Plans, Reports and Advisory Boards
2025
2024
Quarterly Board Report: April, May, June 2025
Bay to Bay Trail provides desired connection at Horsetooth Reservoir
The new Bay to Bay Trail at Horsetooth Reservoir opened on May 23, just in time for Memorial Day weekend. This 1.8-mile natural surface trail connects Inlet Bay to the South Bay swim beach, linking two popular areas. It offers hikers and bikers scenic views along a moderately challenging, two-foot-wide trail. Because of steep slopes, rocky terrain, and limited parking for horse trailers, the trail is only open to foot and bike traffic. Larimer County Natural Resources (LCNR) built the trail with help from the Larimer County Conservation Corps (LCCC) and volunteers. Funding was provided by LCDNR, Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
Boating Officer of the Year - Travis Bernstein
Travis Bernstein, Senior Ranger, achieved the highest recognition for boating law enforcement officers nationwide. He was named Colorado Boating Officer of the Year and received the same honor for the Western Region of the United States in May. Selected by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), Travis leads Larimer County’s boating program with a strong commitment to public and staff safety on Colorado’s waterways. His leadership, innovative training initiatives, and dedication to marine safety have set a high standard in boating law enforcement. Travis supervises both full-time and temporary staff, actively patrolling Larimer County’s waters to ensure rescues, enforce boating regulations, and promote safety compliance.
Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) improvements moving full speed ahead
In partnership with Central Federal Lands Highway Division (CFLHD), LCDNR has officially begun a largescale, multi-year asphalt paving project at Carter Lake. Construction is underway at several locations including paving the main road within Eagle Campground and North Pines Campground. Parking and roadway improvements at Horsetooth Reservoir are planned to follow. The project budget exceeds $15 million, which is funded primarily with two federal grants, as well as from LCDNR reserve funds. Diligent effort is being made to minimize the disturbance to visitors and project completion is expected in 2027.
15 Years of Ranger Excellence School (RES)
Nearly 90 students attended the 15th annual Ranger Excellence School (RES) in Estes Park this May. What began as a local training for Colorado rangers in 2010 has grown into a full conference, now drawing 80–100 participants from across the country, including states like Wisconsin, Missouri, and Nevada. This week-long event offers hands-on, relevant training for rangers and natural resource professionals. Students can customize their experience and earn certifications in specialized courses like Emergency Medical Responder, Mountain Biking, and Baton. Held at the Holiday Inn in Estes Park, RES offers easy access to Hermit Park Open Space for field exercises and scenario-based training in natural environments.
Poudre River Trail anticipates completion this year
After decades of planning and collaborating with regional partners, Larimer County is poised to complete the Poudre River Trail this year! The full vision of the Poudre River Trail spans over 45 miles along the river corridor from LaPorte (northwest of Fort Collins) to Greeley with just under one mile remaining to be completed. In an exciting development this summer, Larimer County got the final green light to move ahead with construction on its last segment, which is slated to begin this summer and fall. The region-wide vision has been made possible by many partners and numerous grants over the years, and Larimer County is honored to bring it to the finish line.
BARK rangers on the ground and water in Larimer County
In collaboration with the City of Fort Collins, LCDNR is excited to support the expansion of the Volunteer Ranger Assistant (VRA) program to include BARK rangers. Now on patrol throughout thirteen publicly accessible properties, BARK rangers bolster education in the field regarding dogs off leash or to those who leave waste bags behind, and the impact of dogs on
wildlife safety. All of which, if left unchecked, have negative impacts on visitor experience and the environment. As ambassadors for responsible recreation, stewardship, and regulation compliance, BARK rangers uphold the foundation of the VRA program and expands our reach into the field, meeting visitors where they are.
Financials
Larimer County Department of Natural Resources has five primary revenue sources including Colorado Lottery proceeds, the Help Preserve Open Space Sales Tax, user fees on open spaces, user fees on reservoir parks, and the weed district property tax. Below are the April 1 through June 30 revenue summaries and operating expenses as compared to the same period the previous year.
Open Spaces
Revenue
Help Preserve Open Space Tax
2024: $3,470,638
2025: $3,626,991
User Fees Revenue
2024: $801,796
2025: $726,511
Service Charges
2024: $100,138
2025: $85,856
Miscellaneous
2024: $5,385
2025: $3,039
Grants/Partnerships
2024: $7,146
2025: $5,442,500
Interest/Revenue
2024: $551,044
2025: $467,148
Total
2024: $4,936,146
2025: $10,352,046
110% increase
Expense
Personnel
2024: $883,721
2025: $795,392
Operating
2024: $985,456
2025: $394,019
Total
2024: $1,869,177
2025: $1,189,411
36% decrease
Countywide Indirects
2024: $108,056
2025: $94,121
13% decrease
Acquisitions
2024: $10,316
2025: $16,569,029
Conservation Trust - Lottery
2024: $531,255
2025: $501,279
6% decrease
Reservoir Parks
Revenue
User Fees
2024: $3,070,365
2025: $2,679,389
Service Charge
2024: $142,103
2025: $103,055
Grants/Partnerships
2024: $23,749
2025: $2,548
General Fund
2024: $67,041
2025: $67,000
Miscellaneous
2024: $8,250
2025: $2,065
Total
2024: $3,311,508
2025: $2,854,057
14% decrease
Operating Expense
Personnel
2024: $2,341,918
20025: $2,539,904
Operating
2024: $1,096,000
2025: $1,501,134
Total
2024: $3,437,918
2025: $4,041,038
18% increase
Countywide Indirects
2024: $284,773
2025: $298,972
5% increase
Projects
2024: $102,194
2025: $37,174
County Weed District and Enterprise
Revenue
Property Taxes
2024: $1,025,653
2025: $1,012,297
Service Charges
2024: $89,360
2025: $139,385
General Fund
2024: $52,575
2025: $108,000
Miscellaneous
2024: -
2025: -
Total:
2024: $1,167,588
2025: $1,259,682
8% increase
Significant Donation/Other Revenue
Sale of Mulberry Building:
2024: 516,386
2025: -
Expense
Personnel
2024: $288,023
2025: $311,571
Operating
2024: $252,985
2025: $175,153
Total:
2024: $161,041
2025: $172,503
10% decrease
Countywide Indirects
2024: $15,041
2025: -
100% decrease
Chimney Hollow Open Space Adaptive Management Plan moves forward
After nearly a year-long public process, the adaptive management plan for Chimney Hollow Open Space is complete, and this plan will guide the initial capital development and ongoing management of this open space. Public access amenities will include parking and trailhead areas, a boat ramp, 10-12 miles of naturalsurface trail, and accessible day-use facilities. Construction starts in 2025 and continues through an anticipated grand opening date in 2027. Ongoing ecological improvement activities will consist of vegetation management, restoration, and ongoing monitoring. Together, these ecological practices and the addition of nature-based public access are intended to provide a quality outdoor experience for generations of visitors. The public process included input from community stakeholders, citizen advisory board members, and the general public. The resulting plan supports DNR’s objectives to maintain high natural resource values while providing appropriate public access. To read the finalized plan, please visit https://larimer.gov/naturalresources/plans-reports-advisory-boards.
On-time, under-budget capital projects improve visitor experience and much more
In 2024, the Department made large strides in creating safer experiences, visitor amenities, and financial sustainability through the completion of seven capital projects. These projects included building a new maintenance shop and installing a wastewater treatment system at Hermit Park Open Space; adding an Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) inspection building, an ANS decontamination station, and a flush toilet at Horsetooth Reservoir; installing shoreline protections for the Horsetooth Area Information Center; and upgrading four RV dump stations system-wide. These projects were all completed on time and under budget with high quality outcomes ensuring greater efficiencies and improvements for visitors.
Rate Your Day 2024: Results are in
The Department of Natural Resources is pleased to report that respondents to our 2024 Rate Your Day visitor satisfaction survey gave an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars (a “satisfied” rating). Key findings revealed: • 52% of total respondents gave a 5-star rating. • 79% of total respondents gave a “satisfied” or “very satisfied” rating (4 or 5-stars). • 87% of total respondents reported feeling safe and welcome. • 78% of total respondents provided comments about their visit. A total of 1,112 respondents participated in the survey facilitated through a QR code on posters, flyers, social media, and signage at trailheads, campgrounds, visitor centers and email. Launched in 2023, “Rate Your Day” is conducted to get a self-reported measure of visitor satisfaction and identify areas for continuous improvement. A third cycle of “Rate Your Day” will occur in 2025.
Text-2-Park pay system launches
Larimer County launched its new Text-2-Park parking payment system in late October and is progressively rolling out signage to all paid parking areas. This program offers visitors another option to purchase day passes for their vehicles via a unique QR or text code. Text2-Park purchases of passes will link to the visitor’s vehicle license plate, enabling staff to verify them in real-time using an enforcement application. The program complements Larimer County’s existing payment options, helping to decrease wait times at pay stations and fulfilling a crucial payment collection need when pay stations are down or gatehouses are closed. The initial implementation of the program cost Larimer County approximately $2,000 and has so far brought in over $15,000 in revenue.
A more sustainable RV dump station
This quarter, LCDNR staff were able to complete a programmatic shift in the way we provide RV dump services to the public. In the past, RV dump stations were free of charge and were being used by the general public, not just visitors to county open spaces and parks. We were able to partner with a company to deploy their latest technology to both automate and charge a fee for dump station use. Consequently, the new solar powered RV dump system and fee will help the Department ensure long-term financial sustainability with maintenance and replacement costs to continue to provide this service. In the first few weeks following installation, these units are working successfully and cost recovery has been right on target.
Hello to same-day camping reservations
To gain further efficiencies and aid the public in securing campsites year-round, Larimer County Natural Resources moved to a same-day camping reservation window. Previously, same-day reservations were only available during the off season, or winter months, when staffing reductions made paying for walk-in camping difficult. Campers wanting to camp during the peak season could make reservations up to one day in advance, but had to either visit one of the county buildings during open hours or fill out a temporary card and pay an invoice sent at a later time for day-of campsite availability. Campers can now use a QR code located at each individual campsite, or follow a link directly to the reservation page to reserve their campsite. This means more time to relax and enjoy all that Larimer County’s campgrounds have to offer.
A successful grant year brings in $2.7 million in critical funds
In 2024, the Department of Natural Resources secured six grants totaling $2.7 million, supporting land acquisition, capital construction, native wildlife habitat enhancement, and trail maintenance projects across the department. Grant funders include Great Outdoors Colorado, the Bureau of Reclamation, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and the Colorado Department of Agriculture. The grants provided critical funds to support the acquisition of Canyon Edge Open Space, parking area improvements at Horsetooth and Carter Lake reservoirs, the hiring of temporary trail management staff to address trail maintenance needs following severe rain events of 2023 and locating and monitoring List A and List B invasive weeds throughout the county.
Conservation easements play winning role in stewardship excellence
Conservation easements (CEs) are an invaluable tool in Larimer County Natural Resources efforts to conserve land and protect ecological, scenic, agricultural, and recreational values in Larimer County. By partnering with private landowners and agency partners to restrict development and promote these values, Larimer County has conserved over 21,000 acres in CEs that provide buffers to other protected lands. Since CEs protect land that is typically in private ownership, these ecological and community values can be protected at a relatively low ongoing cost to DNR when compared to land that the county owns in fee-title. Through a certification from the State of Colorado, DNR annually monitors and ensures that the conservation values on each of the over 50 easements we hold are maintained. In 2024, all CEs were monitored, and no new issues or violations were identified. Fortunately, this is a typical outcome from the monitoring season which is a testament to DNR’s partnership with dedicated landowners and a commitment to excellent stewardship.
Financial Summary
Larimer County Department of Natural Resources has five primary revenue sources including Colorado Lottery proceeds, the Help Preserve Open Space Sales Tax, user fees on open spaces, user fees on reservoir parks, and the weed district property tax. Below is the preliminary financial comparison* (2023 vs 2024), including revenue summaries and operating expenses.
Open Spaces
Revenue
Help Preserve Open Space Tax
2023:
$11,650,660
2024:
$10,653,033
User Fees Revenue
2023:
$1,597,697
2024:
$1,498,332
Service Charges Revenue
2023:
$166,938
2024:
$170,221
Miscellaneous Revenue
2023: $53,050
2024: $12,440
Grants/Partnerships
2023: $331,680
2024: $1,804,786
Interest Revenue
2023: $1,093,848
2024: $1,398,010
Total:
2023: $14,893,873
2024: $15,536,823
4% increase
Expense
Personnel Expenses
2023: $2,302,465
2024: 2,060,774
Operating Expenses
2023: $4,036,972
2024: $3,378,332
Total
2023: $6,339,437
2024: $5,439,107
-14% decrease
Countywide Indirects
2023: $7,935
2024: $227,427
Acquisitions/Projects
2023: $359,793
2024: $1,069,088
Land Stewardship Building
2023: $418,000
Conservation Trust - Lottery
Revenue Conservation Trust/Lottery
2023: $1,117,989
2024: $1,045,412
-6% change
Reservoir Parks
Revenue
User Fees Revenue
2023: $4,715,656
2024: $4,549,643
Service Charges Revenue
2023: $282,491
2024: $421,784
Grants/Partnerships
2023: $334,287
2024: $373,749
General Fund
2023: $198,146
2024: $134,081
Miscellaneous Revenue
2023: $64,671
2024: -
Total:
2023: $5,595,250
2024: $5,479,257
-2% decrease
Expense Personnel Expenses
2023: $5,350,889
2024: $5,614,021
Operating Expenses
2023: $146,644
2024: $35,885
Total
2023: $5,497,533
2024: $5,649,906
3% decrease
Countywide Indirects
2023: $247,468
2024: $621,496
151% increase
Projects
2023: $106,491
2024: $606,755
Other
2023: $154,000
County Weed District & Enterprise
Revenue Property Taxes
2023: $895,837
2024: $1,087,403
Service Charges Revenue
2023: $414,298
2024: $470,655
General Fund
2023: $111,795
2024: $105,149
Miscellaneous Revenue
2023: $163,939
2024: $225,585
Total
2023: $1,585,869
2024: $1,888,792
19% increase
Significant Donation/Other Revenue
2024: Sale of Mulberry Building - $516,474
Expense Personnel Expenses
2023: $678,041
2024: $697,790
Operating Expenses
2023: $813,804
2024: $797,749
Total
2023: $1,491,845
2024: $1,495,539
-0%
Countywide Indirects
2023: $34,386
2024: $39,422 15%
Capital Expenses Land Stewardship Building
2023: $1,631,980
Annual Reports
Master Plans
Stewardship and Management Plans
- Big Thompson Parks (2015)
- Chimney Hollow Open Space
- Devil's Backbone Open Space
- Eagle's Nest Open Space
- Hermit Park Open Space
- Horsetooth Mountain Open Space
- Horsetooth Mountain Open Space - Adaptive Plan (2022)
- Little Thompson Farm Stewardship Plan
- Long View Farm Open Space
- Ramsay-Shockey Open Space
- Red Mountain Open Space
- Red-tail Ridge Open Space
- River Bluffs Management Plan
Other Plans, Reports, Studies
Our Lands Our Future: Recreation and Conservation Choices for Northern Colorado
Agricultural Lands
- Agricultural Lands Strategy (2021)
Devil's Backbone Visitor Use Study
- Executive Summary (2020)
Understanding Our Visitors: 2017-18 Larimer County Visitor Use Study
- Executive Summary (2019)
