CONSERVATION
Forest Management
We partnered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and local experts in 2019 to begin an extensive, multi-year program to revitalize over 300 acres of forest land on the property.
Bill W. evaluating a Ponderosa Pine on site.
The first step in the process was a thorough inspection of the land during which trees were inventoried and evaluated for health. We chose an expert who has over 40 years of experience in forest management, Bill Williams, to help us with this vital first stage.
After a thorough on site evaluation of the forest, Bill drafted an extensive report detailing the health and nature of the forest - the report included diagnosing areas of overgrowth, unhealthy or damaged trees, fire danger locations, and any other problematic sites.
In late 2021, our Forest Management and Fire Mitigation Plan was accepted by the NRCS and integrated into a USDA Conservation Plan. The plan called for mitigating the thoroughly overgrown Gambel Oak, removing dead and damaged trees, and promoting the health of thriving trees by pruning overgrown areas. The first phase of that plan was identified, and 30 acres were selected for treatment. This phase was awarded a prestigious NRCS EQIP grant. During 2022, a contractor was selected who carried out the prescribed treatments which have drastically improved the health of the forest within those 30 acres, and has provided an essential shaded fuel break to prevent catastrophic wildfires from starting at or spreading from Pine Canyon Ranch.
The contractor, Deer Creek Forestry, finished their excellent work on the first 30 acres right around Christmas 2022. Currently, we are coordinating with the NRCS, the Colorado State Forest Service, and Douglas County as we determine the next steps to continue this vital work.
Damaged and dying trees represent significant fire danger. They are removed while healthy, vibrant trees are left alone to thrive.
Streambank restoration
Part of East Plum Creek flows through the westernmost section of Pine Canyon Ranch. The creek provides life giving water to the entire region as it flows north towards its endpoint in Chatfield Reservoir. We believe that keeping East Plum Creek as healthy as possible on our property is a vital piece of our stewardship duties. Thankfully, we’re not alone in maintaining the Creek. While we have gotten great help from the USDA, NRCS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other groups.
One of the larger beaver dams on site.
Multiple generations of American Beavers have made Pine Creek Ranch their home, and have been helping us keep East Plum Creek healthy. While some property owners think of beavers are pests, we recognize that our water-dwelling neighbors are vital to keeping the Ranch vibrant.
Our section of the Creek has many dams and lodges which are keeping the Creek flows at steady rates, reducing erosion, and vitalizing the surrounding riparian area. Many of these dams and lodges were washed out in the summer of 2021. However, the beavers returned in 2022 and have re-built their entire lodge and dam system .
Some of the beavers’ handiwork as they build a new dam.
The beavers are busy throughout the year culling nearby Willows, Cottonwoods, and Elm trees. We are constantly finding new evidence of their lumberjacking and constructing. As we clean up overgrown or unhealthy foliage near the Creek, we make sure that the beavers can easily access the branches and limbs we have culled for their building material.
We know how important these beavers are to the long-term health of the Ranch, so we are working with the NRCS and other government agencies to ensure that they continue to thrive at Pine Canyon Ranch.
The Cottonwood, Willow, Elm, and other trees offer great vantage points for a wide variety of bird species, including a large Great Horned Owl who hunts along the banks of East Plum Creek on the Ranch.
Other species call the ranch home, as well. We are lucky enough to encounter Mule Deer often as they traverse across the riparian section of the Ranch. The part of the Ranch is home to the main wildlife migration corridor which runs through Douglas County.
Unfortunately, some of East Plum Creek running through the property has suffered from stormwater and other runoff from our property’s neighbors. Years of runoff from the community to our West has eroded the drainage areas that lead from our border to the Creek. To address this problem, we have begun coordinating with the NRCS on a full streambank restoration plan. We have worked with engineers and field officers to identify the extent of the damage and to engineer solutions for the entire streambank.
