Welcome to the virtual tour of

Grand Opening October 23, 2009

Introduction• In 2008, an international oil and natural gas company abandoned a natural gas well on

the site and recognized the unique value of the wetland mitigation bank and its habitat by contributing a $119,000 grant for the creation of recreational amenities at the site.

• In 2009, the grant was put to work in constructing a pavilion, parking area, trails, interpretive signs and reclaiming the abandoned oil and gas facilities.

– Construction required extensive coordination between various private and public interests to complex issues involving various federal, state, local, and private concerns.

– The talents of multiple consultants were also required for project completion, including engineers, land use planners, landscape professionals, artists, and highly skilled machine operators and construction personnel.

– Coordination and astute project management was the key to success.– The construction was completed in October of 2009.

• The site is now open to the public, including groups and individuals. • Due to its remote location and for management purposes, the site is open by

appointment only.

• Images and some discussion of the site pre-construction and post construction follow.

Location

Located 2 ¼ miles west of I-25 on Highway 52, NE Colorado.

Bulrush Wetland

Park

Bulrush Wetland Park is located just over two miles west of I-25 on CO-52. The park is open by appointment only. Please call 720-382-5500 for an appointment.

Entrance

Site History• The site is part of the dry land prairie biome • located in a shallow draw and has historically been very wet. Drain tile was

installed in the early 1900’s to help convert the native prairie lands and wetlands into agricultural production.

• In the early 1900’s the site was put into agricultural production and farmed. Sometime in the early 20th Century the farming was converted to animal husbandry and sheep were raised. The ranch was eventually abandoned and purchased by other interests.

• In 1999, private land owners converted the former RainBaa ranch (85 acres) into a wetland and prairie preserve.

– The intent of project was to restore wetlands in areas that had been converted to agricultural production supporting native plants and wildlife.

• The restoration has been permitted as a wetland mitigation bank (Middle South Platte River Wetlands Mitigation Bank) by the Army Corps of Engineers and approved by other federal agencies.

• The effort created 56 acres of wetlands, with 26 acres of upland prairie grass.• The site has been documented with over 120 native plant species, while hundreds

of birds and other wildlife reside in or visit the site each year.

(source: http://coloradowetlandbank.com/pages/msprbank.html)

Becoming a wetland mitigation bank

Used by permission from Dave Yardley

Source: http://coloradowetlandbank.com/pages/thenandnow.html

Goals

• Site development goals– Preserve wetland and wetland charter

responsibilities• Zero impacts to the delineated wetlands, upland

areas, habitat, and wildlife.

– Maximize educational and recreational experience for the public.

– Maximize use of private funding.– Minimize the use of public funds at this time.

Evaluation• Evident that the wetland had a story to tell

– Water cycle, water shed, water quality wetlands, habitat, wildlife (birds), and plant material were key to the story.

– Lots of other elements identified as secondary or for future interpretive themes and opportunities, including; insects, soils, amphibians, fish, mammals, human interactions with the site, agricultural influences, historic and pre historic conditions, geology, etc.

• Evident that oil and gas was a significant part of the story, particularly with the removal of the equipment, relationship to the Wattenberg formation, and the contribution for improvements.

• Evident that some recreational amenities were necessary to support recreation and and educational uses of the site.

• Evident that access and oversight are concerns due to remoteness of the park in relation to the Town’s other amenities.

– Low maintenance improvements and use by appointment are key to success of the park.

• Evident that the unique qualities of the site include naturalized conditions and experiences, urban relief, and unstructured interactions with the environment.

CO 52

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Entry/Exit

Parking Area

Bulrush Wetland Park

Park Boundary

Park Boundary

Abandoned well site

Abandoned tank battery and facilities

Shallow re

servoir

Wetla

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Shallow Wetland reservoir

Wetland reservoir

Wetland reservoir

Trail

Trail

Wetland reservoir

Park Boundary

Development Plan• Interpretive signs would be used to be a cost effective tool for

interpreting key features of the site. – Themes for the signs would utilize key elements as previously noted.

• Trails would be developed to guide usage to least sensitive and for public safety.– Main trail to consist of crusher fines path– Secondary trails to consist of mowed paths due to proximity to chartered

upland vegetative areas and to minimize impacts to sensitive resources. • Pavilion would be constructed to allow for structured uses such as

training, education, meetings, lunches, and to help manage users and user impacts.

• A parking area would be defined to limit impacts to the site and contain motorized uses.

• Seating to be placed in strategic locations to allow for user relief and wildlife observation.

• Native seed mixes would be used to reclaim construction related disturbances and hasten reclamation.

Implementation of the Interpretive and Site Development proceeded as follows

• Site plan map

Future Trail Location

• Construction pictures

Trail during construction

Future Parking and Pavilion site (Tank Battery to be abandoned)

Future Parking and Pavilion site (Tank Battery removed)

Parking and Pavilion site (Former Tank Battery site)

Completed pavilion, trail and fencing

Wetland, view north from

trail

Photo by David Yardley

Photo by Bill Schmoker

Mallard

Photo by David Yardley

Yellow Headed Black bird

Photo: Courtesy of David YardleyGreat Blue Heron escorted by a Black Bird

Interpretive signs.

Amenities• Site features:

– 47 Acres of parkland– Pavilion with seating for up to 23

adults 30 kids– Parking for several busses or up to

nine cars– Approximately one mile of combined

trail– Eight Interpretive educational signs– Access to a wetland biologist /

interpreter– Reclaimed oil and natural gas well

site– Wildlife habitat– Bird watching (over 100 specifies

document on site)– Wildlife (reptiles, mammals,

amphibians, insects)– Plant (hundreds of plant species)– Views (mountains, water, seasonal

changes, farmlands)All just minutes from Downtown!

Photo: Courtesy of David Yardley

An abundance of wildlife and vegetation to view.

Photos: Courtesy of David Yardley and Bill Schmoker

Hundreds of plant and animal species to observe.

American White Pelican

Great Egret

Blue Flax

Common Grackle

Green Darner

Painted Turtle

Over 100 bird species confirmed on site.

Animals

Spring in the wetland with views of the mountains.

New trail and pavilion with mountain back drop

• Oil and gas 2

• Gas well pre reclimation

Site of abandoned well prior to removal and reclamation

Site of abandoned well reclaimed.

• Plants slide

North east corner of the wetland looking west

Bulrush

Discrete wildlife viewing

Thank you for visiting!

Open Fall 2009