In December, Scout Kris Enger constructed a 3-foot wide trail through the Prairie Garden just inside the 80th Avenue Kiosk. The trails approximately 100 feet long and is constructed of treated timber curbing with a 4” crusher fine surface. Twenty-two volunteers contributed 116 hours of service on this project.

Justin Packer is in the process of building a stairway that connects the sidewalk along Kipling Street with the trail that parallels the north loop of the Church Ditch. This in turn connects to the main trail. The stairway is made of treated timbers and crusher fines. It will allow visitors to access the Refuge trail system instead of walking down a steep and sometimes muddy slope. Justin is scheduled to complete the project by mid-February. More than 20 people have already given more than 60 hours of service towards the project.

ANNUAL MEETING

The Foundation will hold its annual meeting March 25th at the Standley Lake Library, 8485 Kipling St., Arvada. The reception will start at 6:30 pm, followed by a short business meeting and election of the new Board of Directors.

The guest speaker for the evening will be Mike Brogan, Colorado Wildlife Federation. Mike is a longtime volunteer at Two Ponds NWR, and spearheads the bulk of the environmental education activities at the refuge.

WHO IS THIS NEW GUY TAKING CARE OF TWO PONDS?

My name is Vic Elam an I am a Supervisory Refuge Operations Specialist at Rocky Mountain Arsenal, and I have been appointed to manage Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). I was raised in Missouri at the interface of a number of differing ecosystems including the Mississippi River Delta and Ozark Mountains. I decided to go to college after four years of being convinced by the real world that I needed a college education. I earned a B.S. in Wildlife Management from Arkansas State University. Throughout college I worked summers at Madison Wetland Management District in South dakota nd ar Arapaho NWR in Colorado. Since I graduated from college in 1988, I have worked at Long Lake NWR in North dakota, Lacreek NWR in South dakota, Santa Ana NWR in Texas, Big Lake NWR in Arkansas, as well as a return visit to Madison Wetland District in SD. I have endured three months of Law Enforcement Training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, and currently enforce the law at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR and Two Ponds. I also worked for a contractor for the National Marine Fisheries Service collecting biological data from deep sea fishing boats in Alaska.

I have worn many hats throughout my career. I have chased Trumpeter Swans with an airboat, caught and banded them. I have worked in the Partners for Wildlife program, restoring or creating 26 wetlands in one year, restored cropland to native prairie and set up rotational grazing systems all on privately owned land utilizing grant money and money donated by non-government organizations. I have planted thousands of trees, trapped and relocated fish, conducted prescribed burns on grasslands, conducted numerous wildlife surveys, planted food plots, and much more.

I enjoy backpacking, skiing, hunting, fishing, climbing 14ers, white-water rafting and much more, and I don’t know of any better place to do those things than right here in Colorado. But, best of all, I like my job and enjoy working with groups such as the Two Ponds Preservation Foundation who share my enthusiasm for the protection and enhancement of natural places and the wildlife found there. I look forward to getting to know all of you.

TWO PONDS NAMESAKE

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, along with everyone in the West, is concerned with the drought in the western United States. The Refuge System has thousands of acres in six Colorado refuges that it manages. These refuges have been impacted by the drought in much the same way as the other public lands and the cities in the state. As responsible members of our community, we are committed to doing our part to conserve water.

The water resources at Two ponds National Wildlife Refuge consist primarily of three small ponds that contain fish and aquatic invertebrates, and are used by waterfowl and mammals. Like other impoundments along the Front Range, the drought has affected the water levels of these ponds. This lowering of the water level has both benefits and drawbacks.

The warm water fish species that are present have established a climax community relationship and are maintaining a stable population. In small impoundments, fish have a tendency to produce a large number of smaller fish. Lower water levels and warmer temperatures will often stress the fish and reduce reproduction by reducing the population. This allows the stronger individuals to survive, producing a healthier population.

Normal weather cycles of dry and wet years allow water levels in bodies of water to rise and fall, giving Mother Nature a check and balance with shoreline maintenance. The lowering of the water level can prevent overgrowth of vegetation on the shoreline allowing other plant species that had been crowded out to take advantage of exposed ground. As the water recedes, the aquatic vegetation dies back leaving organic material for the aquatic invertebrates to utilize. These insects are also exposed to wading birds that feed on them.

The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge System conserves over 92 million acres across the United States for the protection of wildlife and the enjoyment of the American public. The Service, through these refuges, assists nature all we can, but we also allow natural processes to occur. At this time, the Service doesn’t plan on taking any extensive measures with the ponds at Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge, but we will continue to monitor the water levels, and if conditions worsen, determine the appropriate course of action if any is needed.

PRAIRIE RESTORATION AT TWO PONDS NWR

Smooth Brome is an exotic grass, imported from Europe that has been planted in or has invaded a great portion of grasslands throughout the U.S. including those at Two Ponds. Other exotic grasses and forbs can be found at Two Ponds to its native state will benefit animals native to the area, can better serve as an environmental education resource, and will better represent the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is planning to restore the native prairie on the Western portion of Two Ponds NWR. An innovative new technique will be used, which will be used, which is much less intrusive than typical restoration techniques. If everything goes as planned, the western area will be mowed this winter or early spring. When the Smooth Brome grass starts growing in the spring it will be sprayed with a herbicide to try to kill all of the Brome (Brome is a very competitive grass and if it is not controlled it will choke out the native grasses). If necessary, the area will be sprayed again later in the year to assure good control of the Brome grass. The area will be lightly disked to loosen the surface soil just enough to allow the grass seed to penetrate. The seed will then be spread on top of a wet 2-5” snow. Mother Nature’s assistance will be required. The snow will act to hold the seed in place and as it melts will pull the seed down into the soil. Spot spraying for undesirable weeds will likely be required the following year or two.

This restoration technique is experimental in this area, although it has been proven effective in other Great Plains states. This technique was selected because of the unique location of Two Ponds, surrounded by a residential area.

YES - YOU DID MAKE A DIFFERENCE

It has been almost three years since the Foundation launched its BRICKS FOR BRIDGES fund-raising campaign in April 2000. This was the Foundation’s first major effort to reach out to the community and plea for help to complete the Refuge development and environmental education plans. Specifically, the goal was to raise sufficient private funds “to leverage additional grant monies for construction of a pavilion, two walking bridges over the canals, trails, and for educational materials used by schools at the Refuge” as the first phase projects.

During 2002, the Foundation raised $6,876.51 from private donations and sales and $22,363.89 in grants from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Colorado State Parks (GOCO Funds), and the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District. Additionally, and most important to securing the grants, was the in-kind contributions of time, talent, and resources donated by the City of Arvada, Mile High Youth Corps, National Wildlife Federation, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Sierra Elementary School, Home Depot, Majestic View Nature Center, the Eagle Scouts who chose Two Ponds for their Eagle Project, and the members and volunteers of the Two Ponds Preservations Foundation. Since 2002, all of the first phase projects mentioned earlier have been completed or are scheduled for completion in 2003 (the two pedestrian bridges), except for construction of the pavilion.

Total funds raised to date exceed $72,000. Without your help, none of this would have been possible.

Yes, indeed, YOU CAN AND DID MAKE A DIFFERENCE. NOW - DON’T FORGET TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP. THERE IS STILL LOTS TO BE DONE.

RANGER'S RAMBLINGS by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Refuge Officer, David Jamiel

Recently I was going through a box of old papers in preparation for my move to Elko, Nevada when I uncovered about twenty letters that were written to me while I was in the Army in 1966. The majority of the letters were from two young women that I dated in high school. Of course I had to sit down and read many of them which took me on a nostalgic journey, thirty plus years into my past.

The letters were filled with names, places and activities that I had not thought about in years. As I read, my mind was filled with images of these friends and places that brought wonderful and joyous memories. For more than an hour time stood still and those who wrote the letters were still 17 years old. As I look back on my life, I now realize how wonderful these two young women were to take the time to write me on a regular basis. I never realized what good friends they were. They were there when I needed the support of friends. They were the anchor to home and the assurance that it was still there and my Service to my Country had a purpose.

Today, as I prepare for my move, I find myself reflecting on another group of friends, those that I have worked with during my time with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Much like my friends of thirty years ago, those of you whom I have become acquainted with at Two Ponds and at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, have been there when I needed you. The many successes I’ve experienced at both places were due primarily because of the willingness of many fine people to give their time, money and talents to create programs and support to ideas that probably, at the time, seemed quite far out.

Perhaps thirty years from now I will be going through a box of papers and find old issues of “Ripples on the Pond.” Perhaps, I will stop, sit down and spend another hour or two reading them and reflecting on all of my friends and the wonderful things we did together at Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge and the Rocky Mountain Arsenal.

My fourteen years with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service here in Denver has been a period in my life of personal and professional growth. I have made many friends whom I will miss very much, and my life will never be the same because of my association with all of you.

Thank you all very much!

in December, Dave announced he had decided to take a position with the Bureau of Land Management in Elko, Nevada. Dave’s contribution to Two Ponds has been enormous. As Two Ponds’ first Refuge Officer, Dave is responsible for all that Two Ponds has become. The Foundation held a Farewell Party on January 10th and presented him with a plaque with the following inscription: “Thank you for all you have done for the Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge. Two Ponds is the treasure it is today because of your tireless efforts to provide our community with not only a viable wildlife refuge located in an urban setting, but also an excellent resource for environmental education. Your hard work will ensure that you continue to be a part of Two Ponds.

We know that your new journey will enrich others as you have enriched us with your dedication and inspiration. No matter where you are, you will always be considered our most valued asset. You will be missed.”

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION - LAST CALL FOR INFORMATION

The last issue of RIPPLES ON THE POND we requested your help in pulling together information to place in the time capsule commemorating the 100th birthday of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Refuges throughout the United States will celebrate the event by either burying or displaying a time capsule that will be reopened on the 200th birthday, or March 14, 2103. The items should be something related to Two Ponds NWR and be of interest to citizens one hundred years from now.

The Two Ponds NWR Centennial event will commence at 10:00 am next to the Middle Pond. The time capsule and historical items for the next time capsule will be on display. Representatives of key Refuge partners will present letters and additional materials to be placed in the time capsule at the ceremony. Refreshments will be served following the ceremony. Two Ponds Preservation members are invited to attend, however, you must RSVP by March 5th.