BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS APPROVES OPEN SPACE MANAGEMENT OF HISTORIC ARRASTRA SITE AT MILL CREEK

(GEORGETOWN, CO) – On Tuesday, November 25, 2003, the Clear Creek Board of County Commissioners assigned management of County lands located on Alps Mountain near Idaho Springs to the Clear Creek County Open Space Commission. 

The parcel, approximately 340 acres, was former BLM lands transferred to the County in 1992.  On approving Open Space management of the parcel, the County Commissioners agreed to retain the land for recreation and public purposes.  The land will serve as buffer for increasing development in the area, as well as a site for potential trailheads and trails. 

The Open Space Commission has worked on acquiring management of this property for over three years, and is very excited about this accomplishment.  Before asking the County Commissioners for management, Open Space approached the Planning Commission with the proposal, and earned their unanimous support.  Open Space management of the Alps Mountain property is also consistent with the land use concepts in the draft Master Plan currently under review.  The Open Space Commission and the County Planning Department will continue to develop a zoning designation that will provide for future availability of mineral resources of the parcel while protecting the other natural and historic resources on the land.

Open Space has two years to put together a detailed management plan for the Alps parcel, which will include preservation of an emergency shelter cabin located on the property.  The cabin has not been maintained since the end of BLM management of the land over ten years ago.  According to Open Space Chairman Frank Young, “The Open Space Commission can provide much needed resources to the management of important natural and cultural assets in our county.  The Alps Mountain area, and the emergency shelter located there, will greatly benefit from the recent decision by the County Commissioners, and our efforts in the future.”

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