{"id":1247,"date":"2017-08-30T07:55:09","date_gmt":"2017-08-30T13:55:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/?p=1247"},"modified":"2017-08-30T15:19:26","modified_gmt":"2017-08-30T21:19:26","slug":"first-year-and-beyond","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/field-notes\/first-year-and-beyond\/","title":{"rendered":"A First Year and Beyond"},"content":{"rendered":"

Over the past year as the new director for Boulder County Parks and Open Space (BCPOS), it has been my great pleasure to learn more and more about the many different facets of our operations. During my brief tenure I have come to appreciate how BCPOS has grown into a robust organization with capabilities and accomplishments that we should all be proud of. For example, just yesterday (as of the writing of this article) I joined our Boulder County staff, complimented by dozens of staff from neighboring jurisdictions, conducting a successful prescribed burn at the Ron Stewart Preserve at Rabbit Mountain to restore ecological function and reduce the likelihood of uncontrolled fires that might threaten neighboring homes and farmlands. While many open space programs can acquire parcels of land in order to protect resources, few can match our investments and capacity to manage these lands and resources for biodiversity, ecological function, agricultural productivity, and cultural heritage.<\/p>\n

Commitment<\/h2>\n

This investment and capacity is made possible by the dedication and passion of our staff who care deeply about the mission of BCPOS; the generosity of our volunteers and partners who help multiply our capacity for accomplishment by investing their time and resources; and the sustained commitment of the community through repeated approval of sales-tax initiatives that have provided the means to acquire and manage lands across the county. The analogy of a three-legged stool is an apt one here. Without one of these sources of support, BCPOS simply could not be the effective organization it is today.<\/p>\n

Meeting Challenges<\/h2>\n

This past year has been a challenging one in several respects. Professionally, our department grappled with a couple of difficult and controversial issues like the transition away from genetically-engineered crops on public open space lands and the introduction of hunting as a management tool on Rabbit Mountain to disperse a rapidly increasing elk herd. Despite the at-times acrimonious public debate, our staff provided the best in public service by continuing to listen attentively and carefully to the input from all stakeholders in order to craft and hone our recommendations into workable policies and plans to address these resource issues.<\/p>\n

Facing Loss<\/h2>\n

Personally, our department suffered a tremendous loss with the tragic death of a long-time friend and colleague, Faulkner Merdes, an employee in our noxious weed management program. In the days and months that followed, our staff not only supported one another, but also Faulkner\u2019s family. The compassion that we showed each other and the Merdes family underscored the fact that BCPOS is not just an organization of mission-oriented professionals, but also a family. Our loss has also helped the department refocus its attention on safety throughout the organization. We are making a concerted effort to examine how we can prevent accidents in the future, as well as learn from past accidents, small and large.<\/p>\n

Looking Ahead<\/h2>\n

In the coming years, we will continue to tackle difficult and sometimes controversial challenges, like how we can mitigate and adapt to climate change across the breadth of our wild and managed landscapes, what sustainable agriculture can and should look like across the diversity of agricultural lands and tenant producers we partner with, and how we manage the increased recreational demands on our trails and landscapes to provide access while protecting sensitive resources. I\u2019m very happy to be a part of BCPOS and look forward to working with our staff, volunteers, partners, and community to continue our progress and tackle the challenges ahead. So much has been accomplished in the past 40 years. Yet so much remains to be accomplished. It is truly a privilege to be a part of this community\u2019s commitment to protecting and stewarding the agricultural, cultural, and natural resources of Boulder County.<\/p>\n

\"Eric<\/a>
Eric Lane and Al Hardy, Recreation and Facilities Division Manager who also works at Parks & Open Space, talk with an equestrian at the dedication of the new Overland Loop Trail at Heil Valley Ranch Open Space<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Over the past year as the new director for Boulder County Parks and Open Space (BCPOS), it has been my great pleasure to learn more and more about the many different facets of our operations. 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The following is a summary of a 2014 study conducted by Mark Easter, Amy Swan, and Stephen Williams with the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory at Colorado State University in Fort Collins,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Research"","block_context":{"text":"Research","link":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/category\/research\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Graph showing annual energy-related GHG emissions from Boulder County Parks and Open Space","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/ghg.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/ghg.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/ghg.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/ghg.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1655,"url":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/research\/habitat-fragmentation\/","url_meta":{"origin":1247,"position":1},"title":"Research: Habitat Fragmentation","author":"Staff","date":"12\/03\/2019","format":false,"excerpt":"The Boulder County Parks & Open Space Department offers grants for research on county open space lands each year. All proposals are reviewed by a team of resource specialists, and awarded research projects are monitored during their activities on open space. The following is a summary of a 2018 study\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Research"","block_context":{"text":"Research","link":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/category\/research\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Fragmentation map","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/fragmentation-map.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/fragmentation-map.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/fragmentation-map.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/fragmentation-map.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/fragmentation-map.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/fragmentation-map.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1506,"url":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/land-management\/acquiring-the-future\/","url_meta":{"origin":1247,"position":2},"title":"Acquiring the Future","author":"Staff","date":"03\/01\/2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Boulder County protects approximately 104,339 acres of land composed of open space properties, conservation easements on both private and public lands, and leases. With so much property you may wonder how Boulder County was able to acquire the land over time. Let\u2019s start at the beginning. Boulder County began acquiring\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Land Management"","block_context":{"text":"Land Management","link":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/category\/land-management\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Heil Valley Ranch","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/heil-valley-ranch.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/heil-valley-ranch.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/heil-valley-ranch.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/heil-valley-ranch.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/heil-valley-ranch.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/heil-valley-ranch.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3009,"url":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/news\/2024-conservation-awards\/","url_meta":{"origin":1247,"position":3},"title":"2024 Conservation Awards","author":"Summer Alameel","date":"12\/01\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"On Sept. 18, Boulder County Parks & Open Space (BCPOS) held the annual Conservation Awards ceremony to celebrate the 2024 winners for their outstanding contributions made to the conservation, preservation, and protection of land-based environmental resources as well as their contributions toward connecting our communities to open space. Here are\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Group photo of award winners holding their plaques","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ca-award-winners.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ca-award-winners.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ca-award-winners.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ca-award-winners.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ca-award-winners.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1890,"url":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/research\/beaver-restoration\/","url_meta":{"origin":1247,"position":4},"title":"Research: Beaver Restoration","author":"Staff","date":"12\/09\/2020","format":false,"excerpt":"The Boulder County Parks & Open Space Department offers grants for research on county open space lands each year. All proposals are reviewed by a team of resource specialists, and awarded research projects are monitored during their activities on open space. The following is a summary of a 2019 study\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Research"","block_context":{"text":"Research","link":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/category\/research\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Boulder County streams map","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/map.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/map.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/map.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/map.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/map.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":982,"url":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/agriculture\/agricultural-heritage-close-home\/","url_meta":{"origin":1247,"position":5},"title":"Agricultural Heritage is Close to Home","author":"Staff","date":"08\/26\/2016","format":false,"excerpt":"As we transition into fall after months of abundant sun and good growing conditions, it\u2019s time to think about food and a plentiful harvest. Boulder County Parks and Open Space (BCPOS) has over 25,000 acres of land dedicated for agriculture purposes, and the many farms and ranches on these lands\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Agriculture"","block_context":{"text":"Agriculture","link":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/category\/agriculture\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Sunrise over a cabbage field","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Sunrise-over-cabbage-2012.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Sunrise-over-cabbage-2012.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Sunrise-over-cabbage-2012.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Sunrise-over-cabbage-2012.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Sunrise-over-cabbage-2012.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Sunrise-over-cabbage-2012.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1247","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1247"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1247\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1250,"href":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1247\/revisions\/1250"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1248"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1247"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1247"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bouldercountyopenspace.org\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1247"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}