Your Friends of Fourmile Chapter had a productive year, and is already working out its summer 2006 program!

In this wide angle view of Spanish Mill along Fourmile Creek you can see the result of years of activity of off-road vehicles, and also make out the hundreds of yards of post and cable and buck and rail fencing installed this past summer by the Friends, other volunteer groups and the BLM and Forest Service.

Chapter members and volunteers from other groups contributed over 1,000 hours of labor this past year. There were dozens of patrols by foot, bicycle, on the Chapter’s ATV and with private vehicles, plus special events such as Memorial Day collaboration with BLM and Forest Service to show a united visitor-friendly presence.  We had members as courtesy “outriders” for the locally-sponsored Fall Color OHV ride in September, and as usual one of our own made presentations at the Buena Vista Middle School’s Environmental Camp.  Many Friends turned out for AHRA/GARNA’s traditional Clean Up Green Up along the Arkansas, as well as for a cleanup the Collegiate Peaks Anglers Chapter Trout Unlimited organizes.

Special projects accounted for much of the effort.  One, revitalizing the Midland Bicycle Trail from Trout Creek Pass to Buena Vista along the old Midland RR, is on-going, and will be featured in a future update. (More volunteers are needed in the spring-contact Alan Robinson robinson@chaffee.net if you are interested in exploratory rides, installing signs and reopening an unused stretch through Chubb Park!) Another project was helping the BLM restructure the Turtle Rock informal camping area.

This sign has been installed at both newly-rehabilitated areas, expressing thanks to the various groups involved (which included High Rocky Riders, Buffalo Peaks Backcountry Horsemenand The Quiet Use Coalition along with Trout Unlimited and the Friends of Fourmile) and urging the public to respect the new fences, allowing the area to rest and recover.

But the showcase 2005 activity was rehabilitation of disturbed areas in Fourmile, one at Spanish Mill and another at Sevenmile Creek, both on FR376 (the old Lenhardy Cutoff). These areas, which were used over the past decade as unauthorized play areas by motorcycles and other vehicles, were identified in the 2003 Fourmile Travel Management Plan as needing closure and revegetation to control erosion.  Both areas border seasonal watercourses which not only support viable trout populations but are also habitat for beaver, other wildlife and characteristic willows and other vegetation.

Since 2003, Friends of Fourmile has assisted the BLM and Forest Service in implementing management plan actions (new signs, closing some unauthorized roads and converting others to ATV-only routes, developing a map and brochure, making visitor contacts).  We have done this by obtaining grants and contributing 1000’s of hours to supplement the agencies’ limited staff and budgets.  One of the final grant-funded activities was to contribute to play area rehabilitation, which has now been completed in a joint effort among BLM, Forest Service and GARNA/Friends of Fourmile that also involved other volunteer groups, a private contractor, and Buena Vista Correctional Facility crews. 

In early summer, the contractor (Frontier Environmental Services) began bringing in heavy equipment to place barrier rock, and transporting stocks of steel pipe and cable.  BLM and Forest Service staff, with a big assist from the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area and Correctional Facility crews, cut and transported hundreds of timber poles from public lands. Volunteers from Friends of Fourmile, High Rocky Riders (a local OHV club), Collegiate Peaks

Here (from left) BLM seasonal ranger Dave Spencer, Forest Service ranger Brett Beasley and Friends Volunteer Alan Robinson put finishing touches on a long section of buck and rail fence closing off approximately 4 acres of disturbed area at Spanish Mill, prior to reseeding.

Anglers ChapterTrout Unlimited, the Buffalo PeaksBackcountry Horsemen, the Quiet Use Coalition (a group favoring non-motorized recreation) and the BLM, Forest Service and prison crews all pitched in on half a dozen hard work days throughout summer and fall, constructing several hundred yards of steel post and cable barriers and some 400 yards of buck and rail wood fence.  The final step was to return with earth-shaping equipment and then by hand spread fertilizer and native grass seed and cover the areas with straw mulch.  This happened on a December day after a four inch snowfall (which in spite of the hassle was a plus since the seed will benefit from the moisture). Agency biologists, assisted by the Friends, will monitor revegetation, comparing it with “before” photos which we have been taking the past 3-4 years.

Observations during the summer indicate that most of the public is respecting these newly-closed and protected landscapes.  Unfortunately there is some evidence that folks who used to get off the road there have increased their use in a third location, one not scheduled for restoration until next season.  In spite of this particular issue, the BLM and Forest Service staff involved in Fourmile, as well as the Friends and other groups, continue to be impressed with overall compliance with regulations and respect for signs throughout the area.  We all feel this has a lot to do with the citizen-input and consensus building during planning, and subsequent volunteer-assisted implementation.

In a marathon day (following a snowstorm) an enthusiastic mix of volunteers from three different local groups combined forces with the contractor, BLM and Forest Service to complete the rehabilitation by spreading seed, fertilizer and mulch.

A big plus has been direct involvement of these other volunteer groups, which the Friends are pleased to acknowledge and sincerely thank for their efforts.  We see this as a positive step showing that a variety of “users” in the community are sharing responsibility to help land managers keep Fourmile up to high standards set by the management plan. This work also benefited greatly from Correctional Facility crews, whom all involved found to be hard working, friendly and well-disciplined. Thank you!

Stay tuned for news of next season’s program, which includes a repeat hosting of trail-building Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado in early May for more work on the Davis Meadow Trail, completion of the Midland Bicycle Trail project, and more work at Turtle Rock. 

We’re also awaiting news on an additional grant, partnering with the Upper Arkansas Motorized Recreation Coalition, to pretty much complete all the proposed repairs and extensions to Fourmile’s motorized roads and trails. 

Here, just after the seed and mulch was spread at Spanish Mill in four inches of snow, you can appreciate the scale of this rehab project-and the energy of those volunteers!

Also watch for a call for volunteers to join a few chapter members and others interested in a summer 2006 “trial run” on forming a group to help the Forest Service manage the Buffalo Peaks and other Wilderness areas in Chaffee County.

For information about the Friends-and how to get involved-check out the Fourmile chapter page in GARNA’s website www.garna.org or call 539-5106.

Date prepared January 10, 2006

Primary contact: Alan Robinson (Friends Publicity) 395-3396 robinson@chaffee.net
Second contact: Sheryl Archuleta (Chapter President) 395-8272 sheryl_archuleta@yahoo.com
GARNA contact: Alison Ramsey (Executive Director) 539-5106 info@garna.org