Author Archives: gram

October 2024 Trail Night

Thursday, October 10th at 5:00 PM (One Hour Earlier)

FOMP is pleased to be holding one of our monthly volunteer trail work maintenance sessions for 2024. 

Please meet at the intersection of Schilling Ave & Lindbergh Rd https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ugt5YoSt9W7Tvhgm8

Check the website too! http://www.fomp.org

FOMP provides all the necessary tools for the rest of your needed info. Volunteers should wear appropriate clothing for outdoor landscaping work, such as long pants and sturdy shoes. They should also bring leather gloves, a hat, a personal water supply, eye protection, sunscreen, and bug repellent. We meet rain or shine unless there is lightning active in the area.

We make every effort to accommodate volunteer preferences and abilities at each event. Generally, we perform water bar building or renovation, trail renovation, maintenance, trimming, etc., so everything from trimming back scrub oak or digging lots of dirt to moving boulders. We assign duties based on interests and capabilities. Kids are welcome to join their parents; however, we ask that you evaluate whether this activity is appropriate for your child.

All participants will need to sign a waiver before beginning any trail work.

Thanks, and we hope to see you out there!

FOMP

Trail Love Dig Date for Forest Lakes – Sept 28th

Medicine Wheel & Friends of Monument Preserve


Trail Love Dig Date on NEW trail at Forest Lakes on September 28th from 9:00 to 2:30 p.m.

This new multi-use trail has fun biking options. It is adjacent to the US Forest Service and Mt. Hermann trails and is connected by a trail to the Santa Fe regional trail. This work will include corridor clearing, tread construction and prep, and fine-tuning. Celebrate National Public Lands Day by building a trail for public use at Forest Lakes!

Please prepare for Colorado weather, including sun, rain, and wind. Long pants and sturdy shoes are recommended. Tools and instructions will be provided.

Where: Forest Lakes-Mt. Herman Area
5305 Mesa Top Road
Monument, CO
When: Saturday, Sept 28th, 9:00 am – 2:30 pm

Register for these Trail Love Dig Day events here: Forest Lakes Trail Love Dig Day Registration Sept 28th, or scan the QR code on the poster attached to this email.

September 2024 Trail Night

Thursday, September 12th at 6:00 PM

FOMP is pleased to be holding one of our monthly volunteer trail work maintenance sessions for 2024. 

Note: If there is interest, we may have a minor team perform noxious weed clearing. 

Please meet at the main parking lot at Red Rocks Road parking lot https://goo.gl/maps/rdJuhbbQWEx

Check the website too! http://www.fomp.org

FOMP provides all the necessary tools for the rest of your needed info. Volunteers should wear appropriate clothing for outdoor landscaping work, such as long pants and sturdy shoes. They should also bring leather gloves, a hat, a personal water supply, eye protection, sunscreen, and bug repellent. We meet rain or shine unless there is lightning active in the area.

We make every effort to accommodate volunteer preferences and abilities at each event. Generally, we perform water bar building or renovation, trail renovation, maintenance, trimming, etc. So, everything from trimming back scrub oak or digging lots of dirt to moving boulders. We assign duties based on interests and capabilities. Kids are welcome to join their parents; however, we ask that you evaluate whether this is an appropriate activity for your child.

All participants will need to sign a waiver before beginning any trail work.

Thanks, and we hope to see you out there!

FOMP

Trail Love Dig Date for Forest Lakes

Medicine Wheel & Friends of Monument Preserve

To show your love for the trails that heal you, sign up for Trail Love at Forest Lakes (on the southwest corner of Monument) on September 5th from 8:30 to 2 p.m.We will hand-finish the newly constructed tread, build rock features, and clear an additional corridor for the next phase.

Please prepare for Colorado weather, including sun, rain, and wind. Long pants and sturdy shoes are recommended. Tools and instructions will be provided.

Where: Forest Lakes-Mt. Herman Area
5205 Mesa Top Road
Monument, CO
When: Thursday Sept 5th, 8:30 am – 2 pm

Register for these Trail Love Dig Day events here: Forest Lakes Trail Love Dig Day Registration Sept 5th, or scan the QR code on the poster attached to this email.

August 2024 Trail Night


 
Thursday, August 8th at 6:00 PM

FOMP is pleased to be holding one of our monthly volunteer trail work maintenance sessions for 2024.

Note: We have moved our trail nights from Tuesday to Thursday. 
2024  FOMP work night schedule (2nd Thursday of each month):  September 12 and October 10.

Different location for meeting spot – Please meet at the main parking lot at Red Rocks Road parking lot https://goo.gl/maps/rdJuhbbQWEx

Check the website too! http://www.fomp.org

For the rest of the info you need, FOMP and USFS provide all the necessary tools. Volunteers should wear appropriate clothing for performing outdoor landscaping work, such as long pants and sturdy shoes. They should also bring leather gloves, a hat, a personal water supply, eye protection, sunscreen, and bug repellent. We meet rain or shine unless there is lightning active in the area.We make every effort to accommodate volunteer preferences and abilities at each event. Generally, we perform water bar building or renovation, trail renovation, maintenance, trimming, etc. So, everything from trimming back scrub oak or digging lots of dirt to moving boulders. We assign duties based on interests and capabilities. Kids are welcome to join their parents; however, we do ask that you evaluate whether this is an appropriate activity for your child or not.All participants will need to sign a waiver before beginning any trail work.Thanks, and we hope to see you out there!

FOMP

July 2024 Trail Night


 
Thursday, July 11th at 6:00 PM

FOMP is pleased to be holding one of our monthly volunteer trail work maintenance sessions for 2024.

Note: We have moved our trail nights from Tuesday to Thursday. 
2024  FOMP work night schedule (2nd Thursday of each month):  August 8, September 12, and October 10.

Different location for meeting spot – Please meet at the main parking lot at Red Rocks Road parking lot https://goo.gl/maps/rdJuhbbQWEx

Check the website too! http://www.fomp.org

For the rest of the info you need, FOMP and USFS provide all the necessary tools. Volunteers should wear appropriate clothing for performing outdoor landscaping work, such as long pants and sturdy shoes. They should also bring leather gloves, a hat, a personal water supply, eye protection, sunscreen, and bug repellent. We meet rain or shine unless there is lightning active in the area
July 2024 Trail Nih

Monument Fire Center Prescribed Burn and Closure Orders

A closure order has been put into place for the Monument Fire Center. The map below shows the area closure as well as the closure of Mt Herman Road from just east of the 320A intersection all the way to Sunburst Rd. This closure will be in place from now (6/11/24) until 8 a.m. on June 15th. The Area closure for Monument Fire Center, which includes all trails and access to the Fire Center, will be closed until June 21 at 4PM.

The weather conditions are ideal for ignitions tomorrow (6/12), and the public can expect to see smoke in the area west of Monument. Please do not call 911 if you see this smoke. All additional updates will be posted at https://www.facebook.com/PSICCNF and on X (formerly Twitter) at https://x.com/PSICC_NF.

Here is the Order number:

Canceling June Work Night due to upcoming USFS Prescribed fire at Monument Fire Center

We have been informed that the Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands Pikes Peak Ranger District will conduct a prescribed fire at Monument Fire Center on June 11, 12, and 13.   
 
Ignitions are weather-dependent and expected to occur over three days at Memorial Grove, Monument Rock, and the Mt. Herman trailhead. 

The planned project is approximately 1000 acres broken into three different units to be treated one at a time.

Once Ignition starts, the entire Monument Fire Center and trails will be closed to all. 

We will send along an update and more information when we get confirmation.

Thanks,

FOMP 

FAQ – from the USFS

Q. Why was Monument Fire Center chosen for treatment?

A. The prescribed fire on the grounds of the Monument Fire Center is a continuation of an ongoing project (2021-2023) that has included mechanical thinning, mastication, and pile burning. The project is part of a much bigger picture called the National Wildfire Crisis Strategy, and the Colorado Front Range Landscape was chosen as part of this national strategy.

Q. What is the Wildfire Crisis Strategy?

A. The Wildfire Crisis Strategy identifies the highest-risk fire sheds, those most capable of generating large wildfire disasters, and the highest risk of community exposure to wildfires. To protect the communities and natural resources in these high-risk areas, we need to restore healthy, resilient, fire-adapted forests by using mechanical thinning and returning beneficial fire in these landscapes. The US Forest Service has committed itself to increasing forest treatments up to four times historic levels under the 10-year strategy.

Q. What is the Colorado Front Range Landscape?

A. The Colorado Front Range Landscape encompasses 3.5 million acres stretching from the Wyoming border south to Hwy 50 near Penrose, CO. The Colorado Front Range project focuses on cross-jurisdictional, strategically important fuel treatments and will maximize collaboration with communities and partners to prevent devastating wildfires throughout the high-risk Front Range.

Q. Why doesn’t the USFS focus more on preventing wildfires rather than masticating/burning?

A. The project is intended to manage a fire-dependent ecosystem. Reducing the existing fuel loading is imperative to reducing the risk of natural and human-caused catastrophic wildfires. Banning campfires is a much different issue, and the Pikes Peak Ranger District continues to work on ways to educate the public and reduce the risk of unwanted human-caused fires.

Q What is going to happen to the trails inside the treatment units?

A. There might be some minimal damage and debris on the trail system. This is expected and something that will be able to be cleaned up and maintained.

Q. Will there be closures in the area during the prescribed fire?

A. Yes, there will be road and trail closures during the operations. Road closures will be intermittent and will be done to keep firefighters and the public safe while there is fire, firefighters, and equipment on the road. The US Forest Service will be working with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office and other local agencies for these closures. Trail closures will take a little longer than road closures. The trail closures will be included in the closure of the units a few days prior to ignition and a few days after ignition until the burn boss deems it safe to return back into the area. There will be signs posted with current information and closure status. You can also find the closure announcements on our X (formerly Twitter) page at @PSICC_NF. We ask that you stay away from these areas during these closures for your own safety.

Q. Are there plans for possible escape from this prescribed fire?

A. While there is no anticipation of this burn escaping the control lines, we are prepared to take action if it does. Your local fire department will be on scene with us during the firing operation and will also have units available to assist if needed. The El Paso County Health Department contacts other local agencies, such as the Humane Society, which we work with to manage smoke impacts.

Palmer Lake Historical Society – Monument Nursery Book Launch & Presentation

Palmer Lake Historical Society Presents:

Introducing our newest publication, The U.S. Forest Service Monument Nursery, published by the Palmer Lake Historical Society in 1907-1965 by author Dan Edwards.

Where: Palmer Lake Town Hall
When: Thursday, June 6th. Book Launch 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm- (Doors open at 6:30 pm)


Did you know that the U.S. Forest Service raised millions of trees at Monument, Colorado, for planting in the Rocky Mountain West?

We thank Dan for his hard work researching and writing this exciting book about the Monument’s work for almost sixty years by dedicated federal employees of the U.S. Forest Service.

Please join the Palmer Lake Historical Society (PLHS) and enjoy a presentation by author Dan Edwards, who will give an illustrative talk about the history of the Monument Nursery and share the story of why the book was written. Open to the public.

Stay afterward for light refreshments and socializing.

The Palmer Lake Historical Society, publisher, is an educational 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving the Palmer Divide area since 1956.

Books will be available for sale through the Lucretia Vaile Museum, Covered Treasures bookstore in Monument and at these “Book Launch” programs and events.

USFS Prescribed fire planned at Monument Fire Center


 
Press Release

Colorado Springs, Colo., May 17, 2024
— The Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands Pikes Peak Ranger District is preparing to conduct a prescribed fire at Monument Fire Center, 1.5 miles west of Monument, Colo., in June 2024.  
 
Ignitions are weather dependent and are expected to take place over three days at Memorial Grove, Monument Rock and the Mt. Herman trailhead. Once the prescribed fire begins, smoke may be present for several days or weeks in the general project area. Prescribed fire smoke may affect your health; please go to https://cdphe.colorado.gov/wood-smoke-and-your-health for additional information.
 
The purpose of the project is to utilize prescribed fire to reduce surface fuel loads and to restore ecosystem health on up to 1,000 acres. Objectives include reducing the amount of pine needles, leaves, small branches, and oak brush, as well as reducing woody debris left over from earlier stages of the project.

Historically, low-elevation Ponderosa Pine ecosystems such as those at Monument, are estimated to have burned every 10 years. Prescribed fire will help mimic the natural fire regime and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire.
 
The Monument Fire Center project is part of an ongoing, collaborative restoration project developed with partners including the Colorado Forest Restoration Institute, The Nature Conservancy, and neighbors. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service has been working with the Monument Fire Department, the mayors of Monument and Palmer Lake, and the El Paso County Health Department to share information about this project. The Forest Service has also been communicating with adjacent homeowner associations including Red Rock Ranch, Mt. Herman Road, Shilo Pines and Forest View.
 
Many organizations have helped prepare for this project, including Team Rubicon, Friends of Monument, El Paso County Wildland Support Module, Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control Tava Module, Pike Interagency Hotshot Crew, The Nature Conservancy, Module 9, and Tatanka Hotshots.
 
Updates on the project will be posted on Facebook and X (formerly twitter) @PSICC_NF.

Media Contact: Shawna Graves
719-466-9122
shawna.graves@usda.gov
https://www.fs.usda.gov/psicc