The value of creating Open Space has
both intrinsic and economic impacts.
The
character of the Upper Arkansas River Valley in Lake County is largely shaped
by its uncluttered landscapes and unobstructed views of the surrounding
mountain ranges, including Colorado’s two highest peaks, Mount Elbert and Mount
Massive.
When
the historic ranches that now make up the core of the Lake County Open Space
first came up for sale on the open market, the local concern was that they
would be divided up into a scattering of low-density residential units,
irretrievably altering the scenic landscapes that make the Valley unique and
impacting wildlife winter range and seasonal movement. A LCOSI sponsored
community survey in 1998 indicated that 91% of the respondents supported
acquisition of the ranches for their preservation as parks and open space.
Securing
open space is also supported by analysis of economic consequences of low-density
residential development in rural areas, that revealed that outright purchase of
open space can be less costly to taxpayers than allowing low-density
development. A University of Colorado, Department of Geography review of 47
studies of the costs of development showed that, “on average, low density
residential property lost an average of 17 cents for each dollar of tax revenue
collected, while open space provided an average surplus of 69 cents”, because
low density, sprawling development is so costly to serve. (Haggerty, 2000)
The
Open Space Initiative also recognized the importance of securing and storing an
adequate water supply to the health and vitality of the community and worked
with the City of Aurora to secure a portion of the water from the sale of the
Hayden Ranch for Lake County’s use.
LCOSI
planned and secured approximately $1.35 million in grant funding and in-kind
match for construction of the Hayden Meadows Reservoir and Recreation Area. The
Reservoir not only provides 50-acre feet of water storage capacity to help meet
future needs but provides the focal point of the 63-acre Hayden Meadows
Recreation Area, which LCOSI donated to Lake County in the year 2001.
In
combination with opening public fishing access to almost 10 miles of the
Arkansas River that was previously in private ownership, the Hayden Meadows
Recreation Area has added to the County’s recreation portfolio and tourism
draw.
LCOSI
and its partners have also precipitated and participated in projects such as
the Sustainable Trail Design Guidelines for the High Lonesome Trail, the
remediation of contaminated fluvial tailings and irrigated meadows in the
floodplain of the Arkansas River, the use of rotational grazing to enhance
wildlife winter range and maintain an agricultural presence, and the Union Creek
Pilot Project to explore and monitor new bio-engineering techniques for stream
bank protection. All of these projects share the common goal of supporting the
sustainability of Lake County’s land and water resources and building the
communities portfolio of amenities that help diversify its economy and provide
a competitive edge.
