COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE DIVISION

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1 COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE DIVISION RTP Funding Rescission, Grant Funding Recommendations Nick Dellaca 02/01/2019 TOPIC PREPARED BY DATE ACTION INFORMATION DRAFT FINAL X ITEM ITEM X_ COPY COPY PURPOSE: To request the State Recreational Trails Committee s (the Committee) approval of additional grant funding for the 2018 Non-Motorized Trail Grants and the Committee s recommendation to move this matter to the Parks and Wildlife Commission (the Commission) for approval. BACKGROUND INFORMATION The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Division s (CPW) Trails Program, a statewide program within CPW, administers grants for trail-related projects on an annual basis. Local, county, and state governments, federal agencies, special recreation districts, and non-profit organizations with management responsibilities over public lands may apply for and are eligible to receive nonmotorized and motorized trail grants. Colorado s Non-Motorized Recreational Trails Program CPW s Trails Program was created with the adoption of Colorado s Recreational Trails Act of 1971 codified in sections through , Colorado Revised Statutes. The Grant Program provides funding for trail planning projects as well as small and large trail construction and maintenance projects. The Grant Program is a multi-agency partnership that includes CPW, Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), Colorado Lottery, Federal Recreation Trails Funds (RTP) and the Federal Land and Water Conservation Funds (LWCF). RTP Funding Rescission Discussion Due to a federal funding rescission, the State Trails Program has additional RTP funding that needs to be allocated by September 30, In order to allocate funds so they are not lost, State Trails Program staff and the Committee elected to evaluate the allocation of additional funds to the 2018 Non-motorized Trail Grants. This evaluation was conducted by continuing down the list of projects based on their final scores. Based on comments presented by CPW, NE Region staff in regards to significant wildlife concerns and recent collaborative progress to resolve the concerns, the Committee elected to skip over the Magnolia Trail System, Zone 1 project and not provide funding to the project at this time. FUNDING For the 2018 Non-Motorized recreational Trails Grant cycle approximately $562,785 of additional funding will be available from the following funding sources: 1

2 COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE DIVISION Source of Funding Dollars Awarded GOCO State Parks $136,720 Federal Recreational Trails Program-Non-Motorized & Diversified (RTP) $426,065 Total $562,785 DISCUSSION AND SUMMARY Based on the additional available funding, five grants in the following categories are recommended for funding from the 2018 Non-motorized Recreational Trails Grant cycle: Grant Category Number of Grants Proposed Funding Construction & Maintenance Large 4 $556,065 Construction & Maintenance Small 1 $6,720 Total Recreational Trail Grants 5 $562,785 DIVISION RECOMMENDATION Staff has provided the recommended funding spreadsheets for allocating additional funding to the 2018 Non-Motorized Trails Grants (Appendix A) and Summaries (Appendix B) for Committee s review and approval. It is suggested that minor adjustments of project funding levels be permitted at the discretion of the Division Director. SUGGESTED MOTION: In accordance with section of the Colorado Revised Statutes, I move that the State Recreational Trails Committee recommend that the additional non-motorized recreational trail grant funding be awarded to the 2018 non-motorized grants as outlined here. Minor adjustments of project funding levels shall be permitted at the discretion of the Parks and Wildlife Division Director. Any additional grant funding that is returned or received prior to September 30, 2019 may also be applied to the 2018 non-motorized grants at the discretion of the division director. APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL TO THE STATE RECREATIONAL TRAILS COMMITTEE DATE 2

3 Appendix A 2018 CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE LARGE Grant App Number Volunteer Reviewer Score Staff Reviewer Score Final Score Name Sponsor Total Cost Amount Requested Recommended Funding Type of Funding Gunsight Bridge Restoration-Replacement Crested Butte Land Trust $ 381, $ 200, RTP 17 Div Lunch Loop Trail City of Grand Junction $ 2,466, $ 225, LWCF Regional 14er Trail Maintenance Colorado Fourteeners Initiative $ 865, $ 250, RTP 17 NM/17 Div Prairie Ridge Trail City of Loveland $ 613, $ 200, LWCF Mt. Elbert Realignment, Phase II National Forest Foundation $ 328, $ 250, GOCO Meridian Ranch Regional Trail El Paso County $ 206, $ 136, RTP 17 Div Kit Carson Trail, Phase III Rocky Mountain Field Institute $ 360, $ 209, RTP 17 NM Salida District Trail Maintenance USFS Salida RD $ 112, $ 80, GOCO Meeker Trail System 2018 Expansion Eastern Rio Blanco Metro Rec & Park District $ 158, $ 106, RTP Bear Creek Nat'l Recreation Trail USFS Grand Mesa and Gunnison RD $ 172, $ 130, $ 130, GOCO WRV Partnership for Stewardship Wildlands Restoration Volunteers $ 541, $ 147, RTP Fall River Trail, Phase 3 Town of Estes Park $ 1,233, $ 400, LWCF Fall River Trail, Phase 3 Town of Estes Park $ 1,233, $ 250, RTP Fish Creek Trail Segment City of Steamboat Springs $ 347, $ 250, $ 250, RTP 19 NM/19 Div Salida Trails Salida Mountain Trails $ 327, $ 239, RTP Magnolia Trail System Zone 1 Boulder Mountainbike Alliance $ 425, $ 246, RTP Divide RD 2019 Trail Crews Southwest Conservation Corps $ 142, $ 100, RTP COPMOBA Regional Trails Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association $ 164, $ 126, $ 126, RTP 19 Div Rito Seco Trails Costilla County $ 325, $ 249, $ 49, RTP 19 Div San Luis Valley Trail Maintenance Colorado Mountain Club $ 159, $ 60, RTP Trail Smart Sizing, Phase I Headwaters Trails Alliance $ 827, $ 250, RTP South Park Trail Improvements USFS Pike NF, South Park RD $ 85, $ 62, GOCO Hermosa Street Riverwalk Extension Town of Pagosa Springs $ 837, $ 400, LWCF Urban Singletrack Trails, Phase 2 Developing Urban Singletrack & Team [DUST2] $ 128, $ 98, RTP Hardscrabble SRMA Signs Town of Gypsum $ 73, $ 51, RTP Floyd Hill Open Space Trail System Clear Creek County Open Space $ 446, $ 250, RTP EagleVail Trail Extension Vail Valley Mountain Bike Association $ 137, $ 98, RTP One in Small Construction too TOTAL AMOUNT REQUESTED $ 5,068, $ 556, Already funded 18 CtB or 18/19 NM Already funded 17/18 NM cycle Additional Funding Excluded GOCO Funding $ 130, RTP Funding $ 426,064.64

4 Grant App Number Volunteer Reviewer Score 2018 CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE SMALL Staff Reviewer Score Final Score Name Sponsor Total Cost Amount Requested Recommended Funding Type of Funding Temple Canyon Connection Fremont Adventure Recreation $79, $31, $ 31, RTP 17 Div Kiowa Park Trail Town of Wiggins $65, $45, $ 40, RTP 17 NM/GOCO $17, $6, Rifle RD Trail Clearing/Maintenance White River NF, Rifle Ranger District $ 6, GOCO Routt NF Trail Maintenance USFS Routt NF $151, $44, GOCO TOTAL AMOUNT REQUESTED $6,720 $ 6, Already funded 17/18 NM cycle GOCO Funding $ 6, Additional Funding RTP Funding

5 Appendix B 2018 Non-Motorized Trail Grant Summaries Name Sponsor Grant Type The Greenway Master Plan Foundation 1 - NE Peak & Prairie Grand Loop Description Amount Requested Total Cost Planning $45, $65, Create a master plan for a continuous inter-connected, soft surface (dirt or crusher fine) Grand Loop Trail (GLT). Primarily for daypack hiking/walking around the outer edges of the Denver metro region. The trail will access scenic landscapes, cultural sites, state parks and open space forming a complete beltway around the city. 2 NW/SW 2018 COPMOBA Regional Trails Description Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Assoc. Large $126, $164, Construct 2.8 miles of natural surface single track trail in the Mack Ridge/Kokopelli Loops trail system. 2. Construct two steel trussed bridges along the Spring Creek Canyon Connector trails, southwest of Montrose. 3 NW/SW 2018 COPMOBA Regional Trails Planning Description Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Assoc. Planning $44, $57, Two new trail plans on the Western Slope. 1. Escalante Triangle project: 30 miles of trail layout and design. 2. FTS2017 project: Cultural site review and surveys on 14 miles of new proposed trails in Bangs Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA). Both trail systems will be designed and planned using best management practices. 4 SW Urban Singletrack Trails Phase 2 Developing Urban Singletrack & Team (DUST2) Large $98, $128, Description Construct 2.5 miles of natural surface singletrack trail on the Urban Singletrack Trails system. will adhere to IMBA trail design standards to include trail signage kiosks, intersection signs and carsonite markers. is located on Reservoir Hill in the Town of Pagosa Springs. 5 SW Shavano Gateway Cultural Resource Clearance Montrose County Planning $20, $29, Description Complete a cultural resource survey for submittal to the BLM. The Shavano Gateway Recreation Area is located SW of the City of Montrose, and the majority of this acreage is associated with proposed non-motorized single track trails. The trails have already been surveyed and designed, utilizing grant funding from CPW. This trail system is referred to as the "Linscott Canyon Trails". 6 NE Georgetown Greenway Trail Town of Georgetown Planning $45, $63, Description The Georgetown Greenway project will complete the design for a section of the Clear Creek Greenway trail through the Gateway area of the Town of Georgetown. The design is in keeping with the Gateway Master Plan to enhance the entrance to the historic core of the town by providing safe passage through the community for cyclists on the regional Peak to Plains trail. 7 NW Hardscrabble SRMA Signs Town of Gypsum LC $51, $73, Description The Town of Gypsum is proposing to enhance and improve the existing trail system on the Hardscrabble Special Recreation Management Area (SRMA) adjacent to the town by implementing a comprehensive signage plan. This signage plan will include new trail maps and installing three different types or levels of signage, which currently either do not exist or may not be up to date.

6 2018 Non-Motorized Trail Grant Summaries Name Sponsor Grant Amount Total Cost Type Requested 8-SW Gunsight Bridge Restoration & Replacement Crested Butte Land Trust LC $200, $381, Description Replace the pedestrian bridge that is critical for trail connectivity and is the only permanent river crossing in the Slate River drainage. Today, the bridge is rapidly deteriorating and at risk of being breached. This project entails removing the current wooden bridge and replacing it with a full-span suspension bridge that is designed to better accommodate the dynamic nature of the Slate River. 9-Statewide Regional Fourteener Trail Maintenance Colorado Fourteeners Initiative LC $250, $865, Description CFI crew and volunteers will perform miles of routine trail maintenance, 2.2 miles of more intensive trail reconstruction within existing trail corridors and close, stabilize and restore 2.86 miles of old social trails during the 2019 and 2020 summer seasons on fourteener peaks across Colorado. 10-SW Rito Seco Trails Costilla County LC $249, $325, Description Rito Seco Park and Batenburg Meadows are part of the 3,600-acre Sangre de Cristo Ranches Greenbelt, about 8 miles north and east of the town of San Luis. The project proposes construction of six connected trails for a total of about 4.5 miles. Construction will require switchbacks, rock walls and stone steps. Several bridges will be constructed and installed to facilitate creek crossings. 11-NW North Fruita Desert Trails Master Plan City of Fruita Planning $45, $63, Description The master plan would refine a trail system in the Special Recreation Management Area and provide planning for new non-motorized trail miles. The plan will determine future trail alignments, management objectives and construction methods as they interconnect with the existing trail system and a future event staging and camping area. The SRMA is located approximately 10 miles north of the City of Fruita, in Mesa County, along the base of Bookcliff Mountain range. 12-NE Alma Riverwalk Design Town of Alma Planning $35, $140, Description The Riverwalk project has 3 objectives: Perform a wetland delineation; flag the 0.5 mile proposed trail location and develop a construction plan; design and engineer the bridges, docks, and boardwalk. The Riverwalk property consists of 21 acres of wetlands surrounding the headwaters of the Middle Fork of the South Platte River and is located within the South Park Ranger District of the Pike San Isabel National Forest. 13-NW Lunch Loop Trail City of Grand Junction LC $225, $2,466, Description The trail will extend 1.5 miles from the start of Monument Rd. to the Lunch Loop trail system. It is a 10-ft. wide concrete path with 2 bridges and four low water crossings. This will provide a long lasting all-weather surface that can sustain maintenance and/or emergency vehicles. The trail is in Mesa County, 1.5 miles from Grand Junction. 14-SE Waldo Canyon Trail Rocky Mountain Field Institute Planning $45, $58, Description Initiate a public planning process to determine the future of the Waldo Canyon Trail, which has been closed to public access since the Waldo Canyon Fire heavily damaged the area in the summer of The trail is located 5-miles west of downtown Colorado Springs in El Paso County. Proposed discussions include trail access, connectivity, new trailhead locations, trail layout and design.

7 2018 Non-Motorized Trail Grant Summaries Name Sponsor Grant Amount Total Cost Type Requested 15-NE Salida Trails Salida Mountain Trails LC $239, $327, Description Seven new trail segments totaling miles of new multi-use non-motorized trail with the goal of largely completing our 2 existing trail systems adjoining the city of Salida (in Chaffee County). Over the past 12 years, SMT has established these 2 trail systems and has built and/or maintained over 30 miles of trail in both trail systems. 16-NE/NW WRV Partnership for Stewardship Wildlands Restoration Volunteers LC $147, $541, Description WRV will conduct five trail projects in at heavily used & impacted trail sites in partnership with land managers and community partners, including: Hippo Trail, White River NF; Beaver Creek Trail, Pike San Isabel NF; Molly Moon/Mt. Margaret Trails, Arapaho Roosevelt NF; Pawnee Pass Trail, Arapaho Roosevelt NF; Beaver Brook Trail, Denver Mountain Parks. 17-SW Bear Creek National Recreation Trail USFS Grand Mesa and Gunnison RD LC $130, $172, Description Maintenance work needed on the Bear Creek Trail located in Ouray, Colorado. Work will include installing and maintaining rolling dips, shallow stream ford and gully crossings, rock water bars, treated timber and rock retaining walls. 18-NW Trail Smart Sizing, Phase I Headwaters Trails Alliance LC $250, $569, Description This project is designed to mitigate ecological damage and improve the overall recreational experience for trail users in the Winter Park and Fraser area. It includes up to 18 miles of new trail construction, reroutes, maintenance, bridges, restoration. 19-SE Mt. Elbert Realignment, Phase II National Forest Foundation LC $250, $328, The Foundation will coordinate the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, Wildland Restoration Volunteers, Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado and the USDA Forest Service, Leadville RD to implement Phase II of the Mt. Elbert Realignment and Restoration. The NFF and partners will restore and protect fragile alpine tundra and ensure long-term sustainable access to the summit of Mt. Elbert. 20-SW Kit Carson Trail, Phase III Rocky Mtn. Field Institute LC $209, $360, Phase III of the Kit Carson Peak-Challenger Point Trail Improvement is the last and final phase. Plans include construction of sustainable, primitive-use trail at elevations about 12,000 ft., restore highly eroded alpine environment and maintain portions of the Willow Creek Trail. 21-SE South Park Trail Improvements USFS Pike NF, South Park RD LC $62, $85, Enhance and improve the current non-motorized trail system to include heavy trail maintenance, improve trail signage, maintain corridors and update/improve trail data. The overall goal is making a better system of trails for the public to enjoy. The project is focused on the SPRD in Park County. 22-SE Meridian Ranch Regional Trail El Paso County LC 136, $206, El Paso County will construct two segments of new non-motorized, multi-use trail in Falcon Regional Park, located in northeastern El Paso County, in the rapidly growing community of Falcon. Segments will be Tier 1 trails, 6-8 ft. wide with crushed limestone surface and 2 ft. natural shoulders.

8 2018 Non-Motorized Trail Grant Summaries Name Sponsor Grant Amount Total Cost Type Requested 23-NE Prairie Ridge Trail City of Loveland LC $200, $613, will include natural-surfaced trails (including a 1 mile long ADA accessible trail), a 26-car gravel parking lot, wetland improvements, road widening of a major arterial, an educational sign program, a drainage crossing, and a vault restroom. 24-NE Kiowa Park Trail Town of Wiggins SC $45, $65, Transform a 1/6 mile segment of current pathway into an accessible trail. Currently, this segment is a dusty path with very little vegetation. The proposed trail will connect the new Kiowa Park development with the current park and the Wiggins School District. Future goals for Wiggins include plans to link the trail system to future planned residential communities. 25-SE Temple Canyon Connection Fremont Adventure SC $31, $79, Recreation Build a connection between BLM managed lands and the Cañon City owned Temple Canyon Park in the Royal Gorge Region. From the high point of the South Cañon Trail system, the only way to currently connect to the park is via Temple Canyon Road. This trail will offer a safer passage between the two areas. 26-NE Loop to Gateway Trail Town of Ault Planning $45, $67, The Town of Ault will establish a plan and resources for a 3.5 mile trail to connect the town with the Great Western Trail in Weld County. Objectives: Identify the best path for the trail; contact landowners; gain necessary permissions and agreements; provide preliminary plans for route; provide a list of cost estimates and identify ideal materials. 27-NE Magnolia Trail System Zone Boulder Mountainbike LC $246, $425, Alliance The purpose of this project is to create a sustainable and manageable non-motorized trail system within the 6000-acre management area. The system is in the Boulder Ranger District of the Roosevelt National Forest. Zone 1 is the most accessible portion of the system containing formal trailheads and access points from the local high school and within walkable proximity from Nederland. A previous CPW Planning grant produced a master plan in SE Salida District Trail USFS Salida RD LC $80, $112, Maintenance The USFS Salida District will hire, coordinate and supervise a non-motorized trail crew focused on the maintenance of its multiple use trail system. This proposal highlights six high priority backlogged trail maintenance projects that are critical to improve the accessibility, safety and sustainability of this popular trail system in the Upper Arkansas Valley. 29-NW Routt NF Trail Maintenance USFS Routt NF SC $44, $151, The goal of this grant is to increase funding for non-motorized trail maintenance crews to include management of excessive deadfall from heavy bark beetle mortality. The Forest and districts desire to keep all trails open for public use. All trails are within the Routt National Forest. 30-NW EagleVail Trail Extension Vail Valley Mountain LC $98, $137, Bike Assoc. Construct 4 miles of trail connecting EagleVail and USFS lands on Meadow Mountain near Minturn, CO. The trail will connect communities by soft-surface linkages, leverage the value of existing trail systems by creating loop systems, and help link the entire county east-to-west. Construct seasonal wildlife closure barriers and restore decommissioned trails.

9 2018 Non-Motorized Trail Grant Summaries Name Sponsor Grant Amount Total Cost Type Requested #31-SW Divide RD 2019 Trail Crews Southwest Conservation Corps LC $100, $142, Deliverables include 6 weeks of trail crews and 8 weeks of technical saw/crosscut crews making significant access improvement impact on miles of trail and 742+ miles of related connecting trail systems. Crew project work will focus on bucking trees along the trail as well as maintaining or re-establishing historic erosion control features such as water bars, drainage dips, and slope. #32-NE Floyd Hill Open Space Trail System Clear Creek County Open Space LC $250, $446, Clear Creek County Open Space will build 3.43 miles of new multi-use natural surface trails from trailhead to ridge and back down. Five segments will be built that create several trail loops. A significant segment is a 2.22 mile steep downhill trail for cyclists only which will increase safety for all users. A hiker only segment is also provided. #34-NW LOVA Canyon Creek Plan Town of New Castle Planning $45, $98, Plan and design a multimodal asphalt trail in the 2.5 mile corridor adjacent to the Colorado River between I-70 mile markers 109 and 111 (New Castle Glenwood Springs). Two adjacent sections, to the east and west, are already in the planning process. #35-NE Bear Creek Pedestrian Trail City of Lakewood Planning $45, $70, The proposed project will address user concerns with the design of an alternate pedestrian trail that parallels the seven-mile paved Bear Creek Trail. The project activities will include mapping and surveying, public engagement, signage planning, design development and construction drawings and specifications ready for bid. #36-NW Fish Creek Trail Segment City of Steamboat LC $250, $347, Springs The project continues phased development of the highly successful Core Trail by constructing an 8- foot wide multiple-use hard surface concrete trail adjacent to Fish Creek and through the existing box culvert underneath Highway 40. The project will create a safe off-highway and grade separated bicycle and pedestrian trail that will increase access to recreational opportunities, and separate pedestrians from the highly congested and dangerous Hwy 40/Pine Grove Road intersection. #37-NW #38-NE Rifle RD Trail Clearing & Maintenance White River NF, Rifle RD SC $6, $17, The objective of this project is to perform trail clearing and general maintenance on approximately 70 miles of public, non-motorized trails in Garfield County, CO. The trail system is managed by the White River National Forest (WRNF) Rifle Ranger District. Trails Master Plan Scoping Overland Mountain Bike Club Planning $31, $48, Overland Mountain Bike Club is conducting a scoping project to determine the need, necessary stakeholders, timeline and strategy for the development of a comprehensive non-motorized trails master plan. A single source map detailing all existing trails will be created.

10 2018 Non-Motorized Trail Grant Summaries Name Sponsor Grant Amount Total Cost Type Requested #39-SW San Luis Valley Trail Maintenance Colorado Mountain Club LC $60, $125, The Colorado Mountain Club (CMC) will work with the Rio Grande National Forest (RGNF) to complete high-priority trail maintenance and corridor-clearing projects on all three of its Ranger Districts, (Saguache, Divide, and Conejos Peak) with a San Luis Valley non-motorized trail maintenance crew. This crew will complete a total of 40 weeks of project work. #40-SW Hermosa Street Riverwalk Extension Town of Pagosa Springs LWCF $400, $837, Manage the construction of a.35 mile concrete trail segment of the Pagosa Springs Riverwalk that runs from Hwy 160 to Town Park. The trail will extend the existing riverwalk corridor. The goal of the project is to provide a safe means for pedestrians and bike users and will eliminate the need to use the Hwy 160 corridor and or walk on Hermosa Street. #41-NE Boulder Area Trails Mobile Application Boulder County Planning $31, $90, Create a multi-agency, county-wide, interactive mobile trails map application. It will allow users to access all of the public trails under one application, rather than navigate multiple sources that cross numerous local, state and federal government jurisdictions. This application will include trails, trailheads, parks, trail closure notification and on-trail use information. #42-NE Fall River Trail, Phase 3 Town of Estes Park LWCF $400, $1,233, Construct the first mile of a planned 2.5 mile paved trail from Rocky Mountain Nat l Park Aspenglen campground to downtown Estes Park. When complete, the Fall River Trail will substantially improve the entire Estes Valley trail system and will benefit the Estes Valley residents as well as its 4.5 million annual visitors. This trail will help preserve the Fall River corridor s wild character while expanding access, especially for low-income residents. #43-NW Meeker Trail System 2018 Expansion Eastern Rio Blanco Metro Recreation & Park Dist. (ERBM) LC $106, $158, Expand the existing 11-mile Meeker Trail System by constructing two new single-track hiker/biker trails that total 4.6 miles to create a regionally attractive 15.6 mile trail system adjacent to the Town of Meeker. These two trails (Hidden Valley Trail and Lion Canyon Trail) would be constructed in 2018 on BLM lands as approved in the BLM-Meeker Trails Master Plan Environmental Assessment (EA) document dated February 2015.