RMFI Field Instructor, Hannah Millsap, and a camper move dirt to fill in a nearby gully. on the hillsides in order to stabilize any loose dirt from washing down onto Garden Lane and to hold moisture to aid in seed germination (Figure 4). Figure 4. Before and after photos of restoration efforts along Garden Lane near the south end of Cabin Canyon Trail. East Garden As in the West Garden project sites, objectives in the East Garden focused on trail improvements and social trail closures. Projects on the east side of the park were executed with a strong

7 7 consideration for impacts to the mountain biking experience. Also, Academy Riding Stables (ARS) is increasingly using the east side of the park for their equestrian tours. RMFI has noticed significant deterioration of trail conditions on the east side of the park since ARS and private horse users started using the east side of the park for their rides approximately 4.5 months ago. With the mountain biking and equestrian communities in mind, RMFI completed projects at the following sites: trail improvements on a park access trail connecting Fontanero Street and the Niobrara Trail at Valley Reservoir 2, social trail closure in Valley Reservoir 1, and trail improvements on the Ute Connector Trail that runs just west of the borrow pit near Lot 10. In addition, major work included trail improvements on the Niobrara Trail at the switchbacks near Rock Ledge Ranch; and trail improvements to the Ute Trail where sub-surface timbers were installed in the 2016 field season. Fontanero Street Park Access Trail. In winter 2017, a RMFI staff-only crew completed trail improvements to a designated neighborhood park access trail from Fontanero Street to the Niobrara Trail on the south end of the park (Site 4 in Appendix A). Staff constructed 15 subsurface stabilization structures to raise 103 linear feet of incised tread to the grade of the surrounding landscape (Figure 5). Additionally, crews maintained 4 existing drains to ensure a sheet-like flow of water off the trail into the surrounding vegetation. Figure 5. Before and after of sub-surface stabilization structure construction on the access trail from Fontanero Street. These structures will allow better drainage opportunities and prevent the trail from incising any further. Valley Reservoir 1. RMFI closed a network of social trails in Valley Reservoir 1 in As some of these closures were not respected by visitors, staff and volunteers revisited this site in 2017 (Site 7 in Appendix A). In total, an area of 2,520 square feet and 2,375 linear feet of trail were closed and restored with 13.5 pounds of native seed and 235 native transplants (Figure 6). Additionally, PRCS staff installed two sections of fencing and hearty shrub transplants to discourage further use. RMFI staff has observed less use on these undesignated trails.

8 8 Figure 6. Before and after photos of social trail closure in Valley Reservoir 1. The closures pictured above were completed by trainees in the Pikes Peak Regional Crew Leader Training program. Ute Connector Trail near Borrow Pit. Brought to RMFI s attention from a regular park user, a section of a Ute Connector Trail was falling into a gully running parallel to the trail (Site 8 in Appendix A). With permission from PRCS staff, RMFI staff and volunteers from First Presbyterian Church in Kirkwood, MO constructed 5 rock check dams in the gully parallel to the trail and built a 20-square foot retaining wall to prevent to the trail from completely eroding away (Figure 7). The crew widened 74 linear feet of the trail in order to re-establish an appropriate trail width. A failing water bar was removed and replaced with a more sustainable rolling drainage dip. Finally, 47 linear feet of social trail was closed and restored with native seed and 7 native transplanted vegetation plugs. Figure 7. Newly constructed rock check dams and rock retaining wall along Ute Connector Trail. These structures will prevent the trail from further eroding and stabilize the gully.

9 9 Niobrara Trail. In mid-april, RMFI staff met with PRCS staff to discuss trail improvements on the Niobrara Trail. Just west of the dam from Rock Ledge Ranch, a short, switch-backed section of Niobrara was severely incised (Site 3 in Appendix A). After much discussion between RMFI and PRCS, park staff used heavy equipment to remove the large berm on the downhill side of the trail in order to re-establish an outslope profile. Additionally, park staff widened two switchbacks to ease the grade of the trail between the turns. Once all heavy machinery work was complete, RMFI staff and volunteers improved the 238-foot section of trail by cutting backslope. To ensure that the trail would not revert to previous incised conditions, crews constructed 2 rolling drain dips, installed 7 sub-surface stabilization structures, and constructed a 79-square foot retaining wall to reinforce a widened switchback (Figure 8). After initial curiosity by the mountain bike community, user feedback has been positive. Figure 8. Before and after photos of trail improvements on Niobrara trail. These improvements will sustain the high mountain bike and hiker traffic that this trail sees daily. Ute Trail. In 2015 and 2016, RMFI staff installed sub-surface stabilization structures on a poorly aligned and highly incised section of Ute Trail. In 2017, RMFI staff and volunteers revisited this section as some of the timbers were beginning to re-surface with the increase in horse traffic and sustained mountain bike use (Site 11 in Appendix A). Soils on the east side of the park contain more clay than soils elsewhere in the park. When this trail receives moisture, the impacts are greater due to the higher water-retention rate of the soil. To mitigate these impacts, crews improved 275 feet of trail by adding 3.05 cubic yards of native fill dirt between the existing subsurface stabilization structures and adding two additional sub-surface structures (Figure 9). RMFI staff observed that once the tread soil type was amended, bike tracks ran down the middle of the trail rather than on the edges of the trail where the timbers were less exposed.

10 10 Figure 9. Before and after photos showing the trail once native fill dirt was added between the existing sub-surface structures. Gray Rock. In 2016, RMFI and PRCS staff identified a fall-line social trail/gully that runs from the northeast side of Gray Rock down to Juniper Way Loop (Site 5 in Appendix A). This undesignated trail used to be a popular climbing access trail to the New Era climbing route. However, in 2016, RMFI staff completed significant improvements to the designated trail to New Era, making the social trail redundant and unnecessary. In 2017, RMFI treated this trail with 5 large rock check dams to ensure that the gully would not become further incised or widened (Figure 10). Over time, these check dams will fill with sediment and the area will be returned to pre-disturbance conditions. This project depleted the City s available rock material for RMFI plans to return to the site in 2018.

11 11 Figure 10. Before and after photos of newly constructed rock check dam in a gully near Gray Rock. Worksites Not Addressed in 2017 Site 6 in Appendix A was completed by PRCS staff. All other sites were addressed by RMFI.

12 WORK ACCOMPLISHMENTS RMFI accomplished a tremendous amount of work in the Garden of the Gods in Highlights include the closure and restoration of 5,169.3 linear feet of social trails, construction of 68 timber steps, and the construction of 37 trail stabilization structures throughout the park. All work was done in coordination with PRCS staff who provided trail and restoration materials, and were always available for clarification on the park s master plan as well as park priorities and management goals. West Garden Work Statistics: 47 timber box steps constructed 21 timber risers constructed linear feet of trail improved 8 rock risers constructed square feet of retaining wall constructed 16 drainage structures constructed 2,727 linear feet of social trail restored and closed 274 native vegetation transplants 32.5 pounds of native seed planted 7 check dams built 13 sub-surface stabilization structures constructed 15, 958 square feet area restored 864 square feet of erosion control matting installed East Garden Work Statistics: 2,442.3 linear feet of social trails restored 242 native vegetation transplants 13.5 pounds of native seed planted 24 subsurface stabilization structures constructed linear feet of trail improved 2,580 square feet area restored 9 rock check dams built 99 square feet of retaining wall constructed 3 drainage structures constructed 2017 RMFI STAFF CREW WORK STATISTICS Staff workdays: 17 Total staff hours: 1, VOLUNTEER STATISTICS Volunteer Workdays: 59 Number of volunteers engaged: 860 Total volunteer hours: 4,636 Value of volunteer time: $120, ($25.97/hour, independentsector.org)

13 13 Community Partners Engaged (32): Air Academy High School Family, Career and Community Leaders of America AmeriCorps Apple, Inc. Atlas Preparatory School Avid4 Adventure BELFOR Property Restoration Catamount Institute s Dirt Camp Challenger Middle School CityServe The Classical Academy Colorado Springs School 8 th Grade Colorado Springs School Upper School Colorado Young Leaders CorePower Yoga Evangelical Lutheran Church in America First Presbyterian Church GE Johnson Griffith Centers for Children Harrison High School HDR, Inc. Liberty High School Swim Team Mortar Board National College Senior Honor Society Pikes Peak Regional Crew Leader Training Pikes Peak Derby Dames Schriever Air Force Base Starbucks United States Air Force 527 th Space Aggressors Squadron United States Air Force Academy USAA University of Colorado Springs Alpha Sigma Phi University of Colorado Springs Business, Government and Society Zebulon Pike Youth Service Center FUTURE WORK In 2018, the City of Colorado Springs and RMFI will conduct a comprehensive trails assessment in the Garden of the Gods. The findings of the assessment will identify future stewardship objectives in the park. In early 2018, RMFI and PRCS staff will meet to discuss more specific RMFI trail and restoration work objectives in the park for the 2018 field season. RMFI will develop a spring 2018 set of work objectives based on this discussion. CONTACT INFORMATION Kelly Kaufmann RMFI Senior Field Coordinator kelly@rmfi.org

14 14 APPENDIX A. Maps of 2017 Work Areas

15 15 Map Reference Reference # Location Site Work 1 Siamese Twins Trail Replace under-cut timber risers to re-establish sustainable trail. Close and restore social trails and braided trails around steps. 2 Cabin Canyon Trail Stabilize under-cut section of timber risers. 3 Niobrara Trail near Rock Ledge Ranch Stabilize and raise incised tread on steep sections of switchbacks on Niobrara Trail. Add drainage. 7 4 Access trail from Fontanero Road 5 Gully running down northeast slope of Gray Rock to Juniper Way Loop 6 Social Trail parallel to Camp Creek, north of Gateway Rd. Stabilize and raise incised tread on section of trail. Maintain and improve drainage. Stabilize and restore gully with check dams. Close and restore social trail with native seed, transplants and fencing. 7 Valley Reservoir 1 Close and restore network of social trails with native seed and transplants. 8 Ute Connector Trail near Borrow Pit 9 Old Colorado City Trail/Buckskin Charlie Trail 10 Garden Lane near Balanced Rock and Cabin Canyon Stabilize and gully parallel to trail with check dams. Dirt Camp project site. Maintain drains, construct check dams in gully near trail, and close and restore social trails. Restore slopes along Garden Lane with native seed. 11 Ute Trail Maintain sub-surface structures constructed in 2016.

16 16 APPENDIX B. Social Trail Closure and Restoration Technique RMFI s restoration prescription for restoring social trails and erosion gullies: Decompact and aerate hardened surfaces (soil tilled between 4 and 6 inches in depth). If the area is gullied, use native soil to bring the gully back up to grade with the surrounding area. Install subsurface check-dams if gullies allow water to gain significant velocity. Subsurface check-dams are below ground rock structures that stabilize the slope and keep soils in place. Prep the soil seedbed by removing large rocks and smoothing the soil s surface. Spread and rake in native seed mix (Appendix C). On steep slopes, aspen-fiber (or excelsior) erosion control matting is installed and secured with 4-inch biodegradable stakes. Each side of the matting is trenched and stakes are pounded in angled toward the outside edge of the matting. The trenches are then covered with dirt to create a seamless transition between surrounding soil and the matting, preventing water flow under the matting. In areas where there is little to no slope, mulch can be used as an alternative to matting. The purpose of the mulch or matting is to provide cover for newly spread soil and seed on restored areas. Dead and downed branches or slash are placed on the matting for additional stabilization and to provide a microclimate for the seed. Leaf litter is also scattered to help lessen the visual disturbance of the bright yellow matting. Split-rail fencing and educational signs are installed.

17 17 APPENDIX C. Composition of Native Seed Mix Basic Reclamation Mix Genus/Species Common Name % Bouteloua curtipendula Sideoats grama 25 Pascopyrum smithii Western wheatgrass 10 Elymus trachycaulus Slender wheatgrass 5 Andropogon gerardii Big bluestem 5 Bouteloua gracilis Blue grama 15 Oryzopsis hymenoides Indian ricegrass 10 Schizachyrium scoparium Little bluestem 10 Sporobolus cyrptandrus Sand dropseed 5 Nassella viridula Green needlegrass 5 Bromus marginatus Mountain brome 10