Jump to content

Geocaching and the Boulder Open Space


Guest robanna

Recommended Posts

Guest robanna

e already intense use this small system supports. We have approximately 3.5 million visitors per year, which is more than visit Rocky Mountain National Park, and we have only one-eighth the acreage. We appreciation our local geocachers? respect and concern for the environment, as expressed through dialog on the web site, and would like to add our own to the conversation.

 

Our primary concern is the increased off trail use that this activity generates. Assuming the goal of this sport is to use a GPS unit on a scavenger hunt, it seems unlikely that staying on trail would be the normal or desired mode of travel for geocachers. The park has 140 miles of official trails, and we estimate over 200 miles of social trails. This high volume of social trails indicates that visitors are penetrating core areas specifically intended to remain as undisrupted habitat.

 

The topography, slope, soil types and vegetation on Open Space and Mountain Parks properties cannot sustain off-trail use. Off trail activities are causing extensive soil erosion. Trampled vegetation at trail edges tends to be replaced by weeds rather than native plants. We are concerned about damage to native plants such as Ute ladies?-tresses orchids, a federally listed species, as well as other sensitive plant species and communities. Fragmentation of wildlife habitat for animals, like the endangered Preble?s meadow jumping mice, gray fox and goshawk is likely. Disruptive intrusions into the breeding territory of the forest and grassland nesting birds, including peregrine falcons and golden eagles, is also a potential problem.

 

Preserving core areas of unfragmented habitats is a major management goal. Habitat fragmentation affects animals negatively by eliminating vast tracts of uninterrupted space needed to sustain foraging, nesting, breeding and territory needs. Unofficial paths bisecting these habitats cause animals to spend unnecessary time defending their nests or territory from humans. This detracts from time normally spent feeding and caring for their offspring, which can result in the death of their young.

 

Off trail travel results in a corridor of impact. A single person quietly hiking has much less impact than a pair or group, and significantly less impact than when a dog is present. The weaving nature of a dog?s normal travel dramatically broadens the corridor of impact, made worse if the dog is actively scouting for animals, following scent trails, digging and/or barking.

 

Proposing an alternative use for this navigation/orienteering technique that directs the general public to local special natural history points, such as rare plant species or communities, elicits greater concerns. In an effort to balance the research and protection needs of these communities we use staff and volunteers to monitor them, but within a controlled framework. Explorations by larger numbers of people to these areas would probably prove very detrimental to their health.

 

Management policies aim at protection of the lands while providing for appropriate recreational activities. Consequently, our policy includes discouraging off trail use and any activities that involve taking anything from the park or leaving property in the park. Our wildlife closures specifically prohibit human incursions into protected areas. Activities that damage property or can be perceived of as littering or construction of structures are not allowed.

 

Our preference would be to see the geocaching activities happening on lands that are less vulnerable than the Open Space and Mountain Parks properties. The basic premises of the "Leave No Trace Policy" are critical to the protection of these lands: stay on trails, leave it as you found it, carry out your trash, manage your dog, pick up after your pet, and share the trail with other users. (For more specifics on "Leave No Trace", visit the web site www.ci.boulder.co.us/openspace/lnt/lntonos.htm.) Our regulations can be found at www.ci.boulder.co.us/openspace/rules.htm.

 

Thank you for taking the time to read about our concerns. Feel free to visit our web site at www.ci.boulder.co.us/openspace or contact us at sutherlandd@ci.boulder.co.us or by phone at (303) 441-3440.

Link to comment

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...