Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutresolution.council.010-25RESOLUTION #O10 (Series of 2025) A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ASPEN, COLORADO, APPROVING THE SMUGGLER MOUNTAIN OPEN SPACE MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE. WHEREAS, there has been submitted to the City Council a Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan Update, a true and accurate copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit "A"; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ASPEN, COLORADO, That the City Council of the City of Aspen hereby approves the Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan Update, a copy of the management plan is annexed hereto and incorporated herein, and does hereby authorize the Mayor to implement said management plan on behalf of the City of Aspen. INTRODUCED, READ AND ADOPTED by the City C Aspen on the 1 l' day February, 2025. ouncil of the City of Torre, Mayor I, Nicole Henning, duly appointed and acting City Clerk do certify that the foregoing is a true and accurate copy of that resolution adopted by the City Council of the City of Aspen, Colorado, at a meeting held, February 11', 20? 5. Nicole Hephing, City Clerk Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan DECEMBER 2024 ADOPTED BOCC ORD ii | Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan | iii PITKIN COUNTY OPEN SPACE AND TRAILS BOARD OF TRUSTEES MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Pitkin County Open Space and Trails Board of Trustees is to acquire, preserve, maintain and manage open space properties for multiple purposes including, but not limited to, recreational, wildlife, agricultural, scenic and access purposes; and to acquire, preserve, develop, maintain and manage trails for similar purposes. The Pitkin County Home Rule Charter provision authorizing the Open Space and Trails Program defines open space and trails as follows: “Open Space” shall be defined as primarily undeveloped lands and waters which meet one or more of the following criteria: Within public scenic view planes; bounding or within urbanized areas; incorporating or protecting significant wildlife habitat; preserving historic agricultural and ranching activities; protecting riparian or wetlands areas; protecting other public lands from the impacts of development, and preserving cultural, historic and archaeological resources lying within properties which are otherwise acquired for their customary Open Space characteristics. “Trails” shall be defined as access ways, either separate from or within County and State road rights-of- way, meeting one or more of the following criteria: preserving historic routes of ingress and egress to public lands and waterways; providing access to and from recreational or urban destinations; providing transportation or recreational opportunities throughout the Roaring Fork Watershed. CITY OF ASPEN OPEN SPACE & TRAILS BOARD MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Open Space and Trails Board is to continually acquire, preserve, manage and maintain Open Space and Trails within the community for the benefit of current and future generations. The Board makes recommendations to City Council and Staff on the acquisition and management of open space. ASPEN VALLEY LAND TRUST MISSION STATEMENT Aspen Valley Land Trust protects the open land and special places of the Roaring Fork and middle Colorado River valleys for wildlife, agriculture, and community, forever. Autumn on the BTS Trail on Smuggler Mountain Open Space. iv | Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan | v Core Focus Areas & Success Factors High Quality Of Life Safe Community Vibrant & Sustainable Community CORE FOCUS Success Factors Flourishing Natural & Built Environment 1. Conserved natural resources and environment 2. Responsibly maintained and enhanced county assets 3. Ease of mobility via safe and efficient transportation systems 4. Well planned and livable built environment CORE FOCUS Success Factors Livable & Supportive Community 1. A sense of personal and community safety 2. Diverse and livable housing options 3. Self-sufficient individuals and families 4. Access to recreation, education, arts and culture 5. Improved community engagement and participation CORE FOCUS Success Factors Prosperous Economy 1. Sustainable economy and employment 2. Affordable and quality health care options 3. High performing county leaders, teams and employees 4. Responsible and accountable stewardship of county assets Healthy Community PITKIN COUNTY BRAND BOOK | OVERVIEW 6 The Pitkin County Strategic Plan identifies three core Focus Areas: “Flourishing Natural and Built Environment,” “Livable and Supportive Community” and “Prosperous Economy.” The goal is for the three Focus Areas to work together to achieve the county’s vision and mission. This management plan update aligns with the strategic plan in various ways: Flourishing Natural and Built Environment Success Factor 1: Conserved natural resources and environment Smuggler Mountain Open Space conserves important natural resources and wildlife habitat on nearly 300 acres in Aspen’s “backyard.” Success Factor 2: Responsibly maintained and enhanced county assets This plan update builds upon actions identified following original parcel acquisitions, focusing on stewardship and maintenance, as well as safety improvements. The Management Plan for Smuggler Mountain Open Space aligns with the 2011 Pitkin County Strategic Plan. Livable and Supportive Community Success Factor 4: Access to recreation, education, arts and culture Management actions support access to year-round recreation and include educational interpretive sign updates and partnerships to provide educational programming. Prosperous economy Success Factor 4: Responsible and accountable stewardship of county assets Pitkin County Open Space and Trails strives to maintain and enhance the health, function and resiliency of the natural resources and built environment at Smuggler Mountain Open Space. ACCIONES DE MANEJO EN ESPAÑOL HAGA CLIC AQUÍ MANAGEMENT ACTIONS CLICK HERE Plan Summary The 2024 management plan update for the 300-acre Smuggler Mountain Open Space, perched above Aspen on the flanks of Smuggler Mountain and wrapping around into the Hunter Creek Valley, continues the planning efforts that began with the original 2008 management plan. Pitkin County Open Space and Trails (OST), along with the City of Aspen (COA) and Aspen Valley Land Trust (AVLT), have implemented ongoing restoration and cleanup, expansion of recreational opportunities, wildlife and habitat protection, and improvements in forest health. This plan update aims to build upon past achievements, incorporating natural resource and visitor use studies and input and expertise from partners, community members and visitors. The plan charts a course to continue protecting ecological resources in a changing climate, preserving habitat, and accommodating year-round recreational opportunities in this popular open space. GOALS This management plan prioritizes the long-term resilience of the multi-jurisdictional parcels that comprise Smuggler Mountain Open Space. The following goals have been modified from the 2008 management plan to reflect public and partner feedback collected during the 2024 planning process: •Protect, manage and enhance the natural, historical and visual resources, including maintaining and promoting healthy ecosystems and their essential components and processes. •Provide and promote safe and enjoyable outdoor recreation opportunities. •Provide educational opportunities regarding the values of the surrounding natural, historical and visual resources and the importance of responsible use and stewardship of the land. •Define management actions with specific implementation steps, where appropriate, and roles and responsibilities. OUTREACH HIGHLIGHTS To enhance the management of Smuggler Mountain Open Space in the present and future, OST, COA and AVLT gathered feedback from stakeholders and community members. Various local stakeholders shared their insights on current conditions, trends and needs at the beginning of the planning process. Public input was collected through an online survey in the summer of 2024. The survey aimed to understand general usage patterns, the most valued attributes and the aspects that are working well or need improvement. A total of 380 responses were collected. The draft management plan update was released for partner and public review in September 2024, [placeholder text: and it was recommended for approval by the Pitkin County and City of Aspen Open Space and Trails boards in November 2024. Finally, the plan was adopted by the Pitkin County Board of Commissioners through Ordinance #.] KEY UPDATES The 2008 plan provided management direction for parcels on Smuggler Mountain. This plan update adds adjacent acreage in the Lower Hunter Creek Valley, as well as the primary portal to the open space, Smuggler Mountain Trailhead, located on the Mollie Gibson parcel. Collectively, the area is referred to as Smuggler Mountain Open Space. This plan builds upon past accomplishments and celebrates the investments made to date. The key updates include: •Continue dog voice and sight control area on Smuggler Mountain Road and Hunter Creek Cutoff Trail and add singletrack trails to the voice and sight control area, with the exception of Lower Hunter Creek Trail where leashes are required. The mandatory leash law remains in effect from the Lower Hunter Creek Trailhead to the Forest Service boundary (Smuggler Mountain Open Space Regulations). •Clarify enforcement of Smuggler Mountain Open Space regulations at Smuggler Mountain Trailhead, which sits on a portion of the Mollie Gibson parcel (Smuggler Mountain Open Space Regulations). •Continue emphasis on the protection of natural resources and biodiversity through a range of management actions that cover forest health, wildlife, protection of rare species and water resources, and control of noxious weeds (Natural Resource Management Actions). •Maintain healthy, resilient forests and implement treatments to promote habitat value and reduce wildfire risk (Natural Resource Management Action 2 and 3). •Explore the feasibility of a portal trail to connect mountain bikers on the Hunter-Smuggler trail network to Aspen (Recreation Management Action 1). •Designate the steep, rocky portion of the Lower Hunter Creek Trail for pedestrian use only, between the trailhead and the Benedict Bridge (Recreation Management Action 2). •Support recreational use by visitors of all ages and abilities by adding a midpoint destination along Smuggler Mountain Road (Recreation Management Action 4). •Increase awareness and compliance with dog waste rules (Education and Outreach Management Action 3). •Continue natural resource monitoring through established intervals (Monitoring and Stewardship Management Action 1). •Continue existing partnerships and maintain access to surrounding public lands for the purpose of resource management (Monitoring and Stewardship Management Action 2). HOW TO USE THIS PLAN This plan is a near- to mid-range planning tool to budget for management actions to preserve Smuggler Mountain Open Space for future generations. Section 1 tracks the area’s history and acquisitions leading to the open space that exists today and celebrates the numerous accomplishments made since adoption of the 2008 plan. Section 2 provides the regional context, including area recreation and natural resources, and updates the current condition of the open space plus the newly added parcels in the Hunter Creek Valley, complete with references to relevant studies. Section 3 summarizes feedback from stakeholders and the community. Appendix A contains the full engagement results. Management actions in Section 4 are a product of background research, assessment of current conditions and stakeholder/public input. Section 5 provides an easy-to-use matrix to measure progress in the years ahead. Quick Facts Investment: $21 million Funding Partners: Pitkin County Open Space and Trails (OST), City of Aspen (COA) and Aspen Valley Land Trust (AVLT) Total Open Space Acreage: 299.8 acres Mollie Gibson Park Acreage: 8.2 acres Years of acquisition: 1974 - 2012 Open Space Values: Wildlife habitat, scenic views, recreation and high biodiversity. Over 190 plant species identied , including 6 species of trees, 28 shrubs/ subshrubs, 31 perennial graminoids, 106 perennial forbs, 2 ferns and fern allies, 16 annual/biennial forbs, and 1 annual graminoid. 77 bird species have been documented. At least 14 mammal species are known to occur and at least 54 species are known or suspected to occur at Smuggler according to habitat needs. Trail Miles: 11.5 vi | EO.2 EO.3 M.2 M.1 NR.3 MS.2 Dog Voice and Sight Area Includes Smuggler Mountain Road and Singletrack Trails Dogs Must be Leashed on Lower Hunter Creek Trail R.1 R.2 R.4 R.3 Recreation Action #5 & #6 Motorized Vehicles and E-bikes Allowed White River National Forest Smuggler Mountain Open Space Smuggler Mountain Trailhead Lani White Mascotte 99 Lower Hunter Creek Trailhead Upper Hunter Creek Trailhead BLM Parking Lot on Red Mountain Conservation Easement Limited Parking for ADA, Seniors and Hut Access Motorized Vehicles and Motorized Vehicles and Smuggler Mountain Road Platform N Smuggler Mountain Hunter Creek Valley NR. 1 & 8 NR. 2 & 4 Roaring F o r k R i v e r Hunter Creek SMUGGLER MOUNTAIN OPEN SPACE MANAGEMENT ACTIONS NATURAL RESOURCES NR.1 Conduct assessment of riparian zones prior to any nearby vegetation, forest or trail work. NR.2 Maintain and promote healthy, resilient forests. NR.3 Implement treatment prescriptions (e.g. mechanical thinning) to maintain integrity and habitat value of oak-dominated shrublands and reduce wildfire risk. NR.4 Implement small-patch cuts in forested areas. NR.5 Maintain dead wood resources onsite to maintain ecosystem complexity. NR.6 Ensure avian nesting sites are identified and protected on an as-needed basis. NR.7 Maintain habitat quality for potentially occurring federally protected species. NR.8 Collaborate on Hunter Creek protections and enhancements for long-term stream health and viability. NR.9 Implement wolf reintroduction awareness as needed. RECREATION R.1 Explore the feasibility of a lower access “portal trail.” R.2 Designate the steep, rocky portion of the Lower Hunter Creek Trail for pedestrian use only, between the trailhead and the Benedict Bridge. R.3 Explore feasibility of constructing an advanced mountain biking trail on the north-facing slope connecting Smuggler Mountain Road to Lollipop Trail. R.4 Add a midway viewpoint along Smuggler Mountain Road. R.5 Install a new kiosk at Smuggler Mountain Trailhead and update information at BTS kiosk. R.6 Install bicycle rack(s) at the base of Smuggler Mountain Road. R.7 Maintain winter access to huts on surrounding public lands. R.8 Review agreements for Mollie Gibson Park and determine whether an additional MOU, or similar document, is required for ongoing maintenance and use of the parcel. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH EO.1 Update and install regulatory signage. EO.2 Replace interpretive signs. EO.3 Continue a campaign to address dog waste and dog-owner etiquette on Smuggler Mountain Road. MONITORING AND STEWARDSHIP MS.1 Continue wildlife and vegetation monitoring at regular intervals. MS.2 Maintain and improve collaboration with partner agencies that manage lands, animals and recreational activities on or adjacent to Smuggler and/or require access via Smuggler Mountain Road to manage their public assets. MS.3 Monitor vegetative recovery at reclaimed mine sites and other areas of past disturbance. MS.4 Conduct a cultural resource assessment to identify and evaluate the cultural resources of the Open Space. MS.5 Continue to monitor recreational use. MS.6 Evaluate elk calving (production) and rearing habitat to determine if it is active. MAINTENANCE M.1 Maintain Smuggler Mountain Road at its current width and condition. M.2 Improve boardwalks on Lower Hunter Creek Trail. M.3 Create a maintenance agreement and schedule with defined responsibilities. M.4 Actively manage noxious vegetation to promote the vigor of native biodiversity utilizing an integrated approach. viii | Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan | ix Resumen del Plan La actualización del plan de manejo 2024 para el Espacio Abierto de Smuggler Mountain, situado sobre Aspen en las laderas de Smuggler Mountain y extendiéndose hacia el valle de Hunter Creek, continúa con los esfuerzos de planificación que comenzaron con el plan de manejo Original de 2008. El Departamento de Espacios Abiertos y Senderos del Condado de Pitkin (OST), junto con la Ciudad de Aspen (COA) y el Aspen Valley Land Trust (ALVT), han llevado a cabo restauraciones y limpiezas continuas, expansión de oportunidades recreativas, protección de la vida silvestre y su hábitat, y mejoras en la salud forestal. Esta actualización del plan tiene como objetivo construir sobre los logros pasados, incorporando estudios de recursos naturales y uso de visitantes, así como el aporte y la experiencia de socios, miembros de la comunidad y visitantes. El plan traza un camino para continuar protegiendo los recursos ecológicos en un clima cambiante, preservando el hábitat y acomodando oportunidades recreativas durante todo el año en este popular espacio abierto. METAS Este plan de manejo prioriza la resiliencia a largo plazo de parcelas multi-jurisdiccionales que componen el Espacio Abierto de Smuggler Mountain. Los siguientes objetivos han sido modificados del plan de manejo de 2008 para reflejar los comentarios del público y de los socios recopilados durante el proceso de planificación de 2024: •Proteger, gestionar y mejorar los recursos naturales, históricos y visuales, incluyendo el mantenimiento y la promoción de ecosistemas saludables y sus componentes y procesos esenciales. •Ofrecer y promover oportunidades de recreación al aire libre seguras y agradables. •Brindar oportunidades educativas sobre los valores de los recursos naturales, históricos y visuales circundantes y la importancia del uso responsable y la gestión del terreno. •Definir acciones de gestión con pasos de implementación específicos, cuando sea apropiado, y roles y responsabilidades. ASPECTOS PARA PROMOCIONAR Para mejorar la gestión del Espacio Abierto de Smuggler Mountain en el presente y futuro, OST, COA y AVLT recopilaron comentarios de las partes interesadas y miembros de la comunidad. Varios actores locales compartieron sus ideas sobre las condiciones actuales, tendencias y necesidades al inicio del proceso de planificación. Se recopilaron opiniones públicas a través de una encuesta en línea durante el verano de 2024. La encuesta tenía como objetivo comprender los patrones de uso generales, los atributos más valorados y los aspectos que están funcionando bien o que necesitan mejoras. Se recolectaron un total de 380 respuestas. El borrador de la actualización del plan de gestión fue publicado para revisión de socios y del público en septiembre de 2024, y se recomendó su aprobación por parte de las juntas de Espacio Abierto y Senderos del Condado de Pitkin y la Ciudad de Aspen en noviembre de 2024. Finalmente, el plan fue aprobado por la Junta de Comisionados del Condado de Pitkin mediante una ordenanza. #[tbd]. ACTUALIZACIONES CLAVE El plan de 2008 proporcionó dirección de gestión para las parcelas en Smuggler Mountain. Esta actualización del plan agrega terrenos adyacentes en el Valle de Lower Hunter Creek, así como el portal principal al espacio abierto, el Sendero de Smuggler Mountain, ubicado en la parcela Mollie Gibson. Colectivamente, el área se denomina Espacio Abierto de Smuggler Mountain. Este plan se basa en logros pasados y celebra las inversiones realizadas hasta la fecha. Las actualizaciones clave incluyen: •Continuar con el área de control por voz y vista para perros en la carretera Smuggler Mountain y el corto al sendero Hunter Creek, y agregar senderos de un solo sentido a esta área de control, con la excepción del sendero Lower Hunter Creek, donde se requieren correas. La ley de correa obligatoria sigue en vigor desde el Sendero de Lower Hunter Creek hasta el límite del Servicio Forestal (Reglamentos del Espacio Abierto de Smuggler Mountain). •Aclarar la aplicación de los reglamentos del Espacio Abierto de Smuggler Mountain en el Sendero de Smuggler Mountain, que se encuentra en una parte de la parcela de Mollie Gibson (Reglamentos del Espacio Abierto de Smuggler Mountain). •Continuar enfatizando la protección de los recursos naturales y la biodiversidad a través de una variedad de acciones de gestión que abordan la salud forestal, la vida silvestre, la protección de especies raras y los recursos hídricos, así como el control de hierbas nocivas (Acciones de Gestión de Recursos Naturales). •Mantener bosques saludables y resilientes e implementar tratamientos para promover el valor del hábitat y reducir el riesgo de incendios forestales (Acciones de Gestión de Recursos Naturales 2 y 3). •Explorar la viabilidad de un sendero de acceso para conectar a los ciclistas de montaña en la red de senderos Hunter-Smuggler con Aspen (Acción de Gestión Recreativa 1). •Designar Lower Hunter Creek Trail para uso exclusivo de peatones (Acción de Gestión Recreativa 2). •Apoyar el uso recreativo por parte de visitantes de todas las edades y habilidades añadiendo un destino intermedio a lo largo de Smuggler Mountain Road (Acción de Gestión Recreativa 4). •Aumentar la concienciación y el cumplimiento de las normas sobre desechos de perros (Acción de Educación y Divulgación 3). •Continuar con el monitoreo de recursos naturales a intervalos establecidos (Acción de Monitoreo y Gestión 1). •Mantener las asociaciones existentes y conservar el acceso a las tierras públicas circundantes con el propósito de la gestión de recursos (Acción de Monitoreo y Gestión 2). CÓMO UTILIZAR ESTE PLAN Este plan es una herramienta de planificación a corto y mediano plazo para presupuestar acciones de gestión que preserven el Espacio Abierto de Smuggler Mountain para las generaciones futuras. La Sección 1 rastrea la historia del área y las adquisiciones que llevaron al espacio abierto que existe hoy en día, y celebra los numerosos logros alcanzados desde la adopción del plan de 2008. La Sección 2 proporciona el contexto regional, incluyendo la recreación del área y los recursos naturales, y actualiza la condición actual del espacio abierto, además de las parcelas recién añadidas en el Valle de Hunter Creek, con referencias a estudios relevantes. La Sección 3 resume los comentarios de las partes interesadas y de la comunidad. El Apéndice A contiene los resultados completos de la participación. Las acciones de gestión en la Sección 4 son producto de la investigación de antecedentes, la evaluación de las condiciones actuales y la opinión de las partes interesadas/público. La Sección 5 ofrece una matriz fácil de usar para medir el progreso en los años venideros. x | ACCIONES PARA EL MANEJO DEL ESPACIO ABIERTO DE SMUGGLER MOUNTAIN RECURSOS NATURALES NR.1 Llevar a cabo una evaluación de las zonas ribereñas antes de cualquier trabajo de vegetación, bosque o sendero cercano. NR.2 Mantener y promover bosques saludables y resilientes NR.3 Implementar prescripciones de tratamiento (por ejemplo, desbroce mecánico) para mantener la integridad y el valor del hábitat de los matorrales dominados por robles y reducir el riesgo de incendios forestales. NR.4 Implementar cortes en pequeñas áreas en zonas boscosas. NR.5 Mantener los recursos de madera muerta en el sitio para preservar la complejidad del ecosistema. NR.6 Asegurarse de que los sitios de nidos de rapaces sean identificados y protegidos según sea necesario. NR.7 Mantener la calidad del hábitat para las especies protegidas a nivel federal que puedan estar presentes. NR.8 Colaborar en las protecciones y mejoras del Valle de Hunter para la salud y viabilidad a largo plazo del arroyo. NR.9 Implementar la concienciación sobre la reintroducción de lobos según sea necesario. RECREACIN R.1 Explorar la viabilidad de un “sendero de acceso portal” en la parte baja. R.2 Designar el Sendero Lower Hunter Creek para uso exclusivo de peatones. R.3 Explorar la viabilidad de construir senderos avanzados para ciclismo de montaña en la ladera norte que conecten Smuggler Mountain Road con Lollipop Trail. R.4 Agregar un destino recreativo a mitad de camino a lo largo de Smuggler Mountain Road. R.5 Instalar un nuevo quiosco en el inicio del Sendero Smuggler Mountain y actualizar la información en el quiosco de BTS. R.6 Instalar rack(s) para bicicletas en la base de Smuggler Mountain Road. R.7 Mantener el acceso invernal a las cabañas en las tierras públicas circundantes. R.8 Revisar los acuerdos para el Parque Mollie Gibson y determinar si se necesita un adicional. EDUCACIÓN Y PROMOCIÓN EO.1 Actualizar e instalar señalización regulatoria. EO.2 Reemplazar los letreros interpretativos. EO.3 Continuar una campaña para abordar la basura de perros y la etiqueta de los dueños de perros en la carretera Smuggler Mountain. MONITOR Y ADMINISTRACIÓN MS.1 Continuar el monitoreo de la fauna y la vegetación a intervalos regulares. MS.2 Mantener y mejorar la colaboración con las agencias asociadas que gestionan tierras, animales y actividades recreativas en o adyacentes a Smuggler, y/o que requieren acceso a través de Smuggler Mountain Road para gestionar sus activos públicos. MS.3 Monitorear la recuperación de la vegetación en sitios mineros recuperados y otras áreas de disturbios pasado. MS.4 Realizar una evaluación de recursos culturales para identificar y evaluar los recursos culturales del Espacio Abierto MS.5 Continuar monitoreando el uso recreativo. MS.6 Evalúe el hábitat de parto (producción) y cría de los alces para determinar si está activo. MANTENIMIENTO M.1 Mantener la carretera Smuggler Mountain en su ancho y condición actual. M.2 Mejorar las pasarelas en el Sendero Lower Hunter Creek. M.3 Crear un acuerdo de mantenimiento y un cronograma con responsabilidades definidas. M.4 Gestionar activamente la vegetación nociva para promover el vigor de la biodiversidad nativa utilizando un enfoque integrado. Plan de Manejo del Espacio Abierto de Smuggler Mountain Quick Facts Inversión: $21 millones Socios Financieros: Pitkin County Open Space and Trails (OST), City of Aspen (COA) y Aspen Valley Land Trust (AVLT) Total de Acres en Espacio Abierto: 299.8 acres Acreaje del Parque Mollie Gibson: 8.2 acres Años de Adquisición: 1974 - 2012 Valores del Espacio Abierto: Hábitat de fauna, vistas escénicas, recreación y alta biodiversidad. Especies de Plantas Identicadas: Más de 190, incluyendo 6 especies de árboles, 28 arbustos/ subarbustos, 31 gramíneas perennes, 106 forbs perennes, 2 helechos y aliados de helechos, 16 forbs anuales/bienales, y 1 gramínea anual. Especies de Aves Documentadas: 77 Especies de Mamíferos Conocidas: Al menos 14 especies se conocen que ocurren, y al menos 54 especies se conocen o se sospecha que ocurren en Smuggler según las necesidades de hábitat. Millas de Senderos: 11.5 xii | Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan | xiii Smuggler MountainOpen Space Warren Lakes BLM Parking Lot on Red Mountain Upper Hunter Creek Trailhead Lower Hunter Creek Trailhead Mascotte 99 Lani White Smuggler Mountain Trailhead Aspen Lenado Bald Knob Smuggler Mountain To Sunnyside Trailhead Midway Pass White River National Forest Aspen Ski Area North Star Nature Preserve Hunter Creek Valley Four Corners Red Mountain Midway Trail Hunter Creek Trail Hunter Creek Valley Trail Hunter Creek Toll Road Four Corners Road Sunnyside Trail H u n t e r C r e e k Roaring Fork River Smuggler Mountain Road Smuggler Trail System Platform Hummingbird Trail Van Horn Park Rio Grande Trail Iowa Shaft Trail Woody Creek Trail McNamara Hut Benedict Huts Smuggler Mountain Open Space N xvi | Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan | 1 1. INTRODUCTION 2 1.1 HISTORY 2 1.2 PROPERTIES AND EASEMENTS 10 1.3 ACCOMPLISHMENTS 15 2. EXISTING CONDITIONS 18 2.1 LOCATION AND CONTEXT 18 2.2 NATURAL RESOURCES AND BIODIVERSITY 21 2.3 RECREATION 34 2.4 COMMERCIAL USE AND SPECIAL EVENTS 41 2.5 HISTORICAL RESOURCES 41 3. PLANNING PROCESS AND PUBLIC INPUT 44 3.1 PLANNING FRAMEWORK 44 3.2 STAKEHOLDER COMMENTS 45 3.3 PUBLIC OUTREACH 46 3.4 RELEVANT PLANS AND POLICIES 50 4. MANAGEMENT 52 4.1 MANAGEMENT GOALS 52 4.2 REGULATIONS AND POLICIES 52 4.3 MANAGEMENT ACTIONS 56 5. IMPLEMENTATION 66 EN ESPAÑOL HAGA CLIC AQUÍ Table of Contents APPENDIX: A.COMMUNITY SURVEY RESULTS B.PARTNER COMMENTS C.DRAFT PLAN PUBLIC COMMENTS D.NOXIOUS WEEDS AND PROPOSED TREATMENTS Revegetated areas have taken hold along the Picnic Loop. 1. Introduction Smuggler Mountain Open Space is perhaps the most storied open space in Pitkin County. It is certainly among the busiest. The 300-acre open space, perched above Aspen on the flanks of Smuggler Mountain and wrapping around into the Hunter Creek Valley, typically sees more use than any other holding in the county’s Open Space and Trails system. The boundaries between open space and national forest are invisible as one traverses through Smuggler’s forest or descends the mountain’s north face into the Hunter Creek Valley. It could have been a far different experience. The potential for development on what is now open space was extinguished parcel by parcel, over the course of roughly 30 years, as Pitkin County, City of Aspen and Aspen Valley Land Trust acquired parcels from private owners. The capstone came in 2005 with the joint city/county acquisition of 170 acres from a colorful man who ultimately abandoned his own dreams for the land and accepted $15 million for his assemblage of mining claims. The joint purchase secured the heart of Smuggler Mountain Open Space as public land. It was, at the time, a record-setting price for a local open space property. Restoration and cleanup of the newly acquired acreage began almost immediately. Adoption of the first management plan for Smuggler Mountain Open Space – a joint effort of the city and county – followed in 2008 (officially adopted by the BOCC in January 2009). Much has occurred in the intervening years to rehabilitate the land, expand recreational opportunities, protect wildlife and habitat, and improve forest health. This 2024 management plan update builds upon those achievements. It plots a course to continue the protection of ecological resources in a changing climate, safeguard habitat and accommodate year-round recreational opportunities on this hugely popular open space. 1.1 HISTORY The story of Smuggler Mountain parallels the story of Aspen. Once part of a pristine landscape where the nomadic Ute People wandered for more than 800 years, the mountain was ravaged by the industrial The Colorado Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation has logged 50 known cultural sites within 12.5 miles of Aspen, but most are unassociated with native inhabitants and only two are arrow points of the type made by Utes.4 Various historical sites are documented, including buildings and ruins. In an area encompassing most of Smuggler Mountain Open Space, seven historical sites have been recorded, but none involve Native American artifacts. Of 13 sites in the lower section of the Hunter Creek Valley, one has native connections, though it is not known whether it is Ute in origin.5 It is highly probable, however, that the Ute People wandered the length of the Roaring Fork Valley and were familiar with today’s Smuggler Mountain and Aspen. There is no question about the activities that occurred once prospectors and investors established Ute City, as Aspen was initially known. 4 “e Utes and Aspen – More unknown that known,” Tim Willoughby, e Aspen Times, May 20, 2023, p3. 5 Jason LaBelle, Colorado State University, via email, Feb. 1, 2024. frenzy that ensued shortly after the first prospectors arrived at the foot of Aspen Mountain in 1879. Scarcely more than a decade later, Smuggler, and Aspen, would fall into quiet years of near abandonment and decay. Many of the great mine workings dotting Smuggler Mountain and elsewhere stood silent. Huge piles of mine waste at the base of the mountain and fanning out on its flanks dominated an otherwise denuded landscape. The force of nature and the hand of man both played a role in the mountain’s gradual reclamation, though telltale tailings piles and other evidence of Smuggler’s former mining prominence remain. The legendary Smuggler Mine itself, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, sits at the base of the mountain. Today, Smuggler Mountain is both wildlife habitat and recreational playground. Visitors and residents alike seek out Smuggler Mountain Open Space – 300 acres largely bounded by the White River National Forest and easily accessed directly from Aspen. That the open space is a place of trails and forest rather than homes and roads is a testament to the community’s passion for the place and, ironically, one man’s desire to develop it. IN THE BEGINNING… Smuggler Mountain is but a dot in a vast landscape where the native Utes wandered for centuries, though little physical evidence or documentation of their presence in the upper Roaring Fork Valley exists. By the time the first prospectors made their way from Leadville to what would become Aspen, the Utes were already being forced off the lands of western Colorado that had been ceded to them by treaty. Historians generally believe the Utes hunted in the upper Roaring Fork Valley in summers, and camped at Ute Springs, near present-day Glory Hole Park in Aspen.1 Early settlers were familiar with former native campsites that showed wear and tear from long use – the meadows at Ute Springs among them.2 According to the Southern Ute tribe, however, no oral history of Utes in the Aspen area exists.3 1 Ute People Pre-1879, Aspen Historical Society, aspenhistory.org/ aspen-history/the-utes-pre-1879/ 2 “Roaring Fork Valley – An account of its settlement and development,” Len Shoemaker, Sage Books, Denver CO, p17. 3 “e Utes and Aspen – More unknown that known,” Tim Willoughby, e Aspen Times, May 21, 2023, p3. MINING: THE BOOM AND BUST Miners extracted primarily silver, lead and zinc from Smuggler Mountain, driving tunnels thousands of feet below the surface. Massive amounts of timber were required to support the mines and other construction. The behemoth Smuggler Mine was a large industrial complex. Located at the base of Smuggler Mountain Road and still in existence today (minus most of the buildings that once served the undertaking), the privately owned mine marks the start of the ascent up the road for the hundreds of people who bike and hike it daily. Higher up, the Iowa Shaft, Bushwacker and Park-Regent mines were situated on what is now open space. Smuggler’s Della S claim, also part of the open space, was frequently in the news as the mining camp’s newspapers played up developments at the area’s many diggings. In 1892, for example, the Aspen Daily Chronicle reported a strike of exceedingly rich ore at the Della S, featuring “large flakes of pure silver and chunks of native.” (Native silver is uncombined with other elements.) e Park-Regent Mine on what is now Smuggler Mountain Open Space, with Red Mountain visible in the background. (History Colorado. Accession #83.130.14) 2 | Introduction Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan | 3 The Hunter Creek Cutoff Road, passing next to the Iowa Shaft mine, is partially constructed of rock waste from mining. It follows the top of a dam that diverted water running down the mountainside away from mine activity and may have captured water for mine use.6 A visible washout on the face of the mountain is also left from Aspen’s mining era. Slicing through a segment of Smuggler Mountain Open Space above lower Hunter Creek, this scar resulted from water overflowing a flume that once carried Hunter Creek water to a power plant for the generation of electricity.7 The flume was under construction in 1886 and clearly visible from Aspen.8 The demonetization of silver in the first half of the 1890s resulted in an economic crash for Aspen. A few mines carried on in fits and starts, but operations and output slowed considerably and much of the town’s populace departed. The goings- on on Smuggler Mountain largely ceased to be 6 “Signs of the past on Aspen’s Smuggler Mountain,” Janet Urquhart, e Aspen Times, Nov. 4, 2012, p1. 7 “e Story of Aspen,” Mary Eshbaugh Hayes, Aspen ree Publishing, Aspen CO, p29. 8 “Light and water,” Rocky Mountain Sun, May 22, 1886, p2. newsworthy until the 1960s, when McCulloch Oil Co. renewed milling and mining operations on the mountain.9 Aspen’s slow, decades-long rebound from mining town to year-round resort saw the collapse and dismantling of many of the mine works on Smuggler and elsewhere. Abandoned mine tunnels caved in or filled with water and tailings piles were smoothed over or simply left to settle into the landscape. Old cables, pipes and machinery rusted in place, or were scavenged as scrap, as was wood from vacant structures. Forests regenerated. Smuggler Mountain Road and the Cutoff Road into the Hunter Creek Valley saw use by Jeeps and motorbikes, but not much else. Youngsters on BMX bikes rode on the mine dumps at the base of Smuggler. Those lucky enough to own a minibike (an off-road, motorized bike that was smaller than a motorbike) found plenty of playgrounds, including a well-established, user- created track on a flat bench within what is now Smuggler Mountain Open Space, above the Overlook platform. 9 Smuggler begins silver shipments,” e Aspen Times, Sept. 15, 1966, p13b. Lorenzo Semple, a pre-teen in Aspen in the 1970s, remembers only four-wheel-drive Jeeps, motorbikes and minibikes using Smuggler Mountain. It was not a favored hike and no one wanted to pedal up the rough road. Some drove up for the purpose of hunting or fishing at Warren Lakes high on the mountain. “The concept of someone pedaling a bicycle up Smuggler was so foreign that no one even gave it utterance,” Semple said.10 Existing 4-wheel roads began seeing mountain bike use as the sport gained traction in the 1980s because there were few other places to ride. The 1980s also brought another facet of the long- neglected mountain into the spotlight – its real estate. ONE MAN’S BATTLE George “Wilk” Wilkinson moved to Aspen sometime after first visiting the resort as a ski racer in international competition in 1960 and remained a full-time resident until 1995. Despite a diverse range of talents, from ski racing to filmmaking and 10 Lorenzo Semple, telephone interview, Feb. 23, 2024. photography, his Aspen legacy is inextricably linked to Smuggler Mountain.11 Through painstaking title work in the early 1980s to track down the owners of an assortment of mining claims on Smuggler, Wilkinson assembled about 220 acres (34 patented mining claims) as his own – the bulk of it a contiguous, mid-mountain piece above Smuggler Mountain Road, beyond the Overlook platform.12 What the public had come to think of as public open space was most certainly not. The simple, wooden deck that materialized at the Overlook was actually on private property. Elsewhere, the popular minibike track was largely on Wilkinson’s land, until he used heavy equipment to destroy the attraction, according to Semple. The mountain’s long-forgotten squabbles over mineral deposits gave way to a modern fight – development versus conservation. The community’s fondness for Smuggler and the desire to conserve it was one impetus for the formation of the county 11 “’Wilk’ dies at 63, leaves Smuggler legacy,” Scott Condon, e Aspen Times, Sept. 27, 2006, p1. 12 “County wins Smuggler battle, war continues,” Scott Condon, e Aspen Times, Feb. 1, 1994, p1. Part of the Cuto Road is built from mine waste, originally placed to create a dam. Early mountain biking on Smuggler with a modied road bike. is biker competes in the 1986 Smuggler Rally. (Aspen Historical Society, Aspen Times Collection) e destruction of Wilk Wilkinson’s Smuggler house, as heavy equipment pushes from behind. (Oct. 15, 1994 Aspen Daily News) 4 | Introduction Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan | 5 open space program in 1990. That mindset, however, ran counter to Wilkinson’s vision for his landholdings, triggering a tug-of-war with the county that consumed more than a decade. Pitkin County, the City of Aspen and Aspen Valley Land Trust had slowly begun conserving pieces on the face of Smuggler as early as 1974, through donations, purchases and other mechanisms. A key acquisition came in 2000 with the proposed transfer of the 10-acre B&M Lode mining claim – site of the popular Smuggler Overlook platform – to the county. The deal was completed in 2005, though volunteers replaced the old platform with a new one in 2003. Wilkinson, however, resisted open space overtures, even though his development applications went nowhere. Increasingly frustrated, Wilkinson contended the county was conspiring to stymie the development of Smuggler, even changing its land-use regulations to thwart his efforts. While the county conceded he had development rights, the two sides were miles apart on how many, with Wilkinson at one point proposing 86 units on his property. His land-use battles frequently spilled into the courtroom. At one point, in suing the county for $159 million, Wilkinson also claimed his property was a “foreign state,” essentially seceding from Pitkin County.13 The feud escalated in the early 1990s, when Wilkinson constructed a substantial residence on his property. He had obtained a permit exemption for a single-story agricultural structure without water or electricity, but built a home that was partially two stories, had electrical outlets and water piped from a stream running through his land.14 When settlement negotiations fizzled, the county ordered the structure’s demolition. A county crew put most of Wilkinson’s belongings in storage, and the county continued to pay the storage fees for years, recalled then-County Manager Reid Haughey.15 Wilkinson apparently returned to residing on his land, joined by others. In the late 1990s, the county worked to evict renters living in makeshift structures and vehicles on his property, as well as in vehicles in the parking lot at the base of the mountain, over which Wilkinson claimed ownership. Wilkinson said he was providing affordable housing; the 13 “Wilk: Don’t tread on me,” Scott Condon, e Aspen Times, Oct. 3, 1994. p1. 14 “County wants Wilkinson’s buildings torn down,” Michael Bourne, Aspen Daily News, Oct. 9, 1990, p1. 15 Reid Haughey, telephone interview, April 25, 2023. county alluded to fire danger and other safety and sanitary concerns arising from the tepees and other unpermitted residences on the mountain. In 2001, a man died from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning in the propane-heated bus he called home on Smuggler.16 In 2002, a squatter’s camp along the road on county land was dismantled by a county crew. A vehicle, dilapidated camper and an outdoor deck replete with furniture were hauled away. Ownership of the Smuggler base-area parking lot was not the only bone of contention in the county’s ongoing battle with Wilkinson. In December 2000, Wilkinson ordered the county’s Community Development director off the Hunter Creek Cutoff Road, claiming the road was private where it crossed through his property. Wilkinson had made similar claims about ownership of Smuggler Mountain Road on his property, as well, and the two sides were already in court over that issue. The Cutoff Road was added to the judicial review. The county ultimately prevailed. In 2003, the Aspen City Council directed the city attorney to negotiate with Wilkinson for a potential open space purchase. City voters had approved an open space tax in November 2000 with Smuggler on their minds. Experts spent two years assessing Wilkinson’s holdings, coming up with an $8.1 million appraisal as a starting point. A $10 million offer was rejected, so the city offered $12 million. Wilkinson turned it down, countering with a complex proposal that the city attorney said he quit trying to figure out when the first two numbers in Wilkinson’s pitch added up to $21 million.17 Then, in August 2005, Wilkinson listed his property for sale for $15 million. By then, his landholdings totaled 170 acres. That November, the county put the land under contract with the city committed to paying half of the sum. At the time, it set a record price for an open space acquisition. A handful of smaller acquisitions on Smuggler followed, including the purchase of mineral rights, ensuring mining activity on the open space would be relegated to the mountain’s past. Wilkinson had been diagnosed with brain cancer in April 2005 and died in September 2006.18 The 16 “Body found on Smuggler,” Aspen Daily News, Feb. 7, 2001, p3. 17 “City gives up on Smuggler,” Janet Urquhart, e Aspen Times, June 29, 2004, p1. 18 “’Wilk’ dies at 63, leaves Smuggler legacy,” Scott Condon, e Aspen Times, Sept. 27, 2006, p1. following summer, about two dozen friends and relatives gathered in a clearing on the Smuggler mountainside in remembrance. A stone, carved with part of a poem Wilkinson wrote, memorializes the spot. Though the etching has faded with time, it is still possible to read the inscription: “The dance of life touches those who participate in passion…” Loved ones scattered Wilkinson’s ashes over the land he wound up playing a key role in conserving.19 TRANSFORMING A LANDSCAPE The purchase of Wilkinson’s land necessitated a massive cleanup. His compound was closed to the public while old mines were secured (one mine opening was covered by a trash can lid) and truckloads of accumulated materials were hauled from the site. Large trucks and heavy machinery rumbled up and down Smuggler Mountain Road throughout late summer, 2006.20 Items that had to be cleared from the landscape included large buses that had been turned into residences, a mobile home, huge volumes of wood and scrap metal, including drilling equipment dating back to the 19th century. The remains of the 19 “Wilk memorialized on Smuggler,” Janet Urquhart, e Aspen Times, June 15, 2007. p1. 20 “What Wilk left behind: Massive cleanup under way on Smuggler,” Chad Abrahams, e Aspen Times, July 28, 2006, p1. house that had been demolished were still there, as was a large assortment of vehicles – some fairly new, some ancient and rusting. There were shipping containers crammed with items.21 The cleanup cost some $60,000.22 Once the land was cleared, a 6-year effort to reclaim the landscape commenced, involving the city, county and community volunteers who helped transform the open space through a series of Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteer projects. Old roads were converted to singletrack trails and new trails were constructed, picnic tables were installed and fencing was erected to protect areas from further damage, leaving Smuggler Mountain Road as the only vehicular route through the open space. Three mine sites – the Bushwacker, Iowa Shaft and Park- Regent – were established as historical sites with interpretive signs to give visitors insight into the mountain’s past use. Damaged areas were reseeded in the summer of 2012. That September, the reclamation effort was deemed complete and nature was allowed to finish the work. Today, many users likely can’t tell that the grasses flanking the singletrack trails represent a real restoration success. 21 Ibid. 22 Gary Tennenbaum, Pitkin County Open Space and Trails director, February 2024. Bushwacker mining claim marker. Cleanup at Smuggler after the open space acquisition cost around $60,000. Reclamation eorts that followed successfully rehabilitated impacted areas. 6 | Introduction Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan | 7 TIMELINE Smuggler Mountain Open Space Pre-1879 1886 Miners extracted silver, lead and zinc from Smuggler Mountain, driving tunnels thousands of feet below the surface and conducted massive amounts of logging to support the mines. Existing Jeep roads began seeing mountain bike use as the sport gained traction in the 1980s. “Wilk” Wilkinson assembled 220 acres - including a contiguous mid-mountain piece above Smuggler Mountain Road. Pitkin County, the City of Aspen and Aspen Valley Land Trust slowly began conserving pieces on the face of Smuggler with an initial 17-acre donation to Pitkin County and the City of Aspen. The demonetization of silver in the first half of the 1890s resulted in an economic crash for Aspen. Operations and output slowed considerably and much of the town’s populace departed. Nomadic Ute People wandered the Aspen area for over 800 years prior to the first prospectors arrival at the foot of Aspen Mountain in 1879. A flume to carry Hunter Creek water to a power plant for the generation of electricity was constructed. A washout is still visible on the mountain face today. Aspen City Council directed negotiations with Wilkinson resulting in the City and Pitkin County purchase of most of what is known today as Smuggler Mountain Open Space for a then record-setting price. 1990 2005 1974 1879-1890s 1980s Verena Mallory Park donated to AVLT. 1981 Lindsay parcel purchased by OST and City of Aspen. 2012 Contiguous, half-acre parcel acquired by OST. 2009Silver Brick mining claim acquired by Pitkin County (later transferred to OST). Molly Gibson Park obtained by the Pitkin County General Fund. OST purchased Silverking. Randall Park and Lower Hunter Creek transferred to OST from the General Fund. 1979 1993 1996 1995 1998 1890 1999 Site of the Overlook Platform, B&M Baldwin, purchased by OST. Hunter Valley Way purchased by City of Aspen. $15 Million purchase of most mining claims assembled by Wilk Wilkinson made by OST and the City of Aspen. 2005 Remaining Wilk mining claims purchased by City of Aspen. Last Chance mining claims purchased by OST. 2007 2000 Little Maud mining claim purchased by OST. 2002 Cora Lee mining claim purchased by OST. 2003 Axtel & Protection mining claims purchased by OST. The purchase of Wilkinson’s land necessitated a massive cleanup, beginning in 2006. In 2008, the City and Pitkin County jointly adopted the initial management plan for Smuggler Mountain Open Space. 2008 The management plan update for Smuggler Mountain Open Space included adjacent parcels to Smuggler Mountain in the Hunter Creek Valley to provide a cohesive guide for the future. The Hunter Creek-Smuggler Mountain Cooperative Plan provided cross-jurisdictional management for 4,500+ acres adjacent to Smuggler Mountain Open Space. 2024 The community’s fondness for Smuggler and the desire to conserve it was one impetus for the formation of the county open space program. Driven by similar reasons, the City’s voters approved an open space tax in 2000. Wilk Wilkinson constructed an illegal residence on his property, escalating a feud with Pitkin County, and by the late 1990s, renters joined Wilk atop Smuggler in makeshift structures and vehicles. Emilee Benedict Park donated to AVLT. Rainstorm 2 & Snowstorm 2 donated to OST. City of Aspen purchased Mascotte 99. Smuggler MountainTimeline 1.2 PROPERTIES AND EASEMENTS *Acreage information from Pitkin County GIS, based on best information available. OPEN SPACES Portions of J.C. Johnson and Chatfield & Della S mining claims Year of Acquisition:1974 Owners: Pitkin County, City of Aspen (CE held by AVLT) Acreage: 16.8 acres (reflects total parcel acreages) Purchase Price:$0 (Donation) Silver Brick mining claim Year of Acquisition:1979 Owners: Pitkin County (CE held by AVLT) Acreage: 6.9 acres Purchase Price:$0 (accepted in settlement of lawsuit) Verena Mallory Park Year of Acquisition:1981 Owners: Aspen Valley Land Trust (Trail Easement co-held by Pitkin County and City of Aspen) AVLT Conservation Values: Parcel is intended for the use of the general public, exclusively as a natural park, open space rest area and scenic viewpoint. Picnicking allowed within the “Picnic Envelope.” Acreage: 10.9 acres Purchase Price:$0 (Donation) Emilee Benedict Park Year of Acquisition:1993 Owners: Aspen Valley Land Trust (Trail Easement held by Pitkin County) AVLT Conservation Values: Parcel is intended for the use of the general public, exclusively as a scenic natural park, trail corridor, fishing and open space area. Area acquisitions of 302 acres of open space parcels represent a joint investment of approximately $21 million for the benefit of recreation, wildlife and biodiversity and scenic preservation. Acreage: 10.1 acres Purchase Price:$0 (Donation) Rainstorm 2 & Snowstorm 2 mining claims Year of Acquisition:1993 Owners: Pitkin County Acreage: 7.4 acres Purchase Price:$435.000 Mollie Gibson Park [Smuggler Mountain Trailhead] Year of Acquisition:1995 Owners: Pitkin County General Fund, maintained by City of Aspen Acreage: 8.2 acres Purchase Price:$0 (Development exaction)1 Silverking Year of Acquisition:1996 Owners: Pitkin County Acreage: 8.9 acres Purchase Price:$115,000 Mascotte 99 mining claim Year of Acquisition:1998 Owners: City of Aspen Acreage: 9.2 acres Purchase Price:$370,209 Randall Park Year of Acquisition:1999 Owners: Pitkin County Acreage: 12.4 acres Purchase Price:$0 (Transfer from Pitkin County General Fund) Lower Hunter Creek 1 Williams Ranch annexation agreement, recorded 1995, Book 780 Page 376, section 4.12 Park Development Impact Fee Map 1. 10 | Introduction Year of Acquisition:1999 Owners: Pitkin County Acreage: 6.0 acres Purchase Price:$0 (Transfer from Pitkin County General Fund) Little Maud mining claim Year of Acquisition:2000 Owners: Pitkin County Acreage: 10.2 acres Purchase Price:$550,167 Cora Lee mining claim Year of Acquisition:2002 Owners: Pitkin County Acreage: 1 acre Purchase Price:$0 (donation) Axtel & Protection mining claims Year of Acquisition:2003 Owners: Pitkin County Acreage: 20.4 acres Purchase Price:$475,000 B&M Baldwin mining claim Year of Acquisition:2005 Owners: Pitkin County (CE held by AVLT) Acreage: 10.1 acres Purchase Price:$70,622 and donation Hunter Valley Way Year of Acquisition:2005 Owners: City of Aspen (CE held by AVLT) Acreage: 9.8 acres Purchase Price:$0 (donation)2 Smuggler mining claims •Smuggler Mountain (Park, Regent, Tiger, Lizzie, Jay Gould, North Star, Iowa#2, Cascade #2) •Alpine and Bushwacker •Rainstorm No.2 •Snowsstorm No. 2 •Ballarat/General Jackson •Pride of Aspen •Robert Emmett •Remaining portions of J.C. Johnson Year of Acquisition:2005 Owners: Pitkin County, City of Aspen (CE held by 2 Ordinance #50, 2004 AVLT) Acreage: 126.8 acres Purchase Price:$15 million Smuggler mining claims •Contraband •Result •Della S Year of Acquisition:2007 Owners: City of Aspen (CE held by AVLT) Acreage: 19.6 acres Purchase Price:$3.4 million (Includes $500,000 for mineral rights) Last Chance Year of Acquisition:2007 Owners: Pitkin County Acreage: 4.5 acres Purchase Price:$550,000 Smuggler Mountain II Year of Acquisition:2009 Owners: Pitkin County Acreage: 0.5 acre Lindsay Year of Acquisition:2012 Owners: Pitkin County Acreage: 10.1 acres Purchase Price:$70,622 and donation CONSERVATION EASEMENTS Smuggler Mountain B&M Claim Owner: Pitkin County Holder: Aspen Valley Land Trust Conservation Values: Open space, scenic, public recreation, natural and wildlife values. Management Considerations: Allowed uses: • Public access • Maintenance, reconstruction, relocation and replacement of existing trails the Smuggler Mountain Observation Deck. • Removal of vegetation for wildfire and disease prevention. • Surface disturbances as needed for recreational amenities maintenance. • Removal of invasive species. • De minimis commercial recreational use • General public recreational use. Low-impact outdoor recreational uses, such as hiking, cross-country skiing and enjoyment of scenic views. • Minimal external lighting for safety purposes. Restrictions: • No easements or new roadways, unless at the consent of the Trust. • No removal or disturbance of relatively natural habitat (i.e. native plants). • No ground disturbances by placement of or removal of soil, gravel, land fill or other natural abiotic materials. • No introduction of non-native species. • No fencing. • No livestock or grazing on the property. • Large-scale commercial use. • No establishment of communication facilities. • No establishment of utilities and water lines. • No construction of buildings. Smuggler Mountain Wilkinson Claim Owner: Pitkin County Holder: Aspen Valley Land Trust Conservation Values: Scenic, open space, wildlife and recreational values. Management Considerations: Allowed uses: • Public access. • Restoration activities: may take whatever steps necessary to reclaim mining impacts on the property and to revert the property to wildlife habitat. • Use of motor vehicles that is consistent with the preservation and protection of the conservation values and emergency situations. • Modification of existing and new roads and trails for recreational purposes. Restrictions: • No construction of buildings. • No easements or new roadways, unless at the consent of the Trust. • No commercial feed lots or grazing. • No manipulation of natural streams, wetlands, springs or other hydrological features. 12 | Introduction Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan | 13 Smuggler Mountain Contraband Claim, Smuggler Mountain Della S Claim and Smuggler Mountain Result Claim Owner: City of Aspen Holder: Aspen Valley Land Trust Conservation Values: Relatively natural habitat, open space Management Considerations: Allowed uses: • Public access. • Construct, maintain, replace and repair one cabin not to exceed 2,500 sq. ft. and satisfies the limitations and restrictions applicable to “Rural and Remote” cabins pursuant to the Pitkin County Land Use Regulations (e.g. no public utility connections, seasonal access, no improvement to existing roads). • Removal of vegetation for ecological, wildfire and disease prevention. • Surface disturbances as needed for habitat enhancement or restoration purposes. • Removal of invasive species. • De minimis commercial recreational use. • General public recreational use. Low-impact outdoor recreational uses, such as hiking, cross-country skiing and enjoyment of scenic views. • Motorized recreational uses on existing and designated trails and roads, in a manner consistent with the preservation and protection of the conservation values of the property. • Construction of low-impact recreational amenities such as park benches and picnic tables. • Use of chemicals (pesticides and herbicides) in a manner consistent with sound environmental conservation practices. Restrictions: • Shall not construct, improve, place, or replace any buildings, structures, parking lots, or billboards on the property (aside from allotted cabin). • Pave, widen, or construct new roads without the consent of Trust. • Unwarranted removal of vegetation or disturbance to soils (must serve ecological or hazard reduction purposes). • No subdivision of land. • No erection of communication facilities/infrastructure. • Prohibited activities include: off-road use of motorized vehicles, introduction of non-native species, fencing, livestock grazing, accumulation/dumping or disposal of trash (including burn piles), industrial activity, installation of utilities and water lines, hunting and trapping. TRAIL/RECREATION EASEMENTS AND LEASE AGREEMENTS Verena Mallory Owner: Aspen Valley Land Trust Holder: Co-held by Pitkin County and City of Aspen Management Considerations: Allowed uses: • Use of existing trail for hiking, horseback riding, nonmotorized bicycles, and cross-country skiing. • Minimal clearing and earthwork for existing trail maintenance. • Construction of picnic tables and shade shelter within “Picnic Envelope.” Restrictions: • No structures or improvements of any kind, including establishment of new trail (except for picnic structures in “Picnic Envelope”). • No altering of natural vegetation or topography. • No motorized vehicles, camping, firearms, noisy or otherwise offensive behavior, and commercial uses. South Trail (Emilee Benedict) Owner: Aspen Valley Land Trust Holder: Pitkin County Management Considerations: In the event of any conflict between the provisions of the Deed and the South Trail Easement Agreement, the South Trail Easement Agreement shall govern and control. Pitkin County is responsible for trail maintenance, enforcement and insurances. Allowed uses: • Trail-associated amenities: Trail signage, drainage structures, and trail benches. • Non-motorized, people-transporting commercial use (ski touring, horse packing, or similar). • Pedestrian, non-motorized trail use. Restrictions: • No structures or improvements of any kind unless specifically identified in allowed uses. • Removal of riparian vegetation with 20 feet of the ordinary high water mark of Hunter Creek. • No motorized vehicles, camping, fires, firearms, noisy or offensive behavior. • No commercial activities, unless specifically identified in allowed uses. Lani White Owner: Private Holder: Pitkin County Hunter Creek Owner: Private Holder: Pitkin County BLM Red Mountain Right-of-way Grant COC 53783 Owner: Bureau of Land Management Holder: Pitkin County Board of Commissioners Acreage: 0.636 acres Access road is 470ft long by 30ft wide Parking Lot is 4,800sf Trail is 880ft long by 10ft wide Agreement: Construct, operate, maintain and terminate an access road, parking lot and trails. AREA CONSERVATION EASEMENTS McCloskey Owner: Private Holder: Pitkin County Conservation Values: Relatively natural habitat, open space Hunter Creek Estamar Owner: Private Holder: Aspen Valley Land Trust Conservation Values: Relatively natural habitat, open space 1.3 ACCOMPLISHMENTS This plan update builds upon past accomplishments and celebrates the investments made to the open space since adoption of the first Smuggler management plan, prepared in 2008. The initial plan set forth management actions in three areas: natural resources, recreation and educational opportunities. With many of the management actions complete or underway, an update to the conditions at Smuggler Mountain are further detailed in Section 2. 14 | Introduction Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan | 15 Recreation Inventoried forest resources and developed a forest resource management plan. Closed and reclaimed mine shafts, meeting Colorado Division of Reclamation and Mine Safety (CDRMS) requirements. Restored the heavily impacted observation area. Restricted motorized uses to Smuggler Mountain Road. Constructed and/or formalized 7 miles of single-track trails including: •BTS •Picnic Point and Picnic Loop •Lollipop and Lollipop cut-o •Tootsie Roll Created a dog voice and sight control area. Limited trail development to the “2008 Potential Recreation Area.” Prohibited hunting on the open space but maintained access on Smuggler Mountain Road. Completed over 50 volunteer work days with Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers. Developed interpretive signage to highlight mining history and Smuggler’s importance. Assessed and treated for mountain pine beetle in response to outbreak in early 2000s. Supported prescribed re on adjacent lands. Restored the old racetrack with native vegetation, added picnic areas. Completed forest regeneration and mechanical vegetation thinning projects that contributed to forest health and quality wildlife habitat. Natural Resources Outreach and Education A A B C DD B C D E E H H I J I J Conducted wildlife surveys, assessed habitat conditions. Conducted noxious weed control. Mapped vegetation types at Smuggler, established plant community transects for monitoring, conducted rare plant and noxious weed eld surveys. Aspen Global Change Institute installed a soil moisture monitoring station Added dog waste stations and increased ranger patrols. Installed waynding, regulatory and interpretive signage. Closed bandit/unauthorized trails to prevent impacts on wildlife and vegetation. Maintenance Monitoring and Stewardship F F G G White River National Forest White Ri v er Nation al F or e st Smuggler Mountain Open Space 2008 to 2024Accomplishments Smuggler Trailhead Lani White Mascotte 99 Lower Hunter Creek Trailhead Upper Hunter Creek Trailhead BLM Parking Lot on Red Mountain Conservation Easement Conservation Easement Limited Parking for ADA, Seniors and Hut Access Smuggler Mountain Road BTS Platform Lollipop Tootsie Roll Picnic Loop Hunter Creek Roaring F o r k River N Smuggler Mountain Hunter Creek Valley 2. Existing Conditions 2.1 LOCATION AND CONTEXT Smuggler Mountain Open Space is located on the north and east sides of the City of Aspen, in unincorporated Pitkin County. The open space is situated on the northwestern flank of Smuggler Mountain and is embedded within a landscape that transitions from urban to national forest. The northern and eastern parts of the open space are surrounded by the White River National Forest, which is under the administration of the USDA Forest Service. The lands on the west are privately owned. Smuggler Mountain provides year-round recreational opportunities and protects native habitat for local flora and fauna. The hillside of Smuggler Mountain and the Hunter Creek drainage are highly visible from many points within the City of Aspen. The open space can be seen from Highway 82 as far north as Brush Creek Road, from neighborhoods, from several local ski areas, and from public lands surrounding the city. The main feature when viewing Smuggler is the face of the open space, which is bisected by Smuggler Mountain Road. The vegetation on the hillside creates a mosaic of color and texture that changes with the light and the seasons. The south-facing and upper portions of the open space are dominated by stands of aspen and oak shrubland, which contrast with coniferous forest, creating a distinct, visually pleasing landscape. From Smuggler itself, users can enjoy views of the City of Aspen, the four ski areas and Mount Sopris. Filoha Meadows Nature Preserve at sunset. Smuggler Mountain Open Space protects wildlife habitat, viewsheds and outdoor recreational opportunities in Aspen’s “backyard.” The compilation of properties helps maintain a significant amount of unfragmented wildlife habitat and open space, while also providing public trail access not only to the open space itself but also to the broader White River National Forest. Smuggler trails wind through mature forests. 18 | Existing Conditions Map 2.ACCESS AND PARKING Smuggler Mountain Open Space is accessible via four main points: Smuggler Mountain Trailhead, upper Hunter Creek and lower trailheads and the BLM parking lot on Red Mountain. Additional neighborhood access points include the Lani White Trail and the Mascotte 99 Trail. Smuggler Mountain Trailhead provides access to Smuggler Mountain Road, an unimproved dirt road that requires four-wheel drive / high-clearance vehicles. Access by vehicle, foot and bike can be gained by ascending Smuggler Mountain Road. Multiple non-motorized trails provide access through the open space and into national forest lands. From the Hunter Creek Valley, several recreational trails connect to the upper portions of the valley and to Smuggler Mountain. Two roads owned and managed by Pitkin County pass through Smuggler Mountain Open Space – Smuggler Mountain Road and the Hunter Creek Cutoff Road; the latter no longer functions as a road. Smuggler Mountain Road passes through Smuggler Mountain Open Space and continues to Warren Lakes within the national forest. The Pitkin County Asset Management Plan was amended in 2008 to grant the Open Space program jurisdiction to regulate non-motorized uses on Smuggler Mountain Road. SURROUNDING LAND USE To the southwest of Smuggler lies the City of Aspen, which has several planned unit developments. The most prominent of these is the Centennial Affordable Housing and Silverlode Mixed-Use Development. Near the trailhead to Smuggler Mountain Road is Mollie Gibson Park, a county-owned public park managed by the City of Aspen, as well as the Smuggler Mine Corporation (SMC). SMC is a private operation that offers historical tours into its mine. The northwestern border of Smuggler Mountain Open Space extends into the Hunter Creek Valley. The lower portion of the valley contains multiple, privately owned, single-family parcels, City- and county- owned parcels, and private parcels protected by the Aspen Valley Land Trust. The northeastern, eastern, and southerly portions of the open space are bound by the White River National Forest. Efforts have been made to align regulations since much of the open space borders Forest Service lands. Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan | 21 Map 3. Map 4. 2.2 NATURAL RESOURCES AND BIODIVERSITY ECOLOGICAL CONTEXT The importance of Smuggler Mountain to wildlife is largely related to its location between public lands administered by the USDA Forest Service and developed land in the City of Aspen. Residential and recreational development in the Aspen area has resulted in the direct and indirect loss of wildlife habitat and migratory routes for many species in the upper Roaring Fork Valley. Smuggler Mountain, even with its current level of recreational use, provides an important habitat corridor and a substantial buffer between the City of Aspen population center and the national forest. Three Potential Conservation Areas (PCA) as identified by Colorado Natural Heritage Program occur within one mile of Smuggler Mountain Open Space, with one of these, the Hunter Creek PCA, overlapping the boundaries of Smuggler Mountain Open Space (Map 3). Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has mapped high-priority habitat in the area for elk (migration corridor, severe winter range and production area), as well as aquatic native species conservation waters and sportfish management waters. Portions of Smuggler Mountain Open Space closer to national forest lands are identified by The Nature Conservancy’s Resilient and Connected Network as “mostly resilient with some recognized biodiversity.” The resilience, connectivity and biodiversity values increase with distance away from town. e Watershed Biodiversity Initiative map indicates a complex landscape of intermixed conservation value and restoration opportunity (Map 4). Several habitat types are present at Smuggler, each contributing to the overall biodiversity of both flora and fauna. At the lower elevations, oak brush dominates, with strong components of serviceberry, sagebrush and bitterbrush. The oak brush gives way to healthy aspen stands at higher elevations, with mixed conifer elements. On the north-facing, upper-elevation slopes, lodgepole pine forests are dominant with components of Douglas fir, subalpine fir, and some Engelmann spruce. A small riparian area also offers critical moisture and habitat. Per SB181. 22 | Existing Conditions Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan | 23 Physical Setting (Geology, Soils, Topography) Elevations of Smuggler Mountain Open Space range from approximately 8,129 to 9,698 feet. The topography varies from relatively flat to very steep with a perennial, unnamed stream meandering southeast to north across the eastern side of the open space. Aspects are primarily northerly, westerly and southerly, which largely define land cover – the upper and north facing portions of Smuggler are forested, while the lower and southerly facing aspects are dominated by shrublands. The geologic history of the area includes periods of encroaching and retreating seas, above- and below-ground volcanic activity, and glaciation, all with a consistent force of erosion through time. In a typical soil profile, the top four inches is a very dark, grayish brown loam, whereas the following layers are coarser material made up of gravelly sandy loam to cobbly loamy sand. Permeability is rapid with low available water capacity, creating an effective rooting depth of 60 inches. Slight differences in soil conditions and/or aspect can change the assemblage of species just enough to separate plant community types. Soil characteristics inform vegetation management, revegetation plans, trail construction and maintenance. Aspen Global Change Institute (AGCI) operates and maintains one soil moisture-monitoring station on Smuggler at an elevation of around 9,030 feet, on a northwest-facing slope, as part of its Roaring Fork Observation Network (also known as iRON), which tracks soil moisture and precipitation across an elevational gradient in the Roaring Fork Valley. The Smuggler station, installed in 2012, collects soil moisture data at three depths and basic weather data. Results show that water tends to pass through the soils very quickly here, leaving shallow soils dry much of the year, even after rainstorms. Long- term monitoring of these conditions may help track climate change impacts at the local scale and can be correlated with vegetation data at these locations.2 WATER AND RIPARIAN RESOURCES The open space sits adjacent to Hunter Creek and contains one unnamed perennial stream. A previous property owner used water from this stream for domestic purposes; today, the water source and its associated riparian area provide important habitat for wildlife. No targeted riparian or wetland habitat assessments have been done to date; the riparian area appears to be vegetatively intact and functioning. Hunter Creek flows through and adjacent to Smuggler Mountain Open Space for about 1.5 miles. A USGS stream gage is located upstream on the White River National Forest. Water quantity on Hunter Creek is impacted by diversions upstream 2 AGCI, 2019 Tree Survey Report; https://www.agci.org/projects/ roaring-fork-observation-network/smuggler-mountain Table 1.Smuggler Mountain Daily Soil Moisture and Rain Sept - Oct 2023 (ACGI) Collected data shows that rainfall passes so quickly through the soils that the moisture doesn’t register at the 2-inch depth. Moisture is reected farther down in the soil column that divert water into the transmountain diversion system, which conveys water to the Front Range. In May and June, up to 50% of the flows from Hunter Creek are diverted.3 Other in-basin diversions further deplete water quantity in Hunter Creek, most notably the Red Mountain Ditch. Minimum flow shortages are prevalent on Hunter Creek, which likely has impacts on aquatic and riparian life, though no targeted studies of those elements have been done.4 CPW considers the Hunter Creek watershed a critical management zone for native cutthroat trout populations, but ditches, canals and diversions represent fish passage barriers (most of which occur outside the Smuggler Open Space boundary). Low flows in Hunter Creek below the Red Mountain diversion is one of the top areas of ecological concern in the upper Roaring Fork Watershed.5 Water quality sampling of Hunter Creek above the open space within the national forest indicates water quality is high. Upper portions of Hunter Creek within the Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness are currently designated as “Outstanding Waters” by the Water Quality Control Commission of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. A lower portion of the creek received the same designation in 2024, extending the Outstanding Waters reach of Hunter Creek down to the Smuggler Mountain Open Space boundary. The designation provides additional protection to sections of streams that meet specific water-quality standards and provide an outstanding natural resource.6 This is indicative of the value of Hunter Creek as it flows into Smuggler Mountain Open Space. VEGETATION Land cover at Smuggler includes primarily native shrublands and forests, and many nuanced vegetation communities within those types resulting from the combination of historic land use activities, slope, aspect and elevation. Most of the forests have been harvested, burned or otherwise altered for human benefit over the past century 3 Lotic Hydrological. Upper Roaring Fork River Management Plan, A Joint City of Aspen and Pitkin County Project, 2017. 4 2017 Upper Roaring Fork River Management Plan (URFRMP) 5 Lotic Hydrological. Upper Roaring Fork River Management Plan, A Joint City of Aspen and Pitkin County Project, 2017. 6 Outstanding Waters Fact Sheet. Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). (2018). Regulation No. 31- e Basic Standards and Methodologies for Surface Water (5 CCR 1002-31), eective 1/31/18. or more. As a result, except for the steepest slopes where humans were unable to harvest trees, most of the vegetation types at Smuggler are in various stages of development and succession. The floristic diversity and quality remain high on the open space with vegetation communities typical of the surrounding area. Noxious weeds, while present, are being contained. Some areas remain in degraded condition due to mining and other past land use activities. Baseline vegetation monitoring, rare plant survey, noxious weed assessment, and floristic work was most recently conducted in 2018, and included an update to the vegetation classifications for the open space. Vegetation mapping was updated in 2024 from aerial imagery to match the extent of the updated planning area. From the initial survey conducted in 2007 to the survey in 2018 no significant differences were found. Overall, major vegetation communities show remarkably little change over the last decade. The vegetation cover was lower in the forested communities in 2018 than in 2007, but higher in the oak shrubland. The hot dry summer of 2018, much of it classified as an extreme drought over Pitkin County, may have been the causal factor in lower understory vegetative cover in 2018 for forested communities. A total of 190 vascular plant species were observed during field reconnaissance, only 28 of which are non-native. Plant Communities Mountain Shrublands Classified under the Gambel Oak – Mountain Snowberry Shrubland Alliance, this plant community exists on the steep, lower-elevation slopes of Smuggler. It includes other dominant species such as mountain snowberry, serviceberry, sagebrush, elk sedge and mountain mahogany. Noxious weeds are relatively absent from the oak shrublands, except on trailsides and some cheatgrass present on the west side. These intact, native plant communities denote responsible land management and public use. The oak-dominated shrublands on Smuggler are overgrown due to the absence of fire. Gambel oak resprouts after fire and its shoots are highly palatable to browsing wildlife. Fire and/ or mechanical treatment can enhance habitat by creating openings for animal movement and promoting better grass and forb production. Areas with a strong presence of mountain big sagebrush Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan | 25 Mixed Conifer Treatment e Floristic Quality Assessment (FQA) is a standardized method used to determine the ecological condition of a site in terms of its native oristic quality. It is useful for assessing how human disturbances have aected plant community composition and for tracking changes in plant communities over time, which has practical implications in the continued management of open space areas and helps to form a complete picture of biodiversity. e results of the FQA show that Smuggler has a rich oristic diversity across all its habitats. e assessment also shows how little change in oristic quality there has been over the past 12 years, per monitoring of seven permanent transects. Further quantitative information and updated vegetation classications can be found in the 2019 Vegetation and Wildlife Monitoring Report. and antelope bitterbrush are not suitable for disturbance treatments as they are vital for wildlife habitat but do not resprout after fire. Two Gambel oak treatments have been conducted at Smuggler within the past 15 years. Aspen Forests Classified under the Rocky Mountain Aspen Forest and Woodland Alliance, aspen stands are a dominant vegetation community found at the higher elevations. Other species commonly dominant with the aspen here include serviceberry, buckbrush and tall forbs. In some of these aspen communities, subalpine fir and Engelmann spruce are encroaching, whereas other aspen stands appear to be persisting and regenerating without a conifer component. The aspen stands on Smuggler Mountain Open Space act as either a seral tree (successional) or a climax tree (persistent), depending on the location. The strong aspen component is likely a result of all the human harvesting activities of the last century plus. Many persistent aspen stands in the upper elevations appear to be in good condition and do not require intervention. Where aspen is a seral species, they can eventually be replaced by conifers. Some of these stands show evidence of understory conifer encroachment or large old trees with little regeneration, so periodic disturbance may be beneficial. OST has implemented mechanical treatments mimicking natural disturbance processes in successional aspen stands by removing the understory conifer encroachment. Riparian Aspen Forests The proximity to water and the presence of obligate riparian species in the shrub and understory layers distinguishes the Quaking Aspen Riparian Forest Alliance. This plant community comprises about seven acres of Smuggler. No riparian assessments have been done to date, but the age-class structure, regeneration, ample species diversity and healthy plants all indicate that it is in good condition. Subalpine Fir – Aspen Forests Classified under the Rocky Mountain Moist Forest Alliance, this plant community is distinguished from other aspen forests by the combination of conifers and aspen in the overstory, the lack of a distinct shrub layer, and abundant tall forbs. This is an example of how, without disturbance, conifers can eventually take over and shade out the aspen. Site-specific forest management treatments may maintain healthy aspen forest communities and the biodiversity they support. Lodgepole Pine Forests On the north-facing upper elevation slopes, lodgepole pine forests are dominant. Two lodgepole alliances exist at Smuggler: the Rocky Mountain Lodgepole Pine – Aspen Forest Alliance and the Rocky Mountain East Cascadian Lodgepole Pine Forest Alliance The Rocky Mountain Lodgepole Pine – Aspen Forest Alliance, which includes the dominant species quaking aspens and snowberry, is found on gently sloping areas and encompasses about 31 acres. It is more likely indicative of past mining activities and selective cutting than natural succession.7 The current condition of this vegetation community is good to excellent, as species diversity, age-class structure and plant health are appropriate. In some areas, lodgepole pine appears to dominate, in others, the aspen dominates. The lodgepole will become dominant if there are no major disturbances, eventually reducing understory diversity due to increased shade. Noxious weeds are present in this area, particularly along the trails. The Rocky Mountain East Cascadian Lodgepole Pine Forest Alliance is generally more dense, often mixed with other conifers including Douglas fir, subalpine fir, and Engelmann spruce. The understory shrubs include predominantly Buffaloberry, Scouler’s willow and whortleberry. Currently, these forests are in good condition. Significant forest health efforts have occurred at Smuggler to control the mountain pine beetle outbreak in lodgepole. This included the removal of individual infested lodgepole trees, patch cuts to reintroduce disturbance and application of verbenone to repel the beetles, as well as post-treatment monitoring.8 Treatments have been effective in maintaining forest health at the landscape level. Douglas Fir Forests Classified under the Douglas Fir Southern Rocky Mountain Forest and Woodland Alliance, these fir- dominated forests are found on the lower parts of steep, north-facing slopes in the upper elevations. Although small and somewhat isolated, these stands are in good to excellent condition. Notably, 7 (CWS & WPNRC 2008). 8 (Gillete et al. 2010). Aspen Forests Mountain Shrublands Lodgepole Pine Forests Douglas Fir Forests 26 | Existing Conditions Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan | 27 Map 5. conifer species diversity is particularly high, creating a highly resistant stand to a number of forest pests. The age-class structure of these species is also good, as there is a fair amount of regeneration within and around this stand of Douglas fir. Plant Species of Conservation Concern No rare plants have been documented at Smuggler Mountain Open Space. However, there are several species of relatively uncommon plants present including orchids and moonwort. Surveys of common moonwort (Botrychium neolunaria), a plant previously on a watch list but no longer considered rare, have been conducted and one plant was identified, both in 2007 and in 2018. Future rare plant surveys should focus on the riparian habitats. Noxious Weeds Noxious weeds mainly occur along Smuggler Mountain Road and historic mining disturbances, and there are scattered noxious weeds present in vegetation treatment units and along trails. There are no Colorado List A Noxious Weeds however, there are eight List B species, three of which are slated for suppression in Pitkin County (Canada thistle, oxeye daisy and houndstongue). The most common species include scentless chamomile, oxeye daisy and plumeless thistle. Some toadflax and Canada thistle also occur. Cheatgrass is common in portions of the lower elevations in the Gambel oak woodland, and knapweed is present in the southwest corner of the open space along the Mascotte 99 Trail. See Table 2. Diverse plant communities at Smuggler meet diverse needs of elk Elk utilize most of the plant communities at Smuggler Mountain Open Space. e conifer and conifer-aspen forest types provide thermal and hiding cover. e aspen forest provides important summer forage. e mountain shrubland types with more southerly to westerly aspects are heavily used during spring and fall transition and provide the most important winter habitat on Smuggler. e lodgepole pine forest types are primarily used during migration. In addition, the lower elevation aspen forest on Smuggler may provide elk calving habitat and most of the larger aspen stands not inuenced by recreation are used as rearing habitat. NAME NOXIOUS WEED LIST Perennial Forbs Cirsium arvense / Canada Thistle B Leucanthemum vulgare / Oxeye Daisy B Linavia vulgaris / Toadflax B Tanacetum vulgare / Common tansy B Annual/Biennial Forbs Arctium minus / Lesser burdock C Carduus acanthoides / Plumeless thistle B Centaurea stoebe subsp. micranthos / Spotted knapweed B Cynoglossum officinale / Houndstongue B Tripleurospermum perforatum / Scentless chamomile C Verbascum thapsus / Mullein C Annual Graminoids Anisantha tectorum / Cheatgrass C Table 2.Colorado Listed Noxious Weeds 28 | Existing Conditions Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan | 29 Smuggler Mountain Road Oak Mastication Mixed Conifer TreatmentMascotte 99 Oak Mastication Aspen RegenerationAspen-Conifer Encroachment Lodgepole Cuts Implementation Update Smuggler MountainForest Health Oak Mastication Treatments Two oak mastication treatments have been conducted at Smuggler Mountain Open Space. The first treatment occurred along Smuggler Mountain Road. All oak 5 feet and taller were avoided as were aspen. The oak is responding well in this area and supports a high diversity of other shrubs and subshrub species. Herbaceous species diversity is also high. A few scattered plumeless thistle plants, a noxious weed, were also observed, however they are not problematic. The second treatment occurs along the Mascotte 99 Trail in the southwest corner of Smuggler Mountain. Here, selected stands of oak were masticated, while most serviceberry and sagebrush were avoided. In general, the shrubby and herbaceous vegetation appears to be healthy and is regenerating. However, there are several stands of noxious weeds including toadflax and spotted knapweed. There is also scattered plumeless thistle. From a habitat perspective, this treatment will effectively increase age-class diversity and improve forage quality for ungulates. Landing Areas Two helicopter landing areas were used to facilitate the forest management treatments. These areas generally have a low vegetative cover of desirable grasses and are relatively weedy with numerous plants of scentless chamomile, tarweed and plumeless thistle. Aspen – Conifer Encroachment This area saw the majority of understory conifers removed. The aspens appear healthy, numerous young aspen suckers are present, and the understory is dominated by herbaceous plants. Although modest in scale, this effort helps to maintain the representation of aspen forest on Smuggler which will benefit many species of wildlife, including red-naped sapsuckers, northern goshawks, elk, black bears, and a myriad of smaller mammals and songbirds. Mixed Conifer Treatment This small-patch cut had all conifers greater than 6 inches in diameter removed. There are young subalpine fir, Douglas fir, and lodgepole pine present in the patch cut, as well as regenerating aspen. In addition, there is a diverse herbaceous layer and shrubs. A few noxious weed thistles (plumeless and Canada thistle) are present, as well. The patch cut appears to have been successful in reducing density and increasing the likeliness of resilience in the face of threats such as beetle outbreaks. The methods were also effective in improving conditions for early seral lodgepole and preferred wildlife forage plant species. Aspen Regeneration This treatment unit was designed to stimulate the growth of new aspen. The treatment appears to have been quite effective with a plethora of new aspen growth as well as serviceberry shrubs and herbaceous vegetation. As with the Aspen – Conifer Encroachment treatments, this treatment has effectively encouraged aspen regeneration, which will in turn contribute to maintaining or improving habitat conditions for many wildlife species that occur at Smuggler Mountain Open Space. Lodgepole Cuts Three small lodgepole patch cuts were completed. All units show some regeneration of aspen and a good diversity of native graminoids and forbs. Common shrubs and subshrubs are present, too. Noxious weeds sporadically occur, including mullein and plumeless thistle. As a habitat treatment, these cuts have been successful in improving conditions for lodgepole pine seedlings, which are a preferred forage species for snowshoe hares which are, in turn, preferred prey for Canada lynx. This should be repeated on a long-term basis to create a multi-aged mosaic that ensures the representation of early seral lodgepole in the Hunter Creek – Smuggler Mountain area. Since mature lodgepole pine provides little wildlife habitat resources and early seral lodgepole will increase snowshoe hare density, this type of long-term lodgepole management will increase overall wildlife habitat conditions. R E D MT NR D HunterCreekTollR dSm u ggler Mo unt a inRdPitkin County, USGS, Colorado WaterConservation Board, and more Fall Concentration Human Conflict Area Overall Range R E D MT NR D HunterCreekTollR dSm u ggler Mo unt a inRdPitkin County, USGS, Colorado WaterConservation Board, and more Summer Range Severe Winter Range Winter Range Overall Range R E D MT NR D HunterCreekTollR dSm u ggler Mo unt a inRdPitkin County, USGS, Colorado WaterConservation Board, and more Summer Range Winter Range Overall Range R E D MT NR D HunterCreekTollR dSm u ggler Mo unt a inRdPitkin County, USGS, Colorado WaterConservation Board, and more Human Conflict Area Overall Range Map 6. Mule Deer Map 7. Black Bear Map 8. Elk Map 9. Mountain Lion WILDLIFE Smuggler Mountain is by no means pristine wildlife habitat. The area has been heavily impacted by human activities like mining, logging, anthropogenic fires, infrastructure development, and recreation development over the past 150 years. But there is still wildlife habitat in fair to excellent condition that provides valuable resources for over 138 wildlife species, some of which are permanent residents while others pass through the area on an occasional or seasonal basis. The diversity of habitats provides an abundance of food, cover and reproduction sites for various animal, insect and herptile species. Aspen forests on the lower reaches of Smuggler Mountain provide particularly valuable wildlife habitat. Aspen habitats, especially when associated with riparian vegetation, typically support much greater diversity, richness, and abundance of birds and other wildlife than adjacent habitats. OST regularly studies wildlife at Smuggler Mountain Open Space. For detailed methods and additional results on the mammal and avian surveys, see the 2019 Smuggler Mountain Wildlife and Vegetation Monitoring Report. Mammals The 2018 wildlife surveys by Colorado Wildlife Sciences show the three most abundant species recorded were mule deer, red squirrel and black bear, in order of abundance. At least 14 mammal species were identified during the surveys, and at least 54 species are known or suspected to occur at Smuggler according to habitat needs. Ungulates Smuggler Mountain provides important habitat for mule deer, North American moose, and Rocky Mountain elk. Mule deer occur throughout the non-winter months, but most heavily during the spring and fall transition periods as they migrate between their summer and winter ranges. The mountain shrubland provides excellent forage for mule deer, and the adjacency of forests to the shrublands provides a sense of security. Moose frequently travel across Smuggler as they move between the excellent habitats of the Roaring Fork River valley at North Star Nature Preserve and the Hunter Creek valley. Smuggler provides important elk winter range and severe winter range and is situated within an important elk migration corridor and transition range. Abundant grass and forb understories at Smuggler provide nutritious forage for elk from early summer through the fall. Predators and Bears Nine species of carnivores are known to occur at Smuggler Mountain: Pacific (formerly American) marten, long- and short-tailed weasels, striped skunk, bobcat, mountain lion, coyote, red fox and black bear. Canada lynx and American badgers may also occur, but have not been documented. The elevation range and variety of aspects and habitats have the potential to provide black bears with all of the habitat types they require and the interspersion of plant communities provides ample spring, summer and fall forage for bears in the forms of insect larvae, grasses/forbs and acorns. Unfortunately, when weather or climatic events such as droughts or late freezes impact acorn and berry production (important fall bear foods), bears tend to venture into areas of human habitation, potentially resulting in conflicts with people. Aspen Aspen Aspen Aspen Smuggler Mountain Open Space Smuggler Mountain Open Space Smuggler Mountain Open Space Smuggler Mountain Open Space 32 | Existing Conditions Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan | 33 Small Mammals Often overlooked, small mammals remain an important component of the ecological communities at Smuggler. In addition to increasing species richness, they play a major role in the food web, consuming plants and invertebrates, and in turn serving as prey for a number of species of snakes, raptors and mammals. Small mammals are numerous, and include shrews, voles, pocket gophers, pine squirrels, porcupines and snowshoe hares. The snowshoe hare is of particular note because the lodgepole pine forests at Smuggler provide adequate understory growth (often absent in other mature lodgepole forests) for snowshoe hare habitat and foraging needs. Bats also play in important role – eating insects, pollinating plants and dispersing seeds – with up to seven species of bats occurring at Smuggler. The Park Regent, Iowa Shaft and Bushwacker shafts were surveyed for wildlife in 2008 and did not contain bats. However, some of the old mines are likely used as habitat by the big brown bat, little brown bat, long-eared myotis, long-legged myotis, and Townsend’s big-eared bat. Disturbances to mines and caves are the primary threat to bats. Birds Seventy-seven bird species are known or suspected to occur on Smuggler. Fourteen of these species are of particular conservation interest. The diversity of habitat types support a relatively high proportion of habitat-interior species (e.g., bluegray gnatcatcher, plumbeous vireo), habitat specialists (e.g., brown creeper, red-naped sapsucker, Virginia’s warbler) and species known to be sensitive to human activity and anthropogenic habitat change. This is an indication that Smuggler, in its current state and level of human activity, does indeed provide effective habitat and range for a wide variety of species and general bird populations, and future management of these habitat conditions is important for those species to persist. Generally, the more diverse and structurally complex the plant community is, the greater diversity of avifauna. At Smuggler, the diverse understory and multi-tiered canopy of the aspen forest communities provides greater opportunities for food, cover and nest sites than the surrounding conifer forest types and shrublands, especially compared to the nearby lodgepole forests that lack understory complexity. Birds have benefited from forest health improvement projects as those efforts increase habitat opportunities. Snags, or standing dead trees, are critically important bird habitat in all forest types, for perches, foraging on invertebrates that inhabit snags, and cavity nests. Smuggler Mountain Open Space provides suitable breeding habitat for falcons, hawks and owls. American kestrels, Cooper’s hawks, northern goshawks, sharp-shinned hawks, and red-tailed hawks have been observed at Smuggler during the breeding season. Although no formal owl surveys have been completed, flammulated owls, great- horned owls, northern pygmy owls, northern saw-whet owls and American three-toed woodpecker •Depend on mature to old- growth lodgepole and spruce forest and benet from beetle outbreaks •Occur within the older mixed aspen/conifer, lodgepole pine, and Douglas r communities •“Watchlisted” by Partners in Flight Virginia’s warblers •Strongly associated with mature Gambel oak •CPW Tier 2 SGCN •Ranked “high global priority” by Partners In Flight, reecting the vulnerability of populations throughout the species’ range Olive-sided flycatchers •USFS Region 2 Sensitive Species and a CPW Tier 2 SGCN1 •Found at Smuggler, primarily in mixed conifer- aspen forests •Prefer openings with standing dead trees near water, burns and blowdowns 1 Species of Greatest Conservation Need: Chapter 2, Colorado Statewide Wildlife Action Plan, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 2015. Northern Goshawk •USFS Region 2 and BLM Sensitive Species and a CPW Tier 2 SGCN •Smuggler provides excellent nesting habitat •Primary threats are tied to the alteration of forests •Evidence suggests that large patches of mature or old growth forest surrounding goshawk nests are important for maintaining local populations western screech owls may occur here based on habitat preference and conditions onsite. Reptiles and Amphibians No reptile or amphibian surveys have been conducted at Smuggler, however based on habitat presence and observations, western terrestrial garter snakes, Boreal chorus frogs, northern leopard frogs and smooth green snakes are the herpetofauna species that do or may occur here. Species of Conservation Concern One federally protected species may occur on or adjacent to Smuggler Mountain – the Canada lynx, federally listed as Threatened. The presence of snowshoe hares may increase the likelihood of lynx presence at Smuggler (they depend on the hare for food). However, the recreational activity at Smuggler decreases the likelihood of lynx presence. Species on the State of Colorado list of State Endangered and Threatened species that do, or could potentially, occur at Smuggler include the Pacific marten, bald eagle and Townsend’s big- eared bat. 2.3 RECREATION Smuggler Mountain Road slices diagonally across the northwest face of the lower mountain in full view of the City of Aspen, drawing tens of thousands of users annually, most on foot or bicycle. Two primary motivations for visiting Smuggler trails emerged from a 2022 intercept survey: exercise/fitness and socializing (see the survey summary on page 40). Smuggler regulars and visitors are typically completing the popular 2.9-mile, round-trip workout hike to the Smuggler Overlook, exploring Aspen’s backyard on the popular Hunter Creek Trail, or using the open space as a gateway to trails and roads extending into the White River National Forest. In 2008, the majority of the recreational use took place along the Smuggler Mountain Road corridor and the Hunter Creek Cutoff Road. Hunter Creek-area trails were not included in the original management plan. Developed trail mileage within the previously defined Smugger Mountain Open Space totaled about 3 miles and included Smuggler Mountain Road, Smuggler Loop Trail and the Hunter Creek Cutoff. Average summer use on Smuggler Mountain Road was over 400 users per day. The trail system has grown to provide a network of over 11 miles of developed trails within the revised Smuggler Mountain Open Space management boundary. These trails provide connections to over 33 miles of trails largely maintained by the Forest Service. Trails constructed at Smuggler, since the 2008 management plan identified a recreation area, have been concentrated on the upper reaches of the open space, with other trails outside of both the original recreation area and planning area within Lower Hunter Creek. 34 | Existing Conditions Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan | 35 The natural topography and dense vegetation dominating most of the front of the mountain and the hillsides of Hunter Creek do not lend themselves to recreational uses. For this reason, this part of the recreation area identified in 2008 for construction of new trails is not carried forward with this plan update. In place of an identified area for recreation, the management actions in Section 4 establish a process for development of new trails that includes use of targeted studies, best available science and discussions with CPW and ecologists to assess potential impacts to wildlife and biodiversity. TRAILHEADS Smuggler Mountain Trailhead The trailhead for Smuggler Mountain Road originates from the intersection with Silverlode Drive at the base of Smuggler Mountain. Parking for approximately 9 vehicles is provided spring through fall in a small lot at the trailhead and overflow parking (approximately 30 spaces) is available along Park Circle. Parking at the trailhead is coordinated with local law enforcement in order to maintain parking spaces for Smuggler Mountain users and to enforce winter closures and no overnight parking. The Smuggler Mountain Trailhead is located on the 8-acre Mollie Gibson property, which includes the adjacent Mollie Gibson Park. The Pitkin County General Fund owns this property and the City of Aspen maintains the adjacent park. Prior to this plan update, rangers were not authorized to enforce Title 12 and Smuggler-specific regulations on this property. See the Section 4 for management updates to this trailhead. Lower Hunter Creek Trailhead The Lower Hunter Creek Trailhead provides access to the Lower Hunter Creek Trail. This trailhead is nestled in multi-family residential development. No recreation-specific parking is provided; on-street parking is available along Lone Pine Road and a RFTA bus stop is located across the street from the trailhead. Hunter Creek Trailhead on Rio Grande The Hunter Creek Extension Trail connects the Rio Grande Trail, near the Aspen Post Office, to the Lower Hunter Creek Trail. No parking is available. Upper Hunter Creek Trailhead The Upper Hunter Creek Trailhead provides access to the network of trails in the Hunter Creek Valley, with connections to Smuggler Mountain. This trailhead is a 10-minute drive from Aspen. Limited parking is restricted to ADA and seniors only as a result of a settlement agreement in 2004. This agreement also permits the gate and road to be opened during hunting season. In the winter, two parking spaces are provided for 10th Mountain Hut users. Parking enforcement is the responsibility of the Pitkin County Code enforcement officer. BLM Parking Lot on Red Mountain A small Bureau of Land Management parcel located on Red Mountain provides a trailhead and parking area. This parking area connects to the Hunter Creek Valley Trail via the BLM Parking Lot Access Trail. Pitkin County holds a right-of-way to construct, operate and maintain an access road, parking lot and trails. Access to the trailhead is from Hunter Creek Road, off of Red Mountain Road. Neighborhood Access Points •Lani White Trail connects to Spruce Street through a 14-foot recreation easement. •The Mascotte 99 Trail connects Smuggler Mountain Road to residential development on Midland Park Place. RECREATION USE A trail counter installed in 2012 tracks overall recreation use over time. Table 5 and 6 illustrates use trends and annual use counts. The counts do not correspond to total trail users; a counter is triggered each time someone passes by (one user may trigger it more than once per outing). While Smuggler Mountain Road remains one of the most- visited trails in the city and county’s network of trails, use counts indicate wide variations from year to year since tracking began at a location on the road, near the Smuggler Observation Platform. In 2012, 119,400 uses were recorded. In 2023, the total use was 79,900. Like many trails in the valley and statewide, trail use saw a surge in 2020 (129,000 uses on Smuggler) associated with COVID-19 outdoor recreation trends. Use counts indicate year-round visitation remains fairly consistent: summer months (May to October) see an average of 9,500 trail use counts and winter months (November to April) Map 10. 36 | Existing Conditions 119,379 104,017 110,740 108,916 83,897 99,754 88,026 97,504 129,028 114,524 85,931 78,879 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 see an average of 7,300 trail use counts (Table 7). The Hunter Creek Trail sees markedly lower annual trail counts than Smuggler. Hunter Creek records an annual average of 33,400 uses, compared to Smuggler’s 101,700 annual average. This trail counter is located along a portion of the Lower Hunter Creek Trail that sees primarily pedestrian use; mountain biking is not recommended.. Summer Recreation Smuggler Mountain has always been a popular destination for recreation, even before its designation as open space. Smuggler visitors usually start their outing from Park Circle and head toward the Observation Platform – a popular destination. In addition to hikers and bikers, there is use by vehicles, motorbikes and e-bikes. Equestrian use is permitted, though few equestrians utilize trails on Smuggler Mountain. From the Observation Platform, non- motorized users can access a network of over 40 miles of trails that connect Smuggler Mountain to the Hunter Creek Valley trails and the national forest. Many users complete a loop linking the Lower Hunter Creek Trail to Smuggler Mountain Road. Hiking is popular on the single-track Lower Hunter Creek Trail. TRAIL MILES MAINTAINED BY ALLOWED USES DOG POLICY Hike Bike E-bike Horse Smuggler Mountain Road (Kiosk to Tootsie Roll Jct)2.1 Pitkin County/OST Y Y Y Y Voice/Sight Mascotte 99 0.2 COA Y Y N Y Voice/Sight Tootsie Roll 1.0 COA/OST Y Y N Y Voice/Sight Picnic Point 0.1 COA/OST Y Y N Y Voice/Sight Picnic Loop 0.4 COA/OST Y Y N Y Voice/Sight Lollipop 2.3 COA/OST Y Y N Y Voice/Sight Lollipop Cutoff 0.3 COA/OST Y Y N Y Voice/Sight 10th Mountain 0.4 COA/OST Y Y N Y Voice/Sight Smuggler Loop 0.3 COS/OST Y Y N Y Voice/Sight BTS (Behind the Sign)0.65 COA/OST Y Y N Y Voice/Sight Hunter Creek Cutoff 1.1 COA/OST/USFS Y Y Y Y Voice/Sight Hunter Creek Valley (Lower Hunter Creek to Hunter Creek Cutoff)0.67 USFS Y Y N Y Voice/Sight Varena Mallory 0.4 OST Y Y N Y Leashed Lower Hunter Creek .9 OST Y N N N Leashed Lani White 0.2 OST Y N N Y Leashed BLM Parking Lot Access 0.5 OST Y Y N Y Leashed TOTAL TRAIL MILES 11.5 Table 3.Smuggler Mountain Open Space Trails Table 4.Smuggler/Hunter Creek Valley Surrounding Area Trails TRAIL MILES Smuggler Mountain Rd (USFS)4.2 Iowa Shaft 0.9 Hunter Creek Valley - South 0.8 Hunter Creek Valley (east of Hunter Creek Cutoff)2.8 Hunter Creek Valley North 1.0 Hunter Creek Toll Rd 3.6 McCloskey Lot 0.1 North Spur 0.1 Lazy Man Shortcut 0.1 Lower Plunge 0.4 Lower Plunge East 0.3 Lower Plunge West 0.4 TRAIL MILES Hummingbird 1.7 Upper Plunge 1.3 Secret 0.8 Four Corners Rd 1.0 Hobbit 1.8 Burnt Hole Rd 2.3 Hunter Creek Overlook 0.8 Bald Knob 1.3 Van Horn Park 0.6 Van Horn Park Rd.1.7 Hunter Creek 4.6 TOTAL SURROUNDING TRAILS 32.6 Table 5.Smuggler Platform Annual Trail Counts Table 6.Lower Hunter Creek Annual Trail Counts 12-year average: 101,716 12-year average: 33,432 6,745 6,625 9,541 8,051 8,722 10,263 10,773 9,522 9,288 8,491 6,888 6,149 0 5000 10000 15000 January February March April May June July August September October November December averageTable 7. Smuggler Average Monthly Trail Counts 2012-2023 Summer average: 9,500 Winter average: 7,300 6,745 6,625 9,541 8,051 Winter average: 7,300 6,888 6,14920,153 32,141 37,722 45,713 46,746 44,801 36,623 37,130 36,183 11,885 38,442 13,641 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 38 | Existing Conditions Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan | 39 Report Update Smuggler Mountain Trailhead Visitation Patterns & Use e Outdoor Recreation Visitor Use and Experience report summarizes ndings of a multi-year, visitor-use study at 14 recreation areas in the Roaring Fork Valley, including Smuggler Mountain Open Space. is study was developed to understand the visitor experience, visitor demographics and to identify the volume and spatial extent of recreational use. A total of 120 surveys were administered at Smuggler Mountain Trailhead in the summer of 2022, accompanied by 73 GPS tracks of trail users’ routes. e survey results show that users originating from Smuggler Mountain Trailhead are highly motivated by socialization and exercise/tness. Just under half of survey respondents were primary residents but most had visited Smuggler before – 87% were returning users. Trail use was reported to be highest in midmorning, but parked vehicles at Smuggler Trailhead and Park Circle remained steady throughout day. Unlike some other popular areas, visitors reported infrequently altering the time or day of their visit to avoid crowds and few experiencing conict or unsafe conditions. Included here are the ndings relevant to visitation patterns and use at Smuggler. 87% White 5% Hispanic/Latino 4% Don’t Know 2% Asian 59% Female 41% Male 50% B.A./B.S. 26% Master/Grad 17% PhD/MD/JD 4% Some College 3% High School 35% 500k+ 24% 200-499k 17% 100-199k 14% 50-99k 7% 25-49k 3% < 25k Mean Age: 45.2 Smuggler Mountain Urban Proximate Summary: Visitor Demographics:Activity Type: Motivation Polar Plot: Users highly motivated bysocialization and exercise/fitness Trail use highest in midmorning,vehicle use steady throughout day 87% of visitors are returning users 45% of users are primary residents Visitors infrequently report experiencing conflict or unsafe conditions Visitors infrequently alter the time or day of their visit to avoid crowds 88% White 5% Hispanic/Latinx 4% Don’t Know 2% Asian 1% Black/African American 1% American Indian/Alaska Native 86% Walking/Hiking 12% Biking 5% Dog Walking 1% Fishing 1% Running 1% Bird Watching 1% Other (Mine Tour) 43 Smuggler Mountain Urban Proximate Summary: Visitor Demographics:Activity Type: Motivation Polar Plot: Users highly motivated bysocialization and exercise/fitness Trail use highest in midmorning,vehicle use steady throughout day 87% of visitors are returning users 45% of users are primary residents Visitors infrequently report experiencing conflict or unsafe conditions Visitors infrequently alter the time or day of their visit to avoid crowds 88% White 5% Hispanic/Latinx 4% Don’t Know 2% Asian 1% Black/African American 1% American Indian/Alaska Native 86% Walking/Hiking 12% Biking 5% Dog Walking 1% Fishing 1% Running 1% Bird Watching 1% Other (Mine Tour) 43 What motivates people to visit Smuggler? Crowding evaluations of site conditions and visitor experience. Map of use density and spatial extent of survey participants originating from Smuggler Mountain Trailhead. Top Activities Spatial and Temporal Metrics Average daily trail use by hour (Summer) 86% Walking/ Hiking 12% Biking 5% Dog Walking 1% Fishing 1% Running 1% Bird Watching 1% Other (Mine Tour)44Figure 4.12:Map of the use density and spatial extent of visitors at Smuggler Mountain.44Figure 4.12:Map of the use density and spatial extent of visitors at Smuggler Mountain.44Figure 4.12:Map of the use density and spatial extent of visitors at Smuggler Mountain. B.1. Crowding Evaluations 96 Figure B.11:TOBL crowding evaluations on 5pt likert-scale of agreement of site conditions and whether respondents experienced sub-optimal conditions. Figure B.12:SMUG crowding evaluations on 5pt likert-scale of agreement of site conditions and whether respondents experienced sub-optimal conditions. Trail Users Parked Vehicles (TH & Park Circle) 40 | Existing Conditions Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan | 41 Winter Recreation Winter recreation in the area includes hikers, snowmobilers and backcountry skiers. Backcountry skiers use parts of Smuggler-area trails to access the 10th Mountain System Benedict Huts: Fritz and Fabi. In 2006, the staff collaborated with the 10th Mountain Hut System and relocated the hut trail to the Smuggler Loop Trail. The trail is open year-round and is accessible to all non-motorized users. DOGS The 2008 Management Plan allowed dogs under voice and sight control to be walked off-leash on Smuggler Mountain Road. The plan provided for ongoing monitoring of this departure from Title 12 Regulations, which may be amended by subsequent board action if it is determined to be unworkable. Dogs must be leashed on the Lower Hunter Creek Trail, Lani White Trail and Verena Mallory Trail. Dog leashes are provided to trail users with dogs for the leashed portions of the Hunter Creek and Lower Hunter Creek Trails. COMPLIANCE City and County Open Space rangers are responsible for the education and enforcement of regulations, and assist law enforcement agencies, and emergency personnel in responding to emergency/ public safety-related activity on Smuggler Mountain and in the Hunter Creek Valley. Smuggler Mountain Open Space is the third most patrolled zone by rangers, behind North Star Nature Preserve and Sky Mountain Park. Staff are authorized to enforce the regulations listed in Section 4 on Pitkin County Open Space and Trails, City of Aspen and AVLT properties. Open Space rangers face several challenges on Smuggler Mountain Open Space. These include the abandonment of dog waste and trash/dog waste bags, as well as the failure to keep dogs under voice and sight control. Dog waste abandonment, while a persistent issue, has improved over the years, likely due to visitor education and signage to help elicit behavioral change. Illegal overnight parking at the parking area and on the county right-of-way, as well as the use of e-bikes on single-track trails, are also common issues. In addition to these challenges, rangers also respond to medical incidents and wildlife calls, with moose sightings being the most common. VISITOR AMENITIES Wayfinding and Informational Signage Informational kiosks are located at the base of Smuggler Mountain Road, at the four-way intersection near the viewing platform, at the intersection of the 10th Mountain Trail and the Hunter Creek Cutoff and at the USFS boundary along the Lower Hunter Creek Trail. An additional trailhead kiosk is located at the intersection of the Rio Grande Trail and the Hunter Creek Extension. Signs indicating the open space name are located near the Upper Hunter Creek Trailhead, the Hunter Creek Trailhead, on Smuggler Mountain Road near the Overlook Platform and west of the junction of the Hunter Creek Valley and Hunter Creek Cutoff trails. Trail wayfinding signage has been installed at primary intersections. Some signage requires updating for consistency. Interpretive Education Interpretive signs are located throughout mine sites at Smuggler as well as some sites where restoration projects have occurred. Some signs are in poor condition. Signage will require maintenance updates, which should be coordinated with an overall interpretive sign plan. Smuggler Overlook Platform The platform offers 270-degree views, east toward Independence Pass and west toward Mount Sopris, providing vistas as far as Sunlight Mountain. Picnic Areas Continuing beyond the Smuggler Overlook, up either the Smuggler Loop Trail or Smuggler Mountain Road, to the Picnic Loop Trail, are three picnic tables. The picnic area, known as Robbie Wade Park, is located in the old “racetrack” that was heavily degraded by motorized vehicles. The area around the picnic area has been fenced to exclude vehicles and restored. Dog Pots and Waste Receptacles At the base of Smuggler Mountain Road there is a dog waste receptacle near the kiosk, maintained by OST. There are two additional dog waste receptacles along the road, maintained by OST, with the final one located at the end of winter plowing. Dog poop bags are provided. A fourth dog bag receptacle was installed as part of an adjacent property’s development approvals and is maintained by the homeowner. Additional Amenities Offsite, but in close proximity to the Smuggler Mountain Trailhead, are amenities that support visitation to the Smuggler-area trails. These amenities include a restroom at Mollie Gibson Park and a bike fix-it station and water bottle filling station at Park Circle. There is also a “storybook trail” along on the Hunter Creek Extension, which connects to the Rio Grande Trail. 2.4 COMMERCIAL USE AND SPECIAL EVENTS Open Space and Trails has issued a variety of commercial and special-use (event) permits for Smuggler Mountain Road and the open space. Permits have included organized hikes, non-profit trail runs and races, commercial and non-profit bike rides and races, commercially guided mountain-bike instruction, a commercial video shoot and one Jeep Jamboree (limited to five vehicles). An Aspen Cycling Club race and Aspen Backcountry Marathon, both non-commercial uses, have consistently brought the largest annual events to the open space and adjacent national forest. Educational uses have included history-focused Aspen Historical Society Jeep ride/trail tours during the summer and fall in 2017 and 2019, and commercially guided walking tours that offer historical, cultural and natural interpretations through storytelling. 2.5 HISTORICAL RESOURCES MINING Smuggler Mountain has at least six known mineshafts: Iowa Shaft, Boulder Shaft, Bushwacker, Park-Regent, Drill Rig Shaft, and an unnamed shaft. None of these mines or open pits are in the State Historical Register, and the State Office for Mine Safety and Reclamation identified all for closure. Initial closing procedures for the mines included fencing and signs. Mine tailings were studied to determine any potential toxic or heavy metal pollution. Staff worked to identify all tailings and planned appropriately for reclamation and restoration. Following reclamation, public access to closed areas was restored. Mines and related operations on Smuggler Mountain Open Space are now marked as historic sites with interpretive signs to give visitors a sense of the mountain’s past. Without photographs, it is difficult to imagine the magnitude of the industry that once scarred the landscape, from the dirt and grime to the labyrinth of ore cart tracks, boilers, compressors, hoists, smokestacks, shacks, shaft buildings and immense piles of accumulating mine waste. All of it was laid bare by the near clear-cutting of trees to provide timber for the mine tunnels and construction. In 2009, an historical assessment of Smuggler Mountain Open Space and a few adjacent properties was conducted. The objective was to identify any historical features or resources that might warrant protection and management, however, there was insufficient evidence to suggest the need to register or safeguard these sites as historical resources. The Aspen Historical Society collected and cataloged all of the historical materials prior to a scrap and trash cleanup. Other activities such as logging and trade corridors were essential to the mining heritage and town growth, but no records have provided geographical locations of these endeavors on Smuggler Mountain. SMUGGLER MOUNTAIN ROAD The historic segment of Smuggler Mountain Road originates 500 feet east of the entry of Struggler Mine property and traverses Smuggler Mountain in a series of switchbacks. The road is evident in most photographs as far back as 1893 and was included in the U.S. Geological Survey report of 1898. Smuggler Mountain Road represents an identifiable community character and speaks to Smuggler Mountain’s historic past. The road potentially meets criteria for the National and State Registry of Historic Properties (CSRHP) and may be eligible for listing. 42 | Existing Conditions Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan | 43 3. Planning Process and Public Input 3.1 PLANNING FRAMEWORK PLANNING PROCESS Phase1: Baseline Data Collection The initial planning phase involved reviewing relevant plans and policies, as well as assessing natural resource and wildlife monitoring reports and existing conditions. Information collected is summarized in Section 2. Phase 2: Partner and Public Outreach Staff from Pitkin County Open Space and Trails, City of Aspen Parks and Open Space and AVLT jointly consulted with key stakeholders to gain perspective on top priorities and areas of concern. Stakeholder meetings were hosted in May 2024 with the following organizations: •Aspen Center for Environmental Studies •Aspen Chamber Resort Association •Aspen Historical Society •Aspen Fire •Aspen Global Change Institute •Colorado Parks and Wildlife •Roaring Fork Mountain Biking Association •Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers •U.S. Forest Service •Wilderness Workshop To understand the community’s use of Smuggler Mountain Open Space and desires for future management, public input was gathered through a community survey conducted from mid-June to mid-July 2024. The survey was promoted by the City of Aspen, Aspen Valley Land Trust, and Pitkin County through social media and outreach tables at the Smuggler trailhead, as well as stakeholder newsletters. A total of 380 community members responded to the survey. The complete survey responses can be found in Appendix A, with key points summarized in Section 3.3. Phase 3: Draft Plan Development and Public Comment Using the existing conditions data, reports and public input, staff compiled a draft management plan with updated action items to guide future management. The management action items were reviewed with stakeholder organizations. The first draft of the management plan was presented at a joint meeting of the Pitkin County and City of Aspen Open Space and Trails boards for comment and direction on September 19, 2024. Following the reviews, the draft Management Plan was released for public comment, facilitated through an online survey. The one-month comment period was advertised through direct emails to the initial survey, emails to stakeholders and social media to highlight elements of the plan and encourage the public to provide comments. Responses were collected from 222 community members. Complete survey responses are in Appendix C. Phase 4: Final Plan Revisions and Adoption Following the draft plan public comment period, staff discussed the feedback received and updated the plan with recommended revisions. The final plan was reviewed by the Pitkin County and City of Aspen Open Space and Trails boards and adopted by the Pitkin County Board of County Commissioners and the Aspen City Council. 3.2 STAKEHOLDER COMMENTS Partners were engaged at two points during the plan update process. Early in the planning process, key stakeholders were tapped to identify top constraints, opportunities, and opportunities for coordination. Stakeholders were then provided the draft plan and asked to submit formal comments. Letters of support can be found in Appendix C. ASPEN CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES OST, COA and AVLT collaborate on projects and programming in the Aspen area with staff from ACES. Suggested considerations from ACES include: •Balance this recreation amenity with the wildlife habitat the area provides. •Continue restoration projects. •Manage trails and access. •Collaborate and plan across jurisdictional boundaries. •Address recreation opportunities for all abilities and ages. ASPEN CHAMBER RESORT ASSOCIATION ACRA collaborates with land managers in the Aspen area on outreach efforts. Suggested considerations PUBLICOUTREACH May - August 2024 PHASE 2 DRAFT PLAN DEVELOPMENT PHASE 3 FINAL PLAN ADOPTION PHASE 4 Stakeholder Discussions Aspen Center for Environmental Studies Aspen Chamber Resort Association Aspen Historical Society Aspen Fire Aspen Global Change Institute Colorado Parks and Wildlife Roaring Fork Mountain Biking Association Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers U.S. Forest Service Wilderness Workshop Stakeholder Reviews August 2024 Community Survey June - July 2024 Draft Plan Public Comment September - October 2024 OST & COA Board Reviews September 2024 Trailhead Events June - July 2024 DATA COLLECTION Fall 2023 - Spring 2024 PHASE 1 from ACRA include: •Address parking and coordinate with campaigns to encourage alternative transportation to trailheads. •Collaborate on general etiquette and education messaging. •Provide a restroom. •Maintain off-leash area. •Consider future demand for events as spaces become more limited. ASPEN FIRE Aspen Fire collaborates with land managers in the Aspen area on wildfire risk and fuel-reduction efforts. Suggested considerations from Aspen Fire include: •Coordinate planning and projects with the Community Wildfire Protection Plan. •Protect public property and any other values (infrastructure, source water protection, etc.) through wildfire risk reduction projects in areas of concern on Smuggler and Hunter Creek. •Maintain Smuggler Road as it is a valuable line of defense in event of wildfire. •More signage and/or education about fire restrictions. ASPEN GLOBAL CHANGE INSTITUTE AGCI is an independent nonprofit organization that maintains a soil moisture-monitoring station on Smuggler Mountain. Suggested considerations from AGCI include: •Continue data collection. Collected data from Smuggler is unique in the system and may be useful for future knowledge of steep, mixed conifer areas and fire risk. •Manage social trails. ASPEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY Aspen Historical Society preserves local history in the area. Suggested considerations in the Smuggler area for their organization include: •Increase interpretive signage to inform visitors of the area’s history and the conservation efforts to protect this community asset. •Ensure that educational hikes and tours can continue. 44 | Process and Public Input Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan | 45 COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIFE OST, COA and AVLT collaborate on projects and planning in the Aspen area with staff from CPW. Organization concerns and suggested considerations in the Smuggler Mountain and Hunter Creek Valley include: •Protect critical wildlife habitat, including critical winter habitat and elk production areas in Hunter Creek. •Protect riparian habitat. •No new trails as expanded recreation has the potential to fragment habitat. •Limit trails in undeveloped areas and reclaim unauthorized routes. •Maintain hunting access on Smuggler Road. •Increase education on wildlife and human interactions. ROARING FORK MOUNTAIN BIKING ASSOCIATION RFMBA supports the development and maintenance of mountain bike trail systems in the region. Suggested considerations from RFMBA include: •Explore alternative ascents/descents from Aspen to single-track trails on Smuggler Mountain and Hunter Creek for user safety and to offer a better experience. •Address issues of user-created motorbike trails. •Follow USFS e-bike restrictions on single-track trails, especially if they change in the future. •Improve kiosk maps and wayfinding signage. •Highlight “suggested” routes for hikers and bikers. •Explore potential for designated downhill routes. ROARING FORK OUTDOOR VOLUNTEERS RFOV promotes the stewardship of public lands in the region. Suggested considerations from RFOV include: •Address increasing user numbers and recreation pressure. •Preserve and/or develop more trails. •Increase wildfire risk management projects. •Improve education on responsible recreation. •Consider recreation offerings for all abilities and ages. WHITE RIVER NATIONAL FOREST Aspen is surrounded by the White River National Forest. Key considerations and opportunities for improvement from the perspective of the Forest Service include: •Ensure that Smuggler remains a portal to public lands. •Maintain motorized access on Smuggler Road. •Maintain the value of wildlife habitat and habitat connectivity in close proximity to Aspen. •Trail additions on USFS lands is not supported. •Reduce hazardous fuels on steep slopes. •Collaborate on plans and projects across jurisdictional boundaries. •Maintain winter access to backcountry huts. WILDERNESS WORKSHOP Wilderness Workshop promotes the protection of public lands in western Colorado. Organization concerns and suggested considerations include: •Protect connected landscapes that provide important wildlife and biodiversity values. •Address proliferation of motorized and mechanized illegal trail development and off- trail motorized use. •Close and revegetate illegal/unauthorized trails. •Maintain public access for pedestrians and cyclists at current levels. •Limit motorized use with seasonal closures. •Incorporate equity into the plan and ensure that new signage is presented in a bilingual Spanish/English format. •Update existing sign infrastructure. 3.3 PUBLIC OUTREACH COMMUNITY SURVEY Participation in the initial online community survey, which ran from June 15 to July 26, 2024, was high: 380 participants responded to the survey. Within the online survey, over 90 write-in comments were collected in response to an open-ended question on near- and long-term management needs. The survey, developed by OST, COA and AVLT, aimed to understand general usage patterns of residents and visitors (such as preferred activities, frequency of use, access points, etc.), as well as to identify the most valued attributes of the open space and gather feedback on what the community believes is working well or needs to change. Demographics The results provide valuable insight representing users, neighbors and individuals who wish to preserve the wildlife, scenic views, and overall experience of this recreation destination. Respondents came from across the Roaring Fork Valley: 60% from Aspen, 4% from Snowmass Village, and collectively 22% from downvalley communities. About 3% of the respondents were visitors and 6% were second-home owners. The survey covered adult age groups, with similar representation from nearly all age groups from 31 to 60. Seniors aged 61 and over accounted for 20% of the responses. Young adults, aged 20 to 30, provided just 11% of responses, and no responses were received from individuals under the age of 19 though young users are often observed on the area’s trails. Activities The survey indicated that the most popular and frequent activity at Smuggler Mountain Open Space is hiking, with 49% of respondents saying they participate in it weekly. Other frequent activities include mountain biking, enjoying the amenities, dog walking and wildlife viewing. Survey Participation Total Survey Respondents 380 individuals Most Frequent Activities 1. Hiking / Walking 2. Mountain Biking 3. Enjoying the Amenities Travel to the Trailhead By Car 40% By Bike 30% By Foot 28% By Bus 1% Most-Used Trailheads Smuggler Trailhead 91% Lower Hunter Creek 43% Upper Hunter Creek 33% Lani White 29% BLM Red Mountain Lot 19% Mascotte 99 9% Respondents by Age Respondents by Residence Aspen 60% Downvalley 22% (Basalt, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs) Second-home owner 6% Snowmass Village 4% Visitor 3% Attributes of Smuggler Ranked by Importance to Respondents Under 19 0% Ages 20-30 11% Ages 31-40 26% Ages 41-50 21% Ages 51-60 22% Over 61 20% 1 2 3 4 5 During a typical visit to Smuggler Mountain Open Space, survey respondents rated their experience with 4.3 stars. 4.3 Star Average Rating Participation in and Frequency of Activities Beauty/Scenic Views Recreation Opportunities Ecology/Habitat/Natural Resources Culture/History/Character Support Tourism 100% 96% 96% 79% 40% 5% 17% 18% 22% 26% 29% 34% 49% 19% 16% 14% 12% 24% 19% 23% 13% 46% 38% 30% 12% 17% 14% 31% 12% 23% 97% 91% 85% 47% 53% 86% 86% 34% 54% 47% 48% 16% 35% Horseback riding Hunting access Educational programs Winter access to 10thMountain … Backcountry / cross-country skiing Dirtbiking or other motorized use E-biking Access to National Forest lands Trail running Wildlife viewing Dog-walking Enjoying the amenities Mountain biking Hiking / walking CHART TITLE Weekly Monthly Yearly Never 46 | Process and Public Input Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan | 47 21% 24% 45% 49% 50% 50% 51% 56% 63% 70% 75% 77% 87% 32% 15% 34% 32% 26% 41% 34% 22% 24% 18% 15% 16% 11% 47% 61% 21% 19% 24% 9% 15% 22% 13% 12% 10% 7% No new trails Expanded e-bikes routes Reclamation of unsigned/user-created routes Benches/rest stops along Smuggler Mountain Road New, beginner trails Trail access/improvements for persons with disabilities Parking improvements Maintain off-leash dog policy Restroom near the Smuggler Trailhead New, advanced trails Smuggler Mountain Road maintenance (first 2 miles) A single-track trail connection from town to the upper trails (aka "portal" trail) Single-track trail maintenance CHART TITLE Support Neutral Oppose Important Qualities The beauty and scenic views that Smuggler Mountain and Hunter Creek offer were ranked as the most important attributes of the open space by respondents (nearly 100% rated them very important, important or somewhat important), followed closely by recreation opportunities (96%), ecology/wildlife habitat and natural resources (96%) and culture/history and character (79%). Conversely, about 60% of respondents felt that attracting and supporting tourism was not important. Current Conditions Respondents were generally satisfied (50% or more very satisfied or satisfied) with the trailheads, trail difficulty, trail types and variety, interpretive signs, wayfinding signs and access to Hunter Creek. The greatest number of respondents were neutral on accessibility and inclusivity conditions (29%). Parking areas (13%) and dog-waste receptacles (15%) received Recreation Management The highest level of support for future recreation management, indicated by respondents, was for single-track trail maintenance (86% of respondents strongly or somewhat support). A single-track trail connection from town, Smuggler Mountain Road maintenance, new advanced trails, a restroom at the trailhead, continuing the off-leash dog policy, parking improvements, trail access for persons with disabilities and new, beginner trails were supported by half or more respondents. Expanded e-bike routes was the only listed item that was opposed by more than half of respondents. Signage Updates Updates to wayfinding and interpretive signage received very little opposition from survey respondents; generally, most respondents were fairly neutral on signage updates. Updating wayfinding signage was supported by just over half of respondents (56%). Around 40% of respondents were neutral to bilingual signage and updated interpretive signage; still, just under half of respondents indicated support for signage improvements. Respondents were split in their support and opposition of interactive or digital history information. DRAFT PLAN COMMENT PERIOD The Draft Management Plan was released for public comment in September 2024 and comments were received for a one-month period. All responsed are included in Appendix C. In total, 222 members of the public responded to the draft plan comment survey. The survey permitted respondents to rate their level of support for the draft management actions and, overall, 85% of respondents support the plan’s management actions. Respondents could further provide their preference for the top three priorities. Of the listed management actions, the top 5 management actions supported by respondents were (in this order): •R.3 (Advanced Downhill Trail): 79% of respondents cited this as one of their top three priorities. •R.1 (Portal Trail): 75% •NR. 2 (Healthy forests: 17% •R.7 (Hut Access): 14% •EO 3. (Dog Waste): 10% There were no difference in the top priorities of Level of Support for Recreation Management the highest reports of being unsatisfactory. Just over one-third of respondents do not use the water filling station or bike tools located at Park Circle. More than half of respondents (59%) prefer to maintain the current level of event use; few (8%) would prefer to see the amount of event use increase. Forest Health Management Most respondents (86%) would prefer to see the current forest health approach continue with projects as needed for habitat diversity; few (5%) would prefer a hands-off approach to forest health. When it comes to wildfire, 83% of respondents are interested in increased coordination with other agencies and fire districts in the implementation of mechanical projects primarily for the benefit of wildfire risk reduction. Additionally, just over half of respondents would support prescribed fire in the Smuggler area. respondents from the upper Roaring Fork Valley and County residents compared to the overall priorties of all respondents. A comment box allowed the public to share their comments on the draft action items supported or recommend changes or additions that should be considered for the final plan; a total of 115 write-in comments were received.. Themes of the write-in comments indicated support for: •a portal trail •trail additions and more advanced downhill mountain biking trails •preference to see wildlife protected over the construction of new trails •expanded e-bike access. 3.4 RELEVANT PLANS AND POLICIES JOINT CITY OF ASPEN & PITKIN COUNTY 2008 Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan This initial management plan provided a framework for managing the newly acquired lands and assembled lands dating back to the 1970s. The goals of this plan, jointly developed by the City of Aspen and Pitkin County Open Space and Trails, included: •Protect, manage and enhance the natural, geologic, cultural and visual resources, including maintaining and promoting healthy ecosystems and their essential components and processes. •Provide and promote safe and enjoyable outdoor recreation opportunities. •Provide educational opportunities regarding the values of the surrounding natural, geologic, cultural and visual resources, and the importance of responsible use and stewardship of the land. •Define implementation policies, programs and responsibilities for the above goals, as well as provide specific implementation steps where appropriate. Progress toward the 2008 management actions can be found in Section 1. This 2024 plan update adds contiguous acreage in the Hunter Creek Valley to create a seamless plan for the area and will replace the 2008 Management Plan. 48 | Process and Public Input Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan | 49 PITKIN COUNTY OPEN SPACE AND TRAILS Title 12 of the Pitkin County Code All properties and trails managed by Pitkin County Open Space and Trails are subject to regulations set forth in Title 12 of the Pitkin County Code. Individual properties may be subject to additional terms established in their respective management plans. Open Space Board Policies Protection of Natural Biodiversity and Management of Human Use (adopted in 2016) This policy requires that human uses on OST properties be managed in a manner that preserves and protects native biodiversity. The OST program seeks to rely on the best available science to guide management decisions, inform specialized habitat management needs and identify opportunities to restore healthy, natural functions in degraded habitats. 2014 Pitkin County Open Space and Trails Signage Design Guidelines The 2014 Signage Design Guidelines are an update to the Trail Design and Management Handbook. The update covers materials, graphics, types, templates, installation and maintenance for signs on Pitkin County Open Space and Trails properties. 2024 Other Power Driven Mobility Devices (OPDMD) Management Plan The OPDMD Management Plan looks at trail conditions in the Pitkin County system and designates them as either open, closed or restricted for OPDMD use. OST takes pride in providing excellent recreational opportunities and works to make these opportunities accessible when possible. PITKIN COUNTY 2023 Pitkin County Hazard Mitigation Plan Pitkin County, Colorado’s 2023 Hazard Mitigation Plan aims to reduce the potential for harm to people, property and the environment from natural and human-caused hazards. The plan encourages incorporation of recommended mitigation actions into other local government planning mechanisms, like management plans. Relevant mitigation actions 2012 Hunter Creek-Smuggler Mountain Cooperative Plan The Cooperative Plan was a joint effort with the City of Aspen, Pitkin County, the USDA Forest Service and the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies. The plan provides cohesive management and a vision for an area that consists of 4,681 acres adjacent to Smuggler Mountain Open Space. Projects in the plan relevant to the Smuggler Mountain Open Space planning area include: •Extend theming and signage design on adjacent open space properties onto national forest lands within the planning area. •Consider separation of trail uses on single- track trails. •Grading of key sections of Smuggler Mountain Road, for approximately the first 4 miles. 2014 Lindsay Parcel Management Plan Pitkin County Open Space and Trails (OST) and the City of Aspen (COA) partnered to purchase the Lindsay Parcel in 2012. The Lindsay Parcel encompasses approximately seven acres located on the northwest side of Smuggler Mountain and lies within the Hunter Creek Valley. The goals of this plan included: •Identify critical wildlife or vegetation resources, •Identify recreational opportunities, and •Manage the property cohesively with the Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan. Through a public process, significant support for the development of a multi-use, recreational trail providing alternative access to the Hunter Creek Valley from town emerged. The recreation management actions reflect this trail connection and established a potential recreation area. General management actions stipulate that dogs must be leashed on this parcel, which is consistent with the current leash requirements on the Lower Hunter Creek Trail. Upon adoption of this plan, it was to be incorporated into the management recommendations for the greater Smuggler Mountain Open Space. This plan update will replace the Lindsay Parcel Management Plan. encourage efforts to improve forest health, reduce fuel loads and create defensible space within wildland-urban interface areas. 2023 Pitkin County Community Wildfire Protection Plan Interagency cooperation, resources, community access, and evacuation planning are essential for effective wildfire response and mitigation, according to the Pitkin County Community Wildfire Protection Plan. This plan highlights the varying levels of risk faced by different areas within Pitkin County due to wildfires, emphasizing the importance of wildfire risk management and mitigation efforts. Relevant to Smuggler Mountain Open Space, this plan encourages strategies such as fuel breaks, defensible space, and structural ignitability as crucial for reducing the threat of catastrophic wildfires and protecting communities. 2003 East of Aspen/Independence Caucus Plan This plan addresses the area of Smuggler/Hunter Creek. Relevant to Smuggler, the Caucus supports maintenance of the face of Smuggler Mountain as an undeveloped hillside as viewed from Aspen, protection of the natural environment and the preservation of Smuggler Mountain Road as a gateway to vistas and recreation. CITY OF ASPEN Open Space Regulations All open space parcels managed by City of Aspen Parks and Open Space are subject to open space regulations. Individual properties may be subject to additional terms established in their respective management plans. City of Aspen Uphill Economy Recreation Plan This multimedia plan aims to create an economy centered around uphill recreation activities like hiking, skinning, backcountry skiing, cross-country skiing and mountain biking. The plan explores ways to improve trail systems, add trailheads, and promote backcountry skiing areas. Proposed backcountry hut policies include: •Support expanded summer operations of nearby huts. •Explore opportunities for a new hut near Aspen. Proposed hiking and biking policies include: •Support and collaborate with stakeholders on responsible improvement and development of mountain bike trails in accordance with adopted plans, suitability analyses, conservation mapping, and outreach processes. •Work to expand opportunities for fat biking in the Aspen area. •Work with local partners and land managers to enhance the sustainability and trail experience of the Smuggler Mountain trails. STATE OF COLORADO 2024-2028 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) Every five years, Colorado Parks and Wildlife leads development of a comprehensive outdoor recreation plan to maintain eligibility for funding through the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and to inform additional investments from other federal, state, local and private programs. SCORP priorities reflect the current trends, opportunities and challenges facing Colorado’s outdoor recreation resources. High levels of involvement to create this plan were required from outdoor recreation stakeholders. Four priority areas are intended to be integrated into outdoor recreation and conservation efforts across the state: •Access and Opportunity – All Coloradans and visitors have access to and opportunity for sustainable outdoor recreation. •Stewardship – Coloradans and visitors enjoy and care for natural and cultural resources and commit to stewarding them for future generations. •Land, Water and Wildlife Conservation – Private and public lands and waters are conserved to support sustainable outdoor recreation, the environment and wildlife habitat. •Financial Sustainability – Enhanced and varied funding sources combined with greater collaboration across recreation sectors directs more resources to support outdoor recreation and conservation. 50 | Process and Public Input Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan | 51 4. Management 4.1 MANAGEMENT GOALS •Protect, manage and enhance the natural, historical and visual resources including maintaining and promoting healthy ecosystems and their essential components and processes. •Provide and promote safe and enjoyable outdoor recreational opportunities. •Provide educational opportunities regarding the values of the surrounding natural, historic and visual resources and the importance of responsible use and stewardship of the land. •Define management actions with specific implementation steps, where appropriate, and roles and responsibilities. 4.2 REGULATIONS AND POLICIES Smuggler Mountain Open Space is in unincorporated Pitkin County, and Pitkin County Title 12 regulations of the Pitkin County Code apply to the property. Specific regulations pertaining to Smuggler Mountain Open Space were prepared with public safety as a primary goal. Both City of Aspen and Pitkin County Open Space rangers are authorized to enforce these regulations to streamline administrative efficiency and allow for mutual enforcement across jurisdictional boundaries. In addition to education and enforcement of property regulations, Rangers also assist the Sheriff’s Office, other law enforcement agencies, and emergency personnel in responding to public safety-related activity at Smuggler. TITLE 12 Title 12, Section-04-030 of the Pitkin County code outlines the “Rules Regarding Public Use of Pitkin County Open Space and Trails Program.” Some of the regulations that apply to county-owned parcels on Smuggler Mountain Open Space. •no camping, •no hunting, •no campfires, •no entry into closed areas, •no discharging of firearms, •no fireworks, •no littering, •no vandalism, property damage or removal of resources, •no harassment of wildlife, etc., •a valid fishing license is required. SMUGGLER MOUNTAIN OPEN SPACE REGULATIONS Pitkin County Title 12 and City of Aspen regulations allow for management plans to provide for individualized regulations. The Fairy slipper orchids bloom along Lollipop Trail. Public feedback informs the management actions contained in this plan update for Smuggler Mountain Open Space. A total of 602 responses were collected from the public through the initial online survey and final comments to the draft plan. 52 | Management following regulations apply to all parcels within Smuggler Mountain Open Space, superseding Pitkin County Title 12 and City of Aspen regulations unless otherwise precluded by easement language. Dog Voice and Sight Area Dogs are permitted on all established trails. Smuggler Mountain Road, Hunter Creek Cutoff Trail and singletrack trails are managed as a voice and sight control area. A mandatory leash law is in effect on Lower Hunter Creek Trail, from the trailhead to the Forest Service boundary. The very narrow nature of the trail, below the junction with the BLM Parking Lot Access Trail, and the proximity of the creek to the trail necessitate this leash law for safety and resource protection. Voice and sight control is subject to review and can be revoked at any time to address changing circumstances, based on use, conflicts, and other unforeseen issues. The following rules apply to voice and sight control areas: •Dogs must be in sight of guardian. •Dogs must be under voice control and respond the first time the guardian commands the dog to come. •Dogs not under voice and sight control must be leashed at all times. •Guardian must carry one leash per dog. •Guardian must carry and use dog waste bags, which may not be left along the trail. •Dog waste must be removed and carried out/ placed in a waste receptacle. •No more than two (2) unleashed dogs per guardian are allowed. •Violations are subject to fines under Title 12. Motorized Vehicles Licensed motorized vehicles are permitted on Smuggler Mountain Road. Pitkin County Title 12 and City of Aspen regulations prohibit motorized recreation on the rest of Smuggler Mountain Open Space. .Maintenance and emergency vehicles are allowed. Hours of operation There are no night time or seasonal closures on Smuggler Mountain Open Space. E-Bikes Electric bicycles, also known as e-bikes, are allowed SPECIAL AND COMMERCIALUSE REGULATIONS Commercial Use A Pitkin County Open Space and Trails permit is required for commercial uses that take place on Smuggler Mountain Open Space properties, including filming and photo shoots and guided services. Group size limits may be limited as a condition of a permit due to use, safety, resource impacts and time of day. Special Uses and Events Special-use permits from Pitkin County Open Space and Trails are required for any organized use of the property. Community development permits may apply. Use of Smuggler Mountain Road, a county right-of-way, requires a permit from Community Development. MEMORIAL POLICY All memorials placed on Pitkin County Open Space and Trails properties and trails are addressed in the adopted Stewardship Policies, which allows for individual management plans to determine the memorial policy for individual properties. For all parcels included in this plan, no additional memorials are permitted. on Smuggler Mountain Road. E-bikes are not permitted on any other trails on Smuggler Mountain Open Space. Any potential changes to e-bike regulation at Smuggler Mountain Open Space as a result of Forest Service policy changes on adjacent federal lands will be reviewed with the City and County Open Space boards, Pitkin County Board of County Commissioners and Aspen City Council. Accessibility Use of mobility devices by persons with mobility impairments on Smuggler area trails is addressed in the Pitkin County Other Power Driven Mobility Device Management Plan. SMUGGLER MOUNTAIN ROAD Smuggler Mountain Road traverses land owned by Pitkin County, City of Aspen and private lands before entering National Forest lands. To best manage the significant use of Smuggler Mountain Road as a recreational road, the 2022 Pitkin County Road Maintenance and Management Plan authorizes Rangers to enforce provisions of Title 12, including but not limited to open space parking restrictions and specialized management plans. SMUGGLER MOUNTAIN TRAILHEAD Smuggler Mountain Trailhead is located on a portion of the Mollie Gibson parcel that includes the trailhead and dirt parking lot in addition to Mollie Gibson Park and parking at Park Circle. Pitkin County Title 12 and Smuggler Mountain Open Space regulations are enforceable on the Mollie Gibson Management area, as depicted in Map 11. MOLLIE GIBSON PARK This park is maintained and managed by the City of Aspen. City of Aspen Regulations are enforceable at Mollie Gibson Park. VERENA MALLORY PARK AND EMILEE BENEDICT PARK Aspen Valley Land Trust owns the Varena Mallory and Emily Benedict Park parcels, within the Smuggler Mountain Open Space boundary. Pitkin County Title 12 and Smuggler Mountain Open Space regulations are enforceable on the entirety of the parcels. Map 11. 54 | Management Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan | 55 4.3 MANAGEMENT ACTIONS NATURAL RESOURCES Action 1. Conduct assessment of riparian zones prior to any nearby vegetation, forest or trail work. Desired Outcome: Full understanding of riparian conditions is gained and critical elements are protected from nearby activities. Proposed Steps: □Conduct field-based assessment of creek and riparian areas prior to implementation of any management actions that have the potential to impact the riparian zone. Methodology may be a rapid qualitative assessment of riparian corridor health utilizing the Proper Functioning Condition (PFC) methodology (USDA-NRCS 1998) or other OST protocols. □Actions include but are not limited to forest health improvement projects, machinery or equipment traveling through the riparian zone, upslope/upstream projects that disturb soil, recreational corridors entering the area, etc. Action 2. Maintain and promote healthy, resilient forests. Desired Outcome: Forests of all types are maintained for general health and resilience with the overall goal of letting natural processes (e.g. vegetation succession, pest cycles, fire) proceed. A well-managed forest will result in quality wildlife habitat, will be wildfire resilient and will be more resistant to disease. Proposed Steps: □Consider recommendations from the Forest Health Assessment for specific project implementation to respond to changed conditions with a focus on forest health. □Convene Hunter-Smuggler Cooperative to prioritize and implement recommended actions at Smuggler and adjacent parcels owned by the City of Aspen and USFS. Action 3. Implement treatment prescriptions (e.g. mechanical thinning) to maintain integrity and habitat value of oak-dominated shrublands and reduce wildfire risk. Desired Outcome: A disturbance regime in Gambel oak-dominated shrublands is maintained at intervals as needed to create and maintain age class diversity of this plant community across the Smuggler area landscape, for ecological resiliency, direct habitat benefits to ungulates, bears, birds and other wildlife species and co-benefits public safety through reduced fuel loads. Proposed Steps: Prioritize and implement actions recommended for oak-dominated shrublands contained in the Forest Health Assessment. Additionally, Smuggler-specific recommendations include: □Implement mechanical thinning in areas of overly mature/unhealthy oak shrublands, as identified by field-based assessments. □Follow best management practices during project implementation, including but not limited to: •Avoid areas with sagebrush or bitterbrush as co-dominant, as they do not resprout, instead focusing on serviceberry, snowberry and mountain mahogany co-dominated areas. •Noxious weed pre-treatment should be taken before any treatments on mountain shrublands on the west side, or anywhere where there are occurrences of cheatgrass and other invasive plant threats. □Maintain areas of mature oak on the landscape; these areas are important for avifauna, acorn production and general age-class diversity. □Fire may be considered instead/in addition to mechanical treatments when and where safety allows, for even more effective ecological benefit. Action 4. Implement small-patch cuts in forested areas. Desired Outcome: Age-class diversity exists in lodgepole pine dominated forests, with canopy openings and active regeneration occurring to provide long-term forest health and short-/long-term wildlife habitat improvements via increased habitat complexity. Proposed Steps: □Review recommendations in the Forest Health Assessment and priorities identified across the OST system. □Identify and evaluate feasibility of implementation in recommended zones. □Monitor forest health over time to inform decisions on project size, scope and implementation. □Follow best management practices, including but not limited to: •Conduct raptor surveys prior to any treatments and amend units to avoid nest areas •Evaluate human safety and trail impacts of projects. •Let natural processes drive recovery, but monitor and adaptively manage project areas as needed (i.e. weed control). Action 5. Maintain dead wood resources onsite to maintain ecosystem complexity. Desired Outcome: Coarse woody debris exists throughout all forest types on the property, providing nesting, denning, and winter habitat for small mammals, long- and short-tailed weasels, and American marten. Standing dead/ snags exist for avifauna habitat and cavity nesters. Proposed Steps: □Engage an ecologist, natural resource specialist or other qualified individual on any tree removal project, including trail, mastication, thinning, wildfire-risk reduction or other such projects to ensure balanced objectives are met overall. OST’s overall philosophy and approach to managing natural resources now, and in the future, is to foster resiliency of the natural ecosystem – to support the health and function of local ecosystems so that native ora, fauna and natural processes can persist and adapt in a changing world. 56 | Management Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan | 57 Action 6. Ensure avian nesting sites are identified and protected on an as-needed basis. Desired Outcome: Raptors, songbirds and ground-nesting birds are protected during their sensitive nesting periods. Proposed Steps: □Avian surveys will be completed prior to any nearby vegetation, forest or trail work that is to occur during sensitive nesting periods. □If significant raptor activity and/or nesting behavior is observed on site, conduct raptor surveys to verify any nesting activity and consider temporal and/or spatial buffers to prevent potential recreational disturbance impacts on active nests. Consider spatial buffers for nests at 400 meters around any active or recently active Northern goshawk or Cooper’s hawk nest, or best available science. □Consider temporal buffers based on best available science for each species, with a priority on encompassing at least the early fledgling period to prevent potential premature fledging and/or decreased prey deliveries to dependent fledglings caused by human activity disturbances. Action 7. Maintain habitat quality for potentially occurring federally protected species. Desired Outcome: Management actions do not negatively impact lynx/ snowshoe hare habitat, cutthroat trout or golden eagle habitat. Proposed Steps: □Within areas identified as potential lynx habitat, analyze potential impacts of proposed projects that would increase snow compaction, which could facilitate travel of predators that are competitors with lynx in and around the area. □Maintain snowshoe hare habitat, particularly the subalpine fir–aspen forest and lodgepole pine forest, to allow for increases in current hare population levels that might benefit lynx. □Consider Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s recommended a quarter-mile buffer around any active golden eagle nests from December 1 through July 31. RECREATION Action 1. Explore the feasibility of a lower access “portal trail.” Desired Outcome: Explore the potential for a portal trail to connect mountain bikers on the Hunter-Smuggler trail network to Aspen, therefore, improving the recreation experience and reducing bike traffic on Red Mountain Road. Public comment reflects a desire for this trail. Pitkin County and City of Aspen staff previously explored options for a portal trail in 2014, but an easily identifiable location for a portal trail was not evident given the topography of the area, land ownership constraints and mapped wildlife habitat. Staff will do its due diligence to explore additional options for a potential route. The findings will be documented to assist with future planning efforts in the area. Should land ownership change, alternative locations will be reviewed and considered. Proposed Steps: □Review the possibility for a portal trail. □If a future opportunity arises, targeted studies, best available science and discussions with CPW and ecologists would be required to assess potential impacts to wildlife and biodiversity. □Recommendation for approval by City of Aspen and Pitkin County Open Space boards. Action 2. Designate the steep, rocky portion of the Lower Hunter Creek Trail for pedestrian use only, between the trailhead and the Benedict Bridge. Desired Outcome: Potential conflicts with hikers and leashed dogs is reduced by eliminating mountain bike traffic on this steep, rocky trail, which is currently signed as mountain-biking not recommended. Proposed Steps: □Formally designate Lower Hunter Creek Trail from the trailhead to the intersection with the BLM Parking Lot Access Trail as pedestrian only. □Install signage and update trail information. Action 8. Collaborate on Hunter Creek protections and enhancements for long-term stream health and viability. Desired Outcome: Hunter Creek water quality and quantity is monitored at a regional level and protected and/or improved as possible, both within Smuggler and in the broader landscape. Proposed Steps: □Provide in-kind support and access for water quality monitoring. □Collaborate in efforts as identified in the 2017 Upper Roaring Fork River Management Plan, including but not limited to maintaining instream flows for aquatic life and ecosystem function, filling data gaps on Hunter Creek stream function, and other goals. □Work with CPW on native fish projects in Hunter Creek as they are implemented. Potential actions include improving fish movement, removal of non-natives, etc. See Hunter Creek Cutthroat Trout Management (Upper Roaring Fork River Management Plan 2017). □Consider participation in ditch and water conveyance efficiency projects for residential and agricultural properties that use water diverted from Hunter Creek (e.g. Salvation Ditch, Red Mountain Ditch) if water efficiencies may benefit Hunter Creek. Action 9. Implement wolf reintroduction awareness as needed. Desired Outcome: Ensure staff, local residents and land managers are aware of Colorado’s wolf reintroduction project and best management practices to adapt to this species’ presence in Colorado. Proposed Steps: □Staff to monitor the reintroduction process. □Coordinate with CPW. □Provide education to the public in the case of wolf presence at Smuggler. Public Desire for a “Portal Trail” 2014 Lindsay Parcel Management Plan rough the public scoping process, a clear desire was expressed to utilize the Lindsay Parcel for the development of a multi-use, recreational trail that would create an alternate access to the Hunter Creek Valley. 2024 Smuggler Open Space Management Plan Update Survey results indicate continued support for a singletrack trail connection to and from town and the upper trails at Smuggler and the Hunter Creek Valley. is recreation management action was the second-most supported action for sta to consider, with 59% reporting strong support and 18% somewhat supporting. Public feedback on the draft management plan indicated that the completion of a portal trail ranked among the top three priorities of this management plan. 58 | Management Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan | 59 Action 3. Explore feasibility of constructing an advanced mountain biking trail on the north-facing slope connecting Smuggler Mountain Road to Smuggler trails. Desired Outcome: Address community desire for downhill-only, advanced mountain biking trails. Proposed Steps: □Designate a zone that minimally impacts known wildlife concerns and explore alternative routes for downhill-only, mountain biking (Map 12). Consider overall trail connectivity and volume of use. □If a trail is feasible, targeted studies, best available science and discussions with CPW and ecologists would be required to assess potential impacts to wildlife and biodiversity. Action 5. Install a new kiosk at Smuggler Mountain Trailhead and update information at BTS kiosk. Desired Outcome: Provide current information and maps for visitors to Smuggler Mountain Open Space. Proposed Steps: □Review current sign content and update needs. Provide direction to nearby restrooms. □Fabricate and install a new kiosk, per Maintenance Action #3. Action 6. Install bicycle rack(s) at the base of Smuggler Mountain Road. Desired Outcome: Encourage bicycle use by providing safe bike storage for visitors to Smuggler Mountain Open Space. Bike racks will facilitate alternative transportation among Smuggler users. Proposed Steps: □Purchase and install one or more bike racks in a suitable location that is visible to potential users and does not impact maintenance operations. Action 7. Maintain winter access to huts on surrounding public lands. Desired Outcome: Maintain winter access to the 10th Mountain Hut System. Proposed Steps: □Coordinate with the 10th Mountain Division and update access routes if future needs/ improvements are needed. Action 8. Review development agreements for Mollie Gibson Park and determine whether additional documentation is required for ongoing maintenance and use. Desired outcome: Clarify and establish responsibilities for long-term maintenance and management of the Park. Proposed steps: □Review development agreements. Map 12.Trail Connection Potential Area of Interest EDUCATION AND OUTREACH Action 1. Update and install regulatory signage. Desired Outcome: Maintain signage with current regulations. Proposed Steps: □Review current conditions, information and visibility of regulatory signage. □Replace outdated signage. Action 2. Replace interpretive signs. Desired Outcome: Educate visitors about the historic / cultural significance of the area and the natural resource management that has occurred. Proposed Steps: □Remove signs in poor condition as needed. □Explore options for interactive/digital historical signage. Action 3. Continue a campaign to address dog waste and dog-owner etiquette on Smuggler Mountain Road. Desired Outcome: Increased dog-owner awareness and compliance with dog waste rules. Proposed Steps: □Study / review of best practices to encourage desired behavioral change. □Design of eye-catching and informative signs, advertising and/or media. □Coordinate with ACRA to expand messaging related to dog waste and dog-owner etiquette. □Recommendation for approval by City of Aspen and Pitkin County Open Space boards. □Design/build the trail utilizing local volunteers and designate use. Install appropriate signage. Action 4. Add a midway viewpoint along Smuggler Mountain Road. Desired Outcome: Support recreational use from visitors of all ages and abilities by adding a midway viewpoint with seating along Smuggler Mountain Road. Proposed Steps: □Evaluate potential locations. □Install a bench and complete associated landscape improvements. Area of interest for a mountain biking trail connecting Smuggler Mountain Road to Smuggler trails. Recreation Action #3 White River National Forest Smuggler Mountain Trailhead Lower Hunter Creek Trailhead Lollipop Tootsie Roll N Smuggler Mountain Conservation Easement Smuggler Mountain Road 60 | Management Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan | 61 MONITORING AND STEWARDSHIP Action 1. Continue wildlife and vegetation monitoring at regular intervals. Desired Outcome: Managing partner agencies continue to collect relevant ecological data to scientifically inform adaptive management. Proposed Steps: □Follow recommended monitoring intervals for wildlife and vegetation resources. □Engage ecological consultants and/or staff to implement monitoring. □Review reports with partners, evaluate for management implications and archive data. Action 2. Maintain and improve collaboration with partner agencies that manage lands, animals and recreational activities on or adjacent to Smuggler and/or require access to the via Smuggler Mountain Road to manage their public assets. Desired Outcome: Increase collaborative management of natural resources at the landscape scale and across jurisdictional boundaries. Proposed Steps: □Maintain communication with CPW, USFS, BLM and other partner agencies and support cross jurisdictional efforts. Action 3. Monitor vegetative recovery at reclaimed mine sites and other areas of past disturbance. Desired Outcome: Ensure disturbed ground is on a trajectory toward recovery with native vegetation. Proposed Steps: □Visit sites of ground disturbance, including roads, historical mine activity sites, project sites, etc., and evaluate the need for and feasibility of additional vegetation establishment. □Prioritize and implement revegetation projects. Action 4. Conduct a cultural resource assessment to identify and evaluate the cultural resources. MAINTENANCE Action 1. Maintain Smuggler Mountain Road at its current width and condition. Desired Outcome: Continue to accommodate multiple uses, both vehicular and non-vehicular, and provide access for area land management, emergency response and residential use. Proposed Steps: □Coordinate maintenance with Pitkin County Road and Bridge on an as-needed basis. □Continue to allow licensed vehicles on Smuggler Mountain Road. Action 2. Improve boardwalks on Lower Hunter Creek Trail. Desired Outcome: Improve and extend boardwalk sections on Lower Hunter Creek (LHC) Trail. Proposed Steps: □Assess current boardwalk effectiveness and identify design improvements that could be implemented to improve the functionality and aesthetics of the boardwalk. □Identify sections of trail where boardwalk sections should be extended. □Create scope of work and bid design/build project out to local carpentry contractors. Action 3. Create a maintenance agreement and schedule with defined responsibilities. Desired Outcome: Formalize roles and responsibilities for the maintenance of trails and open space amenities between Pitkin County Open Space and Trails and City of Aspen Open Space and Trails. Proposed Steps: □Identify general maintenance needs, create a schedule and define responsibilities. □Identify sign standards and update intervals for informational, wayfinding and interpretive signage. □Document an internal agreement between City of Aspen and Pitkin County staff. Action 4. Actively manage noxious vegetation to promote the vigor of native biodiversity utilizing an integrated approach. Desired Outcome: In accordance with the best available science, regulations and resources, the collaboration of land managers (OST, City of Aspen, AVLT) will prevent the introduction of new species, eradicate noxious species with isolated populations, and contain and reduce populations that are well established and widespread. Proposed Steps: □Continue annual noxious weed control. □Develop and implement noxious weed protocols with partners and adjacent landowners. Include in maintenance plan (See Action M.3). See Appendix D. for the table of noxious weed species and proposed treatment methods. □Routinely monitor the establishment of new populations and effectiveness of prescribed treatments. Desired Outcome: Ensure the protection of important cultural heritage. Proposed Steps: □Engage a consultant to conduct an archaeological and cultural resource survey in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. □Further testing and/or protection of archaeological and historical sites as necessary. □Through consultation and agreement with federal, state, local and tribal authorities, develop a strategy to safeguard the area from any adverse impacts. Action 5. Continue to monitor recreational use. Desired Outcome: Understand the amount of use as well as compliance with rules and regulations. Proposed Steps: □Continue placement of trail use counter(s). Action 6. Evaluate elk calving (production) and rearing habitat to determine if it is active. Desired Outcome: Elk have the space and protection from disturbance to utilize habitat on Smuggler for calving and rearing their young. Proposed Steps: □Coordinate research on elk activity with CPW. □Engage consultants to conduct field reviews for evidence of calving/rearing as needed. □If elk production and/or rearing is confirmed, consider recreation restriction in coordination with impacted agencies for areas with elk reproduction activity from May 1 – June 28. PARAMETER INTERVAL Update vegetation type map, revise floristic inventory and conduct rare plant surveys in high quality habitat As needed. Quantitative Permanent Transects Every ~10 years. Qualitative habitat condition and animal use evaluation Every ~7-10 years. Noxious Weeds See maintenance plan Table 8.Natural Resource Monitoring Schedule 62 | Management Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan | 63 Aspen Education & Outreach Action #2 Education & Outreach Action #3 Maintenance Action #1 Maintenance Action #2 Natural Resources Action #1 & #8 Natural Resources Action #2 & #4 Natural Resources Action #3 Dog Voice and Sight Area Includes Smuggler Mountain Road and Singletrack Trails Dogs Must be Leashed on Lower Hunter Creek Trail Recreation Action #1 Recreation Action #3 Recreation Action #2 Recreation Action #4 Recreation Action #5 & #6 Monitoring & Stewardship Action #2 Motorized Vehicles and E-bikes Allowed White River National ForestSmuggler Mountain Open Space Smuggler Mountain Open SpaceManagement Actions Smuggler Mountain Trailhead Lani White Mascotte 99 Lower Hunter Creek Trailhead Upper Hunter Creek Trailhead BLM Parking Lot on Red Mountain Conservation Easement Conservation Easement Limited Parking for ADA, Seniors and Hut Access Motorized Vehicles and Motorized Vehicles and Smuggler Mountain Road BTS Platform Lollipop 10th Mountain Hunter Creek Cut-o Tootsie Roll Rio Grande Trail Picnic Loop N Smuggler Mountain Red Mountain Hunter Creek Valley Roaring F o r k R i v e r Hunter Creek 64 | Management 5. Implementation 66 | Implementation Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan | 67 SMUGGLER MOUNTAIN OPEN SPACE MANAGEMENT ACTIONS TIME FRAME PARTNERS BUDGET NATURAL RESOURCES NR.1 Conduct assessment of riparian zones prior to any nearby vegetation, forest or trail work. Ongoing OST, COA, AVLT As needed NR.2 Maintain and promote healthy, resilient forests.Short- and long-term OST, COA, AVLT $-$$$ NR.3 Implement treatment prescriptions (e.g. mechanical thinning) to maintain integrity and habitat value of oak- dominated shrublands and reduce wildfire risk. Short- and long-term OST, COA, AVLT, Aspen Fire $-$$$ NR.4 Implement small patch cuts in forested areas.Short- and long-term OST, COA, AVLT $-$$$ NR.5 Maintain dead wood resources onsite to maintain ecosystem complexity. Ongoing OST, COA, AVLT, CPW, USFS As needed NR.6 Ensure avian nesting sites are identified and protected on an as-needed basis. Ongoing OST, COA, AVLT, CPW As needed NR.7 Maintain habitat quality for potentially occurring federally protected species. Ongoing OST, COA, AVLT, CPW As needed NR.8 Collaborate on Hunter Creek protections and enhancements for long-term stream health and viability. Ongoing OST, COA, AVLT, CPW As needed NR.9 Implement wolf reintroduction awareness as needed.As needed OST, COA, AVLT, CPW None at this time RECREATION R.1 Explore the feasibility of a lower access “portal trail.”Short- and long-term OST, COA, AVLT, CPW, USFS As needed R.2 Designate the steep, rocky portion of the Lower Hunter Creek Trail for pedestrian use only, between the trailhead and the Benedict Bridge. Short-term OST, COA, AVLT $ R.3 Explore feasibility of constructing an advanced mountain biking trail on the north-facing slope connecting Smuggler Mountain Road to Lollipop. Short-term OST, COA, CPW, USFS, RFMBA $$ R.4 Add a midway viewpoint along Smuggler Mountain Road. Short-term OST, COA $ R.5 Install a new kiosk at Smuggler Mountain Trailhead and update information at BTS kiosk. Short-term OST, COA $ R.6 Install bicycle rack(s) at the base of Smuggler Mountain Road. Short-term OST, COA $ R.7 Maintain winter access to huts on surrounding public lands. As needed OST, 10th Mountain Division N/A R.8 Review agreements for Mollie Gibson Park and determine whether an additional MOU, or similar document, is required for ongoing maintenance and use of the parcel. Short-term OST, COA N/A SMUGGLER MOUNTAIN OPEN SPACE MANAGEMENT ACTIONS TIME FRAME PARTNERS BUDGET EDUCATION AND OUTREACH EO.1 Update and install regulatory signage.Short-term OST, COA, AVLT $ EO.2 Replace interpretive signs.Long-term OST, COA, AVLT, Aspen Historical Society $$ EO.3 Continue a campaign to address dog waste and dog- owner etiquette on Smuggler Mountain Road. Ongoing OST, COA, AVLT, ACRA $ MONITORING AND STEWARDSHIP MS.1 Continue wildlife and vegetation monitoring at regular intervals. Ongoing OST, COA $$ MS.2 Maintain and improve collaboration with partner agencies that manage lands, animals and recreational activities on or adjacent to Smuggler and/or require access via Smuggler Mountain Road to manage their public assets. Ongoing OST, COA, AVLT, CPW, USFS, others N/A MS.3 Monitor vegetative recovery at reclaimed mine sites and other areas of past disturbance. Short-term OST, COA None at this time MS.4 Conduct a cultural resource assessment to identify and evaluate the cultural resources of the Open Space. Long-term OST, COA, AVLT, USFS, Aspen Historical Society $$ MS.5 Continue to monitor recreational use.Ongoing OST, COA $ MS.6 Evaluate elk calving (production) and rearing habitat to determine if it is active. Ongoing OST, COA, AVLT, CPW As needed MAINTENANCE M.1 Maintain Smuggler Mountain Road at its current width and condition. Ongoing Pitkin County Road and Bridge N/A M.2 Improve boardwalks on Lower Hunter Creek Trail.Short-term OST, COA, RFOV $$ M.3 Create a maintenance agreement and schedule with defined responsibilities. Short-term OST, COA, AVLT N/A M.4 Actively manage noxious vegetation to promote the vigor of native biodiversity utilizing an integrated approach. Ongoing OST, COA, AVLT Annual Operating Budget KEY $<$10,000 $$$10,000 - $75,000 $$$>$75,000 Short-Term 0-5 years Long-term 5+ years Ongoing Annual / routine Anticipated costs represent a range of possible expenditures, subject to change over time. 68 | Implementation Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan | 69 Appendix 2024 SMUGGLER MOUNTAIN OPEN SPACE MANAGEMENT PLAN A. COMMUNITY SURVEY RESULTS B. PARTNER COMMENTS C. DRAFT PLAN PUBLIC COMMENTS D. NOXIOUS WEEDS AND PROPOSED TREATMENTS Smuggler Mountain Open Spac e M anagem ent Plan – 2024 Update 1 / 38 91%343 43%160 33%125 29%108 18%69 9%35 2%7 0%0 Q1 What trailheads do you most frequently use to access Smuggler Mountain Open Space? Select all that apply. Answered: 376 Sk ipped: 4 Total Res pondent s: 376 #OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY)DATE 1 Red mtn 10th mtn 7/22/2024 11:49 AM 2 Hunter smuggler loop 7/8/2024 3:32 PM 3 Hunters creek / smuggler loop in 7/8/2024 10:43 AM 91%91% 91% 43%43% 43% 33%33% 33% 29%29% 29% 18 %18 % 18 % 9%9% 9% 2%2% 2% 0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%1 00% Smuggl er Trailhead Low er Hunter Cr eek Tr ail head Upper Hunter Cr eek Tr ail head Lani White Trailhead BLM Red M o unt ain Parking Lot M ascotte 99 Tr ail head Other (please specify) None of the above ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES Smuggler Trailhead Lower Hunter Creek Trailhead Upper Hunter Creek Trailhead Lani White Trailhead BLM Red Mountain Parking Lot Mas c otte 99 Trailhead Other (please s pecify) None of the abov e Smuggler Mountain Open Spac e M anagem ent Plan – 2024 Update 1 / 38 91%343 43%160 33%125 29%108 18%69 9%35 2%7 0%0 Q1 What trailheads do you most frequently use to access Smuggler Mountain Open Space? Select all that apply. Answered: 376 Sk ipped: 4 Total Res pondent s: 376 #OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY)DATE 1 Red mt n 10th mtn 7/22/2024 11:49 AM 2 Hunter smuggler loop 7/8/2024 3:32 PM 3 Hunters c reek / smuggler loop in 7/8/2024 10:43 AM 91%91% 91% 43%43% 43% 33%33% 33% 29%29% 29% 18 %18 % 18 % 9%9% 9% 2%2% 2% 0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%1 00% Smuggl er Trailhead Low er Hunter Cr eek Tr ail head Upper Hunter Cr eek Tr ail head Lani White Trailhead BLM Red M o unt ain Par king Lot M ascotte 99 Tr ail head Other (please specify) None of the above ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES Smuggler Trailhead Lower Hunter Creek Trailhead Upper Hunter Creek Trailhead Lani White Trailhead BLM Red Mountain Parking Lot Mas c otte 99 Trailhead Other (please s pecify) None of the abov e Smuggler Mountain Open Spac e M anagem ent Plan – 2024 Update 2 / 38 4 Mak e it all better 7/1/2024 9:27 AM 5 Sunnyside 6/24/2024 9:53 PM 6 Sunnyside / St ein Park 6/24/2024 10:19 AM 7 All 6/22/2024 1:16 PM APPENDIX A. COMMUNITY SURVEY RESULTS Smuggler Mountain Open Spac e M anagem ent Plan – 2024 Update 3 / 38 Q2 Which of the following activities do you participate in at Smuggler Mountain Open Space? Answered: 380 Sk ipped: 0 5%5% 5% 36%36% 36% 17%17% 17% 48%48 % 48 % 47%47% 47% 35%35% 35% 54%54% 54% 87%87% 87% 47%47% 47% 53%53% 53% 8 6%8 6% 8 6% 91%91% 91% 85%85% 85% 97%97% 97% 4%4% 4% 2%2% 2% 9%9% 9% 2%2% 2% 4%4% 4% 9%9% 9% 3%3% 3% 3%3% 3% 34%34% 34% 22%22% 22% 4%4% 4% 4%4% 4% 8 %8 % 8 % 1%1% 1% 19%19% 19% 10%10% 10% 22%22% 22% 12%12% 12% 13%13% 13% 21%21% 21% 9%9% 9% 12%12% 12% 16%16% 16% 5%5% 5% 7%7% 7% 6%6% 6% 10%10% 10% 4%4% 4% 5%5% 5% 7%7% 7% 5%5% 5% 2%2% 2% 5%5% 5% 1%1% 1% 16%16% 16% 13%13% 13% 14%14% 14% 8 %8 % 8 % 9%9% 9% 12%12% 12% 11%11% 11% 3%3% 3% 12%12% 12% 11%11% 11% 9%9% 9% 6%6% 6% 7%7% 7% 4%4% 4% 9%9% 9% 37%37% 37% 23%23% 23% 20%20% 20% 20%20% 20% 15%15% 15% 13%13% 13% 9%9% 9% 4%4% 4% 3%3% 3% 3%3% 3% 0%1 0%20%30%40%5 0%60%70%80%90%1 00% A few times…About once…A few times…About once… A few times…About once…Never Hiking / w alking Mount ain Biking Enjoying t he amenities (observation... Dog-w alking Wil dl ife Viewing Access to Nat ional For est Lands Trail r unning E-biking Wint er access to 1 0th Mountain Hut s Backcountr y / cr oss-country skiing Dirtbiking or other motorized use Hunting acces s Educational pr ograms Horseback riding Smuggler Mountain Open Spac e M anagem ent Plan – 2024 Update 4 / 38 37% 129 12% 43 16% 57 7% 25 19% 65 4% 14 5% 17 350 23% 79 11% 38 13% 46 6% 20 10% 34 2% 8 36% 126 351 20% 64 9% 29 14% 44 10% 33 22% 70 9% 28 17% 54 322 20% 60 6% 17 8% 23 4% 13 12% 38 2% 7 48% 147 305 15% 44 7% 20 9% 28 5% 16 13% 39 4% 12 47% 142 301 13% 41 4% 12 12% 36 7% 23 21% 64 9% 27 35% 109 312 9% 29 9% 27 11% 33 5% 14 9% 29 3% 10 54% 165 307 4% 12 1% 2 1% 3 2% 6 3% 8 3% 8 87% 258 297 3% 9 1% 2 1% 4 2% 6 12% 38 34% 110 47% 150 319 3% 8 1% 3 2% 6 5% 15 16% 50 22% 68 53% 166 316 2% 5 2% 6 3% 8 0% 1 3% 9 4% 12 86% 257 298 1% 3 0% 1 0% 0 1% 3 3% 8 4% 11 91% 275 301 0% 1 1% 2 0% 0 1% 3 5% 15 8% 24 85% 252 297 0% 0 0% 1 1% 2 0% 0 1% 2 1% 4 97% 282 291 #OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY)DATE 1 North star 7/8/2024 12:20 PM 2 Skiing 7/8/2024 10:19 AM 3 e bikes do not belong on single track ever they are motorcycles 6/24/2024 3:05 PM A FEW TIMES A WEEK ABOUT ONCE A WEEK A FEW TIMES A MONTH ABOUT ONCE A MONTH A FEW TIMES PER YEAR ABOUT ONCE PER YEAR NEVER TOTAL Hiking / walk ing Mountain Biking Enjoying the amenities (observat ion platform, pic nic tables, etc.) Dog-walking Wildlife Viewing Ac c ess to National Forest Lands Trail running E-biking Winter access to 10th Mountain Huts Backcountry / cross- c ountry skiing Dirt bik ing or other motoriz ed us e Hunting ac c ess Educ ational programs Horseback riding Smuggler Mountain Open Spac e M anagem ent Plan – 2024 Update 5 / 38 40%152 30%114 28%107 1%3 1%2 0%1 Q3 How do you typically travel to Smuggler Mountain Open Space? Answered: 379 Sk ipped: 1 TOTAL 379 40%40% 40% 30%30% 30% 28%28% 28% 1%1% 1% 1%1% 1% 0%0% 0% 0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%1 00% Car Bike Walk/Run Bus I don't visit Smuggler Mountain Ope... Hotel shuttl e ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES Car Bike Walk /Run Bus I don't visit Smuggler Mountain Open Space Hotel s huttle Smuggler Mountain Open Spac e M anagem ent Plan – 2024 Update 6 / 38 Q4 Please rate your experience during your typical visit to Smuggler Mountain Open Space. Answered: 322 Sk ipped: 58 0% 1 2% 8 12% 40 36% 115 49% 158 322 4.31 4 average rating POOR (NO LABEL)(NO LABEL)(NO LABEL)EXCELLENT TOTAL WEIGHTED AVERAGE S Smuggler Mountain Open Spac e M anagem ent Plan – 2024 Update 7 / 38 Q5 Please indicate the importance of the following attributes of Smuggler Mountain Open Space to you. Answered: 322 Sk ipped: 58 Import ance 73% 232 22% 69 5% 16 0% 1 0% 0 0% 1 319 67% 213 19% 61 10% 31 3% 10 0% 0 1% 2 317 59% 183 27% 83 10% 31 3% 9 1% 4 1% 2 312 23% 70 24% 75 32% 99 17% 54 2% 7 2% 5 310 5% 15 7% 22 22% 68 60% 185 5% 14 2% 5 309 Importance 2%2% 2% 5%5% 5% 3%3% 3% 3%3% 3% 17%17% 17% 60%60% 60% 5%5% 5% 10%10% 10% 10%10% 10% 32%32% 32% 22%22% 22% 22%22% 22% 19%19% 19% 27%27% 27% 24%24% 24% 7%7% 7% 73%73% 73% 67%67% 67% 59%59% 59% 23%23% 23% 5%5% 5% 0%1 0%20%30%40%5 0%60%70%80%90%1 00% Ve ry import…Important �Somewha t I…Not Import… I don’t k no…N/A Beauty / scenic views Recr eatio n Opportunities Ecol ogy, wildlife habitat and... Cul ture, history and character At tract and suppor t to ur ism VERY IMPORTANT � IMPORTANT � SOMEWHAT IMPORTANT � NOT IMPORTANT � I DON’T KNOW, I HAVEN’T THOUGHT ABOUT IT N/A TOTAL Beauty / s cenic v iews Recreation Opportunities Ecology, wildlife habitat and natural resources Culture, history and character Attrac t and s upport tourism Smuggler Mountain Open Spac e M anagem ent Plan – 2024 Update 8 / 38 Q6 Please rate your satisfaction with the quality and condition of each of the following. Answered: 322 Sk ipped: 58 3%3% 3% 7%7% 7% 3%3% 3% 22%22% 22% 20%20% 20% 16%16% 16% 36%36% 36% 27%27% 27% 3%3% 3% 2%2% 2% 2%2% 2% 6%6% 6% 4%4% 4% 9%9% 9% 3%3% 3% 5%5% 5% 3%3% 3% 4%4% 4% 13%13% 13% 6%6% 6% 15%15% 15% 11%11% 11% 12%12% 12% 14%14% 14% 20%20% 20% 19%19% 19% 20%20% 20% 29%29% 29% 26%26% 26% 26%26% 26% 18%18% 18% 45%45% 45% 47%47% 47% 42%42% 42% 43%43% 43% 46%46% 46% 37%37% 37% 29%29% 29% 31%31% 31% 20%20% 20% 25%25% 25% 39%39% 39% 33%33% 33% 33%33% 33% 27%27% 27% 26%26% 26% 19%19% 19% 18 %18 % 18 % 12%12% 12% 10%10% 10% 9%9% 9% 0%1 0%20%30%40%5 0%60%70%80%90%1 00% Ve ry Satisfi…Satisfied Neutral Dissatisfied Ve ry Dissa t…Don't Use Tr ail heads / Informational kiosks Level of t r ail difficult y Tr ail type and var iet y Inter pr etive signs / historical... Signage and w ayfinding Cr eek access Accessibil ity and inclusivity Parking ar eas Water-fil ling station / bike tools (at Pa... Dog-waste stations/recept acles Smuggler Mountain Open Spac e M anagem ent Plan – 2024 Update 9 / 38 39% 126 45% 144 11% 36 2% 5 0% 1 3% 9 321 33% 106 47% 152 12% 38 4% 14 3% 11 0% 0 321 33% 104 42% 135 14% 45 9% 29 2% 6 0% 0 319 27% 85 43% 138 20% 63 3% 10 0% 0 7% 22 318 26% 84 46% 147 19% 61 5% 16 0% 1 3% 9 318 19% 60 37% 118 20% 64 3% 8 0% 0 22% 69 319 18% 58 29% 91 29% 90 4% 12 0% 1 20% 63 315 12% 39 31% 98 26% 85 13% 42 2% 6 16% 51 321 10% 31 20% 64 26% 84 6% 20 1% 3 36% 115 317 9% 30 25% 80 18% 59 15% 47 6% 18 27% 85 319 #OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY)DATE 1 senior parking is not in Fores t. Let's get the s heriffs up t here.7/26/2024 2:07 AM 2 I use snigger as a scenic Jeep road during off peak hiking, I don’t want to los e that us e 7/23/2024 11:25 AM 3 As far as the ADA upper lot ac c ess, there is a permitt ed use by hunters. So, s eniors, ADA, & hunters . Does n't s eem quite right. 7/23/2024 10:25 AM 4 Could be more along the way including one at the sign by BTS 7/22/2024 11:52 AM 5 More enf orc ement of bags of shite left on road.7/19/2024 3:43 PM 6 More water s tations 7/19/2024 1:23 PM 7 Trails lik e midnight rambler s hould be allowed to increase trail variety and difficulty. They are es pecially valuable in s eparating trail use between hik ers and bik ers . 7/15/2024 1:15 PM 8 Close all park ing but 10th mtn. If they are able enough to hike up from the base of Smuggler, then they are able enough to get there without a c ar. 10th Mtn provides acces s f or t hose les s able (seniors , kids ) to get up to the Hunt er Creek Valley. 7/15/2024 9:49 AM 9 Needs a bike rack at the bottom and more trash cans 7/14/2024 9:19 AM 10 I lov e dogs but people need to clean up their bags and poop more oft en!7/8/2024 3:57 PM 11 Need more rec eptacles on the upper part of the t rail.7/8/2024 11:55 AM 12 would be nice if dog owners would us e the was te st ations ins tead of leaving them on the trail. Off leash dogs can be scary at times 7/6/2024 4:06 PM 13 Definitely need a porta potty at the park avenue trailhead or a little f urther up 7/1/2024 9:34 AM 14 I would prefer less signage actually. I f eel t he s igns give too many people without proper ability to be up there 6/30/2024 3:09 PM 15 This is not an ac c essible plac e. That’s ok ay !6/27/2024 7:25 AM 16 Ebikes not allowed on trail, only road.6/26/2024 8:02 AM VERY SATISFIED SATI SFIED NEUTRAL DISSATISFIED VERY DISSATISFIED DON'T USE TOTAL Trailheads / Informational kiosks Lev el of trail diffic ult y Trail ty pe and v ariety Int erpretiv e s igns / his toric al educat ion Signage and wayfinding Creek access Ac c es sibility and inclus ivity Parking areas Wat er-f illing s tation / bike tools (at Park Circ le) Dog-wast e stat ions /receptacles Smuggler Mountain Open Spac e M anagem ent Plan – 2024 Update 10 / 38 17 People use the lower park ing area for s torage of vehicles, and f or skiing day parking. This c an make acces s ibility diffic ult. 6/24/2024 3:01 PM 18 The trail maps hav e been out of date for years.6/24/2024 11:18 AM 19 Smuggler needs s ome one-direc tional downhill only type t rails of v ary ing difficulty. A great place for these would be between Smuggler road and Toots ie roll and between Smuggler road and Iowa Shaft. There is so muc h potential not being realiz ed in this area! 6/22/2024 10:05 PM Smuggler Mountain Open Spac e M anagem ent Plan – 2024 Update 11 / 38 59%188 18%59 13%42 8%25 2%7 Q7 Is the current level of event use acceptable?OST has issued a variety of commercial and special-use (event) permits for Smuggler Mountain Road and the open space. Permits have included organized hikes, non- profit trail runs and races, commercial and non-profit bike rides and races and commercially guided mountain-biking instruction. The Aspen Cycling Club and Aspen Backcountry Marathon, both non-commercial uses, have consistently brought the largest annual events to the open space and adjacent national forest. Educational uses have included history-focused Aspen Historical Society Jeep ride/trail tours and commercially guided walking tours. Answered: 321 Sk ipped: 59 TOTAL 321 #OTHER (PLEASE SPECI FY)DATE 1 Downhill bike event 7/23/2024 11:25 AM 2 Maintain or increase event us e. The proximity of the open spac e to Aspen offers such an 7/23/2024 10:39 AM 59%59% 59% 18 %18 % 18 % 13%13% 13% 8%8% 8% 2%2% 2% 0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%1 00% Maintain current level of event use No pr eference Decrease event use Increase event use Ot her (please specify) ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES Maintain current level of ev ent us e No preferenc e Dec reas e ev ent us e Increase event use Other (pleas e s pecify) Smuggler Mountain Open Spac e M anagem ent Plan – 2024 Update 12 / 38 access ible way int o wilderness that should be s hared, and nurtured with all. I’v e ex perienced almost no impac t to my rec reation in these spac es ov er the last 5 years due to current ev ent usage. It’s a great plac e to be inc lusiv e to tourists and maintain an eas y portal into t he wildernes s, As pen history and more. As a loc al well versed in t he local topography, there’s many more places I c an ex plore. 3 Creating new trails off the grav el road 7/10/2024 11:20 PM 4 decrease espec ially bik e us ers , not alway s single f ile & don't alway s s ay where they are 7/6/2024 4:06 PM 5 Allow more c ommercial use/guiding. Override the first service c reating monopolies!6/27/2024 7:25 AM 6 Allow more commerc ial/non-profit permits pleas e.6/26/2024 8:02 AM 7 No c ommercial uses please 6/24/2024 3:01 PM Smuggler Mountain Open Spac e M anagem ent Plan – 2024 Update 13 / 38 86%263 5%14 7%23 2%7 Q8 Forest HealthPlease rate your level of support for forest health projects.The forests within and surrounding Smuggler Mountain Open Space are managed primarily for ecological health, resiliency and biodiversity. Past forest health projects have included: Oak mastication Aspen regeneration Mixed conifer patch cuts Mountain pine beetle treatments Helicopter removal of pine beetle infested trees Lodgepole cuts Prescribed fire coordination with partner agencies in the Hunter Creek Valley Answered: 307 Sk ipped: 73 TOTAL 307 #OTHER (PLEASE SPECI FY)DATE 1 People that v ote hands off are waiting for a catastrophic event 7/23/2024 11:35 AM 2 The Douglas fur beetle is bec oming a huge issue in the As pen area 7/23/2024 7:31 AM 3 Increase fores t health management projects 7/17/2024 7:13 AM 4 STOP POISONING THE ENVIROMENT BY SPRAYING - THIS ENDANGE RS PEOPLE AND ANIMALS TOO! 7/16/2024 8:27 AM 5 You completely overlook ed the need for weed mitigation. There is a huge Russian this tle problem, as well as a mos quito infestation that no one has done anyt hing about for years. 7/12/2024 10:07 PM 6 Do whatev er, not my spec ialty. There’s lots of room for animals so that’s good.6/27/2024 7:30 AM 86%(263)86%(263) 86%(263) 5%(14)5%(14) 5%(14) 7%(23)7%(23) 7%(23) 2%(7)2%(7) 2%(7) Continue c…Hands-off a…No opinion Othe r (plea… ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES Continue c urrent forest health approach with projec ts as needed for habitat div ersity Hands-off approach with f ewer to no projects No opinion Ot her (please s pecify) Smuggler Mountain Open Spac e M anagem ent Plan – 2024 Update 14 / 38 7 Build more challenging mountain bike trails.6/22/2024 9:19 PM Smuggler Mountain Open Spac e M anagem ent Plan – 2024 Update 15 / 38 57%176 26%79 11%35 2%5 2%7 2%5 Q9 WildfireThere is interest in reducing wildfire risk to human health and safety. Would you support increased coordination with other agencies and fire districts in the implementation of mechanical projects primarily for wildfire risk reduction. Projects could include: Fuel breaks Fuel reduction Mechanical vegetation removal Answered: 307 Sk ipped: 73 TOTAL 307 #OTHER (PLEASE SPECI FY)DATE 1 Anything that does not entail man-made burning 7/15/2024 9:57 AM 2 I don't hav e enough inf ormation or details to answer.6/25/2024 9:39 PM 3 Fire management is important , but need more info on int erplay with maintaining ec ological health of area. 6/25/2024 5:23 PM 4 I would hate to see a straight cut through the trees to prevent wildfire when a large majorit y of wildfires are human c aused. Inc rease educ ation on wildfires before tearing up the landscape! 6/25/2024 4:08 PM 5 I would need more info on eac h plan.6/25/2024 8:23 AM 57%(176)57%(176) 57%(176)26%(79)26%(79) 26%(79) 11%(35)11%(35) 11%(35) 2%(5)2%(5) 2%(5) 2%(7)2%(7) 2%(7) 2%(5)2%(5) 2%(5) Strongly su…Some what …Neutral Somewhat … Strongly op…Other (ple a… ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES Strongly support Somewhat s upport Neutral Somewhat oppose Strongly oppose Other (pleas e s pecify) Smuggler Mountain Open Spac e M anagem ent Plan – 2024 Update 16 / 38 51%158 10%30 9%29 29%90 Q10 In addition to, or in lieu of, mechanical treatments, would you support prescribed fire in the Smuggler Mountain area? Answered: 307 Sk ipped: 73 TOTAL 307 51%(158 )51%(158 ) 51%(158 ) 10%(30)10%(30) 10%(30) 9%(29)9%(29) 9%(29) 29%(90)29%(90) 29%(90) Ye s No Ma ybe I would nee… ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES Yes No Maybe I would need more information Smuggler Mountain Open Spac e M anagem ent Plan – 2024 Update 17 / 38 Q11 RecreationPlease indicate your level of support for the following: Answered: 306 Sk ipped: 74 1%1% 1% 4%4% 4% 5%5% 5% 4%4% 4% 12%12% 12% 7%7% 7% 12%12% 12% 12%12% 12% 4%4% 4% 10%10% 10% 7%7% 7% 34%34% 34% 44%44% 44% 6%6% 6% 6%6% 6% 10%10% 10% 6%6% 6% 12%12% 12% 9%9% 9% 5%5% 5% 9%9% 9% 8%8% 8% 13%13% 13% 17%17% 17% 11%11% 11% 16%16% 16% 18 %18 % 18 % 14%14% 14% 22%22% 22% 24%24% 24% 26%26% 26% 34%34% 34% 41%41% 41% 32%32% 32% 35%35% 35% 31%31% 31% 15%15% 15% 14%14% 14% 18 %18 % 18 % 19%19% 19% 25%25% 25% 13%13% 13% 27%27% 27% 15%15% 15% 18%18 % 18 % 25%25% 25% 26%26% 26% 31%31% 31% 7%7% 7% 12%12% 12% 72%72% 72% 59%59% 59% 51%51% 51% 50%50% 50% 43%43% 43% 36%36% 36% 36%36% 36% 27%27% 27% 25%25% 25% 23%23% 23% 20%20% 20% 14%14% 14% 12%12% 12% 0%1 0%20%30%40%5 0%60%70%80%90%1 00% Strongly Su…Somewhat …Neutral Somewhat … Strongly Op… Single-track trail maintenance A singl e-track tr ail connection f... New , advanced tr ail s Smuggler Mountain Road maintenance... Maint ain off-l eash dog policy Restroom near the Smuggler Trailhead New, beginner trails Recl amation of unsigned / user -cr eated... Tr ail access / impr ovements for per sons... Benches / r est st ops along Smuggler... Par king impr ovements No new t r ail s Expanded e-bikes routes Smuggler Mountain Open Spac e M anagem ent Plan – 2024 Update 18 / 38 72% 221 14% 44 11% 33 1% 4 1% 4 306 59% 179 18% 55 16% 50 3% 10 4% 11 305 51% 154 19% 58 18% 55 6% 19 5% 16 302 50% 153 25% 77 14% 44 6% 18 4% 13 305 43% 132 13% 39 22% 68 10% 29 12% 37 305 36% 111 27% 83 24% 73 6% 18 7% 21 306 36% 107 15% 45 26% 78 12% 36 12% 35 301 27% 82 18% 55 34% 103 9% 26 12% 35 301 25% 74 25% 76 41% 124 5% 15 4% 13 302 23% 71 26% 79 32% 97 9% 27 10% 32 306 20% 61 31% 95 35% 106 8% 23 7% 20 305 14% 39 7% 21 31% 90 13% 38 34% 99 287 12% 37 12% 35 15% 46 17% 51 44% 134 303 #OTHER IDEAS FOR CONSIDERATI ON.DATE 1 A trail connec ting Verena Mallory Trail to s omewhere near Smuggler Viewing dec k. Thus creating a bigger loop, acc es s to the parking and mak ing it an eas ier transition back to Smuggler rather than the steep/roc k y Hunter Creek Cutoff coming from Hunter Creek. 7/23/2024 1:41 PM 2 Historically there was paragliding launc h ac cessible from Smuggler up unt il the the landing area bec ame dev eloped. (1990’s ) 7/23/2024 11:35 AM 3 Definit ely need t o add s ingle track bik e t rail from town to platform and als o upper hunter c reek bridge 7/22/2024 6:12 PM 4 E-bike usage with s afety rules; on-leash dogs only given it’s crowded and dangerous when a dog pass es y ou on a bik e 7/19/2024 4:55 PM 5 e bik es s hould not be allowed on single trac k 7/17/2024 10:58 AM 6 Trails lik e midnight rambler should be allowed as it increases trail div ersity and diffic ulty and helps to separate hikers and bikers. 7/15/2024 1:19 PM 7 Reclamation of unsigned and and us er created routes is most important to me barring any other is s ue 7/15/2024 12:13 PM 8 Program for clearing loose roc k s on Smuggler Mtn Road in t rouble areas s uch as up near t he powerline pole, mak es biking dangerous 7/15/2024 9:57 AM 9 no e bikes!7/14/2024 8:11 AM 10 Taking the bus t o the trailhead 7/11/2024 7:25 AM STRONGLY SUPPORT SOMEWHAT SUPPORT NEUTRAL SOMEWHAT OPPOSE STRONGLY OPPOSE TOTAL Single-track trail maintenanc e A s ingle-track trail connec tion from t own to the upper trails (ak a "port al" trail) New, advanc ed trails Smuggler Mountain Road maintenance (firs t 2 miles ) Maintain off -leash dog policy Restroom near the Smuggler Trailhead New, beginner trails Reclamation of unsigned / user-c reated routes Trail ac c ess / improvement s for pers ons with disabilities Benc hes / rest stops along Smuggler Mountain Road Park ing improvements No new trails Expanded e-bikes routes Smuggler Mountain Open Spac e M anagem ent Plan – 2024 Update 19 / 38 11 Inc reas e education and enf orc ement of off leash dog problems and dog poop left on ground. Create tangible penalties and perform enforcement. 7/10/2024 8:53 AM 12 I wish people would READ the signs 7/6/2024 4:09 PM 13 E-bike Mountain Bik ing Trail for Clas s 1 e-bik es 7/1/2024 10:19 AM 14 Would lov e to s ee a s ingle trac k route from upper hunter c reek all the way to town!7/1/2024 9:56 AM 15 I disagree with allo wing e-bikes anywhere. It is dangerous not only becaus e of speed but enc ourages people who don’t have experienc e or k now t he rules to go out for an adv enture. 6/30/2024 3:13 PM 16 Let's not enc ourage ebik e use on more trails .6/27/2024 8:52 AM 17 E-bikes need a plac e to ride otherwise they will ride everywhere. They need t o be managed ins tead of ignored. 6/27/2024 7:30 AM 18 Get t he dogs off 6/26/2024 1:21 PM 19 Area is not appropriate f or beginner trails.6/26/2024 11:59 AM 20 More parking for normal people at the Upper HC TH 6/26/2024 11:10 AM 21 Adopt us er creat ed trails into the network 6/26/2024 10:42 AM 22 separat ion on bik e trails and walk ing trails - please no new trails - more trails = more people = less peace and serrenity 6/26/2024 9:50 AM 23 Bring back the more direct hiking trail that was tak en away when t he flow trails were made. I e sunny s ide on the hunter c reek side s nd Iowa s haft trsils 6/25/2024 7:33 AM 24 ban e bik es 6/24/2024 3:07 PM 25 No overnight park ing or s ome kind of parking enforcement, for the spac es that are along Park Av enue 6/24/2024 3:07 PM 26 Restric ting e bike use 6/24/2024 12:43 PM 27 We should not open up trails to mec haniz ed travel like Ebikes, mak ing access too easy will create problems with ov erus e and the lands will lose t heir magic. 6/24/2024 11:26 AM 28 Relocate any moose or bears or other dangerous mammals which may be on the mountain 6/23/2024 8:55 PM 29 Would like to s ee more s ignage on pre-European settlement (ie Ute).6/22/2024 10:12 PM 30 Grandfather exis ting well built and maintained trails instead of us ing tax -pay er dollars to close them. 6/22/2024 7:22 PM 31 Dogs need to be leas hed. They are nev er on voice c ommand 6/20/2024 2:29 PM Smuggler Mountain Open Spac e M anagem ent Plan – 2024 Update 20 / 38 Q12 Signage, Wayfinding and EducationPlease indicate your level of support for the following: Answered: 304 Sk ipped: 76 25% 75 31% 94 37% 111 5% 14 3% 9 303 25% 75 22% 67 40% 122 5% 15 8% 23 302 22% 66 28% 84 43% 130 4% 12 3% 10 302 18% 55 31% 93 45% 135 3% 9 3% 10 302 11% 33 21% 63 40% 121 15% 46 13% 40 303 #OTHER I DEAS FOR CONSIDERATION.DATE 1 As long as it doesn’t bring in more touris t 7/19/2024 4:55 PM 2 A lot of other c ommunities have simple us eful s ignage , muc h bett er t han we do. Look at what ot her communities do. 7/15/2024 9:57 AM 3 Leav e it alone 7/14/2024 9:22 AM 4 s ignage messes up the ex perience 7/14/2024 8:11 AM 5 keep it natural 7/8/2024 7:46 AM 6 make it a MTB mecca! Aspen should have world class trails to go with work class skiing 6/26/2024 3:28 PM 8%8% 8% 3%3% 3% 13%13% 13% 5%5% 5% 5%5% 5% 4%4% 4% 15%15% 15% 37%37% 37% 40%40% 40% 43%43% 43% 45%45% 45% 40%40% 40% 31%31% 31% 22%22% 22% 28%28% 28% 31%31% 31% 21%21% 21% 25%25% 25% 25%25% 25% 22%22% 22% 18 %18 % 18 % 11%11% 11% 0%1 0%20%30%40%5 0%60%70%80%90%1 00% Strongly Su…Somewhat …Neutral Somewhat … Strongly Op… Updat ed wayfinding signage Bil ingual signage Updated interpretive and educatio... Educational pr ogr ams Interactive/dig ital history information STRONGLY SUPPORT SOMEWHAT SUPPORT NEUTRAL SOMEWHAT OPPOSE STRONGLY OPPOSE TOTAL Updat ed wayfinding signage Bilingual signage Updated interpretive and educational signage Educ ational programs I nterac tiv e/digital hist ory information Smuggler Mountain Open Spac e M anagem ent Plan – 2024 Update 21 / 38 7 Signage is great 6/22/2024 9:19 PM Smuggler Mountain Open Spac e M anagem ent Plan – 2024 Update 22 / 38 Q13 Please provide any additional thoughts or details about things that work well or things that could be improved and/or tell us what you would like to see in the near and long-term for Smuggler Mountain Open Space: Answered: 90 Sk ipped: 290 #RESPONSES DATE 1 Add/enhance parking c an we get t his in y our parking lot patrolled s o that we don't hav e people parking there without handic ap or senior permits ? 7/26/2024 2:10 AM 2 Addres s motorized use Address safety It feels v ery uns afe when dirt bik es are on the smuggler road toward the observat ion dec k . Too many riders are irres ponsible, fast and thoughtless towards hikers. I avoid brining my c hildren due to the danger c aused by these bikes. 7/24/2024 9:44 PM 3 Maintain s tatus quo It’s v ery disappointing to see the country t ake open space and put s o many rules and regulations into plac e. I understand that As pen has been inundated with more people in the pas t few y ears , but there are t oo many things that get ripped away from locals to improv e outsider experiences. Very disappointed with how the c ountry has handled a lot of different “open s paces” whic h end up cat ering to only one or two groups of people, typic ally ones with more financial backing. 7/23/2024 9:43 PM 4 Addres s dog wast e I lov e hiking this trail. It seems lik e those with dogs c hoose to just leave their dog poop bags wherev er they please on the trail “planning to pick up on the way out,” but never do. This is harmful f or t he environment and it’s dis gus ting. Maybe more trash recept acles on the trail to prevent this ? Tick eting thos e who leave tras h behind? It det ers me from wanting to hike when so many poop bags are on t he trail. 7/23/2024 9:30 PM 5 Thank y ou to everyone for your work !7/23/2024 2:57 PM 6 Add town ac c ess/portal trail A trail c onnecting Verena Mallory Trail (Lower Hunter Creek ) to somewhere near Smuggler Viewing deck. Thus creating a bigger loop, access t o the parking and mak ing it an easier transition back to Smuggler rather than the s teep/rocky Hunter Creek Cutoff c oming from Hunter Creek. 7/23/2024 1:41 PM 7 Add/Enhanc e s ignage I would lik e to s ee a interpret ive sign at the locat ion of the old paragliding launc h s ite. 7/23/2024 11:35 AM 8 Add trails/rec reation In reference to trail building in the area. As this continues to see more and more tourist traffic (for good reason) it’s important to understand that the loc al community recreat ion should be k ept in mind as well. As t rails expand, expand on the variety of trails available in this area that c ould offer a before/after work recreation opportunity for local mountain bikers or hikers. In my eyes as a mountain biker, the area near Van Horn park and hobbit trail hav e a lot of potential for additional mountain bik e trails . However this may come with a need for additional parking at the upper HC lot and prove a high cost for limited gain 7/23/2024 10:50 AM 9 No e-bike trails Complete ban on e-bik es 7/23/2024 7:31 AM 10 Add/Enhanc e s ignage Maybe signage at the bottoms warning touris t that want to driv e up there es pecially in the winter, what they’re in for. 7/23/2024 7:31 AM 11 No e-bike trails No ebicycles on Smuggler Acces s Road 7/23/2024 7:25 AM 12 Restric t dogs of f-leash Leashed dogs only, no more than 2 dogs per person. Hopefully this also reduces the f ecal amount that is not c arried out too. It’s disgusting on all the trails . Please. 7/23/2024 5:45 AM 13 Add e-bike trails E-bik es are everywhere and should be allowed on all s ingle track 7/22/2024 6:39 PM 14 Add town ac c ess/portal trail Please add a s ingle trac k bike trail from town to the platform and also to hunter creek bridge area. Bikers would prefer this ov er riding up and down smuggler road or red mount ain road. 7/22/2024 6:12 PM Smuggler Mountain Open Spac e M anagem ent Plan – 2024 Update 23 / 38 15 Addres s dog wast e Res tric t dogs off-leas h Dogs off leash and jumping on me and the bags of s hite are the only things t hat bother me. 7/19/2024 3:45 PM 16 Add town ac c ess/portal trail The mos t valuable addition to the syst em is a bike trail from t own to the observation dec k so it’s not jus t the smuggler road or red mountain rd. 7/19/2024 3:34 PM 17 Na 7/19/2024 2:08 PM 18 Add water st ation More water stations 7/19/2024 1:25 PM 19 Add town ac c ess/portal trail There needs to be a way from the HC Valley floor bac k to town that isn’t pavement (Red Mt Rd) Single track, mountain bike ride, does n’t have to be banked turns & jumps (c ould be t hough) Def initely direct ional & mt bike only. Hikers have the HC Trail along the creek already. 7/18/2024 2:14 PM 20 Add restroom Addres s dog was te Doing well: Appropriate amount of railing and signage to the extent it still feels lik e nature. Good job on fores t management ; keep on top of beet les. Consider: How to keep dog poop of f the trail (but it’s look ing a lot better). Only add bathroom if you have staff to maintain it well. 7/17/2024 7:13 AM 21 Maintain s tatus quo No weed spraying Just let it be - it doesn't need more attraction. Please st op s pray ing toxic subs tanc es on the environment - there are better ways to "manage weeds ". This practice should be banned as it is tox ic to the environment , wildlife, pets and people. 7/16/2024 8:27 AM 22 Addres s dog wast e I know emptying trash rec eptables higher on the mountain is more burdens ome, but a couple higher up would encourage people to clean their dogs' waste s o they don't have to carry it t he entire way up and down if already past a receptacle. 7/15/2024 4:52 PM 23 No e-bike trails Keep E-bikers out of hunter c reek .7/15/2024 1:19 PM 24 Addres s/reclaim unauthorized routes Rec lamation of uns igned and and user c reated routes is most important to me barring any other issue 7/15/2024 12:13 PM 25 Maintain s tatus quo Making Smuggler into anot her Disney for t ourists will ruin the place for t housands of year round residents . Let t hem pay Aspen Skiing Co for ac tiv ities on ASC's four mountains. 7/15/2024 9:57 AM 26 Add/enhance parking Pleas e add a full park ing lot in the upper Red Mountain area of Smuggler for every one. There is plent y of space f or it. This would be helpful for groups meeting for outdoor educ ation, picnic s , etc . This would be beneficial to the c ommunity. 7/15/2024 9:43 AM 27 No new park ing While the parking is a c hallenge, I think that helps to force people to us e alternativ es to get to the trailheads whic h is good. 7/15/2024 9:37 AM 28 Add bike racks Needs bike rac k at the bott om for hikers.7/14/2024 9:22 AM 29 No e-bike trails No s ignage no e bikes! no signage!7/14/2024 8:11 AM 30 Add/enhance parking Address trail maintenanc e Ex pand off-leash areas I s upport easing of the strict leash laws in Hunter Creek Valley. I would prefer having a polic y of y our dog under v oice control. The rock s and erosion on the Hunter Creek Valley trail past t he bridge by the Vera Mallory trail junc tion s hould be addressed. It’s nearly impossible to hav e a dog on leas h while navigating that roc k y s ec tion. The Hunter Creek parking area on Red Mount ain is unat tractiv e and a hassle to park there. It deters me from using the trail. 7/14/2024 6:33 AM 31 Addres s dog wast e More dog poop tras h cans 7/14/2024 5:58 AM 32 Add town ac c ess/portal trail Would lov e to be able to ride up without hav ing to do Smuggler Rd., pick ing through the spread out foot users with earbuds and oblivious of their off-leash dog's activ ity. 7/10/2024 8:53 AM 33 Add benches Add bik e racks Add town access /portal trail Add/Enhanc e s ignage Addre ss trail maintenance A bike rac k at the bottom near park circ le. A s ingle track c limbing and des c ending rout e up Smuggler. Fix s ignage and better maps. Trail maintenanc e. Bench half way up Smuggler. 7/9/2024 11:02 AM 34 Add town ac c ess/portal trail A NEW single trac k from top of Smuggler t o bottom trailhead for bik ers . This is important to keep bikes off Smuggler on the way down. Safer! 7/9/2024 7:20 AM Smuggler Mountain Open Spac e M anagem ent Plan – 2024 Update 24 / 38 35 Add water st ation Address dog waste acces s to drinking water at the observat ion dec k / trash can for dog poop at the top s o people don’t leav e it 7/8/2024 3:37 PM 36 Addres s dog wast e There s hould be more trash bins for dog was te to enc ourage people to pick up after their dogs . 7/8/2024 3:29 PM 37 They 7/8/2024 3:14 PM 38 Add beginner/intermediate trails We need the mis s ing middle for mountain bike t rails . Downhill "green" and "green-blue" trails don't ex ist in this v alley and are sorely needed to increase acces s ibility to newcomers to the sport. We do not need more ex pert level trails y et that is all RFMBA wants to focus on. 7/8/2024 2:49 PM 39 Addres s dog wast e Need t o empty and improve the dog waste receptacles. This spring it was not t ouched for months 7/8/2024 2:15 PM 40 Maintain s tatus quo Restrict us e to c urrent levels Smuggler is a t reas ure. Less is more — keeping the s pac e as natural as poss ible and managing the crowds to a reas onable level (at or below c urrent levels in the summer) are highest priorities. 7/8/2024 12:36 PM 41 Maintain s tatus quo Leav e it alone. Its meant to be wild and unspoiled 7/8/2024 12:35 PM 42 It’s a wonderful space!7/8/2024 9:16 AM 43 Add/Enhanc e s ignage Short & to the point signage 7/6/2024 4:09 PM 44 Add/Enhanc e s ignage The s ignage needs to be improved ! When hik ing Tootsie pop or Lollipop there needs to be more signs lik e you are here. Lik e y ou do at the top of smuggler. When hik ing, s ometimes I feel lik e I am going to get lost and don’t want t o c ontinue exploring new trails for that reas on. 7/3/2024 6:57 AM 45 Add advanced t rails The people want new adv anced trails. Advanc ed trails are jus as important to maintaining a c ommunity as beginner trails. 7/2/2024 2:12 PM 46 Add e-bike trails Pos s ibly an ebike linkage f rom smuggler road to 4 c orners road.7/2/2024 6:37 AM 47 Addres s dog wast e Res tric t dogs off-leas h Keep t he dogs on leash and remind owner to pick up dog poop. More fines . 7/1/2024 7:06 PM 48 Keep unaut horized routes I would lik e to see all of the new mtb trails stay ! This town needs divers ity of trails. Too many bas ic trails and nothing challenging and the trails that are actually fun get c losed down by people who don’t have the skills to ride the t rails . 7/1/2024 5:20 PM 49 Addres s human/wildlife interactions The question about wildlife s hould be separated. Wildlife plant s and wildlife habitats should be two s eparate ques tions. I think s omeone s hould always be on Smuggler to make sure the animals and humans do not come in contact . 7/1/2024 5:11 PM 50 Add/Enhanc e s ignage Address saf ety Signage might addres s t rail etiquette- Be aware & share! Phones , mus ic, dog c ontrol etc 7/1/2024 3:02 PM 51 Add town ac c ess/portal trail Would lov e to see a s ingle track route from upper hunter c reek all the way to town! 7/1/2024 9:56 AM 52 Add town ac c ess/portal trail Climbing t he road at s muggler trailhead is not fun. Please mak e a connec tor from town. Also park ing is very limited at s muggler trailhead so a c onnector from town would help this iss ue. 7/1/2024 9:43 AM 53 Add/enhance parking More spaces in the senior/handicapped parking and more policing in that area 7/1/2024 9:42 AM 54 Add town ac c ess/portal trail Keep up the great work! Bikeable s ingletrac k to/from town would spread out park ing and avoid the pavement s ection that's s uc h a bummer t o end on. MTB-only trails would be nice as things get bus ier with tourist f oot traffic . 7/1/2024 8:29 AM 55 Add/enhance parking Don't mak e the smuggler mountain road trailhead parking much bigger.... Just do more with the ex isting spac e (pave, s lot, remov e c urb). There is enough space, but without painted lines c ars will park ineffic ient ly which hurts parking ex perience during peak hours . 6/29/2024 2:41 PM 56 Addres s dog wast e More work to get people to pic k up poop 6/29/2024 10:03 AM Smuggler Mountain Open Spac e M anagem ent Plan – 2024 Update 25 / 38 57 Add bike racks Bike rac k s at all open s pace park ing lots. Aren’t we trying to reduce c ar use?6/28/2024 9:21 AM 58 Addres s dog wast e Patrol more for dog poop violations 6/27/2024 10:55 PM 59 Maintain s tatus quo Smuggler has long been As pen's playground for thos e that liv e here, don't make it an amus ement park with too much for too many. 6/27/2024 9:29 PM 60 Maintain s tatus quo SMOS functions very well as is and that is becaus e of the minimal recreational development of the area. Yes, s ome things need to be updated/ maintained, but the great thing about smuggler is that is doesn’t feel like a managed area and has the old sc hool vibes that Aspen and Pitk in County should v alue for its loc al users. Attrac ting more touris m activ ity to the area will only be a detriment in the long term. 6/27/2024 8:23 AM 61 Add trails/rec reation Embrac e recreation as an attraction and therefore revenue s tream for the town. Partic ularly mount ain bik ing. This trail network is incredible and any ex pansion and allowanc e of guiding should be c onsidered heathy growt h for Smuggler and WRNF. 6/27/2024 7:30 AM 62 Addres s s afety Sec urity phones and patrols 6/27/2024 3:42 AM 63 Add trails/rec reation Keep unauthoriz ed routes There has been a his tory of “bandit” trails on smuggler, potentially allow this to be the s pace for this and prev ent it from happening in other areas . It’s also an area where there is advanced trails that are not machine build flow trails. Keep It that way! More diversity in the type of trails within the Open Space network is needed. 6/26/2024 6:05 PM 64 Add town ac c ess/portal trail Add/Enhance signage Address dog waste Keep the trails rocky - don't make them all flow trails. A s ingle track up inst ead of Smugler rd would be awesome. Iowa Shaft trail needs more signs. Make people pack our t heir dog s hit instead of them leav ing it in the middle of the trails to 'pick up later' 6/26/2024 5:53 PM 65 Add town ac c ess/portal trail a rideable, hik eable, run-able s ingle track trail to eliminate the need for us ing Smuggler Rd up t o the observation dec k /upper Smuggler trails is long overdue and essential for a top rate rec reational experience. 6/26/2024 4:14 PM 66 Add town ac c ess/portal trail Portal trail s hould be priority!6/26/2024 11:43 AM 67 Add advanced t rails Add e-bik e t rails More advanced trails and allow ebikes everywhere 6/26/2024 10:59 AM 68 Add trails/rec reation Keep unauthoriz ed routes No e-bike trails Hello, as a mountain biker I would lov e to see more advanc ed trails in this area. I know y ou rec ently c losed a small pirate trail and was upset at the language used regarding policy of not integrat ing pirate trails into the syst em at s ome point . The most progressive mountain bike trail system in this c ountry st arted t his way and / or were made better by doing this. I understand the trail t hat was c losed may not be the best c andidate for this but in principal I believe you can only improv e y our trail s y s tem by int egrating the more adv anced rider c ommunity. They would not be building trails lik e this if t hey already existed. I do st rongly support more advanced t rails as there really are none in this v alley. At least in comparison to what most would c ons ider a black / double blac k trail. I think s eeking s upport from RFMB and als o local riders would be key for building more adv anced trail. Regarding E-Bikes I do not s upport them in this are at t he c urrent inf ras truct ure level. Some of these t rails can be quite hard to reach whic h pres erves them as they see little maintenanc e. RFMBA trail agent s and the occas ional s easonal team do a lot of good work out there but t here are not many of us. In order to allow ebikes I would like to see more trail created and a stronger maintenanc e plan. I als o worry about emergenc y s ervices. An ebike would allow a great many people to rent from town and acces s very remote trails in the hunter creek / smuggler area. There can be limited c ell servic e and I'd like to see more education regarding this . 6/26/2024 10:51 AM 69 Add advanced t rails Add trails/recreation Ex pand network of mountain bik e t rails with new t rails of advanced diffic ulty 6/26/2024 10:48 AM 70 Add trails/rec reation Keep unauthoriz ed routes I v ery strongly support the development of one or more alternate, primarily des c ending mountain bike trails either from the Hunter Creek and/or an east ern route. The addition of Hummingbird and Upper Plunge in recent y ears has been great and I would s upport more t rails . Dec ades ago, t he bandit addition of the Secret & Hobbit Trail were tremendous additions to our trail network . Super happy t hese trails have been improved, legitimized and maintained. 6/26/2024 10:45 AM 71 No e-bike trails I don't think we need to c reate more us age of this area. I don't think we need t o attrac t more visitors or mak e this area a dest ination for mountain biking or e-bike riding. This is s uch a beautiful plac e c lose to town that hikers as well as bikers c an enjoy. With t he c urrent 6/26/2024 9:50 AM Smuggler Mountain Open Spac e M anagem ent Plan – 2024 Update 26 / 38 trail c onfigurat ion, it work s for both act ivities. It sounds to me that the focus will be on creating more opportunities for bikers - once that happens hikers will no longer be able to enjoy the trails. And onc e e-bikers are allowed on t railers soon it will be jus tified to hav e motor bik es. I t seems there is money to be spent - but I would s ay s pend it on preservation not on c reating more recreat ional opportunities. The Rio Grande t rail (and to some degree East Aspen Trail) is now ruined for walk ers bec ause of all the e-bik ers and bik ers . 72 Addres s dog wast e Dog poop continues to be a problem. Fak e c ameras? Paired with humorous signage? More enforcement? More trash collect ion points ? Also suggest better signage dis c ouraging div ing up jus t for the views . Many who do it don’t k now the diffic ult y. 6/25/2024 10:48 PM 73 Add restroom Add/enhance park ing Expand off-leash areas Eliminate dogs leas h areas . There's no reason f or leash rule on lower Hunter trailhead to t he top. Expand the parking at top Hunter trailhead. Ev en delineat ing that 5 vehicles (not 4) c an fit would be a s mall win. Hav ing to park at the mid-Hunter lot is s o lame as t he hike to the footbridge isn't very interes ting and requires crossing the driveways and the road. Bring back the u pper Smuggler park ing spac es in the winter. Jus t put in a f ew boulders and make it more lev el so no one s lides off. The bathroom at Smuggler is the best idea ever. Ones lik e those in Rio Grande park would be ideal. It would be nice to do a little upgrade to the Robbie Wade pic nic area, out of remembrance and respec t. 6/25/2024 9:39 PM 74 No e-bike trails Motoriz ed us e, included ebikes , is not appropriate f or t his area.6/25/2024 5:23 PM 75 Add/enhance parking Expanded ac c ess to t he upper HC park ing lot. There is a greater des ire to access the Hunter Creek Valley (by ghost town) - (beyond senior ac c ess) those with s mall children, older dogs , better acces s to four c orners / trails . Its a rare opportunit y to have flat open spac e with water! 6/25/2024 9:37 AM 76 Bring back the more direct trails as uphill hiking on the Iowa shaf t and sunny si de on the hunt er creek side. 6/25/2024 7:33 AM 77 Add town ac c ess/portal trail A link c oming down f rom the Hunter Creek Valley t hat does n’t involv e the super rock y trail and t hen Red Mountain Road would be a nic e way to complete the system. 6/24/2024 9:06 PM 78 Add advanced t rails Add e-bik e t rails More c hallenging bike trails and allow class 1 ebikes 6/24/2024 8:59 PM 79 Add town ac c ess/portal trail I use Smuggler Mountain Road rec reationally all year. I enjoy riding my bike and hiking up the road and also use it to acces s the higher elev ation terrain. It would be great to have another option besides the Hunter Creek trail for des cending as it is very tec hnical where y ou have to go fas t to be safe which is challenging with the hikers as well. Above Smuggler Mountain Road has s ome of the bes t single track in t he v alley. The area is pret ty heav ily -trav eled but manageable, I don't t hink it can handle muc h more us e than it's c urrent c apacity. PS Hi Carly! (Amy) 6/24/2024 3:45 PM 80 No e-bike trails ban e bikes 6/24/2024 3:07 PM 81 No e-bike trails No motorized use Restrict motorized and e bike use, it great ly impac ts the enjoyment of all us ers with ex c ess noise and or s peed. Can also caus e safet y issues . 6/24/2024 12:43 PM 82 replac e picnic tables Please for the love of god replac e the pic nic tables abov e the obs erv ation deck. 6/24/2024 12:04 PM 83 No e-bike trails Enforce ebik e bans 6/24/2024 11:26 AM 84 Addres s dog wast e Maintain off-leash area No e-bike trails I hav e walked t he mining interpretive loop a few times . It's pret ty tucked away and somewhat confus ing as it isn't an obv ious loop with information building in any formal way. I think it c ould be rev amped to be a muc h c ooler int erpretiv e loop. I think dog users need more off leas h areas and am glad smuggler is an option. I personally am tired of off leash dogs and irrespons ible owners on the trail but respect having it available as mos t other trails in the v alley are leash-required. The poop situation is horrendous and I would s upport more public s haming of entitled, forgetful, disrespec tf ul owners leaving bagged and unbagged shit everywhere. I would lov e a bik e rack at the base of smuggler, lower hunter c reek , and the blm lot that I frequent. I often ebike to trailheads from home then go on my adv enture. I'v e s een others do the same and wish we had a rack. The k iosk maps, signs, and online map resourc es often don't have the s ingle track trails labeled the s ame or reflec tiv e of what the t rail actually is like. I frequent thos e trails s o I think I hav e a good ment al map but what is Lollipop vs Iowa Shaf t vs Grand Turk?? It's all a 6/24/2024 11:13 AM Smuggler Mountain Open Spac e M anagem ent Plan – 2024 Update 27 / 38 mes s and c ould be cleaned up. I s upport improving those trails and formalizing s ome of the harder steep ones. There is s o muc h potential out there and I s ee a lot of other us ers . The mountain ebikes are an is sue as people c an ebike up smuggler. Maybe the observ ation deck needs a bik e rack too. It can even be labeled, no ebikes pass rack. I do not understand the rat ionale for allowing ebik es on singletrack. If I was doing a majorly epic long ride, sure. But we aren't making mas s ive xc trails . As s omeone who works in adaptiv e recreation, I'm grossly of fended by people t ry ing to claim ADA for ebik es . Adaptive bikes with motors , hell yeah. Random guy with cardiac issues, elderly, asthma, etc . no. Let's not diminish the ex perience of people with dis abilities . I would support including univers al trail design and building singletrack with more acces s ibility in mind. I'm no expert in this but I 'm s ure there are s ome badass locals who are. Benches and shade options would really help the tourists enjoy this trail s ystem more. This is As pens backyard trail and an easy plac e t o s end touris ts to. I think k eeping tourism a high priority on t his trail will give relief to other trails in the valley t hat couldn't handle more us e load. 85 Addres s wildlife conc erns There’s a sign which warns about moose on the mountain. It s ays dogs mak e moose more aggress ive. What can be done to make the area saf er with less risk of encountering moose? If dogs attract or provoke moose, perhaps the Smuggler Mountain t rails need to exclude dogs. I don’t lik e being approached by unleashed dogs there. 6/23/2024 8:55 PM 86 Add trails/rec reation Bik e ac c ess to Midway trail 6/22/2024 10:12 PM 87 Add advanced t rails Add trails/recreation Keep ex ist ing and obv ious uphill ac c ess c orridors and infrastruc ture. Include steep directional des cending mtb trails to deconflict the parcel. The footprint is minimal if it’s not another s witchbac k-trail, and lord knows there are enough ‘green trails’ up there already. There’s a v olunteer army of qualified volunt eer maintenance pers onnel to maintain t he trails y ou just s hut down. Use them. Stop alienating the community with your antiquated management ‘plans’ and refus al to hear the c urrent v oice of the actual users. 6/22/2024 7:22 PM 88 Keep natural Keep it as natural and in it s natural spac e as pos s ible 6/22/2024 1:21 PM 89 Addres s dog wast e Res tric t dogs off-leas h Dog poop bags continue to be an issue on Smugger, I pic k them up and throw them away, and I don't have dog. I prefer dogs on leas hes as they run down the road and somet imes almost k nock me ov er. Or run into the brush to chas e wildlife. I lov e dogs but from an environment al st andpoint, they need to be on a leash. 6/22/2024 12:40 PM 90 Add advanced t rails Add town acces s /portal trail More adv anced/expert level bik e trails. Hand-built trails are preferred. An easier beginner trail c onnect ing the deck to the HC valley. A biking trail c onnect ion from the HC valley to t he v alley floor. No one wants to blow their hard earned v ertic al on Red Mt road. The upper half of Smuggler Rd, to the dec k , has become very loose and roc k y ov er t he past few years. Some improv ement there would be appreciated. 6/20/2024 1:17 PM Smuggler Mountain Open Spac e M anagem ent Plan – 2024 Update 28 / 38 61%180 11%34 8%24 6%17 4%12 4%11 3%8 2%6 1%4 Q14 Where do you live? Answered: 296 Sk ipped: 84 TOTAL 296 #OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY)DATE 1 Former resident, native to Bas alt 7/19/2024 6:48 AM 61%61% 61% 11%11% 11% 8%8% 8% 6%6% 6% 4%4% 4% 4%4% 4% 3%3% 3% 2%2% 2% 1%1% 1% 0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%1 00% Aspen Basalt / El Jebel / Wil lits Carbondale I ow n a second home in Pitkin Count y Unincor por ated Pitkin County Snowmass V ill age I am a visitor Gl enwood Spr ings Other (please specify) ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES As pen Bas alt / El Jebel / Willits Carbondale I own a s ec ond home in Pitkin Count y Uninc orporated Pitkin County Snowmas s Village I am a vis it or Glenwood Springs Other (please s pecify) Smuggler Mountain Open Spac e M anagem ent Plan – 2024 Update 30 / 38 0%0 11%34 26%76 21%63 22%64 20%59 Q15 What is your age? Answered: 296 Sk ipped: 84 TOTAL 296 11%11% 11% 26%26% 26% 21%21% 21% 22%22% 22% 20%20% 20% 0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%1 00% 19 and under 20-30 31-40 41-5 0 51-60 61+ ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES 19 and under 20-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61+ APPENDIX B. PARTNER COMMENTS Glenwood Springs Area Office 0088 Wildlife Way Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 Jeff Davis, Director, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Parks and Wildlife Commission: Dallas May, Chair ∙ Richard Reading, Vice-Chair ∙ Karen Bailey, Secretary ∙ Jessica Beaulieu Marie Haskett ∙ Tai Jacober ∙ Jack Murphy ∙ Gabriel Otero ∙ Murphy Robinson ∙ James Jay Tutchton ∙ Eden Vardy October 29, 2024 RE: Smuggler Mountain Open Space Draft Plan Colorado Parks and Wildlife appreciates the opportunity to review and comment on the Smuggler Mountain Open Space Draft Plan. Based on CPW’s Species Activity Maps (SAM) Smuggler Mountain Open Space contains portions of Elk Winter Range, Severe Winter Rnage, Mule Deer Summer Range and a Bear Human Conflict Area. Based on the locations of the wildife ranges listed above in relation to the activity being recommended for Sumggler Mountain Open Space, CPW feels there will be limited to no effects on wildlife in that area depending on the action item. CPW supports this Draft Plan for Smuggler Mountain and looks forward to being cunsulted with any action item that effects wildlife. Colorado Parks and Wildlife appreciates the opportunity to comment on this project. If there are any questions or need for additional information don’t hesitate to contact District Wildlife Manager, Kurtis Tesch at (970) 948-1662. Sincerely, Matt Yamashita, Area Wildlife Manager Cc. Kurtis Tesch, District Wildlife Manager October 21, 2024 Dear Carly & Pitkin County Open Space and Trails, Aspen Chamber Resort Association applauds your efforts on the draft management plan update for Smuggler Mountain Open Space. It is a tremendous body of work and we are in support of the initiatives outlined in the plan and it aligns nicely with the work we are working towards with the Aspen Destination Management Plan. We hope to collaborate with you to further the good work that both of our organizations are working towards. Please stay in touch as the plan gets approved and the work begins. Sincerely, Eliza Voss Vice President Destination Marketing Aspen Chamber Resort Association Our mission is to create and sustain the best possible mountain bike trail system and experience in the Roaring Fork Valley. October 22, 2024 Pitkin County Open Space & Trails Jessie Young, Planning & Outreach Manager jessie.young@pitkincounty.com RFMBA Comments, regarding: Draft 2024 Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan Update Jessie, The Roaring Fork Mountain Bike Association (RFMBA) is a non-profit organization that has been focused on improving the local trails in our region since 2008. Our mission is to create and sustain the best possible mountain bike trail system and experience in the Roaring Fork Valley. We’ve been pleased to partner with both Pitkin County, and City of Aspen, to implement portions of the original Smuggler Mt. OS Management Plan since 2008, and look forward to growing these partnership efforts, especially for maintenance of existing trails, in the future. We greatly appreciate the work that has gone into creating the current draft update to this plan, and would like to highlight a number of management actions that we believe will be seen as high value by many of our members, by many others who live in Aspen, and by those who visit the area for the opportunities available when recreating on Smuggler Mt. OS and the adjacent White River National Forest. All of the proposed management actions in the Natural Resources, Recreation, Education and Outreach, Monitoring and Stewardship, and Maintenance categories are worth retaining in the final adopted update of the plan. Our greatest interest is to explore the feasibility of Recreation management actions R1. & R.3, which we hope can be studied in further detail next year, and if approved, implemented soon after. R.1 Explore the feasibility of a lower access “portal trail.” The concept for this trail is further described as serving “to connect mountain bikers on the Hunter-Smuggler trail network to Aspen, therefore, improving the recreation experience and reducing bike traffic on Red Mountain Road. Public comment reflects a desire for this trail.” This concept trail is the name given to an alignment that was explored prior to 2014. At the time, the alignment was viewed as not ideal for a multi-use trail open to two-way traffic. Imagine! The best trails on the planet – right outside your door! Executive Director Mike Pritchard Board of Directors Jim Neu Chairman Todd Fugate Vice-Chair Art Burrows Secretary Rich Grange Treasurer Matt Laufer Technology Director Sheryl Bower Rachel Brenneman Adam Cornely Charlie Eckart Deric Gunshor Julie Hardman RFMBA, a Chapter of the International Mountain Bicycling Association, is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Post Office Box 2635 Aspen, CO, 81612 www.RFMBA.org RFMBA.org/Ride-Center Our mission is to create and sustain the best possible mountain bike trail system and experience in the Roaring Fork Valley. Imagine! The best trails on the planet – right outside your door! When considered as an exit access for mountain bikers descending from the Smuggler trail network, down to Aspen, the alignment can be viewed as much more favorable. While a feasible trail alignment does exist, we appreciate that land management issues may constrain the trail at its top end, in regards to where it will be able to depart from the Verena Mallory (VM) Trail. In addition, a trail management issue will need to be resolved at the bottom of this new trail alignment, where it intersects with the existing Lani White (LW) Trail. As a first option, clear signage can be installed to indicate that mountain bikers must share the trail, yield, and stop for all hikers on the Lani White Trail, from this new intersection, for the next 700’ to the LW Trailhead on Spruce Street. As a second option, as the Lani White Trail closely parallels the Salvation Ditch for a similar distance, there is the future potential for the ditch company to approve piping of the ditch water (lowering long term maintenance costs), and allowing the mountain bike descending traffic from the “portal trail” to continue on a new dirt surface trail above the piped ditch, effectively maintaining separated uses on parallel trails. The “portal trail” alignment is about 0.9 miles long from top to bottom, and could be built by hand with local volunteers. Due to the land management issues noted above for the VM trail, a second concept alignment was explored in 2014 by a team that included staff from City of Aspen OST, Pitkin County OS&T, RFMBA, and Joey Klein from IMBA Trail Solutions. This concept was given the name the ‘holy grail’ to describe how important and valued a singletrack connection would be for trail users on the Hunter-Smuggler trail network. However, this alignment is not preferred compared to the “portal trail” alignment due to its overall length (cost to build), the length of trail that will need to be constructed on steep sideslopes, and perhaps most importantly, this trail may not be utilized by all mountain bikers as an exit access since it will require a ~200’ climb, over 1 mile, from the Hunter Creek valley floor, back up to the Smuggler observation platform, before descending down to the Lani White Trail. On the positive side, if this concept is pursued, it would allow riders to enjoy a high quality, if shorter, ride on the existing trails of Smuggler Mt. OS, without continuing beyond to the WRNF trails of the Hunter Creek valley floor and beyond. This concept, including a new climbing trail from the HC valley floor up to the Smuggler observation platform, would total 2.6+ miles to connect down to the LW trail. While portions of the trail could be built with hand tools, the amount of steep sideslopes encountered would be better suited to a professionally built trail, utilizing small machines. Alignment files for both of these concepts will be shared by email. R.2 Designate Lower Hunter Creek Trail for pedestrian use only. RFMBA recommends proceeding with this management action only after proceeding with actions R.1 and/or R.3. While this trail sees very limited use by mountain bikers due to the inherent challenges to be found on this steep and rocky trail, the current allowed use does present an opportunity that some riders do enjoy. Publicizing the adoption of this management action (existing trail now closed to bikes) might be best timed along with any news of new trails to be developed elsewhere in the open space. R.3 Explore feasibility of constructing advanced mountain biking trail(s) on the north facing slopes… [above Tootsie Roll Trail]. Our mission is to create and sustain the best possible mountain bike trail system and experience in the Roaring Fork Valley. Imagine! The best trails on the planet – right outside your door! The inclusion of this recreation action is greatly appreciated by a segment of the trail using population that seeks challenging experiences in beautiful natural settings. While the opportunity is limited (in length of potential trails), it is significant. As noted in the final step of the plan for this action, local mountain bikers would be pleased to be involved in both designing and building any approved trails in this location in the future. RFMBA recommends that several short trails be considered for this area: two steep descending only trails, one with black diamond / expert level steepness and features, and a second trail with even more challenging double black diamond features to be encountered. If the terrain or other constraints dictate, these trails could be combined into one challenging trail, with multiple double black diamond optional features available along the length of the trail. One additional trail is also recommended: a steep climbing optimized trail that connects from the top of Tootsie Roll Trail (where it crosses Smuggler Mt. Road), up to the top of these new descending trails. This climbing optimized trail could be open to two way use for riders who determine that an expert level descending trail (indicated with a visual and physical filter at the top of the trail) is not for them, before returning back down to Tootsie Roll. This climbing trail will serve an additional purpose, it will keep riders from needing to use Smuggler Mt. Road, which leaves the OS, passes by the entrance to a non-system WRNF trail, and requires most bike riders to push up a steep portion of the road to access the top of the steep descending trail(s). Alignment files for these concepts will be shared by email. R.4 Add a midpoint recreation destination along Smuggler Mountain Road. RFMBA supports this action as it will be well used by many first time visitors to the area, along with others who don’t have the time to climb all the way up to the Smuggler observation platform. We recommend adding a small bike rack to this area, and up at the observation platform area too, so that vegetation near benches and platforms are less impacted over time. Over ten years ago, the very short trail that connects to the Smuggler observation platform was rerouted, with the original road width connection rehabilitated and revegetated. Temporary fencing was put in place to protect the vegetation, but once the fencing was removed a few years later, impacts returned from users stepping off the short trail to lay bikes off to the side. A small bike rack at each of these locations would reduce further similar impacts to these beautiful destination areas. M.3 Create a maintenance agreement and schedule with defined responsibilities. While this action is focused on the relationship between the City of Aspen and Pitkin County, in their shared stewardship and management of this open space, RFMBA looks forward to partnering in the effort to maintain the existing and any future trails approved for Smuggler Mt. OS. We will help to coordinate the efforts of our volunteer Trail Agent Program (trained independent volunteers) to report on current conditions, and to tackle minor corridor cutbacks and clearing of fallen trees, while our Seasonal Trail Crew Staff can be directed to tackle bigger and more complex trail maintenance needs. Feel free to contact me with any questions at (970) 948-3486 or mike.pritchard@rfmba.org. Best Regards, Mike Pritchard, RFMBA, Executive Director Caring for the Land and Serving People Printed on Recycled Paper Logo Department Name Agency Organization Organization Address Information United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Aspen-Sopris Ranger District 620 Main St P.O. Box 309 Carbondale, CO 81623-0309 970-963-2266 File Code: 2300 Date: November 1, 2024 Carly O’Connell 530 E Main. Pitkin County Open Space and Trails Suite 202, 81611 Dear Carly, Thank you for the opportunity to review Pitkin County Open Space & Trails’ Draft Smuggler Mountain Open Space Management Plan. Overall, this management plan largely aligns with land management priorities on National Forest System lands adjacent to the Pitkin County Open Space & Trails parcels. Specifically, the plan aligns with recreation and wildlife management priorities while also addressing recreation and wildlife concerns on adjacent National Forest System lands. The plan also includes objectives that involve heritage, riparian, scenery, and stream resources. The Forest Service recognizes that laws, policies, rules, and regulations governing Pitkin County Open Space and Trails may be different than those governing the Forest Service. The Forest Service supports the draft plan and reaffirms the need for continued coordination between the County and the Forest Service regarding County actions or issues in the draft management plan that would or could affect Forest Service resources or that would trigger the need for additional Forest Service action. The Forest Service and the County share values around diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. The Forest Service recommends the county consider ways to design dual language signs (English and Spanish), infrastructure, and recreation opportunities to continue promoting inclusion on public lands. We appreciate the opportunity to comment on this plan as a close partner to Pitkin County. If there are any questions or need for additional information don’t hesitate to contact the district’s Recreation Manager, Kendra Head at Kendra.Head@usda.gov, Wilderness and Trails Program Carly O’Connell 2 Manager, Katy Nelson at Katy.l.nelson@usda.gov, or Wildlife Biologist, Phil Nyland at Philip.Nyland@usda.gov. Sincerely, X KEVIN WARNER District Ranger cc: Katy Nelson, Kendra Head, Phil Nyland KEVIN WARNER Digitally signed by KEVIN WARNER Date: 2024.11.04 10:47:26 -07'00' October 31,2024 Pitkin County Open Space and Trails 530 East Main Street,Suite 202 Aspen,Colorado 81611 Letter of Support for the Draft Management Plan for Smuggler Mountain Open Space Dear Pitkin County Open Space and Trails Team, On behalf of the Aspen Fire Protection District (AFPD),we extend our full support for the draft management plan for Smuggler Mountain Open Space.The thoughtful balance of natural resource management,recreation,education,outreach,and maintenance presented in this plan is commendable and reflects an understanding of our community’s diverse needs. As an organization committed to the safety,health,and well-being of our community,AFPD prioritizes wildfire safety and preparedness.The proactive management proposed in this plan aligns with our mission,especially in addressing critical issues related to wildfire risk reduction. A healthy and diverse ecosystem,as fostered by this plan,is foundational to minimizing wildfire risk,supporting a resilient landscape,and ensuring a safe environment for the community. At a time when global climate change is intensifying local challenges—such as drought and increased beetle infestations—the need for deliberate and proactive landscape management has never been more pressing.The strategies outlined in your management plan address these realities and are aligned with objectives in the Pitkin County Community Wildfire Protection Plan. This alignment underscores the importance of managing Smuggler Mountain Open Space in a way that reduces fuel loading and creates mosaic landscapes,providing safer operational areas for wildland firefighters in their mission to defend our community and its assets. We greatly value our partnership with Pitkin County and look forward to collaborating to bring this management plan to fruition.Together,we can ensure a healthy and resilient environment for all who live in and enjoy this treasured part of our community. Sincerely, Ali Hammond Director of Community Wildfire Resilience Aspen Fire Protection District APPENNDIX C. DRAFT PLAN COMMENTS SM UGGL ER M OUNTAIN OPEN SPACE DRAFT MANAGEMENT PL AN UPDATE 1 / 20 1%3 3%6 11%24 36%80 49%109 Q1 Please rate your overall level of support for the management actions listed in the table above. Answered: 222 Sk ipped: 0 TOTAL 222 1%1% 1% 3%3% 3% 11%11% 11% 36%36% 36% 49%49% 49% 0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%1 00% Strongl y oppose Oppose Neutral Support Str ongl y suppor t ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES Strongly oppos e Oppose Neutral Support Strongly s upport SM UGGL ER M OUNTAIN OPEN SPACE DRAFT MANAGEMENT PL AN UPDATE 2 / 20 Q2 Of the listed management actions for Smuggler Mountain Open Space, what are your TOP THREE priorities? Answered: 214 Sk ipped: 8 List of Management Actions 2626 26 1010 10 1919 19 2121 21 1717 17 22 2 1010 10 1313 13 77 7 77 7 88 8 44 4 33 3 33 3 33 3 33 3 55 5 8888 88 5050 50 77 7 77 7 33 3 1010 10 66 6 11 1 66 6 33 3 55 5 33 3 55 5 22 2 6262 62 107107 107 1313 13 22 2 66 6 44 4 44 4 22 2 Recreation. 3 Recreation. 1 Natural Reso ur ces. 2 Recreation. 7 Education + Out r each. 3 Recreation. 2 Maint enance. 1 Maint enance. 3 Natural Resour ces. 3 Natural Reso ur ces. 8 Monitoring + Stewardship. 1 Recreation. 6 Monit or ing + Stewardship. 6 Natur al Resour ces. 1 Natural Resour ces. 7 Recreation. 4 Maint enance. 2 Monitor ing + SM UGGL ER M OUNTAIN OPEN SPACE DRAFT MANAGEMENT PL AN UPDATE 3 / 20 44 4 33 3 33 3 22 2 44 4 33 3 22 2 22 2 11 1 11 1 11 1 11 1 11 1 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 Priority #1 Priority #2 Priority #3 Monitor ing + Stewardship. 2 Educatio n + Outr each. 1 Education + Outr each. 2 Recr eation. 5 Monitor ing + Stewardship. 5 Maintenance. 4 Natural Resources. 4 Natural Resources. 5 Monit or ing + Stewardship. 3 Natural Resources. 6 Natural Resources. 9 Recr eation. 8 Monitor ing + Stewardship. 4 SM UGGL ER M OUNTAIN OPEN SPACE DRAFT MANAGEMENT PL AN UPDATE 4 / 20 Lis t of Management Act ions 35% 62 50% 88 15% 26 176 64% 107 30% 50 6% 10 167 33% 13 18% 7 49% 19 39 7% 2 23% 7 70% 21 30 13% 3 13% 3 74% 17 23 33% 6 56% 10 11% 2 18 6% 1 35% 6 59% 10 17 0% 0 7% 1 93% 13 14 0% 0 46% 6 54% 7 13 23% 3 23% 3 54% 7 13 0% 0 38% 5 62% 8 13 30% 3 30% 3 40% 4 10 44% 4 22% 2 33% 3 9 50% 4 13% 1 38% 3 8 0% 0 63% 5 38% 3 8 25% 2 38% 3 38% 3 8 13% 1 25% 2 63% 5 8 0% 0 43% 3 57% 4 7 33% 2 17% 1 50% 3 6 0% 0 40% 2 60% 3 5 0% 0 50% 2 50% 2 4 0% 0 0% 0 100% 4 4 0% 0 0% 0 100% 3 3 PRIORITY #1 PRIORI TY #2 PRI ORITY #3 TOTAL Recreation. 3 Rec reation. 1 Natural Res ourc es. 2 Rec reation. 7 Education + Outreach. 3 Recreation. 2 Maintenance. 1 Maintenance. 3 Natural Resources . 3 Nat ural Resources . 8 Monit oring + St ewardship. 1 Rec reation. 6 Monitoring + Stewards hip. 6 Natural Res ourc es. 1 Natural Resources. 7 Recreation. 4 Maintenance. 2 Monitoring + Stewardship. 2 Education + Outreac h. 1 Educ ation + Out reac h. 2 Rec reation. 5 Monitoring + St ewardship. 5 Maintenanc e. 4 SM UGGL ER M OUNTAIN OPEN SPACE DRAFT MANAGEMENT PL AN UPDATE 5 / 20 0% 0 0% 0 100% 2 2 0% 0 0% 0 100% 2 2 0% 0 50% 1 50% 1 2 0% 0 0% 0 100% 1 1 100% 1 0% 0 0% 0 1 0% 0 0% 0 100% 1 1 0% 0 100% 1 0% 0 1 Natural Resources . 4 Nat ural Resources . 5 Monit oring + St ewardship. 3 Natural Res ourc es . 6 Natural Res ourc es. 9 Rec reation. 8 Monitoring + Stewards hip. 4 SM UGGL ER M OUNTAIN OPEN SPACE DRAFT MANAGEMENT PL AN UPDATE 6 / 20 Q3 Please share your comments on the Draft Action Items in the Management Plan Update for Smuggler Mountain Open Space. Are there changes or additions that you would like to see before a final plan is adopted? Answered: 115 Sk ipped: 107 #RESPONSES DATE 1 Support R. 1 A lower portal trail would mak e a huge impac t on the trail sys tem.10/27/2024 10:06 PM 2 Support R. 1 Support R. 3 Very happy to see the mountain bike points on there and would be so excited to expand those! 10/27/2024 5:51 PM 3 Support R. 1 Trail from Hunter c reek to Aspen single t rac k 10/27/2024 4:27 PM 4 Support R. 1 Support R. 3 These trails on smuggler Mountain would be s o awesome. It would keep me from des c ending with all the hik ers on smuggler on my bike or desc ending through red Mountain and annoying the homeowners it would help people who work in Aspen get out after work bef ore the commute home. 10/26/2024 9:58 PM 5 Support R. 1 Very ex c ited on momentum of the lower portal. I would hope it is being cons idered as a two-way trail, providing a c limbing alternative to smuggler. 10/26/2024 5:59 AM 6 Maintain c urrent c ondition Please leav e as is , clean up trash. Do not limit us e or ov er complicate things. More pres cribed burns at appropriate times for proper land stewards hip. 10/25/2024 9:04 PM 7 Support R. 3 Better steep MTB trails 10/25/2024 10:06 AM 8 Enforce dog was te Signage The dog was te is a huge is sue. I would lik e to s ee more garbage cans along the trail as people just don't bother to pick up the was te or just leave the bags along the trail. Smuggler and Hunter Creek hav e grown s o much in usage in the past years. People are so unaware of the rules. I used to like the s igns that t old people to pic k up their dog was te. Als o, bik es going at high speeds and loose dogs are not a good c ombination. Dogs s hould be leas hed but I k now they are not required to be leashed on Smuggler. Also, thos e long leas hes are even more dangerous for bikes going downhill at high speeds s o I am not s ure how this issue can be managed. 10/25/2024 9:53 AM 9 Support R. 1 Portal trail pleas e 10/24/2024 6:59 PM 10 Support R. 1 It would be nice if the lower ac c ess portal trail started before the roc ky s hared t rail decent bef ore t he bridge heading out t o Red Mountain road. 10/24/2024 1:58 PM 11 Support R. 1 I feel that making a MTB trail going down hunter creek would be a great idea. It would be safer for bik er, pedest rians, and v ehicles. 10/23/2024 2:43 PM 12 Do it!!!!10/23/2024 10:01 AM 13 Support R. 3 If a more advanced trail is approved, can you pleas e s end at an additional s urvey so individuals c an ex pres s what t ype of "advanc ed" t rail they would lik e. Divers ity of trails is what makes a truly great riding communit y. If there is an over s aturation of just one st yle of trail, progres sion of riders may be hindered. 10/23/2024 9:59 AM 14 Maintain/Improve Trails So many good ideas f or maintenanc e!! Rec reation maintenance is s omething I s trongly s upport as a member of the roaring fork outdoor volunteers. I like the direct ion this plan is tak ing ( I also support wolf reintroduc tion and look forward to educating public awareness and s upport non lethal deterrence to cattle deprevat ion. 10/23/2024 5:01 AM 15 Support R. 1 Alternat ive uphill biking trail.10/23/2024 5:00 AM 16 Oppose R.2 Lower Hunter Creek should remain open to bikes . There’s only a handful of people that ride it. Keep the option open. 10/22/2024 9:01 PM SM UGGL ER M OUNTAIN OPEN SPACE DRAFT MANAGEMENT PL AN UPDATE 7 / 20 17 Oppose R. 4 I believe a midway point on Smuggler will dramatically inc reas e us e of this area in a negativ e way. 10/22/2024 8:49 PM 18 Oppose R. 1 Oppose R.3 As a mountain bik er/trail runner using smuggler week ly for 25 years, I'd drop from the plan ex ploring any new trails and features. 10/22/2024 3:12 PM 19 Maintain/Improve Trails Need to moderniz e the mount ain bik e ex perience in the area. Would be a benefit for all trail us ers. 10/22/2024 2:57 PM 20 Enforce dog was te Maintain/Improve Trails Bett er dod was te management after trail improvements 10/22/2024 2:56 PM 21 Allow E-bik es We need a plan to address clas s 1 ebike usage across the network. The abs ence here of anyt hing related to e mount ain bik es is notable. 10/22/2024 11:22 AM 22 Additional Trails Prioritize wildlife over new trails It would be great to see additonal mountain bik e trails if t he environmental and wildlife impact is minimal. 10/22/2024 9:07 AM 23 Separate Us e Trails Continue to prioritize separation of e-mtb allowed us e from ex isting shared hik ing/bik ing singletrack trails. Do not erode the current separated use conditions by c ontemplating f uture acces s to proposed new DH trails (R3) not ing the upper-most c ontac t with t he Smuggler Rd. This c onc ept hints a future e-bike shuttling ac tivity v ia road, to ac cess future DH trails. It would be diffic ult to is olate e-mt b us e to that specific route once the gate is opened, spilling over to other trails nearby. Pleas e preserve the c urrent management strategy and minimiz e future conflict . 10/21/2024 9:47 AM 24 Support R. 1 Support R. 3 R.1 and R.3 repres ent very exciting possibilities to me, while I want to maintain and promote healthy and resilient forests and rivers . Thank y ou 10/20/2024 3:00 PM 25 Thank s f or being s uch good stewards of Smuggler.10/20/2024 9:58 AM 26 Additional Trails IT would be nic e to create a trail across s muggler to intersect with the Lani whit e and Lower hunter creek trail 10/20/2024 7:56 AM 27 No E-bikes No e-bikes on any Hunter Creek trails 10/19/2024 10:24 AM 28 Mountain biking on Smuggler and Hunt er Creek is s o f un and c ritical to the outdoor recreation economy. 10/18/2024 6:27 PM 29 Additional Trails More Mount ain Bike Trails 10/18/2024 2:52 PM 30 Winter Maint enance What about as -needed winter maintenance of the road (light grooming) to keep c onditions on t he road safer for hikers/s kiers? 10/18/2024 2:30 PM 31 Support R. 1 Support R. 3 RECREATION 1 (R.1) Ex plore the feasibility of a lower acc es s "portal trail." This ac tion item env isions a new c onnecting t rail from Smuggler Mt. Open Space, down towards Aspen, which would mean bike riders could have an alternative to the fas t pavement descent down Red Mt. Road to finish a Smuggler Mt. / Hunter Creek area ride. RECREATION 3 (R.3) Ex plore feas ibility of cons tructing adv anc ed mountain bik e trails ... This act ion item would add the opportunity for c hallenging s teep trail ex periences in t he area abov e Toots ie Roll, leading down to Lollipop Trail. This type of experienc e is highly desired by many in the riding community, but is missing from the offic ial trail s y s tem on Smuggler Mount ain OS. 10/18/2024 2:01 PM 32 Oppose R.2 Please do not pursue r 2 10/18/2024 10:17 AM 33 Allow E-bik es E mtn bik e spec if ic should be allowed on all s ingle track trails. There are more and more people getting e mtn bikes , old and young a like. This current situation is lik e s nowboarding in the 90’s in aspen. There are 5 shops up and down the valley that sell e mtn bikes in an ever growing community. Promot ing ebike destination grows tourism in aspen and gets more people inv olv ed for funding and future planning of open spac e. 10/18/2024 10:13 AM 34 Support R. 1 I would like to see a descent alt ernative to Red mountain Road 10/17/2024 3:16 PM 35 Additional Trails With the sport of mountain biking growing at an increasingly fast rate nation wide, it is c ritical we maintain and build new trails that will support this c ommunity. Adv anced trails are jus t as important as beginner t rails 10/17/2024 2:32 PM 36 Support R. 1 A new dedicated bike trail is most important on the smuggler road. Presently t he roc k y, eroded road is a real pain to reach the great single trac k trails above it . 10/17/2024 2:23 PM 37 More s pecific ity for R.1 I would lik e to s ee more specific language on the "explore feasibility "10/17/2024 2:17 PM SM UGGL ER M OUNTAIN OPEN SPACE DRAFT MANAGEMENT PL AN UPDATE 8 / 20 for R3 and R1 . Having spec ific goals and timelines to thes e objectiv es would be great . Thank s for all y our hard work! 38 Support R. 1 More Single trac k alternativ e red mount ain rd 10/17/2024 12:14 PM 39 Allow E-bik es Expand the mtb trail syst em and allow legal ac c ess for c las s I EMTBs. At minimum legal acc es s for disabled riders , senior citizens, and people with a wide variety of handic aps s hould already be in plac e in ac c ordance with the Americans With Dis abilities Ac t. As far as I k now, no one has ever been hassled on Smuggler. Additionally e-bikes are here to stay just as t hey are in many areas of Colorado and Ut ah, amongs t others . 10/17/2024 10:29 AM 40 Support R. 1 Aspen mountain biking would t ruly be world clas s with a lower Hunter Creek bike trail. 10/17/2024 9:15 AM 41 Oppose R.2 Only designat e lower hunter creek trail as pedestrian use only after cons truction of MTB specific trail. 10/17/2024 8:55 AM 42 Additional Trails I support any plans to maintain and expand t he mountain bike trails in smuggler mountain open s pace. The main reason I travel t o and s pend money in aspen is to ride the mountain bike trails. 10/17/2024 7:43 AM 43 Prioritize wildlife over new trails I believ e that ex treme c are should be taken when cons idering new trail c onstruction. New trails s hould be planned to ens ure the s malles t ec ological footprint pos sible and implemented in spac es that are already heavily impact ed and not fragmenting additional habit at. If elk calv ing habitat is determined to be activ e, new t rails s hould ideally not be built in prox imit y to those areas and and/or seasonal clos ures during calving s eas on s hould be implemented. The mountain biking c ommunity seems to hav e a never ending des ire for new trails and as the population of recreational us ers continues to grow while quality wildlife habitat in the v alley diminishes, I think we as a c ommunity need to think v ery critic ally about how and where we develop. 10/17/2024 6:02 AM 44 Support R. 1 Riding down the road is dangerous and not fun! Pleas e make a trail that connects downtown that is rideable ! 10/16/2024 10:07 PM 45 Additional Trails Open up old bandit trails for more bik ing.10/16/2024 10:03 PM 46 Allow E-bik es There s hould be a rec reational action t o ex plore the adoption of emtb’s on this ex ist ing mtb t rail network. In all honesty y ou are fight ing a loos ing bat tle c ontinuing to prohibit them. I’d adv ise getting ahead on this an not being late to the game 10/16/2024 7:44 PM 47 Support R. 1 Appreciate cons ideration of a new mountain bike portal trail in tandem with habitat cons iderations and maintaining/improving health of fores ts. 10/16/2024 7:36 PM 48 Oppose R.2 Support R. 1 Adding a bike trail would be incredibly awes ome for the community. Getting rid of bik es on lower hunter creek is not a good option. Des c ending the paved road is a major det errent when choos ing to ride hunter c reek . Gett ing t o ride lower hunt er creek is super fun and should be permitted. Continuing to allow ac c es s to the huts is ver important aswell as maintaining a health forest 10/16/2024 4:24 PM 49 Support R. 1 We need a bike optimized route up and down s muggler mountain.10/16/2024 3:32 PM 50 Separate Us e Trails Support R. 3 As a frequent t rail user in the smuggler mountain open spac e the need for more advanc ed mountain bike trail is ex tremely apparent within the local c ommunity. Hik er and bik er separation work s v ery well in smuggler ex c ept for Hunter c reek main trail. Have two separate trails here would be fantastic ! 10/16/2024 3:13 PM 51 Prioritize wildlife over new trails Focus on mitigating wildlife impacts f rom rec reational overuse. 10/16/2024 2:11 PM 52 Prioritize wildlife over new trails Please foc us on maintaining natural wildlife habitat and minimizing new development and habitat fragmentat ion. Please prioritize wildlife. There are already endles s recreation opportunities and trails in and more human development is not needed 10/16/2024 1:50 PM 53 Prioritize wildlife over new trails Support of Pitk in County to take wildlife habitat and biodiv ersity values into account during the planning proc es ses the better! There s hould be a desire for trails to be built in within previously impacted areas if at all and wildlife v alues are a top priority. 10/16/2024 1:35 PM 54 Prioritize wildlife over new trails Continue to protec t the wildlife in the area and minimiz e 10/16/2024 1:28 PM SM UGGL ER M OUNTAIN OPEN SPACE DRAFT MANAGEMENT PL AN UPDATE 9 / 20 mountain bik e traffic as this inv ersely affects the animals. 55 Additional Trails Support R. 1 more designated mtb s ingletrac k , in particular to av oid going down eit her red mountain and less use of s muggler on bikes 10/16/2024 1:11 PM 56 Signage More signage that alerts hikers to mountain bik ers (and mountain bik ers to hikers) or alternating day us e for bikers and hikers on Sunnys ide trail. 10/16/2024 12:48 PM 57 Allow E-bik es Please let us e-bik e ev ery where and mak e more advanced trails . We are not c hildren. 10/16/2024 12:46 PM 58 Additional Trails More bik e trails and adopting current non sanctioned trails 10/16/2024 12:45 PM 59 Support R. 3 We need more s teep and technical mountain bike trails that are "downhill only."10/16/2024 12:37 PM 60 Additional Trails Can we incorporate the lost and balcony trails . They hav e been there for dec ades and it 's an easy way to increase single track with no increase to impac t and improve sust ainabilit y! 10/16/2024 12:08 PM 61 Maintain/Improve Trails The area needs s ome bett er MTB t rails and a refresh.10/16/2024 11:53 AM 62 Allow E-bik es I would lik e to explore t he possibilit y of opening s ome trails to e-bikes. The key is to mak e the trails one-way f or safet y. 10/16/2024 11:18 AM 63 Signage Providing a s ourc e for water at the base of Smuggler is needed. Warning signs for moose in the area and angry grouse. 10/16/2024 8:42 AM 64 Limit wolves No wolves, they're eat ing t he moos e. Check the results in upper WS and Mic higan. The moose have been eat en. Bad mis tak e by bad fake science. Thanks for conduc ting this s urv ey. It's very useful. The hunter Creek and Smuggler areas are badly in need of a mommy mak eover. Go. Ant thank s again. 10/16/2024 8:27 AM 65 Support R. 1 I'm assuming the "portal trail" is what will help avoid Red Mountain Road? It was a t ad unclear but that's BY FAR the no. 1 priority. If that's pos s ible, it's hero status . 10/16/2024 8:16 AM 66 Limit group siz es Rec reational use of t he Smuggler Road is excessive and disrupt ive t o other us ers . Please limit group siz e to 10 people or less. I'v e been up there when groups of 30- 50 people are walking up t ogether, typically assoc iated with a wedding party or corporate ev ent. 10/15/2024 10:54 PM 67 Additional Trails pleas e ex pand acces s 10/15/2024 10:09 PM 68 Additional Trails An additional mountain bike trail would be great.10/15/2024 4:38 PM 69 Additional Trails great ideas. I would also support more intermediate mtb trails .10/15/2024 4:28 PM 70 Support R. 3 I stumbled upon some very fun and steep trails while mountain bik ing somewhere in this area, but could not f ind t hem on any maps, apps, etc. Not sure if they are s anctioned, but it was s ome of the more exciting riding I've enc ountered in the valley! Really hopeful that any new trail builds in this area will leverage t he naturally steep terrain to give adv anced/expert riders something fun and exciting to ride down! Does f eel like the v alley is lac king in s teep, double-black trails... 10/15/2024 4:26 PM 71 Support R. 1 A lower acc es s portal t rail for bik ing would be inc redible. To not have t o us e red mtn des c ent would be so muc h better. Thank you 10/15/2024 4:22 PM 72 Continue Part ners hips Support R. 1 Continuing partnerships with lik e-minded agencies to support the Smuggler Mt area is critic al to long-term health and s uc cess of this area. As the "bac k yard" f or recreational c y c lis ts , an alt ernative route into the lower v alley as well as any trail enhanc ements and/or additions are greatly apprec iat ed. 10/15/2024 4:16 PM 73 Oppose R.2 Continue to allow bikes on lower Hunter Creek.10/15/2024 4:12 PM 74 Support R. 3 more advanc ed mountain biking trails 10/10/2024 7:40 PM 75 Oppose R.2 Support R. 1 Support R.6 R.1 would be the most impactful management action if a feas ible alignment can be determined. The Plan details R.1 as being useful as a downhill ex it for mountain bikes from the t rail system, as such the alignment could be opt imiz ed for bikes only, with no other user types heading up the trail at any time. An alignment that connec ts Verena Mallory to the valley floor would be ideal compared to an alignment that requires riders to c limb back up from the hanging valley of Hunter Creek, up 10/10/2024 5:45 PM SM UGGL ER M OUNTAIN OPEN SPACE DRAFT MANAGEMENT PL AN UPDATE 10 / 20 towards the Observ ation Platform on Smuggler Mt. Road before ult imat ely des c ending bac k down. R.2 propos es to of ficially close Lower Hunter Creek Trail to bikes. While t hat is a fair eventuality sinc e very few bike riders have the des ire and s k ills to negotiate many sections of this tec hnical trail, the c hange should not happen before R.1 is implemented. For R.4, add a bike rack f or visitors to the propos ed new platform/bench/spot . Also, add bike rac k s to the ex isting obs erv ation deck area just off Smuggler Mt. Road, t his will help to prot ect vegetation in t he area, espec ially areas that were revegetated and fenc ed off ~10+ years ago. For R.2, this addition of limited new c hallenging trail(s) would s erv e a vocal and pas sionate part of the mountain bik e c ommunity, and would be great to see inc luded. Ins tead of c ontinuing to require riders to head up Smuggler Mt. Road to acces s the top of thes e new trail(s), c onsider a climbing f ocused two-way t rail that continues above Tootsie Roll to access these trail(s ) for a higher quality t rail experience. 76 Enforce dog was te Oppos e R.2 Support R. 1 I do not support removing bike access from trails unless other bik e des ignated trails are built to maintain access . I primarily us e Smuggler mountain trails for mountain biking, but v alue the wildlife habitat that is prov ided by pres erv ing the land. Uphill bik ing acc es s on Smuggler Mtn Road is a long, but not bad climb. My top priority would be if there was a one way singletrac k downhill only option for mountain bikes to come back down t o the base of s muggler mountain road. This would remove potential high s peed bikes from coming down this s ometimes c rowded path. I would als o be supportiv e of more enforcement when it c omes t o dog wast e and leash regulations. 10/8/2024 12:24 PM 77 Support R. 1 A single track Mtb option allowing des c ending from hunter c reek valley to town 10/5/2024 7:49 AM 78 Additional Trails Support R. 1 Need better mountain bik e trails and c loser ac cess to town. Do not clos e ex ist ing t rails . Smuggler is the leas t desirable MTB spot in Aspen and should be left alone or add more t rails . 10/4/2024 7:21 PM 79 No E-bikes Enforcement of e-bik e us age on single trac k 10/4/2024 7:16 AM 80 Signage Support R. 1 The plan is good wit h the focus on improv ing div ers it y of plant and animal components. A portal trail would be the most pos it ively rec eived improvement of the plan. In my opinion I think interpretive s igns would go along way to engaging the public with Community stewardship as well as the Communic ating the work that PCOST is doing. I don’t think the public quite understands the v aluable roles that PCOST play s in management of the public resources. 10/3/2024 8:38 PM 81 Enforce dog was te No E-bik es Definitely monitoring of dog owners & their responsibilities . limiting bikes. 10/3/2024 5:51 PM 82 Addres s Vehic les on Rd There are too many cars on Smuggler Mountain Road.10/3/2024 10:45 AM 83 Oppose R. 4 I do not think a midway v iewpoint on Smuggler Mtn Road is necess ary. There is bas ically nat ural ability to do that. 10/3/2024 9:47 AM 84 Maintain/Improve Trails Smuggler road is in need of water div ers ion as it has deteriorated over the last f ew years and the water runs down every s torm. All the more mountain bike trails the better. 10/2/2024 8:07 PM 85 Oppose E.O. I oppose the increase is signage, reduction of rec reation ac c ess, and the addit ion rules t o any recreat ion area. 10/2/2024 11:53 AM 86 Add restroom A restroom facility at t he trailhead. Creation of more than jus t one advanc ed downhill trail. especially one that would c onnect to Iowa Shaft resulting in a much longer trail. 10/2/2024 9:53 AM 87 Support R. 1 I like that the idea of a portal trail is on the table, as a mountain biker I would lov e to giv e pedestrians their spac e on smuggler mountain road. 10/1/2024 10:45 PM 88 Oppose R.5 Support R. 1 It’d be awesome to have more bike friendly routes from both t own and the lower HC trailhead (part icularly when going uphill). A more designated bike route up hunter creek might als o help with hiker-biker c onflict in the main hunter c reek rock garden. Obs erv ation decks and kios k s don’t s eem like t he best use of money 10/1/2024 10:35 PM 89 Oppose R. 1 Signage Support R.6 Smuggler Mount ain does not need any additional signs. Its road width is perfect the way it is . When we talk about improv ements , let’s st art by replacing/updating the trail signs that are there now. We can mak e them more informative rather than adding more signs and c lutter. I also believ e putt ing our money towards building a port al trail is unnec essary as it will only direct more traf fic t o the trail. There are already plenty of ways to make it to the trailhead if the pers on is desperat e to go. Adding a WeCy c le could be 10/1/2024 9:14 PM SM UGGL ER M OUNTAIN OPEN SPACE DRAFT MANAGEMENT PL AN UPDATE 11 / 20 a positiv e alternativ e rat her than building a whole new trail portal. Smuggler Mountain is already super popular. A bike rack is a great idea and very neces s ary for the Smuggler Mountain trailhead. 90 Prioritize wildlife over new trails I appreciate the balanc e of monitoring the lands and habitat along with rec us es. I ’d prefer to hav e the rec reational act ions implement ed in a way that s erv es to improve natural habitat and mitigate natural dis aster threats. 10/1/2024 8:18 PM 91 Support R. 1 We need a mountain bike route all the way down Hunter creek ins tead of riding the road. Hunter c reek is a community gem that needs bet ter access. 10/1/2024 8:03 PM 92 Addres s Vehic les on Rd Make it c lear how to ac c ess to the mountain bike trails and make the road more less friendly to c ars 10/1/2024 4:00 PM 93 Support R. 1 Poss ibly adding a hiking/mountain bik e t rail lower would be incredible 10/1/2024 2:30 PM 94 Enforce dog was te Leash dogs No E-bik es no e bikes in Hunter Creek Valley no exces s ive signage. k eep Mollie Gibson Park passiv e. no "event s". keep the bench with the tribute to S. Albouy. all dogs leashed-everywhere, all the time. continue to work with the Hunter Creek Foundation to preserve and rec ord the early history in the Valley do the best you can in k eeping e bik es out of the Valley and dog owners picking up poop bags . 10/1 /2024 1:29 PM 95 No E-bikes Separate Use Trails designate mtb trails only, uphill and downhill would be great and prohibit the use of ebikes . This will not only help the MTB us ers but the people hiking and walk ing with lit tle ones, pets and family in general. Sk y mountain is a great ex ample of how c an ev ery one enjoy it. Organiz ation is key and again the e-bikes in that area are s uper dangerous s inc e there is z ero organization on which trails are mtb (uphill / downhill ) and hiking only. 10/1/2024 12:44 PM 96 More enforcement We need more rangers and boots on the ground, especially to enforc e s afety laws , inc luding leas h laws and prohibiting growing illegel e-mountain biking. I live at t he base and see thes e issues weekly. 10/1/2024 10:54 AM 97 No 10/1/2024 10:04 AM 98 Allow E-bik es Clas s 1 e-bik es s hould be allowed in Hunter Creek and on singletrack trails in the area. 9/30/2024 8:46 PM 99 Support R. 1 A singlet rac k from the bottom to BTS s o bikes do not hav e to go up the road would be amazing! 9/30/2024 8:35 PM 100 Allow E-bik es Please allow clas s 1 e-bik es on all Pitk in county open space 9/30/2024 7:18 PM 101 Support NR.3 Support R.6 Wildfire risk mitigation is really important . Make it eas y to acces s wit hout needing t o driv e. Bike rac ks at all entranc e points . 9/30/2024 4:34 PM 102 Add restroom Include bathrooms at bas e of smuggler 9/30/2024 1:52 PM 103 Allow E-bik es Would like to see acc es s for E Mt n bikes t o trails 9/30/2024 12:12 PM 104 Allow E-bik es mak e it ebike friendly - its time.9/30/2024 10:46 AM 105 Allow E-bik es I have heart disease which is a dis abilit y that requires me to ride an e-bik e. There is no allowance for people with my disability to ride e-bik es on the single track in Smuggler Mountain Open Space. This is direct violation of the Americ an with Dis ability Act which requires public entit ies to allow for the use of e-bik es and prov ide equal ac cess to t he s ingle track trails on public lands . 9/30/2024 9:50 AM 106 Allow E-bik es Allow ebikes 9/30/2024 9:26 AM 107 Oppose R.3 Please don’t put any “adv anced” mt n bike trails up there. What this means does not go with either the flow of aspen or the integrit y of mountain bik ing. 9/30/2024 8:45 AM 108 Oppose R.2 Support R. 1 Support R. 3 I highly support the creation of a portal trail from Smuggler Mountain to Aspen as desc ribed in Recreation Ac tion 1. This would greatly benefit the rec reation c ommunity be 1) k eeping bikes off Red Mt Road 2) enabling t he c los ure of the steep s ection of Lower Hunter Creek Trail to bik es . BUT pleas e do NOT close the lower angle s ec tion of Hunter Creek trail to bik es - the sec tion between the trailhead and Loni White Trail as this can s ection can be ridden early / late seas on when the upper t rails are wet and would also allow for another egres s off Smuggler if a portal trail is created. And please DO NOT c lose 9/30/2024 8:23 AM SM UGGL ER M OUNTAIN OPEN SPACE DRAFT MANAGEMENT PL AN UPDATE 12 / 20 the Lower Smugger Trail to bik es until a new Portal Trail is created as it can currently be ridden in the winter on fat bikes onc e it fills in with snow and is a muc h better way to get down the mountain than Red Mountain Road. I also support a new downhill trail in Recreation Ac tion 3. And additionally support c ontinued maintenanc e of Smuggler Mountain Road in Maint enance Action 1. 109 test 9/30/2024 8:16 AM 110 Oppose R.2 Strongly oppose mak ing Lower Hunter Creek Trail f or pedes trians only. This will forc e mountain bikers back up over Hunter Creek Cutof f and down Smuggler which is a significant s afety is s ue. Remov e baby head roc k s along Lower Hunter Creek trail to mak e des c ending on mtbs s afer for both cy c lis ts and hik ers . 9/28/2024 10:11 PM 111 Oppose R. 4 What kind of “recreation des tination” is draft plan referring to? What installations are y ou planning? Is this going to disrupt the natural f ores t habitat and environment? Will this be a “play ground” for children? What exac tly is a “recreation” des tination? Smuggler Mountain is f or hik ing and enjoying peac e in nature with the occasional soc ial ex c hange bet ween hikers . That’s the only rec reation I’m interest ed in on Smuggler Mount ain. 9/28/2024 9:47 AM 112 Ban dogs Dogs off leash cont inue to be an issue. I see them chasing ground animals and birds. I s ee so many people with dogs off of leash not pay ing any attention to their pets. There are more dogs off leash t hen on leash. I would sugges t banning dogs entirely from the area. 9/27/2024 5:35 PM 113 Replac e picnic tables Can we please replac e the pic nic tables. Pretty pleas e.9/27/2024 5:13 PM 114 Addres s s hooting Enforc e dog waste Dis c ourage random shooting, people are shooting int o the woods wit hout realizing there are trails (personal ex p). Dogs are a problem or more s pecific ally dogs out of c ontrol (usually 3-5 people with s ame number or more of dogs) and bags of s hit on the trail, not sure what to do a realize it's hard to manage in real time. 9/27/2024 4:20 PM 115 Oppose R.2 I ’m opposed to Recreation R.2 c losure to mountain bicycling downhill.9/27/2024 4:16 PM SM UGGL ER M OUNTAIN OPEN SPACE DRAFT MANAGEMENT PL AN UPDATE 13 / 20 44.29%93 4.29%9 12.86%27 2.86%6 21.90%46 8.10%17 1.90%4 0.95%2 2.86%6 Q4 Where do you live? Answered: 210 Sk ipped: 12 TOTAL 210 #OTHER (PLEASE SPECI FY)DATE 1 Employed by the town ( native of manitou springs )10/23/2024 5:02 AM 2 Missouri Heights 10/17/2024 10:04 AM 3 Former Roaring Fork Valley resident liv ing els ewhere in Colorado who returns frequently to recreate 10/17/2024 8:25 AM 4 Leadville 10/17/2024 7:43 AM 5 Gunnison 1 0/16/2024 11:34 PM 6 Marble, just barely in Gunnison County 10/1/2024 10:06 AM AspenAspen Aspen Snow mass Vi llageSnowmass Vi llage Snow mass Vi llageBasalt / E L JebelBasalt / E L Jebel / Wi llits/ Wi llits Basalt / E L Jebel / Wi lli ts Uni ncorporatedUnincorporated Pitkin CountyPitkin County Unincorporated Pitkin County CarbondaleCarbondale Carbondale Glen wood SpringsGlenwood Springs Glen wood Springs I am a vi sitorI am a vi sitor I am a vi sitor Oth er (pleaseOther (please speci f y)speci f y) Other (please speci f y) ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES As pen Snowmass Village Bas alt / EL Jebel / Willits Unincorporated Pitkin Count y Carbondale Glenwood Springs I am a vis it or I own a second home in Pitk in County Other (please s pecify) SM UGGL ER M OUNTAIN OPEN SPACE DRAFT MANAGEMENT PL AN UPDATE 14 / 20 0.00%0 17.14%36 30.00%63 24.76%52 16.67%35 11.43%24 Q5 What is your age? Answered: 210 Sk ipped: 12 TOTAL 210 0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%1 00% 19 and under 20-30 31-40 41-5 0 51-60 61+ ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES 19 and under 20-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61+ APPENNDIX D. NOXIOUS WEEDS AND PROPOSED TREATMENTS Invasion of noxious vegetation is one of the primary drivers of land degradation threatening both natural habitats and managed lands – leading to a decrease in biodiversity, altering nutrient cycling, and negatively influencing soil health. These non-native species are aggressive invaders that are adapted to be highly competitive with the ability to reproduce and spread rapidly – thriving in areas of disturbance and human influence. In accordance with the best available science, regulations, and resources, the collaboration of land managers (OST, City of Aspen, AVLT) will actively manage noxious vegetation to promote the vigor of native biodiversity utilizing an integrated approach. Scientific Name Common Name Growth Notes Management Strategies Recommended Herbicides Arctium minus Common burdock Biennial that reproduces by seed - produce spring and fall rosettes. Mechanical - Key to management is to prevent seed dispersal and deplete seed bank. Pull or dig out plant at flowering or in rosette stage, severing taproot a few inches below soil. Cut and remove mature flowering plants and seed heads. ** Hitchhiking seeds that are easily dispersed by humans and animals, sticking to fur, shoes and clothes. N/A Bromus tectorum Cheatgrass Winter annual grass - with short life cycle that flowers in spring and mature by early summer. Chemical - Pre-emergent herbicides that prevent germination of annual grasses are the most effective control for cheatgrass. Best results if native perennial grasses and forbs in area. treat in late summer and time treatments with monsoon rains. Mechanical - Small patches and individual plants can effectively be pulled or hoed in early spring. Mowing not recommended, but can be effective if populations repeatedly mowed - plants can continue to produce seed heads following mowing. **Overgrazing can increase establishment. Indazaflim Carduus acanthoides Plumeless thistle Biennial that reproduces by seed - produce spring and fall rosettes. Mechanical - Key to management is to prevent seed dispersal and deplete seed bank. Dig rosettes in spring or fully bolted plants through the summer, remove mature flowers and seed heads from plants. Plants will continue to grow and produce flowers if cut during early bolting/budding stages. Plants have a wide timeframe for flowering, so repeated visits to populations needed. **Weekly competitive in well established vegetation. N/A Cirsium arvense Canada thistle Deep rooted perennial with extensive root systems. Reproduces by seed and vegetatively Chemical - treat post emergence in the bolting to flowering stage (before they produce seed). Fall rosette applications. Chemical control is most effective, the key is to deplete deep rhizomatic roots. Mechanical - Mowing can reduce nutrient storage in roots and suppress flower formation, but not very effective method for established populations. Need to mow every 3-4 weeks for several growing seasons. Remove, bag and dispose of mature flowering plants to prevent seed dispersal. **Cultivation and tilling can spread populations - dispersing root fragments and stimulating growth. Aminopyralid Clopyralid Cirsium vulgare Bull thistle Biennial that reproduces by seed - produce spring and fall rosettes. Mechanical - Key to management is to prevent seed dispersal and deplete seed bank. Dig rosettes in spring or fully bolted plants through the summer, remove mature flowers and seed heads from plants. Plants will continue to grow and produce flowers if cut during early bolting/budding stages. Plants have a wide timeframe for flowering, so repeated visits to populations needed. **Weekly competitive in well established vegetation. N/A Cynoglossum officinale Houndstongue Biennial forb with large taproot to store carbohydrates. Mechanical - Key to management is to prevent seed dispersal and deplete seed bank. Digging, pulling, and cutting is an effective measure of control - severing the root ground below the surface. Rosettes can be dug in the spring and summer. clip and bag mature flowering plants and seed heads. ** Hitchhiking seeds that are easily dispersed by humans and animals, sticking to fur, shoes and clothes. N/A Leucanthemum vulgare Oxeye daisy Creeping perennial with extensive shallow root system. Reproduce by seed and vegetatively through rhizomes. Mechanical - isolated populations may be managed by repeated hand-pulling. Mowing before flowering can prevent seed dispersal, but does not control plant. Chemical - Treat postemergence, through the rapid growth stage prior to flower set. Cultural/Biological - palatable to livestock, but typically avoided for better forage. Aminopyralid Clopyralid Triclopyr Linaria vulgaris Yellow toadflax Creeping Perennial forb with expansive lateral roots. Reproduces by seed and vegetatively. Mechanical - Hand pulling can be effective on young, new established populations. Mowing not recommended - can stimulate vegetative reproduction. Chemical - treat postemergence in the bolting/rapid growth stage. Cultural/Biological - Flower feeding beetle (Brachypterolus pulicarius), capsule weevil (Gymnetron antirrhini), stem-mining weevil (Mecinus janthinus) Chlorsulfuron Metsulfuron Tanacetum vulgare Common tansy Erect pernnial with creeping lateral root system. Reproduces by seed and vegetatively. Seeds have high rates of viability. Mechanical - limited control, hand pulling can be effective for small populations. Mowing/removing flowering plant material can prevent seed dispersal. Chemical - Postemergence in flower/bud stage. Cultural/Biological - toxic to cattle in large quantities, sheep and goats will readily graze with no ill effect. Chlorsulfuron Metsulfuron Tripleuropermum inodorum Scentless chamomile Annual to short lived perennial. Reproduces by seed. Mechanical - hand pulling and digging can be effective. Chemical - Treat in rosette to bolting stage (spring to early summer). Aminopyralid Clopyralid Verbascum thapsus Common mullein Primarily biennial species that reproduces by seed - seeds known to stay viable for 100+ years. Mechanical - Hand pulling and digging rosettes and flowering plants is preferred method. Sever root below soil surface, soil disturbance can stimulate recruitment. Cultural/Biological - has low palatability, so grazing is not reliable. Curculinoid weevil (Gymnaetron tetrum) can destroy up to 50% of seeds. N/A 3. Routinely monitor the establishment of new populations and effectiveness of prescribed treatments.