By Chris Barge
Camera Staff Writer

NEDERLAND — They'd have hitched their horses to the microphones if they thought it would help their cause.

About a half-dozen equestrians spoke Monday night in favor of horse access to Caribou Ranch — arguably Boulder County's most pristine open space acquisition in recent years.

The Boulder County Board of Commissioners and the Boulder County Parks and Open Space Advisory Committee held a public hearing at Nederland High School to take input on a future management plan for the 2,180-acre property. The "draft resource evaluation" meticulously inventories the breathtaking swath of montane park land that former Beach Boys producer Jim Guercio recently sold to the city of Boulder and Boulder County.

It discusses in depth the diverse wildlife found there, including 88 bird species, an elk herd, black bears, mountain lions and goshawks. But noticeably absent from the report is much of a discussion on whether public access will return to the Switzerland Trail, a former mining railroad bed that would give equestrians and hikers passage from Nederland to trails north.

Suzanne Webel, president of the Boulder County Horse Association, reminded county officials of their assurances to the equestrian community for access when they began negotiations for the property six years ago. She said that not seeing any mention of the Switzerland Trail in the new, 74-page draft resource evaluation of the property worried her.

"Recently I've been hearing rumors that in spite of those understandings, we may be restricted to one stretch of trail along a pipeline for one mile," she said. "Please tell me that isn't so."

County conservation planner Dave Hallock gave a slide presentation on the resource evaluation. He said a goshawk nest within 200 yards of the Switzerland Trail and the nearby Como Creek, which contains greenback trout, were contributing problems with opening the trail to the public.

Bill Ikler of Nederland spoke on behalf of the Indian Peaks Group of the Sierra Club. Among other things, he recommended banning dogs and allowing horses to some extent, but only on trails already affected by invasive plants.

Several people spoke in favor of a resident land manager.

The commissioners decided last year not to allow mountain biking on the property. Roy Young, a mountain biker who has lived near the property for 25 years, said the slide presentation changed his mind about wanting mountain bike access to the ranch. The ranch simply must be preserved, he said.

"If we can protect that, I will willingly forgo what I would love to do, which is to ride my mountain bike across the ranch every evening," he said.

The public can submit written comments about the Caribou Ranch Open Space Resource Evaluation until June 30 to dhhpa@co.boulder.co.us. The evaluation is available at the Boulder County Parks and Open Space offices, 2045 13th St. in Boulder, libraries and online at www.co.boulder.co.us/openspace/.

Next, the county will develop a draft resource management plan for the property. The Boulder County Parks and Open Space Advisory Committee plans to review that plan on Aug. 29. The county commissioners hope to approve a management plan by September.

Contact Chris Barge at (303) 473-1389 or bargec@thedailycamera.com.

June 4, 2002

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