The Colorado River Corridor is just one of many parts within
a functioning ecological unit that also includes the natural and built
environment. Many important, and sometimes conflicting, public and
private values must be maintained and managed inside the corridor.
One big challenge is working to help development and wildlife coexist.
Colorado River State Park
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(a) Public values include:
(1) Natural areas, wildlife habitat, environmental and water quality.
(2) Recreation, parks, trails and designated public access areas.
(3) Rural character and agricultural use.
(4) Floodplain and flood hazard management.
(5) Scenic and aesthetic resources.
(6) Education and interpretation.
(7) Historic landmarks and cultural landscapes.
(b) Private values include:
(2) Gravel extraction and reclamation.
(3) Residential, cultural, commercial and business development.
(Res. 13-05, 1-5-05)
The Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) has mapped plant
and animal communities of State and National Importance within Mesa
County. The information from this program includes recommendations
for resource management and stewardship plans to protect resources
of the area. The river corridor through the Pear Park neighborhood
lies within the Colorado River at Grand Junction conservation site
as identified in the Natural Heritage Inventory of Mesa County, Colorado
(Lyon, P., Pague, C., Rondeau, R., et. al. 1996). The site is classified
as B1 (outstanding significance). Several rare and endangered species
are listed in the report. Colorado Natural Heritage rarity ranks do
not imply any legal designation or regulatory actions. The entire
Colorado River Corridor, one of three “Colorado Important Bird
Areas” (Partners in Flight, an International Cooperative) in
the State, is home to an estimated 140 avian species, 15 of which
are listed as rare or imperiled.
The Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) is responsible for
all wildlife management in Colorado with the exception of migratory
and federally listed endangered species. The CDOW composite map for
Mesa County of important areas of wildlife/human interactions, called
“Potential Impact to Wildlife Map,” depicts areas with
six levels of impact to wildlife. Three locations in Pear Park are
identified as very high in potential impact: Indian Wash, Lewis Wash
and the Colorado River Corridor.
In an effort to protect wildlife habitat, Mesa County requires
any development that falls within a moderate, high or very high potential
for impact category to consult with the CDOW to substantiate the basis
for the potential impact and to address various, specific measures
to avoid, minimize or mitigate negative impacts to wildlife and its
habitat. Regulations of the City of Grand Junction Zoning and Development
Code do not allow new structures within 100 feet of the floodway of
the river as defined by the Federal Emergency Management Act (FEMA).
The Mesa County Land Development Code does not allow new structures
within 100 feet of the floodway of the Colorado River or as recommended
by the CDOW.
Colorado Division of Wildlife allows waterfowl hunting along the Colorado River within the Pear Park area (see Chapter
37.32 GJMC, Public Safety). Hunting is an important tool for wildlife management and stewardship.
The Colorado River Wildlife Area (CRWA) is located north of
the Colorado River between 30 and 31 Roads and immediately south of
D Road. The entrance road and parking lot (including the public restroom)
is managed by Colorado State Parks. The short north/south trail which
connects the parking lot to the Colorado River Trail is also managed
by Colorado State Parks. The portion of the Colorado River Trail which
parallels the Colorado River is owned and managed by Colorado State
Parks. The remaining portion of the CRWA is managed by Western Colorado
Wildlife Habitat Association (WCWHA). The CRWA, with the exception
of the trail and parking area, is closed to the public year-round
for wildlife protection.
The Orchard Mesa Wildlife Area located on the south side of
CRWA directly across the River is solely managed by WCWHA. While some
hunting is allowed on this property, public access is greatly limited
and seasonal closure exists from March 15th through July 15th. These
properties were acquired and developed to mitigate/replace the incidental
fish and wildlife values/habitat lost as a result of the construction
to improve canal and lateral systems associated with the Grand Valley
Unit in Mesa County. To compensate, the Bureau of Reclamation worked
with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Colorado Division
of Wildlife to acquire, develop and preserve permanent wildlife habitats
along the Colorado River.
(Res. 13-05, 1-5-05)
Aggressive weeds (nonnative, invasive, undesirable plant species) and a lack of their control can present significant problems. As of 2004, there are 19 noxious weeds on the Mesa County Noxious Weeds list that require control (see list in GJMC §
34.44.010); however, the primary nonnative undesirable species of concern in the planning area are: purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria; Russian knapweed, Acroptilon repens; whitetop/hoary cress, Cardaria draba; and yellow toadflax, Linaria vulgaris. These four plants are designated as undesirable plants in Mesa County and are being controlled/managed by policies set forth in the Mesa County Weed Management Plan. In addition, tamarisk species are on the list, but control is not mandatory. The Russian olive, Elaeagnus angustifolia, and tamarisk, Tamarisk parviflora and ramosissima, pose a threat to many native upland and wetland plant communities because of their aggressive nature and prolific reproductive rate, although the Russian olive is not on the list. They both have the ability to eliminate entire native plant communities. The Tamarisk Coalition in Mesa County has been active in efforts to remove tamarisk and Russian olive trees from areas along the Colorado River floodplain.
The County is committed to weed management and has created a
cost share program for landowners. The cost share program makes funding
available to help defray the cost of control efforts.
The City manages noxious weeds inside of the City limits and
utilizes integrated weed management planning/techniques to control/eradicate
weeds and numerous nonnative, undesirable plant species. The City
requires eradication of five weed species: Russian knapweed, Centaurea
repens; diffuse knapweed, Centaurea diffusa; spotted knapweed, Centaurea
maculosa; purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria; and leafy spurge,
Euphorbia esula.
The City manages noxious weeds by:
(a) Weed mapping (specifically Russian knapweed and purple loosestrife).
(b) Working with landowners: requesting management plans for the control/eradication
of the weeds from property owners with the plants on their property.
(c) Annual public outreach efforts: reminding owners of their responsibility
to control/eradicate noxious weeds and nonnative, undesirable plants.
(d) Providing technical expertise on integrated weed management planning
techniques and implementation methods (mechanical, chemical, biological
and cultural).
(e) Maintaining, updating, and identifying any recognized change in effective
methods of control.
(f) Working with other land management agencies for control of the four
undesirable noxious weeds in rights-of-way as identified by the County.
In addition to the five specific noxious weeds identified above,
the City has an annual proactive weed abatement program from May through
October. The program requires property owners to keep all weeds on
their property and adjacent rights-of-way between curb and center
of alley to a height below six inches. Undeveloped lands over one
acre in size are required to cut a 20-foot perimeter along any roadway,
and along any side of the property adjacent to a developed property.
Agricultural lands (as defined in C.R.S. § 39-1-102(1.6)(a))
are required to keep weeds cut within 20 feet of any adjacent developed
property. Property owners are responsible for any cost of cutting
and removing of weeds by City crews that are not removed within 10
days after notification of the violation.
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(Res. 13-05, 1-5-05)
Wetlands in the planning area are among the most environmentally
important ecosystems in the County and also the most vulnerable to
development pressures. Mapped wetlands of Mesa County by the Colorado
Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) identifies the Colorado River Corridor
as an important wetland area. Wetland habitat has been created on
the Colorado River Wildlife Area as part of the mitigation requirements
associated with the loss of wildlife values/habitat which resulted
from improvements to canal and lateral systems for salinity control.
The principal method of protecting wetlands and riparian areas is
through existing City and County floodplain regulations.
(Res. 13-05, 1-5-05)
Gravel is a necessary resource for a community. It is needed
for construction projects to serve a growing population and essential
to the local economy. Gravel deposits should be extracted according
to a rational plan that avoids waste of the minerals and causes the
least practicable disruption of the ecology and quality of life of
the citizens of affected areas.
Elam Gravel Pit on D Road
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With input from the Pear Park area gravel industry and using the 1978
Mineral Resources Survey of Mesa County, a Pear Park Neighborhood Plan
Mineral Resources Map was created and is included as part of this Plan (see Mineral Resource Map at the end of this chapter). Nothing in the designation of aggregate resource areas is intended to preclude approval of applications for extractive uses outside the designated areas which meet development requirements.
The 1978
Mineral Resources Survey of Mesa County states that the “Colorado River terrace deposits exist in the Pear Park area and these deposits are about 12 to 22 feet thick with 10 to 15 feet of overburden.” Gravel extraction in the planning area occurs along the north side of the river wherever access is available and practical. Much of the gravel is used for building materials and highway projects.
Issues facing the gravel industry include:
(a) Impacts of gravel extraction and processing operations adjacent to
or nearby existing residential land uses.
(b) Existing residential uses limiting gravel extraction and processing
operations.
(c) Lack of general knowledge by the public of the mineral extraction
policies and location of resources.
(d) Reclamation and future use of mined-out gravel pits.
(e) Visual/ecological impacts along the Colorado River.
A mineral extraction plan is intended to facilitate protection
of the area’s commercial mineral deposits from encroachment
by incompatible land uses that would limit the options of future decision-makers
in considering the demand for aggregate resources; however, applicants
applying for a permit for gravel or other extractive use in an aggregate
gravel or resource area must address all environmental and compatibility
issues.
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Mesa County and the City of Grand Junction are very interested
in the reclamation of sites after the resources are removed. The State
Mined Land Reclamation Board has developed standards and procedures
for reclamation plans. Within their authority, the County and City
work with mining permit applicants to identify appropriate uses and
landscape forms for the reclamation plan. Preferred uses are those
consistent with this adopted land use plan or providing quality recreation
or open space and wildlife habitat opportunities.
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(Res. 13-05, 1-5-05)