2012-Mike O'Brien Memorial Project: Clear Creek Trail Construction

Start Date-End Date: 06/16/2012-06/16/2012 Land Manager Office: Clear Creek County Open Space Commission Land Manager Contact: Martha Tableman Funding Partner: Programmatic Partner: Summary: Expand access for all types of recreationalists in Clear Creek County by constructing a new, natural trail along the creek. Description: STEWARDSHIP SITE The Oxbow Parcel is a site of breathtaking beauty, scenic wildlife, rich cultural activities, and highly sought after recreation amenities, like the Cat Slab climbing wall. Located near Tunnel 5 on US highway 6, the site is an essential piece of Clear Creek County's master plan for the Greenway Trail that will connect with Jefferson County's Greenway and extend from Golden to Loveland Pass, providing people with hiking and biking access from urban areas all the way to the mountains. As the name suggests, the area's defining feature is a large oxbow, a large bend in Clear Creek. VOLUNTEER PROJECT - WHAT & WHY Join this important effort to expand access for all types of recreationalists in Clear Creek County. We'll be working on open space property to construct a new, natural trail that follows the creek around a large oxbow. This portion of trail will eventually connect to trails in Jefferson County Open Space. Volunteer work will involve moving rocks, trees, stumps, and vegetation, and the use of an existing old railroad bed to create an easily passable trail. Volunteers will learn about natural trail construction techniques and will help open public access to the area for hikers, bikers, fishermen, and historians. PARTNERS Clear Creek County Open Space OTHER FUN STUFF Meals: light breakfast; lunch Latitude/Longitude: 39.63740158081055, -105.34020233154297 Additional Information: Camping Available: No Physical Difficulty: Moderate High Altitude Project: No Desired Number of Volunteers: 30 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 38 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 0 Total Volunteer Days: 38 Total Unique Volunteers: 38 Total Volunteer Hours: 417.5 Staff Hours: 61 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: Successes and Challenges: Lessons Learned: Special Notes: Stewardship Education: Discussed trail construction and noxious weed control. Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Excellent project experience for leaders and volunteers. See project evaluation in project folder. Description of Accidents/Incidents: None Description of Work Completed: About 40 volunteers Volunteers built approximately 2,880 ft of new trail over existing old railroad grade and cleared vegetation to create a 4 ft of corridor for hikers and cyclists. They also built 3 multi-purpose series of steps that will manage erosion as well as give anglers better access for fishing the river. A new retaining wall will also help control trail and creek bank erosion. The benches that the volunteers built in natural clearings will give trail users beautiful views of the river, canyon, wildlife and flowers, and the removal of many noxious weeds (mullein, musk thistle, knapweed) along the trail will keep the area pristine. The trail, designed by Clear Creek County Open Space in partnership with Wenk Associates, will eventually extend from Denver up to Loveland Pass. The trail will eventually be part of a larger regional trail being developed by Clear Creek County Open Space. Someday users will be able to go from Denver along Clear Creek and up to Loveland Pass. GOCO award for the larger regional trail was awarded to Clear Creek County Open Space the Tuesday after project day. Agency was excited to have this first segment of trail work to report simultaneously with receiving the GOCO award. Food was donated by Starbucks, Einsteins, and Royal Crest Dairy. Clear Creek County donated lunch with sandwiches from Two Brothers Deli out of Idaho Springs. Also funding from Mike O'Brien Memorial Fund.