The Marmot Messenger Staunton State Park

Volunteer Newsletter January - February 2013 Volume 2 Issue 1

Send It – November 10 Volunteer Meeting

Staunton volunteers and climbers

Dave Montgomery, Mike Morin and

Amanda Peterson did a very

interesting and informative

presentation at the November

volunteer meeting on the work they

have accomplished in setting up the

climbing routes at Staunton Rocks.

They also went over the basics of

rock climbing, some of the

equipment and how the climbs are

technically rated. The trio is

currently working on an on-line

climbing guide that will provide

information on all the routes.

They were astonished by the quality

and diversity of climbing routes

available. Developing the routes

entailed quite an extensive process.

They looked at the quality of the

rock, whether there were indications

of prior ascents (i.e., old gear like

pitons in the rock), the presence of

Cont. on p. 2

What’s Inside

Jen’s Column 4

Park Opening in Spring 2013 4

Ed Russell - Man Behind the

(Volunteer Calendar) Curtain 5

Working to Finish the Entrance

Area 6

Managing for Healthy Forests 8

Winter Raptor Monitoring 13

Fauna Feature 15

Flora Feature 16

Volunteer Highlights 19

Friends of Staunton 23

Getting to Know You 24

Announcements 26

Dave, Mike and Amanda

Da

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Wayn

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MARMOT MESSENGER 2

Send It (cont. from page 1)

sensitive plants or raptors, how best to minimize impacts,

and tried to anticipate where the climber interest would

likely be.

Then there was what sort of climbing style to

accommodate. Traditional climbing is where you don’t

have fixed protection (i.e., rock bolts drilled into the rock),

you use various gear such as cams or chocks that you

remove as you complete your ascent and thus leave

nothing behind on the rock face. Sport climbing is where

the climber is protected along the entire route by fixed

protection. Of the approximate 60 routes that they

identified, roughly half are traditional, about 8-10 are

entirely bolted and the rest are a mix between traditional

and sport style with fixed hardware on portions of the

route.

There is also a climbing type called bouldering which is

typically limited to very short climbs. In general you might

climb 15 feet up a rock face. No ropes or other gear is used

other than maybe a crash pad (i.e., bouldering mat) placed

below the climb. The pad is to help break your fall or Dave

also likes to use it as a mat for brushing the teeth of

anesthetized squirrels (part of the Ground Squirrel Dental

Outreach Program). Bouldering is more difficult to manage

and minimize the impacts because climbers tend to sprawl

out around the boulders creating more of a network of

social trails.

The routes can be climbed from the ground up or the top

down. Some routes have rappel anchors at the top so that

climbers can descend back down the rock face using a

rope. Therefore they don’t have to “walk off” from the top

around the backside of the rocks and back down to the

bottom face of the rocks. Minimizing the need to walk off

reduces the trailing around the rocks and the extent of

impacts to soils and vegetation. Most ground disturbance

will be limited to the access trails to and along the base of

the rock formations where the routes start.

Once the park opens it’s likely climbers will propose

additional climbing routes up Staunton Rocks. The

evaluation of future route proposals will be done by a

volunteer climbing committee that will follow an approval

process considering such factors as potential natural

resource impacts, rock quality along the route and the

quality and placement of proposed fixed hardware.

The committee will also make recommendations on

replacing bolts. Having a volunteer committee make these

types of evaluations and recommendations reduces the

liability to the park.

Colin Chisholm is working on a Climbing Management

Plan with the climbing community to work out a plan

tailored to the park. Climbing will be focused on Staunton

Rocks. Although it is a “sacrificial area” proactive

management such as designated trails, minimizing walk off

impacts, avoiding areas of rare plants and potential route

closures to protect nesting raptors will be implemented to

avoid or minimize negative impacts. Consideration of

routes in other areas of the park like Lion’s Head will

require a longer evaluation and approval process.

After the presentation, interested volunteers traveled to

Staunton Rocks for a tour of some of the climbing areas.

Some or maybe most of the climbing routes seem

somewhat daunting. But there are a variety of routes

including some designated on the Whistle Pigs formation

that are targeted for the novice climber. Cont. on p. 3

MARMOT MESSENGER 3

Send It (cont. from page 2)

The name Whistle Pig is a

common name for the various

species of marmots including the

park’s yellow-bellied marmot as

well as others like the

woodchuck and ground hog. So

the park’s marmots who are

currently taking their six to

seven month siesta have been

honored with the naming of

Whistle Pigs as well as Marmot

Tower. Clearly marmots rock.

There were a number of

interesting stories about naming

of the rock formations and

various routes. The Tan Corridor

is probably self-evident. Then

there was the Bombardier Dome

so named for the amount of

loose rock that was dislodged

toward those below while laying

out the route. And while

climbing the Ranch Hand Dome

there was an unexpected

encounter with a newly fledged

peregrine perched on the rock.

The adult peregrines made quite

the ruckus over having people

approaching their fledgling.

All told, a great meeting and

hike. So what if you make a

clean route ascent? No hanging

on your rope to take a break or

catch a fall. A successful ascent

is a send. Send it!

I SPY

Four trail cameras have been set up in the park in areas with significant wildlife habitat resources. Colorado Parks and

Wildlife biologists want to find the best ways to capture photos of wildlife. The cameras will allow staff to increase their

capabilities by conducting monitoring without a human presence. They also wanted to field test the product to see if it was

the best choice for the park.

Discussions are ongoing with Parks and Wildlife biologists who already use cameras to do surveys to determine how to

standardize camera monitoring techniques. The cameras are motion sensored (and are highly sensitive) so if even a mouse

runs in front of the camera 20 feet away, it'll catch it on camera. The CPW biologists haven’t come out to Staunton to

retrieve the cameras yet so they don't know what pictures are on them yet. Stay tuned to see if the cameras record anything

interesting.

Wayn

e P

ark

inso

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MARMOT MESSENGER 4

Manager’s Message – A Huge Weight Lifted

Park Opening in Spring 2013

There were about 10 days in

the month of October where I

felt I was “carrying the weight

of the world on my shoulders.”

The park opening was looming

in the not-so-distant future and

it was apparent that we were

not ready. Those 10 days were

stressful, sleepless and

frustrating. But I came out of it

successfully and learned a few

important lessons.

Lesson 1: It is okay to stand up

Leadership I needed to make sure my passion for the job

was apparent but to the right degree. I wanted to make sure

they understood, although this was an emotional decision, I

did not let my emotions drive my decision.

Lesson 3: In the end, I realized I wasn’t “carrying the

weight of the world on my shoulders.” The saying comes

from Greek mythology when Atlas was punished by

carrying the weight of the world. I know what I went

through was not a punishment for anything I did. It was all

part of the process.

AND at 9:47 a.m. on October 11 a huge weight was lifted

from my shoulders. Staunton State Park would open to the

public in late spring of 2013.

The “to-do list” hasn’t gotten any shorter since October 11,

but the opportunity to check all the items off the list prior to

welcoming our first visitor now seems real. I could not have

shouldered this weight without the support from each one of

you. Thank you for supporting the success of Staunton State

Park.

Enough philosophizing…Let’s get back to work!

for what you believe in as long as you are respectful and

diplomatic in the deliverance. It was my responsibility to

carry the decision to delay the opening through the chain of

command all the way up to the Director of DNR (Dept of

Natural Resources). At each step I had to make sure my

conversations were thoughtful and deliberate.

Lesson 2: Keep your personal feelings in check during

stressful situations. During my conversations with

Park manager Jen Anderson, after detailing problems to an

Oct. 27 opening of the park, outlined what still needed to be

done, including upcoming volunteer opportunities, during

the volunteer meeting in October.

“It’s disappointing (the park not opening), but the right

decision,” Anderson said.

She added there would be no additional costs for the

opening delay.

Anderson also discussed authority of staff and volunteers

while on duty at the park, using a handout “Law

Enforcement and the ‘Authority of the Resource’” by Dr.

George N. Wallace.

The article defines authority and discusses the “authority of

resource technique” (ART) that can be used to get park

visitors to focus on “undesirable behavior” disrupting the

natural order of the park or the “ability of others to

experience wild nature.” The technique “transfers part of the

expectation back to the visitor by interpreting nature’s

requirements.”

The essence of ART is embodied in three sequential parts

park employees and volunteers can implement during a

situation:

Step 1: Give an objective description of the situation.

Step 2: Explain the implications of the action or situation

that was observed.

Step 3: Tell the visitor how you feel about the behavior and

what can or should be done to improve the situation.

After Jen explained the technique with a variety of examples

she asked volunteers to partner up and, using their own

examples of undesirable behavior, try the technique on each

other to practice responses.

Volunteers who did not attend the meeting can get a copy of

the article from Anderson.

During the meeting, Jen outlined work needing to be

completed before the spring opening and said volunteer

service will be needed. She outlined these needs in the

following list:

*Sign posts to be set

*T posts need to be set on western boundary

*Trail work to be completed

*Fence removal

*buck rail fencing to be installed at various sites

*remodeling of bathroom at Elk Falls cabin

*development of education programs

*park patrols set up

*signs to be posted

*boot camp to take place in spring

Anderson also announced Donna Zimmerly would no longer

be working as volunteer coordinator (her six month season

ended) and she would be picking up those responsibilities.

November volunteer meeting topic was to be rock climbing

and there will be no volunteer meetings in December.

MARMOT MESSENGER 5

Ed Russell - Man Behind the (Volunteer Calendar) Curtain

The many resources and individuals involved in opening a

new state park, especially of the magnitude of Staunton

State Park, are vast – Ed Russell is just one integral part.

Russell is co-owner of Computer Terrain Mapping, Inc.

(CTM) http://www.ctmap.com. His company mapped the

park for the master planning effort.

CTM is dedicated to “…providing high impact maps and

imagery to publications, enhancing their storylines with

compelling visuals.” That’s geospatial technology at its

best.

We called upon Russell’s charity to develop the volunteer

calendar (FREE) so we all could be better organized. We

know his work as In The Zone or the volunteer activities

calendar website www.stauntonpark.com. Ed helped make

the Staunton volunteer summer of 2012 run smooth as silk

by donating his web development skills.

The land use planning work including mapping, videos with

Spike Productions, web development, partnering zones was

challenging but rewarding, Russell said.

“I met a lot of great people: from locals who were

interested and concerned about development to other

stakeholders who were excited about the opportunities

Staunton offered.” The master plan was a balancing act,

which had to satisfy many interests and needs, according to

Russell. “In Colorado, we love our outdoors, but,

particularly among rural people, we love our privacy. In the

master plan, we tried to address both perspectives,” he said.

Russell’s work for the Park also involved imagery for the

partnering efforts to help raise funds and awareness. The

case described here is very compelling.

And, while he made note that the state does not have a lot of

money, especially for (park) maintenance, he believes

partners, including volunteers and financial contributors,

need to “step up and make things happen.” Staunton’s

fundraising efforts are fortunate to be able to use Ed’s initial

graphic applications to launch successful campaigns for

many years to come. The vision is clear in the videos and

website description of funding opportunities. He gets this

stuff.

Russell also believes frustrating budget delays will likely

affect the various planned phases of the park, but he is

optimistic. Staunton’s close proximity to Denver will open

up “really high profile promotion opportunities for

businesses and non-profits.”

All of Russell’s positive input – he never said “no” to any

volunteer calendar project this summer-- shines through in

the crew of 60-plus volunteers who look to the calendar for

guidance.

In the future Russell hopes to help with interpretation and

education programs at the park. “The landscape and

topography play a central role in Staunton’s identity. From a

mapping and visualization standpoint, these are specialty

areas for my company,” he said.

Russell is concerned about the future of public lands and

wonders if citizens of the community will “take ownership”

of these lands or whether public areas will “start to

deteriorate and close down.”

On a personal note, Russell is almost a native, having lived

in Colorado since he was five. He said he “truly loves the

state.” This is very apparent in his gifts to Staunton State

Park. Russell and his wife, Cat, own a “yuppie” farm

outside Lyons where they raise goats, chickens and a couple

of donkeys.

PARTNERING WITH STAUNTON STATE PARK

Go to the In The Zone website and click on the tabs for

more information. www.stauntonpark.com.

MARMOT MESSENGER 6

WORKING TO FINISH THE ENTRANCE AREA

Photos by Wayne Parkinson

When duty calls

↓ mild mannered park drive- thru attendant

turns into super hero extraordinaire → who battles for truth, justice, the American way

and an entrance station trailer with hook-ups

Entrance station coming up the exit drive on the flatbed trailer with

Lion’s Head in the background

View as you drive in entrance (exit drive on

left) with entrance

station center right

Getting ready to lift

Worker shoveling off fresh snow from foundation where station will be set

Almost set

into place

MARMOT MESSENGER 7

WORKING TO FINISH THE ENTRANCE AREA

Photos by Wayne Parkinson

Vault toilet

at the lower (overflow)

parking area

Vault toilet at the picnic ground - weight 55,000 pounds

Entrance gate

Constructing the group picnic area pavilion

MARMOT MESSENGER 8

Managing for Healthy Forests

Colorado’s forests evolved with natural cycles of

disturbance such as fire, windthrow, insects and

disease, which promoted diversity and resiliency.

Natural disturbances like fire promoted biodiversity

by maintaining a variety of vegetation communities

and habitats throughout the landscape, including

even‐aged stands, uneven‐aged stands, open areas

and other ecological systems such as riparian areas

along streams, that are less susceptible to fire.

At Staunton, a 2002 forest inventory indicated that

decades of fire suppression and past logging had

resulted in significantly increased tree densities with

more uniform age stands of trees in much of the park.

Individual trees were in greater competition for light,

water and nutrients, resulting in stressed forest stands

less capable of fighting off insect and disease attacks

and at heightened risk for a large-scale, high intensity

wildfire.

Staunton’s forests have been actively managed to

promote healthier diverse forests and enhance

wildlife habitat while reducing wildfire hazards.

Management methods have included a combination

of mechanized mastication, hand-felling of trees and

prescribed fire. Since 2003, approximately 830 acres

have been thinned or patch cut and about another 530

have been treated with prescribed fire, nearly ⅓ of

the park.

Forest Management Areas at Staunton

MARMOT MESSENGER 9

Managing for Healthy Forests – Ponderosa Pine Forests

Ponderosa pine forests evolved with natural cycles

of mixed intensity fire that often allowed mature pine

trees to survive, but killed competing conifer

seedlings. Areas of old growth ponerosa pines along

the main park road contained artificially dense stands

of trees and encroachment from other conifers

creating an increased risk of large, high-intensity

crown fires and increased susceptibility to native

insects and diseases.

Retaining many of the older ponderosas and

manually thinning the stands has restored more open

woodland conditions and created a fuel break in the

center of the park. It has also increased the remaining

trees’ resistance to insect and disease infestations and

allowed prescribed fire to burn grass, shrubs and

small trees that reduced surface and ladder fuels and

rejuvenated understory vegetation.

Lodgepole pine forests typically develop following

Thinned and prescribed burned ponderosa pine stands

MARMOT MESSENGER 10

Managing for Healthy Forests – Lodgepole Pine Forests

Lodgepole pine forests typically develop following

hot, stand-replacing crown fires. The regeneration

that naturally occurs in the open, sunny areas left in

the fire’s wake often results in dense small diameter

stands referred to as dog-hair stands. Although some

of the park’s lodgepole stands contained a diversity

of trees, much of these lodgepole forests were

characterized as dog-hair stands.

Thinning and patch cuts in some of these very dense

lodgepole pine stands has reduced tree densities and

created forest openings, breaking the continuity of

forest fuels that could slow the progress of a wildfire

and protect surrounding communities. It has also

resulted in forests less prone and better able to

recover from disease and insect infestations (i.e.,

dwarf mistletoe, mountain pine beetles, Ips beetles).

Lodgepole pine stands in Mason Creek

without treatment

Mason Creek lodgepole and aspen

stands after mastication in 2012

Mastication machine used for thinning and

patch cuts

MARMOT MESSENGER 11

Managing for Healthy Forests – Perpetual Undertaking

Removal of lodgepoles and other competing conifers

provides the opportunity for the regeneration of

aspen stands long shaded out by the dark woods.

Cutting some of the older aspens in the stand also

encourages sprouting and expansion of the aspen.

Restoring the health and vigor of the existing aspen

stands and expanding their current extent improves

wildlife habitat for elk and other animals and birds,

landscape heterogeneity and wildfire mitigation.

Thinning of conifers in the western area of the park

and more recently in the Mason Creek drainage will

hopefully increase aspen sprouts to the extent that

they will be abundant enough to withstand extensive

browsing by deer and elk and allow expansion of

aspen stands in the park.

Prescribed fire has been used to revitalize and

rejuvenate grasslands and wetlands in the North Elk

Creek corridor. Prescribed burning in these

communities helps recycle nutrients tied up in old

plant growth, control many woody plants and weeds,

Left: Meadow in northeast

area of the park a few years

after thinning project by

Youth Corps

increase plant growth, reduce the risk of wildfires and

improve wildlife habitat.

Managing Staunton’s forests is a large and perpetual

undertaking. Once forest treatments have been

completed, continued maintenance of these treatments

will be needed in the future. Initial fuel breaks will need

to be treated again.

Future prescription fire can be helpful in maintaining

previous treatments, while also minimizing the need for

future mechanical operations. Hand thinning of seedlings

trees will help to maintain open woodlands. Continued

manual cutting of hazard trees will be needed.

Unfortunately, past land use has also resulted in a ready

source of seeds of invasive noxious weeds that can

spread after mechanical or fire disturbances. Continual

noxious weed removal will also be needed to maintain

native ground cover. Luckily for Staunton volunteers

and special work parties continue to be plentiful.

Active forest management has been and will continue to

be an integral piece of the stewardship of Staunton State

Park.

Aspen stems coming up in an area near

Lion’s Head masticated in 2008

MARMOT MESSENGER 12

Managing for Healthy Forests

Southeast area of the park near future visitor center/campground before (above) and

after (below) mastication in 2010

The mission of the Colorado State Forest Service is to achieve stewardship of Colorado's diverse forest

environments for the benefit of present and future generations. Together with other natural resource

organizations, they strive to provide comprehensive support for the care of our natural environment.

http://csfs.colostate.edu/

The Front Range Fuels Treatment Partnership (FRFTP) was initiated following the record fire season of

2002. It is comprised of the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, Pike and San Isabel National Forests,

Colorado State Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station and Rocky Mountain National Park. FRFTP

was formed to reduce wildland fire risks through sustained fuels treatment along the Colorado Front Range.

http://frftp.org/

Article Photos: Front Range Fuels

Treatment Partnership and

Colorado State Forest Service

annual reports and Elaine Rideout

MARMOT MESSENGER 13

Winter Raptor Monitoring

Twelve different sites/zones where winter monitoring is done at Staunton State Park

Two winter raptor monitoring routes

have been established for Staunton.

The Lion's Head route is

approximately seven miles in length

with an elevation gain of roughly 900

feet. The Mason Creek route is

approximately 7½ miles in length

with an elevation gain of roughly

1200 feet.

Each route is surveyed every two

weeks if possible with monitors

traveling out and back along each

route. There are seven monitoring

sites along the Lion's Head route and

five monitoring sites along the Mason

Creek route. Monitors stop at each

site for 10 minutes to scan for birds.

Volunteer Dick Prickett worked with

state biologist Sarah Lamagna to help

identify the monitoring routes and

determine a suitable number and

location of observation points. Dick’s

been responsible for organizing,

instructing, and leading a team of

about a dozen volunteers in this

effort.

Dick claims not to be an expert on

birds, although, he’s definitely great

at imparting his knowledge and

observation hints that will help

distinguish one raptor from another or

from other birds. Knowing what to

look for and putting together multiple

clues be it size, shape, markings,

flight patterns, habitat preferences,

etc.

If we could just actually see some

raptors during the monitoring trips.

Although the volunteers are eager to

spot them, the birds are evidently not

quite so enthusiastic about being seen.

On the first monitoring trip on the

Lion’s Head route not a raptor was

seen. The first Mason Creek route trip

started out the same. A few soaring

birds were spotted. Nope – ravens.

But everyone learned what

characteristics distinguished them as

ravens and not hawks.

Most of the time was spent hiking.

Steller jays, chickadees, nuthatches,

crows, ravens, but still no raptors.

Special thanks to

Jeff Thompson

(Stewardship Coordinator)

Sarah Lamagna

(Biological and GIS Technician)

Dick Prickett

(Staunton Volunteer) for all their hard work in setting

up the raptor monitoring

program

MARMOT MESSENGER 14

Winter Raptor Monitoring As fortune would have it, a high

soaring raptor, a red-tail hawk was

spotted at the last site of the day on

the Mason Creek route.

Two weeks later on the Mason

Creek route a red-tail hawk was

spotted. Dick, Randie, Carol and

Ron were fortunate to be the

monitors two days later on the

Lion’s Head route. They not only

spotted three red-tails but an adult

bald eagle flying over. How cool

was that! Another red-tail was

spotted outside the park.

Volunteers will continue winter

monitoring then transition to formal

nest monitoring in late winter early

spring as raptors begin to nest.

If you can stand

around and stare

up into space you are an excellent

candidate for

raptor monitoring.

Photos: Carol Sanberg, Donna Zimmerly and Elaine Rideout

MARMOT MESSENGER 15

Fly with the fastest bird on the planet and through the woods with a goshawk courtesy of BBCWorldwide:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-_RHRAzUHM

Am

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an

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Falc

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F

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A Species Recovered

The American peregrine falcon breeds in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The historical status of this bird is not known, but the species was probably never common.

An historical estimate is 3,875 nesting pairs in North America.

After World War II - Widespread use of DDT, significantly increases

1940s – Peregrine population decline begins and continues into the early 1970s

1950s – It becomes increasingly apparent to scientists that DDT and other pesticides were entering the food chains of fish and birds like the peregrine

1960s – Precipitous population decline attributed to DDT which was interfering with egg shell formation and birds were laying eggs so thin they were crushed by the weight of the

incubating adult

Late 1960s– Peregrines completely gone from the eastern United States and the Midwest and the population in the western United States, Canada, and Mexico had declined by as

much as 90 percent

1970 – Peregrines listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Conservation Act, the predecessor of the current law

1972 – Agricultural use of DDT is banned in the United States although impacts of residues that had already accumulated in the fatty tissues of fish and wildlife continue

1975 – 324 known nesting pairs of peregrines in North America; national recovery teams established for the East, Alaska, the Pacific States, and the Rocky Mountain/Southwest region

1976 – Only five pairs found at about 30 historical territories in Colorado

1999 – Due to a ban on the use of DDT and successful captive breeding, rearing, and

release of over 6,000 peregrines, there were roughly 1,800 breeding pairs across the United States. The peregrine was removed from the federal endangered species list; peregrines removed from Colorado’s list of threatened species in 1998

2001 – More than 100 pairs found on territory in Colorado

2003 – Peregrine population in North America estimated at 3,005 breeding pairs; In the Northeast and Mid-west, two-thirds of peregrines nested on man-made structures. In other areas, more than 90 percent of peregrine pairs nested on natural formations such

as cliffs.

2015 – Post-delisting monitoring will continue through at least 2015 as part of federal monitoring plan in order to provide data reflecting the status of peregrines over multi generations and to assure their long-term survival

Currently, the levels of contaminants accumulating from their prey are low enough to allow successful reproduction and expansion of the population. Peregrines that winter in

countries in Central and South America that are still using DDT and other pesticides may be at risk of accumulating contaminants from their avian prey, some of which return to nest in the north and are a potential source of contaminants for both migratory and non-

migratory birds.

Although the nest site was not confirmed peregrines were observed in Staunton in 2012. They have

historically nested in the park on Lion’s Head. Thanks to the protections provided by the Endangered Species

Act and the extraordinary partnership efforts between federal agencies, state wildlife agencies, universities,

private ornithological groups, Canadian Wildlife Service, other Provincial agencies and individuals in the

recovery of this species, you too may have the good fortune of seeing this bird here in Staunton.

MARMOT MESSENGER 16

Although the American peregrine falcon and other

raptors like the bald eagle have received wide spread

support in their recovery rarely does the spotlight fall

on the many humbler but equally endangered species

like the budding monkeyflower. This diminutive and

extremely rare plant is only known to occur along

Colorado’s Front Range in about 10 widely-dispersed

locations between 8,400 to 11,120 feet in elevation.

Individual plants are usually clustered in a few, dense

populations that typically occupy less than one square

meter.

The limited number of plants and the very small area

occupied by each population makes them especially

vulnerable to disturbances like wildfire, drought or

inadvertent trampling by people. The limited number

of locations in turn puts this plant at risk for

extinction. In 2003 the Colorado Natural Heritage

Program gave this species its highest possible rank,

G1 (i.e., the species is critically imperiled globally

because of extreme rarity) and S1 (i.e., critically

imperiled in state).

This monkeyflower is highly specialized in its habitat

requirements. It most often grows in moist, seep

habitats on cliff ledges or under rocky overhangs.

Two populations of this plant are found in suitable

habitat within Staunton, one along Black Mountain

Creek and the other along the North Elk Creek. The

Black Mountain Creek population exists in multiple

small patches. These plants are annuals and their

populations can fluctuate rather widely. For instance,

in 2011 about 150 plants were found in one of the

Black Mountain Creek population patches where in

2007 no plants were found in that patch.

This plant is rare but also special because of its unique

method of reproduction. The plants reproduce via tiny

vegetative propagules called bulbils that develop from

embryonic buds that lie at the junction of the stem and

leaf stalks. When the plant dies in late summer or

early fall the dried leaves with attached bulbils fall to

the ground where they wait to germinate the next

summer much like a seed.

Biologists Mark Beardsley, the rock climbing

biologist, with EcoMetrics and Dave Steingraeber

with CSU have been studying this plant for many

years including collecting information on the

populations in Staunton.

Volunteers Jack Darnell and Carol Phelps spent some

time in the field with Mark this past year. They were

hoping to learn more about this species and to

understand the environment in which it exists. They

were clearly struck with how vulnerable these small

populations are, be it from natural events like rock

falls or potential damage by visitors. They emphasized

the need to safeguard these plants and their locations.

The populations are so small that hikers could

Cont. on p. 17

Bu

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Mo

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Budding monkeyflower (Mimulus gemmiparus)

Habitat of the budding monkeyflower

MARMOT MESSENGER 17

unknowingly destroy individual plants and

possibly the entire population through the

creation of social trails or by taking a break or

finding shelter from a storm in just the wrong

area.

Protection of these monkeyflower populations

and their habitat is important. It will be

necessary to monitor their populations and

manage recreational use to avoid possible

impacts to populations and habitats. But a

species cannot survive without a home so what

of its survival in the face of environmental

fluctuations like a drought, flash flood, rockfall,

erosion or wildfire that could subtlety or

drastically change its habitat? Could these very

small isolated populations survive changing

environmental conditions? Perhaps they could

use some help.

Part of Mark and Dave’s work with the park has

been to evaluate and implement a “captive

breeding” and reintroduction program for this

species that establishes new populations in the

natural environment as a means of expanding the

number of populations and/or expanding the

range where it occurs and thus hopefully

protecting this plant from extinction. In 2011

bulbils were collected from plants in the park

and germinated in a lab at CSU. Close to 9,000

bulbils from these lab-grown plants were then

harvested and planted this past summer in 35

different sites in the park within the Black

Mountain Creek and North Elk Creek drainages.

These experimental introduction sites as well as

the previously existing population sites were

monitored through this past growing season.

The primary goals of monitoring are to evaluate

the success of establishing new sustainable

populations and to document the environmental

characteristics that influence the habitat

limitations and preferences of the species.

Monitoring entails collecting information about

the plant populations and on 14 different

physical habitat parameters.

This monkeyflower may be tiny but it’s not

inconsequential. Conservation of the biological

diversity of the park is a critically important

element in maintaining the integrity of its

ecosystems and being good stewards. The

The Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP)

The CNHP is a nonprofit organization that tracks and ranks Colorado’s rare and imperiled species and habitat and provides

scientific information and expertise to promote the conservation of Colorado’s wealth of biological resources. The CNHP

ranking system allows targeting the most at-risk species and ecosystems for inventory, protection, research, and management.

Species and ecosystems are ranked on the Global (G), National (N), and Subnational/State/province (S) levels.

Learn more at: http://www.cnhp.colostate.edu/

Mim

ulu

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emm

ipa

rus

Newly established M gemmiparus growing alongside

native M floribundus (which is flowering) with temp/light

monitoring sensor which is about the size of a quarter

Brian Kurzel checking out one of the experimental

populations in August

Mark Beardsley

Mark Beardsley

greater the diversity of an ecosystem the better it can

maintain balance and productivity and withstand

environmental stressors. Colorado’s rare plants are an

important and irreplaceable part of the state and

nation’s natural heritage.

What Say You - Send It Jack and Carol have also given some thought to whether

volunteers would be able to assist in the monitoring of these populations over the coming years. The North Elk Creek

populations are more accessible than the Black Mountain

populations. Getting to the upper Black Mountain site from the park entrance area “would be a long, strenuous hike that ends in

steep slopes, boulder field, and some slick rock ledges”.

MARMOT MESSENGER 18

Mim

ulu

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emm

ipa

rus

Above is a photo of a nice, robust monkeyflower plant that was grown in the greenhouse at

CSU a few months ago. The plant grew from a bulbil that was collected from the Elk Creek

population at Staunton last year. It produced several flowers, but no seeds or fruits in spite of

hand-pollinations. The only time the researchers have ever seen seeds produced was in the

mid-90s, when Mark crossed some plants from the US Forest Service population site at

Hankins Gulch in the CSU greenhouse and was able to get some seeds. All other attempts

have been unsuccessful, and no one has ever found seeds in the natural/wild populations.

They keep looking, though.

Colorado Natural Areas Program (CNAP)

The CNAP is a statewide program focused on the recognition and protection of areas that

contain at least one unique or high-quality natural feature of statewide significance. By

working cooperatively, CNAP works to conserve the ecosystems, species, geology and fossils

that are 'uniquely Colorado'. CNAP sponsored the research and work to establish new

monkeyflower populations in the park. Special thanks to CNHP coordinator Brian Kurzel

who made this project possible.

Learn more at: http://www.parks.state.co.us/NaturalResources/CNAP/

Seema Sheth

MARMOT MESSENGER 19

Volunteer Highlights

EDIBLE AND MEDICINAL PLANTS

Suzie Wampler and Randie Boldra initiated an October 19

meeting to learn about edible and medicinal plants in the park.

Volunteers reviewed some of the uses of plants such as mullein,

musk and Canada thistle, wild sage, spruce and firs included in

the park’s library reference book Edible & Medicinal Plants of

the Rockies by Linda Kershaw. Then it was into the park,

walking about 100 yards from the Boyd House where there were

lots of examples of the trees, shrubs, herbs, mosses and lichens, as

well as one of the poisonous plants (common snowberry). Native

Plant Master Deborah Darnell described the botanical nature of

the trees and plants observed.

The following weekend was another meeting and walk led by

Pam Little. After looking over some edible/medicinal books and

materials, including lots of great handouts that Pam has put

together over the years, the group ventured outside in the general

area of the Staunton Cabin to see what they could identify. Some

plants were still green and identifiable by their leaves like

pusseytoes which, if you really wanted to you could chew the

stalks like gum. Being late in the year many of plants were only

identifiable by the dried flower heads.

The goal is to put together information for the interpretive

program on some commonly-seen plants at Staunton and how

they were/are used by wildlife, natives and settlers. These are also

great opportunities to improve your plant identification skills.

Photos:

Suzi

Wampler and Elaine

Rideout

MARMOT MESSENGER 20

Volunteer Highlights

BUCKRAIL FENCE PROJECTS

Ron and the Lilliputians Thanks to all the “little people” who helped with the Old Mill buckrail

fence project!

Staunton Cabin Blain Cabin

Above: cutting more rail for the Old Mill fence

Below: the final screw to finish the Old Mill buck rail enclosure project

Old Mill photos by Wayne Parkinson

MARMOT MESSENGER 21

Volunteer Highlights

TRAIL PROJECTS

The trails team is currently working on signage, location of

signs and designating distances of trails for signs. The group

has also been constructing two new trails, including the

climber access trail at Staunton Rocks and Falls Overlook

Trail

More project days are in the works for this fall and next

spring. The group is asking for volunteer help for these

projects, according to Gary Sims, coordinator.

MARMOT MESSENGER 22

Volunteer Highlights

WILDLIFE AND PLANTS

Plant list development has continued and the latest information installed on the computer at Boyd House. The library has

references for volunteer use, according to coordinator Jack Darnell.

The Darnells and Carol Phelps had made trips with biologist Mark Beardsley to mimulus gemmiparus sites. Activities in this

area will continue next summer.

Team activities are shifting to training for interpretation in preparation for the opening of the park in the spring. One plan

includes development of a pocket-sized common plant handbook for volunteers. Digital pictures of common plants

especially taken by staff and volunteers are being requested. A folder for storing these pictures could be stored at Boyd

House.

Training could take several forms. All park interpreters will need to have an introductory familiarity with common plants

visitors will see. This training will include lectures paired with field training when plants are visible and snow is minimal.

Team members are needed to help with the education program. All efforts are welcomed and appreciated.

Example from the plant list which includes web links to various plant information and photos

Boykinia (Telesonix jamesii)

MARMOT MESSENGER 23

Friends of Staunton State Park

Friends of Staunton State Park was created this year as a

supportive organization which raises funds through various

activities.

The organization’s mission is to “support and promote

Staunton State Park by raising funds to preserve and enhance

the park’s natural and recreational resources, protect its

boundaries, increase public awareness and enhance

educational and interpretive activities.”

Currently, the group is working with an attorney and board

member Fred Wells to complete a legal structure, according

to member Susan Festag.

“We have approved Articles of Incorporation and an

attachment to those Articles that Fred will soon be filing with

the Secretary of State’s office to establish Friends as a

Colorado nonprofit corporation,” Festag said. “Once we are

officially incorporated, we will hold a meeting to approve the

bylaws already drafted and select initial officers for the

corporation,” she said.

Once this process is complete, Friends can file IRS form

1023 to request tax-exempt status, so tax-deductible

donations can be accepted.

Until this status is achieved. The group is operating under the

“umbrella” of Friends of Colorado State Parks, so tax-

deductible donations can be made to benefit the park.

Park manager Jen Anderson is gathering a list of needs the

organization can help alleviate. She will also collect

donations and forward them to Festag.

Festag and park volunteer Sally Parkinson created and

completed a calendar project that has been widely successful

in producing funds. The two reviewed hundreds of photos of

the park, taken from a variety of photographers, mostly

volunteers, to select a final group. Jen reviewed the final

selection and the three chose those pictures depicting the

“key features of the park.”

The photos were used to make up a 2013 park calendar and

were originally to be sold at the Conifer Neighbors and

Newcomers Boutique in October. “Incredibly, we sold 65 of

the 100 calendars (that were printed) at the October volunteer

meeting,” Festag said.

Because of a miscommunication, the remaining calendars

were not on sale at the CNN Boutique, but the group hopes to

sell the rest “at smaller neighborhood locations.”

Festag said information for photo locations and

photographers are found in a calendar insert. Anyone

wanting a calendar can purchase them for $15 by contacting

Festag at kpfestag@wispertel.net or by calling her at 303-

816-1348.

Note cards with some calendar pictures have been ordered

and will also be available for sale. Festag said no price has

been set yet, but interested buyers can contact her for more

information.

Another project benefiting Friends has been the sale of

firewood from the park. A truck load cost $35. Volunteer

Gary Finely was in charge of this fundraiser.

Current members of Friends include Festag, Kevin Derks,

Wayne Parkinson, Peter Petlak and Fred Wells. The group is

looking for more members and especially need individuals

with skills in the areas of accounting/finance, website

development and updates, marketing and social media and

those with contacts in local businesses.

To make a tax-deductible donation, send a check made out to

Friends of Colorado State Parks and send to:

Friends of Staunton State Park

C/O Staunton State Park

11559 Upper Ranch Drive

Pine, CO 80470

Good job by Ed Samberg and Jack Gunn in installing new

fans with lights in the ceiling of the Boyd house meeting

room. No more huddling under a dim light and squinting at

material by the Friends group during their evening

meetings. The small construction team is also been working

on renovations to the bathroom in the Elk Falls cabin

MARMOT MESSENGER 24

Getting to Know You

Jack and Deborah Darnell

California natives Jack and Deborah Darnell have a

long history of volunteer service and are happy to

join the fellowship of Staunton State Park volunteers.

The couple, co-coordinators of the Wildlife and

Plants team, met while students at Santa Clara

University in California and were married in the

historic Mission Church on the campus. They moved

to Berkeley where Jack completed a masters degree

and later began work at an international

engineering/construction company in San Francisco.

Deborah earned a degree in sociology and spent a

year studying in Rome and traveling in Europe.

The couple has two children, Christine and Brian.

Deborah was a “home-based” mom who eventually

returned to school to earn a graduate degree in

learning disabilities so she could “better care” for her

son. After her return to college, she took botany

classes and became a docent at the UC Berkeley

Botanical Garden. Eventually, she was hired as the

employee of the Friend’s organization there and

served for eight years.

Deborah “developed skill in plant identification” with

other volunteers and staff and hiking and camping

throughout the West with her family and through

“interaction with kids in their school programs.”

Jack is a mechanical engineer working in the electric

power industry. He has worked to design power

plants in a variety of energy sources including coal,

nuclear, natural gas, oil, geothermal, hydroelectric,

solar, wind, biomass and energy storage.

“I served as chief mechanical engineer and was the

U.S. representative to an international committee on

renewable energy resources,” he said.

Jack has also worked for the National Renewable

Energy Laboratory in Golden and was a member of

the Laboratory Management Team there. Currently,

he works part time as an engineer for a company in

Denver. He is interested in the impact of global

warming on the environment.

Jack and Deborah are serious and long-time

volunteers. Jack has enjoyed working with Habitat

for Humanity and also has built wheel chair ramps at

the Senior Resource Center. He has volunteered as a

park patroller at Jeffco Open Spaces and worked at

Chatfield State Park.

“I enjoy working with my hands, giving back to the

community,” he said.

Photos courtesy of Jack and Deborah Darnell

MARMOT MESSENGER 25

Getting to Know You (Jack and Deborah Darnell)

Deborah previously volunteered her time by working

in administrative services for National Geographic,

Lupus Foundation and the American Speech,

Language, Hearing Association in Maryland, where

the couple lived for five years.

Since moving to Colorado, Deborah said she is

fortunate to be involved with the Rock Garden

convention and has learned from “notable experts” in

Colorado flora such as Lorraine Yeattes, William

Weber and Pam Irwin. She has also worked at

Roxborough State Park as a volunteer.

However, after being bitten by a rattlesnake while

leading a refresher hike for volunteers at

Roxborough, “I have cut back my time there and

Staunton State Park became a new opportunity,” she

said.

Deborah says her passion is alpine plants and has

worked as a summer volunteer tour guide for hikes

sponsored by Denver Botanical Gardens on Mount

Evans. This opportunity led to training and a

leadership role she received through Colorado

Natural Areas Program Lead.

Jack said he hopes to spend more time volunteering

and “has helped Deborah with plant activities

including “monitoring populations of rare orchids

and leading alpine wildflower hikes.” He said he is

more of a nature lover than plant specialist, but has

learned much by Deborah’s quizzing on plant

identification during their hikes.

The couple has high hopes for the park and their part

in it. Deborah said she wants to “interpret to fellow

volunteers and the public the incredible plant life (at

SSP).” She said her best memory so far is “seeing

telesonix jamesii (an imperiled plant species)

growing in a natural setting.”

Jack hopes to help develop resources data “beyond

what has been gathered by numerous studies over the

past two decades.” He wants to organize this data for

use by staff and volunteers and continue efforts to

develop a comprehensive plant list (the couple has

already added about 40 species from their hikes) for

the park.

Together, Jack and Deborah would like to use their

many hours of study, knowledge and skills to train

volunteers and “participate in construction and

outdoor projects as time and energy permits.”

MARMOT MESSENGER 26

Announcements

Volunteer Team Coordinators

Staunton State Park Staff

Monthly Volunteer Meetings

January 12 9 a.m.

February 9 9 a.m.

Friends Meetings 3rd

Tuesday 6:30 p.m. Boyd House

Remember: All volunteer activities are listed on the on-line calendar

www.stauntonpark.com

Education Team: Pam Little – pklittle27@yahoo.com

Fencing Team: Susan Festag – kpfestag@wispertel.net

Fire Mitigation Team: Scott Aaronson – sea_b5@yahoo.com

Newsletter Team: Nancy Coburn – peakbagger1@wispertel.net

Small Construction Team: Sue Ann Vollmar – sueann@idcomm.com

Trails Team: Gary Sims – simsgry@comcast.net

Steve Sparer – ssparer@wispertel.net

Wildlife and Plants Team: Jack Darnell – jackrdarnell@earthlink.net

Deborah Darnell – deborah_darnell@yahoo.com

Mary Gulash – mkgulash@gmail.com

Richard Prickett – cyclevetd@yahoo.com

Jen Anderson Park Manager

Colin Chisholm Park Ranger

Newsletter Team:

Nancy Coburn

Lizzy Hammon

Donna Zimmerly

Elaine Rideout

Marmot mascot designer:

Meagan Webber

Special Thanks to Jen Anderson

ww.parks.state.co.us

www.wildlife.state.co.us