Re: [cobirds] Development in Sensitive Bird Areas in Fountain Creek Regional Park (FCRP), El Paso County

[SeEttaM .]

For those of us from outside of Colorado Springs it is a good idea to
mention, if at all applicable, that when you visit Fountain Creek Regional
Park for birding you spend money in El Paso County (ie gas, food,
shopping).  That is the only reason they will care about our input as we
are not voters/citizens there.

SeEtta Moss
Canon City
http://BirdsAndNature.blogspot.com

On Sun, May 1, 2016 at 10:03 PM, linda hodges  wrote:

> Marie,
> Thank you for including that information, and for responding so quickly.
>
> In addition, FCRP is one of only two locations in El Paso County given the
> designation of *Important Bird Area* by the National Audubon Society.
>
> *Linda Hodges*
>
> *​Colorado Springs​*
>
>
> On Sun, May 1, 2016 at 8:18 PM, Marie Hoerner 
> wrote:
>
>> I hope that I am not overstepping any bounds as a very new member of
>> COBirds, but I am really sorry to hear of the plans El Paso has for
>> Fountain Creek.  One thing that occurred to me, reading this email, is that
>> external evidence of the value of Fountain Creek Regional Park might be
>> valuable to include in responses to Mr. Williams.  In addition to my own
>> anecdotal experiences at FCRP, I included the following points that rely on
>> well established outside sources to document the importance of the park:
>>
>>
>>- National Geographic's* Guide to Birding Hot Spots of the United
>>States* lists Fountain Creek Regional Park as one of only 13 hot
>>spots they chose to highlight in the entire state of Colorado.  The park 
>> is
>>also the only hot spot listed for El Paso County.
>>- eBird (a citizen science project aimed at documenting bird
>>distributions and movements) reports the second highest avian diversity of
>>any site in El Paso County at Fountain Creek Regional Park.  The only site
>>with higher avian diversity is the privately owned Chico Basin Ranch.
>>
>> These or other similar points might strengthen requests for El Paso to
>> reconsider their development plans.
>>
>> Thank you for bringing this to my attention.  It really will be a major
>> loss if the development goes through.
>>
>> Marie Hoerner
>>
>> On Sun, May 1, 2016 at 6:39 PM, Tyler Stuart 
>> wrote:
>>
>>> COBirders,
>>>
>>>
>>> *El Paso County Parks has proposed to develop a number of the natural
>>> areas within Fountain Creek Regional Park (FCRP).* A public meeting on
>>> April 28, 2016 presented the plans, which include: dog park in sensitive
>>> riparian habitat, singletrack mountain biking trails, disc golf course,
>>> amphitheater, new athletic field, playgrounds, a creekside “beach”
>>> recreation area in an isolated riparian grove, new parking lots, creek
>>> realignment through Area 7 (Hansen Natural Area), and additional “forest
>>> management” areas. A number of these development plans will adversely
>>> affect important bird and wildlife habitat.
>>>
>>>
>>> *Have you birded FCRP or heard about its importance to birds and other
>>> wildlife? This email is to request that you send quickly to park personnel
>>> your impressions and comments regarding the proposed development plan.*
>>> We need a substantial response, as they don’t seem to appreciate the
>>> importance of undisturbed habitat, both canopy and understory, in a major
>>> riparian corridor. The development plan is available at 
>>> *http://adm.elpasoco.com/CommunityServices/planning/Pages/default.aspx
>>>  or
>>> at
>>> http://adm.elpasoco.com/CommunityServices/planning/Pages/FountainCreekRegionalParkPlanning.aspx
>>> *.
>>> *Figure 36 on page 42* shows the scale of proposed development.
>>>
>>>
>>> The window to respond is narrow before the County Park Commissioners
>>> will review the proposed development plan. *The deadline for public
>>> comments is MAY 19,* but we need momentum before then so that they
>>> aren’t thinking that they have a green light. We offer some ideas to
>>> highlight below, in your words. In particular, we focus on two specific
>>> developments that we think will most significantly compromise habitat for
>>> bird residents and migrants.
>>>
>>>
>>> Summary of key points:
>>>
>>> · Proposed location for dog park would damage sensitive primary
>>> habitat and fragment the corridor
>>>
>>> · Other proposed management areas are primary cottonwood groves
>>> that don’t need management.
>>>
>>> · “Management” invariably disturbs important understory
>>> elements of riparian corridor
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> First, a dog park is planned for the forested area known as “Mile Marker
>>> 18” or “Area 2,” abutting “The Spa.” The dog park will cover the habitat
>>> between the creek and the adjacent private land to the east, extending from
>>> the Willow Springs Ponds south to the Mile 18 marker 

Re: [cobirds] Development in Sensitive Bird Areas in Fountain Creek Regional Park (FCRP), El Paso County

[linda hodges]

Marie,
Thank you for including that information, and for responding so quickly.

In addition, FCRP is one of only two locations in El Paso County given the
designation of *Important Bird Area* by the National Audubon Society.

*Linda Hodges*

*​Colorado Springs​*


On Sun, May 1, 2016 at 8:18 PM, Marie Hoerner  wrote:

> I hope that I am not overstepping any bounds as a very new member of
> COBirds, but I am really sorry to hear of the plans El Paso has for
> Fountain Creek.  One thing that occurred to me, reading this email, is that
> external evidence of the value of Fountain Creek Regional Park might be
> valuable to include in responses to Mr. Williams.  In addition to my own
> anecdotal experiences at FCRP, I included the following points that rely on
> well established outside sources to document the importance of the park:
>
>
>- National Geographic's* Guide to Birding Hot Spots of the United
>States* lists Fountain Creek Regional Park as one of only 13 hot spots
>they chose to highlight in the entire state of Colorado.  The park is also
>the only hot spot listed for El Paso County.
>- eBird (a citizen science project aimed at documenting bird
>distributions and movements) reports the second highest avian diversity of
>any site in El Paso County at Fountain Creek Regional Park.  The only site
>with higher avian diversity is the privately owned Chico Basin Ranch.
>
> These or other similar points might strengthen requests for El Paso to
> reconsider their development plans.
>
> Thank you for bringing this to my attention.  It really will be a major
> loss if the development goes through.
>
> Marie Hoerner
>
> On Sun, May 1, 2016 at 6:39 PM, Tyler Stuart 
> wrote:
>
>> COBirders,
>>
>>
>> *El Paso County Parks has proposed to develop a number of the natural
>> areas within Fountain Creek Regional Park (FCRP).* A public meeting on
>> April 28, 2016 presented the plans, which include: dog park in sensitive
>> riparian habitat, singletrack mountain biking trails, disc golf course,
>> amphitheater, new athletic field, playgrounds, a creekside “beach”
>> recreation area in an isolated riparian grove, new parking lots, creek
>> realignment through Area 7 (Hansen Natural Area), and additional “forest
>> management” areas. A number of these development plans will adversely
>> affect important bird and wildlife habitat.
>>
>>
>> *Have you birded FCRP or heard about its importance to birds and other
>> wildlife? This email is to request that you send quickly to park personnel
>> your impressions and comments regarding the proposed development plan.*
>> We need a substantial response, as they don’t seem to appreciate the
>> importance of undisturbed habitat, both canopy and understory, in a major
>> riparian corridor. The development plan is available at 
>> *http://adm.elpasoco.com/CommunityServices/planning/Pages/default.aspx
>>  or
>> at
>> http://adm.elpasoco.com/CommunityServices/planning/Pages/FountainCreekRegionalParkPlanning.aspx
>> *.
>> *Figure 36 on page 42* shows the scale of proposed development.
>>
>>
>> The window to respond is narrow before the County Park Commissioners will
>> review the proposed development plan. *The deadline for public comments
>> is MAY 19,* but we need momentum before then so that they aren’t
>> thinking that they have a green light. We offer some ideas to highlight
>> below, in your words. In particular, we focus on two specific developments
>> that we think will most significantly compromise habitat for bird residents
>> and migrants.
>>
>>
>> Summary of key points:
>>
>> · Proposed location for dog park would damage sensitive primary
>> habitat and fragment the corridor
>>
>> · Other proposed management areas are primary cottonwood groves
>> that don’t need management.
>>
>> · “Management” invariably disturbs important understory elements
>> of riparian corridor
>>
>>
>>
>> First, a dog park is planned for the forested area known as “Mile Marker
>> 18” or “Area 2,” abutting “The Spa.” The dog park will cover the habitat
>> between the creek and the adjacent private land to the east, extending from
>> the Willow Springs Ponds south to the Mile 18 marker (6 acres). This area
>> hosts some of the richest bird life in the regional park, especially during
>> migration. It is also a region where species seek refuge and nest *away*
>> from the regional trail. A dog park, with a network of trails, tree
>> removal, understory and grass degradation (e.g., see Bear Creek dog park),
>> bathrooms, and expanded parking would severely compromise the quality of
>> habitat. We think that this is a priority. We are not against a dog park,
>> but it should not be in this valuable habitat and in the floodplain. They
>> can 

Re: [cobirds] Development in Sensitive Bird Areas in Fountain Creek Regional Park (FCRP), El Paso County

[Marie Hoerner]

I hope that I am not overstepping any bounds as a very new member of
COBirds, but I am really sorry to hear of the plans El Paso has for
Fountain Creek.  One thing that occurred to me, reading this email, is that
external evidence of the value of Fountain Creek Regional Park might be
valuable to include in responses to Mr. Williams.  In addition to my own
anecdotal experiences at FCRP, I included the following points that rely on
well established outside sources to document the importance of the park:


   - National Geographic's* Guide to Birding Hot Spots of the United States*
   lists Fountain Creek Regional Park as one of only 13 hot spots they chose
   to highlight in the entire state of Colorado.  The park is also the only
   hot spot listed for El Paso County.
   - eBird (a citizen science project aimed at documenting bird
   distributions and movements) reports the second highest avian diversity of
   any site in El Paso County at Fountain Creek Regional Park.  The only site
   with higher avian diversity is the privately owned Chico Basin Ranch.

These or other similar points might strengthen requests for El Paso to
reconsider their development plans.

Thank you for bringing this to my attention.  It really will be a major
loss if the development goes through.

Marie Hoerner

On Sun, May 1, 2016 at 6:39 PM, Tyler Stuart  wrote:

> COBirders,
>
>
> *El Paso County Parks has proposed to develop a number of the natural
> areas within Fountain Creek Regional Park (FCRP).* A public meeting on
> April 28, 2016 presented the plans, which include: dog park in sensitive
> riparian habitat, singletrack mountain biking trails, disc golf course,
> amphitheater, new athletic field, playgrounds, a creekside “beach”
> recreation area in an isolated riparian grove, new parking lots, creek
> realignment through Area 7 (Hansen Natural Area), and additional “forest
> management” areas. A number of these development plans will adversely
> affect important bird and wildlife habitat.
>
>
> *Have you birded FCRP or heard about its importance to birds and other
> wildlife? This email is to request that you send quickly to park personnel
> your impressions and comments regarding the proposed development plan.*
> We need a substantial response, as they don’t seem to appreciate the
> importance of undisturbed habitat, both canopy and understory, in a major
> riparian corridor. The development plan is available at 
> *http://adm.elpasoco.com/CommunityServices/planning/Pages/default.aspx
>  or
> at
> http://adm.elpasoco.com/CommunityServices/planning/Pages/FountainCreekRegionalParkPlanning.aspx
> *.
> *Figure 36 on page 42* shows the scale of proposed development.
>
>
> The window to respond is narrow before the County Park Commissioners will
> review the proposed development plan. *The deadline for public comments
> is MAY 19,* but we need momentum before then so that they aren’t thinking
> that they have a green light. We offer some ideas to highlight below, in
> your words. In particular, we focus on two specific developments that we
> think will most significantly compromise habitat for bird residents and
> migrants.
>
>
> Summary of key points:
>
> · Proposed location for dog park would damage sensitive primary
> habitat and fragment the corridor
>
> · Other proposed management areas are primary cottonwood groves
> that don’t need management.
>
> · “Management” invariably disturbs important understory elements
> of riparian corridor
>
>
>
> First, a dog park is planned for the forested area known as “Mile Marker
> 18” or “Area 2,” abutting “The Spa.” The dog park will cover the habitat
> between the creek and the adjacent private land to the east, extending from
> the Willow Springs Ponds south to the Mile 18 marker (6 acres). This area
> hosts some of the richest bird life in the regional park, especially during
> migration. It is also a region where species seek refuge and nest *away*
> from the regional trail. A dog park, with a network of trails, tree
> removal, understory and grass degradation (e.g., see Bear Creek dog park),
> bathrooms, and expanded parking would severely compromise the quality of
> habitat. We think that this is a priority. We are not against a dog park,
> but it should not be in this valuable habitat and in the floodplain. They
> can re-organize proposed uses outside of the floodplain, or acquire land
> adjacent to the park that is already compromised.
>
>
> Second, the development plan targets several primary riparian tree
> clusters for “forest management.” The park planners indicated that this
> involves the removal of dead cottonwoods, which are a major resource for
> nesting birds and other wildlife. For example, cottonwood groves such as
> the proposed “creekside recreation 

[cobirds] Development in Sensitive Bird Areas in Fountain Creek Regional Park (FCRP), El Paso County

[Tyler Stuart]

COBirders,


*El Paso County Parks has proposed to develop a number of the natural areas
within Fountain Creek Regional Park (FCRP).* A public meeting on April 28,
2016 presented the plans, which include: dog park in sensitive riparian
habitat, singletrack mountain biking trails, disc golf course,
amphitheater, new athletic field, playgrounds, a creekside “beach”
recreation area in an isolated riparian grove, new parking lots, creek
realignment through Area 7 (Hansen Natural Area), and additional “forest
management” areas. A number of these development plans will adversely
affect important bird and wildlife habitat.


*Have you birded FCRP or heard about its importance to birds and other
wildlife? This email is to request that you send quickly to park personnel
your impressions and comments regarding the proposed development plan.* We
need a substantial response, as they don’t seem to appreciate the
importance of undisturbed habitat, both canopy and understory, in a major
riparian corridor. The development plan is available at
*http://adm.elpasoco.com/CommunityServices/planning/Pages/default.aspx
 or
at
http://adm.elpasoco.com/CommunityServices/planning/Pages/FountainCreekRegionalParkPlanning.aspx
*.
*Figure 36 on page 42* shows the scale of proposed development.


The window to respond is narrow before the County Park Commissioners will
review the proposed development plan. *The deadline for public comments is
MAY 19,* but we need momentum before then so that they aren’t thinking that
they have a green light. We offer some ideas to highlight below, in your
words. In particular, we focus on two specific developments that we think
will most significantly compromise habitat for bird residents and migrants.


Summary of key points:

· Proposed location for dog park would damage sensitive primary
habitat and fragment the corridor

· Other proposed management areas are primary cottonwood groves
that don’t need management.

· “Management” invariably disturbs important understory elements of
riparian corridor



First, a dog park is planned for the forested area known as “Mile Marker
18” or “Area 2,” abutting “The Spa.” The dog park will cover the habitat
between the creek and the adjacent private land to the east, extending from
the Willow Springs Ponds south to the Mile 18 marker (6 acres). This area
hosts some of the richest bird life in the regional park, especially during
migration. It is also a region where species seek refuge and nest *away*
from the regional trail. A dog park, with a network of trails, tree
removal, understory and grass degradation (e.g., see Bear Creek dog park),
bathrooms, and expanded parking would severely compromise the quality of
habitat. We think that this is a priority. We are not against a dog park,
but it should not be in this valuable habitat and in the floodplain. They
can re-organize proposed uses outside of the floodplain, or acquire land
adjacent to the park that is already compromised.


Second, the development plan targets several primary riparian tree clusters
for “forest management.” The park planners indicated that this involves the
removal of dead cottonwoods, which are a major resource for nesting birds
and other wildlife. For example, cottonwood groves such as the proposed
“creekside recreation area” (“Area 6”) currently are relatively
undisturbed, remote, primary cottonwood groves. Such management invariably
damages understory. Similarly, a proposed realignment of the entire creek
would transect Area 7, at the south end of the regional park.


Amazingly, none of the $1.65 million planned for park development has been
allotted toward restoring or reclaiming wildlife habitat, or for
controlling invasive species.


*We ask that you write an email to share the importance of maintaining
Fountain Creek’s riparian corridor (canopy and understory) and avoiding
development in sensitive areas.* We hope that an overwhelming response from
the birding community will be hard for the county planners to ignore.
Describe what the park means to you, how often you visit, where you live,
and how far you travel to visit. If you would like to highlight some of
your experiences or bird sightings in the park, that’s great, too! In
particular, a priority is not turning key parts of Area 2 into a dog park,
and further fragmenting the riparian corridor.


At your soonest convenience, please send your comments to Mr. Ross
Williams, Park Planner, at rosswilli...@elpasoco.com. It is good to be as
specific as you can, if even in a short message.


Also, please also forward to us the email you send to Mr. Williams so that
we can record the scale of response from the birding community. And feel
free to contact us with any questions.


Tyler Stuart

Steve Getty

Colorado Springs, CO

FCRP Bird Count Leaders