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The Human Footprint & Open Space

The Human Footprint & Open Space. Ranching in the New West. TODAY “Western Family Ranch”. FUTURE. ?. ?. ?. ?. Fragmentation/ Preservation. Working Landscapes “New Ranch”. Bioregionally Planned. Corporate Ranches. Demand for “open space”.

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The Human Footprint & Open Space

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  1. The Human Footprint & Open Space

  2. Ranching in the New West TODAY “Western FamilyRanch” FUTURE ? ? ? ? Fragmentation/Preservation Working Landscapes “New Ranch” Bioregionally Planned Corporate Ranches

  3. Demand for “open space” “natural areas both in and surrounding localities that provide important community space, habitat for plants and animals, recreational opportunities, farm and ranch land, places of natural beauty and critical environmental areas.”- Smart Growth Network http://www.smartgrowth.org/

  4. Demand for “open space” OUR MISSION...to conserve natural, cultural and agricultural resources and provide public uses that reflect sound resource management and community values. Boulder County Parks and Open Space http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gzdL1m9OhM&feature=relmfu

  5. Multiple stakeholders = Multiple values • The more complex the community, the more complex the management challenge Lagerman Reservoir (Boulder County, CO, pop. 293,000) Mill Creek Pkwy (Moab, UT, pop. 5,100)

  6. What is “Open Space” to you? • Agricultural? • Cultural & Historic Resources? • Wildlife habitat? • Undeveloped Wildland? • Parks & Recreation Areas? • Wilderness? • Vacant lot?

  7. Working landscapes?

  8. The “Chicago Wilderness” controversy To many of our neighbors, prairies seem foreign and unattractive, second cousin to the trash-filled vacant lot. The Midwest's sea of grass — a rich mosaic of prairies, oak woods, and marshes — was virtually eradicated within the span of a single human lifetime. Because there is so little left, it's not easy to know the prairie, and thus not easy to love it. – Debra Shore

  9. Sources of conflict in open space management • Agriculture – Which activities? Who benefits? • Restoration – Of what? For whom? • Recreation – Doing what? By whom? • Wildlife habitat – When do we get too much of a good thing?

  10. What values must be integrated into management (based on project goals)? • Agricultural legacy • Multi-functional landscape • Economic sustainability of tenants • Protection of cultural/historic artifacts • Wildlife habitat (structural attribute) • Movement corridors (functional attribute) • Improved vegetation and wetland health • Natural species (weed control and eradication) • Recreation opportunities • Educational and interpretive opportunities

  11. Do citizens value open space? • Between 2004 and 2006, state and local voters nationwide approved 75% of 217 open space ballot initiatives • Since 1994 – when Great Outdoors Colorado awarded its first grants – through FY 2008, GOCO had committed approximately $650 million for more than 3,063 projects throughout the state

  12. Preserving Open Space - the case of Rural Subdivision • Ecological Impacts of Subidivision • The amount of land affected by sprawl & development = 3% per year • Since 1978, Colorado ranchland has decreased by 90,000 ac/yr • In the last 30 years, 16-23% of the land in the counties adjacent to Yellowstone-Tetons has been platted for or converted to ranchettes (20-40 ac parcels) • Intermountain West is only region US where rural counties are growing

  13. Is Subdivision Good or Bad? • Fragmentation • Population Density • Roads • Fences • Predators • Exotic Species • Wildlife Generalists/Specialists

  14. The New Ranch House?

  15. Changes 1957 to 1994 Landscape Attributes Of Subdivided Ranches. by J.E. Mitchell, R.L. Knight, and R.J. Camp. 2002. Rangelands 24(1):3-9.

  16. Intact Ranch # 1

  17. Intact Ranch # 2

  18. Subdivided Ranch #1

  19. Subdivided Ranch #2

  20. Rural Subdivision Mitchell, Knight & Camp. 2002.Landscape Attributes of Subdivided Ranches

  21. Rural Subdivision - affect on weeds Plant Cover by Management Regime a a a y y z Maestas, Knight, and Gilgert. 2002.Cows, Condos, or Neither?

  22. Rural Subdivision - affect on wildlife Some species Benefit Some species Harmed Black-headed grosebeaks Blue-gray gnatcatchers Orange-crowned warblers Coyotes & foxes • Black-billed magpies • Brown-headed cowbird • European starlings • Dog & cats Photo: www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov Photo: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov Photo: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Photo: www.fws.gov

  23. Working Ranches as Open Space • Jim Winders • “We feel that economic activities… must be subordinate to the needs of a healthy ecosystem” • Ecosystem protection • Recognize public goals • Produce healthy foods Author of the “New Ranch – Can Jim convince others that his ranch is of value as open space?

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