Author: Seth Boster
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National conservation area growing by 4,000-plus acres in western Colorado
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A formerly private, sweeping swath of western Colorado is growing a public, red rock wonderland. Spanning 4,000-plus acres, Escalante Ranch has been transferred to the Bureau of Land Management and incorporated into Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area, The Conservation Fund recently announced. The announcement described the land south of Grand Junction as “encompass(ing) some of Colorado’s…
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‘Larger than life’ and ‘logistically challenging:’ Getting to know wolverines and Colorado’s restoration plan
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Last month inside a Denver conference room, as the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission moved to the next agenda item, a whisper could be heard. “I’m excited for this one.” Bob Inman stepped to a microphone. “Colorado has many remarkable species of wildlife,” he said, “but it’s been missing one of its most mysterious and…
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Therapy dog task force grows to meet hardship and disaster in Colorado and beyond
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On an upper level of the Colorado Springs Police Department, the calls never stop. The people here stand before screens displaying maps of the city and other urgent information, and they respond through headsets. “Are you safe? Are you out of danger?” “Do you see flames or smoke?” It’s another day in the communications center,…
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Out-of-state visitors could pay more at Colorado state parks
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People living outside of Colorado could pay more to visit state parks under a new proposal. The proposal was presented at the latest Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission meeting: a daily pass charge of $15-$17 for vehicles with out-of-state license plates. Coloradans would continue to pay $10-$12 for a pass. (The $2 extra applies to…
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Front Range’s highly anticipated Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space set to expand
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An open space of historic proportions between Colorado Springs and Denver is set to get even bigger. That’s after Castle Rock’s Town Council approved the Parks and Recreation Department pursuing a $1.1 million purchase of 35 acres along the southeast edge of Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space. “We’ve already bought the Ferrari, let’s put some…
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‘A major accomplishment’: Poudre River Trail nears completion, touring 45 miles in northern Colorado
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In northern Colorado, around a leafy preserve fed by the Poudre River and old farmland left between ever-growing neighborhoods, crews have been building a trail that will stretch about a mile. Only about a mile ー fairly small in one sense, big in another sense. “We feel like it’s a major accomplishment,” said Zac Wiebe,…
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Rocky Mountain National Park at ‘tipping point’ with moose
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Moose’s impact on one of Colorado’s most cherished landscapes has been a concern over the years. Now, Rocky Mountain National Park officials are launching an effort to address it. A recent webinar marked “the very beginning of this planning process,” Will Deacy – the park’s large mammal ecologist – emphasized to the virtual audience. This…
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Proposed development sparks rally to ‘save’ trail, open space south of Denver
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For the past 25 years around Denver’s south metro area, Mike Smith has watched homes, offices and commercial centers rise in open spaces he once viewed from the seat of his bike. But then there’s what he calls “the heart of Lone Tree.” To catch the sun rise or set or to ease the stress…
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Once dismissed by the mainstream, ski ballet is finding new life in Colorado
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The sun was breaking through the clouds one day last April as Lara Rosenbaum stood atop a slope at Colorado’s Monarch Mountain. She took in the scene around her: Costumed skiers twirling around, their arms and legs moving in the elegant cadence of a dancer, getting loose before their performance set to music. “I honestly…
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Could this be the next big outdoor destination in Woodland Park?
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Could a golf course be the next great outdoor escape in the “City Above the Clouds” west of Colorado Springs? Advocates in Woodland Park think so. The 18-hole Shining Mountain Golf Course “is such a big parcel, with so much more potential than golf,” said Chris Gonzales, who leads Teller Trail Team, a nonprofit aiming…