Plans, Reports and Advisory Boards

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Chimney Hollow Open Space Management planning process begins

This spring Larimer County Department of Natural Resources (LCDNR) kicked off its public engagement phase to inform management planning for the future Chimney Hollow Open Space. Using feedback from a diverse Technical Advisory Committee, citizen advisory boards, and over 400 surveys collected through the project’s web platform, staff will begin to develop a draft plan this summer. The plan will conceptualize appropriate public access infrastructure that provides quality nature-based experiences, protects and enhances natural and cultural resources, and will be financially sustainable. Currently, concepts include parking to access the reservoir, a 10-12 mile trail system, and day use amenities. After the draft plan is completed, another round of public review and feedback will take place early fall before finalizing the plan by the end of this year.

Public lands for all: Empowering nature access

LCDNR's Public Engagement team recently collaborated with two non-profit organizations focused on connecting underserved communities with nature. The ISTAR Colorado State University’s Indigenous Science Technology Arts and Resilience (ISTAR) Program offers a two-week summer camp for local Indigenous youth, fostering community, identity and connection with the land. We provided our newly acquired Blue Mountain property for one of their field trips, followed by lunch at Carter Lake. Prior to the field trip we engaged in discussions with Native CSU students, who led the program, about the challenges they face in accessing public lands. The American Adventure Sports Club (AASC) serves underrepresented youth and adults from low-income households, offering outdoor experiences to explore the beauty of nature. At the end of June, we hosted them at Sky View Campground at Carter Lake for a camping and kayaking experience, which was a first for many participants. Everyone had a fantastic time and expressed a desire to return. We look forward to expanding our partnership and facilitating more outdoor adventures with AASC.

Grant projects help native vegetation and reduce carbon emissions

Earlier this year, the Department was awarded a $7,500 grant from Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Habitat Partnership Program to construct an additional water source at Red Mountain Open Space. The project constructed a new water tank in July that provides water for cattle and wildlife, such as elk, mule deer and pronghorn antelope. This will improve overall grazing distribution within three pastures and expand our management of native vegetation.

Partnership to conserve future natural area

Larimer County Department of Natural Resources (LCDNR) recently partnered with the city of Fort Collins in acquiring 428 acres of land north of Fort Collins in Larimer County’s Buckeye Conservation Priority Area. Located four miles north of Fort Collins along County Road 60, the Rocky Ridge property is characterized by undulating uplands, numerous ravines and rocky cliffs. The property boasts spectacular views of the foothills, Never Summer Range and the city skyline. The city intends to manage the natural area to enhance native plant and animal communities and provide nature-based outdoor access. LCDNR provided partnership funding and will hold the conservation easement.

Pardon our dust: South Bay upgrades

During the second quarter of 2024, Larimer County Department of Natural Resources kicked off a long-awaited visitor amenity improvement at Horsetooth Reservoir’s South Bay parking area. A new flush toilet will replace a former vault toilet, and immediately adjacent will be an Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) decontamination station. Construction crews had to bring in specialized equipment to cut through the bedrock to allow for necessary utility connections, while limiting our construction footprint. The new restroom is set for delivery in mid-August and we anticipate both the restroom and the ANS decontamination station to be up and running by late summer.

Eradicating Leafy spurge

LCDNR’s Land Stewardship program and the Colorado Department of Agriculture Insectary are working with landowners to release biocontrol agents on leafy spurge in the foothills west of Fort Collins. The flea beetle insects will attack leafy spurge, a noxious weed listed on the Colorado Noxious Weed List to reduce the large infestation over the next 3-5 years. Research has been done to ensure the insects will not harm native plants. Biocontrol releases are preferred in areas with large infestations that are difficult to access with other management techniques.

LCDNR treats forests for resilience and health

LCDNR is pleased to report that as of summer 2024, we have successfully treated three-quarters of our open space forests to meet adaptive management needs. About 20 percent (or 5,500 acres) of Larimer County’s open spaces are forested, with the dominant tree species being native ponderosa pine and Douglas fir. Guided by
forest management plans from Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS), our treatments aim to enhance wildlife habitat, restore historic tree densities, open meadows,
and ultimately ensure carbon storage and broader watershed protection. Open space forests have been treated following CSFS recommended prescriptions. The total treatment cost of $3.4M has come largely through competitive grants and partnerships. Current forest management projects are also underway in 2024 at Hermit Park Open Space and the county’s most recent open space, currently called the Blue Mountain property, south of the Big Thompson Canyon.

Ranger Excellence School: Rising through the years

In May, we hosted the 14th annual Ranger Excellence School (RES) in Estes Park. With about 90 students attending, the training has grown tremendously to
serve rangers and outdoor field staff from across the state and nation. Since the first RES in 2011, participation has grown from a couple dozen local rangers to include natural resource entities within Colorado and from across the United States and an average of 80-100 student registrations. Many more classes have been added to give attendees the freedom to customize the training they desire and need, whether ranger basics or specialized classes, such as swift water rescue and Spanish for Rangers. RES is now held at the Holiday Inn in Estes Park to accommodate the expanded number of classes and participants and to allow proximity to Hermit Park Open Space for hands-on field classes and “scenario day” in a natural setting.

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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 are the April 1 through June 30 revenue summaries and operating expenses as compared to the same period the previous year.

Open Space Revenue and Expense: 2023

Revenue
Help Preserve Open Space Tax: $3,373,249
User Fees Revenue: $825,157
Service Charge Revenue: $89,872
Miscellaneous Revenue: $40,700
Interest Revenue: $43,718
Total: $4,372,696

Expense
Personnel Expenses: $884,184
Operating Expenses: $793,428

Total: $1,677,612

Countywide Indirects 2023: $182,635
Acquisitions/Projects 2023: $279,212

Open Space Revenue and Expense: 2024

Help Preserve Open Space Tax: $3,470,638
User Fees Revenue: $801,796
Service Charges Revenue: $100,138
Miscellaneous Revenue: $3,500
Interest Revenue: $551,044
Total: $4,927,115

2023-2024 year-to-year revenue change: 13%

Open Space Expense: 2024
Personnel Expenses: $877,538
Operating Expenses: $778,301

Total: $1,655,839

2023-2024 Year-to-year change: -1%


Countywide Indirects 2024: $108,056
2023-2024 year-to-year change: -41%

Acquisitions/Projects: 2024: $214,624

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Conservation Trust - Lottery

Revenue 2023: $470,235
Revenue 2024: $531,255

Year-to-year change: 13%

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Reservoir Parks Revenue and Expense: 2023

Revenue
User Fees Revenue: $3,072,903
Service Charges Revenue: $121,972
Grants/Partnerships: - 
General Fund: $99,073
Miscellaneous Revenue: $3,500
Total: $3,297,448

2023 Expense
Personnel Expenses: $2,311,058
Operational Expense: $788,546
Total: $3,099,605
Countywide Indirects: $365,387
Projects: $18,728

Reservoir Parks Revenue and Expense: 2024

User Fees Revenue: $3,070,365
Service Charges Revenue: $142,103
Grants/Partnerships: $23,749
General Fund: $67,041
Miscellaneous Revenue: $8,250
Total: $3,311,508

2024 Expense
Personnel Expenses: $2,339,139
Operating Expenses: $902,129
Total: $3,241,268
2023-2024 year-to-year change: 5%
Countywide Indirects 2023: $365,387
Countywide Indirects 2024: $284,773
Year-to-year change: -22%

Projects 2023: $18,728
Projects 2024: $298,844

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County Weed District & Enterprise Revenue and Expense: 2023

Revenue
Property taxes: $844,164
Service charge revenue: $88,329
General fund: $55,898
Miscellaneous revenue: $6,788
Total: $995,178
Significant Donation/Other Revenue - 

2023 Expense
Personnel Expense: $299,895
Operating Expense: $392,989

Total: $692,883

Countywide Indirects: $15,882

County Weed District & Enterprise Revenue and Expense: 2024

Revenue
Property taxes: $1,025,653
Service charge revenue: $89,360
General fund: $52,575
Total: $1,167,588

Significant Donation/Other Revenue: 
Sale of Mulberry building: $516,386

2024 Expense
Personnel expense: $288,023
Operating expense: $252,985
Total: $541,008

Year-to-year change: -22%

2024 Countywide Indirects: $15,041

Year-to-year change: -5%

 

 


Annual Reports

 
 
 

Master Plans

Stewardship and Management Plans

Other Plans, Reports, Studies

Our Lands Our Future: Recreation and Conservation Choices for Northern Colorado

Agricultural Lands 

Devil's Backbone Visitor Use Study

Understanding Our Visitors: 2017-18 Larimer County Visitor Use Study