A master plan for the park was developed in 2010 before the Black Forest Fire occurred. The area contains populations of rare and unique plants as well as a mature Ponderosa Pine forest that is classified as old growth. The Pineries Open Space is the largest open space property under County ownership all but approximately 30 acres of the area is under a conservation easement held by the Palmer Land Trust. The Pineries Open Space is approximately 1,067 acres in size and is located northeast of the intersection of Vollmer Road and Shoup Road in El Paso County, Colorado. The infrastructure within the park and south of the park (Shoup Rd, Big Pine Estates, and Merit Acres) are currently at risk from flooding and debris flows originating from the BFRP. Most soils in the Park were classified as a low to moderate hazard for erosion pre-fire however, the loss of vegetation and the steepness of the slopes in the northern region of the Park are causing large erosional and sediment depositional issues. Soils in the Park are characterized by a gravelly texture that creates difficulties in establishing vegetation once disturbed. Slopes in the Park average 6-12% though slopes of 30% can be found near the Palmer Divide, a major ridgeline running through the north end of the Park. Approximately two-thirds of the BFRP were impacted by the Black Forest Fire. A Master Plan for the area completed in 2011 suggests that forest density was higher than ever before and that threat of wildfire was a large concern. The BFRP is characterized by ponderosa pine forests with dominant understory species including kinnikinnick, squaw current, mountain mahogany, blue grama, western wheatgrass, needle and thread, and mountain muhly. The Black Forest Regional Park (BFRP) encompasses 385 acres of land within the Black Forest area of El Paso County, Colorado. Since 2013, RMFI has been working in partnership with El Paso County to rehabilitate burned landscapes within the Black Forest Regional Park and the Pineries Open Space. Though the majority of the land burned was private, approximately 1,200 acres of El Paso County Parks land were affected.
The fire was fully contained June 20th, 2013 with the loss of 486 homes and 2 lives. Surpassing the Waldo Canyon Fire in 2012, the Black Forest Fire is now the most destructive fire in Colorado’s history. The Black Forest Fire burned 14,280 acres in Black Forest, Colorado in June 2013.
0 kommentar(er)
