Category Archives: Uncategorized

July 2024 Trail Night

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

May 2024 Trail Night

Thursday, May 9th 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): June 13, July 11, 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.

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

April 2024 Trail Night

Thursday, April 11th at 5:00 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): May 9, June 13, July 11, 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.

Just to let you know, all participants will need to sign a waiver before beginning any trail work.

Thanks, and we hope to see you out there!

FOMP

FOMP March 2024 BOD Meeting

FOMP BOD Meeting

FOMP is pleased to announce our March 2024 Board Meeting/Celebration

Meeting Time:
Tuesday, Mar 12th at 6:00 PM

Meeting at the Trails End Taproom Monument 252 Front St.
Monument, CO 80132

Come out and celebrate and meet with the FOMP BOD, our volunteers, and our partners at the Tap Room.

Thanks

FOMP BOD

USDA Forest Service Integrated Management of Target Shooting on the Pike National Forest Update

We have included the information below, though you can refer to the actual document here:

IMTS Extended Scoping Period cover letter signed.pdf

Dear Interested Party,

The Forest Service is seeking comments on the revised Integrated Management of Target Shooting on the Pike National Forest Project. The revised Integrated Management of Target Shooting proposed action addresses the need to provide opportunities for target shooting on National Forest System lands, to identify areas unsuitable for dispersed target shooting, to identify locations to be developed as shooting ranges, and to establish a conditions-based adaptive management framework to manage target shooting in the future.

Dispersed target shooting — where forest visitors set up targets and practice shooting in an undesignated, undeveloped location — is a legal use of National Forest System lands that increased in popularity over the past decade. Unfortunately, the number of forest visitors who shoot in an unsafe manner has also increased. These activities have resulted in increasing levels of resource damage, shooting-related wildfires, injuries, and at least one fatality.

The Forest Service has developed three alternatives which include: the no action alternative, where no changes would be made in the management of target shooting activities; the proposed action, which would identify and close areas unsuitable for dispersed target shooting activities, develop at least one shooting range on each ranger district (meaning a minimum of three shooting ranges, nine potential sites identified), and define an adaptive management framework to manage target shooting in the future; and a reduced-closure alternative, which is the same as the proposed action but would close a smaller amount of area to target shooting. The project will not affect legal hunting activities.

The revised proposed action and added alternative, with some preliminary analyses, are available for review on the project website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=57807. To obtain a hard copy of the documents, please contact Jennifer DeWoody, NEPA Planner, at (970) 568-2692 or via email at jennifer.dewoody@usda.gov.

How to Comment and Timeframe

Comments concerning the changes to the project are being requested as part of the extended scoping period. Comments should be received by December 28, 2023 to be fully considered in the project analysis. Individuals and organizations wishing to be eligible to object must meet the information requirements of 36 CFR 218.25, including specific written comments as defined in 218.2 regarding the proposed project, along with supporting reasons (218.25 (a)(3)(iii)). Individuals or representatives of an entity submitting timely and specific written comments regarding this project must either sign the comments or verify identity upon request (218.24(b)(8)). All written comments received by the responsible official become a matter of public record (218.25(b)(2)).

Comments may be submitted electronically by visiting the project webpage and clicking the link “Comment/Object on the Project”. Please follow instructions carefully. Alternatively, comments may be mailed to: Target Shooting Project, Attn: Jennifer DeWoody, 601 South Weber Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80903; delivered to the address shown above during business hours (M-F 8:00am to 4:30pm); or submitted by FAX (719) 477-4233. For additional information, please contact Jennifer DeWoody, NEPA Planner, 601 S. Weber St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903, by phone at (970) 568-2692, or via email jennifer.dewoody@usda.gov.

Thank you for your interest in the management of National Forest System lands.

Sincerely,
JASON D. ROBERTSON
Acting, Forest & Grassland Supervisor

November 2023 BOD Meeting

FOMP BOD Meeting/Celebration

FOMP is pleased to announce our November 2023 Board Meeting/Celebration

Meeting Time:
Tuesday, Nov 14h at 7:00 PM

Meeting at the Trails End Taproom Monument 252 Front St.
Monument, CO 80132

Thanks to everyone who helped out this past season during our trail nights.

We are super proud of what we accomplished in a tough year.

Come out and Celebrate with the FOMP BOD, our volunteers, and our partners at the Tap Room.