HAPPENINGS AT TWO PONDS

Public Activities

When Two Ponds was threatened by development, many neighbors and their friends saw the potential of this area as an outdoor educational and recreational center for Arvada. After spending several years laying the foundation, Two Ponds is finally emerging as such a center. During this past year, over 900 students and residents visited Two Ponds, almost three times the usage of the previous years. Expect this number to increase as more groups discover this wonderful asset in the center of Arvada.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife kicked off its Wonders in Nature/Wonders in Neighborhoods (WIN-WIN) Program on September 29th. Staff from the Colorado Wildlife Federation facilitated this program for 60 students and 5 adults. North Jeffco also began offering bird and nature walk programs at the Refuge. These programs are announced in the North Jeffco Activities Guide.

Both Swanson and Warder Elementary Schools conducted educational classes at Two Ponds. On September 24th and 25th, 118 students and 24 adults from Swanson Elementary participated in these outdoor learning experiences. Warder Elementary also had the same number of students and adults participating in its two-day program at Two Ponds. The curriculum used for these classes was based on the program developed by Dudley Weiland of Peck Elementary.

During 1997 there were seven tours and one open house. The open house was held on May 17th and over 280 people attended. The second open house scheduled for October 25th was canceled due to a snowstorm. The next open house is tentatively scheduled for May 23. Details will be posted in early May near the Refuge entrance along 80th Avenue.

During this past summer, the US Fish and Wildlife Service marked and mowed hiking trails. The Service estimated 1,500 public visitors used these trails this past year. This estimate does not include use of the Canal Service roads passing through the Refuge. The trails south of Lutheran Medical Center are open to the public seven days a week from dawn to dusk. The trails can be entered along West 77th Drive, and from the Lutheran parking lot. The trails on the east side of the Refuge are opened to the public on a limited reservation basis.

Volunteers

In 1997 1,581 hours of service were provided by volunteers. This represents a five-fold increase from the previous year. In April and May, ten participants from the AmeriCorps Program provided over 1,000 hours of volunteer support. Their efforts resulted in four pedestrian foot bridges and a stairway from the Farmers Highline service road to the irrigation control structure. Other volunteers performed cleanup activities, conducted wildlife surveys, assisted in educational programs, provided support for the open house, and conducted tours. If you would like to become a Refuge Volunteer, contact David Jamiel of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, at (303)289-0471.

Scout Projects

Two Eagle Scout Awards were earned with Two Ponds projects. One project involved building a foot bridge across an irrigation lateral. The other project consisted of installing signs along the trails within the Refuge.

Earth Day Celebration/Arvada Pride Day

Volunteers celebrated Earth Day 1997 and Arvada Pride Day with a general cleanup of the Refuge in May. Afterwards, the volunteers were treated to a free lunch, courtesy of the City of Arvada. If you would like to participate in the celebration this spring, contact David Jamiel at (303)289-0471. Arvada Pride Day is currently scheduled for May 9th.

MASTER PLAN

After many, many reviews, the Comprehensive Management Plan was finally approved by Terry Terrel, Deputy Regional Director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The stated mission of the Refuge is to protect and enhance urban wildlife habitat and provide opportunities for environmental education. Community support is considered essential for the successful implementation of the management plan. Copies of the management plan can be obtained by calling David Jamiel at (303)287-0417.

GRANTS

The US Fish and Wildlife Service received a grant of $6,350 in late 1996 from Great Outdoors Colorado. This grant was used to construct an entry gate/kiosk along 80th Avenue. The City of Arvada administered the grant and also contributed $1,000 to the project. Private donors providing matching funds included the Two Ponds Preservation Foundation, Personal Benefits Services, Mr. and Mrs. J.K. Kalkhorst, and University Physicians. The entry gate was built by Mike Garner of Garner Homes.

THANK YOU

Many thanks to Congressman David Skaggs who has, from the very beginning, supported the Foundation's efforts to preserve Two Ponds and create an outdoor educational center. We would not have Two Ponds if it were not for Congressman Skaggs' assistance and commitment to his constituents.

Thanks also to the City of Arvada for their help with building the entry gate/kiosk. Two Ponds would not have been able to apply for the GOCO grant if the City had not agreed to partner with the Service and to manage the grant. Thanks also for the $1,000 donation.

David Jamiel, the Park Ranger assigned to Two Ponds, also deserves a thank you from all of us. His enthusiasm for Two Ponds is unmatched. All of the improvements to the Refuge can be credited to Dave's hard work and dedication to Two Ponds.

Many thanks to our corporate donor: Hugh M. Woods.

 

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT While Two Ponds has served as a refuge for wildlife for many years, this past year especially demonstrated the value of Two Ponds as an outdoor education center. Some of our local schools have incorporated lessons at Two Ponds into their environmental curriculum, North Jeffco offered bird and nature programs, several groups participated in tours emphasizing wetlands and urban wildlife, and many local residents enjoyed hiking the trails. Because usage will continue to increase as more people learn about this terrific asset located in Arvada, we all must work harder to make the improvements needed to accommodate this increased usage. Our next challenge is to raise funds for building a parking lot large enough for school buses. To learn how you can help, please come to our annual meeting. It will be on Wednesday, March 11, 6:30 PM at the Standley Lake Library, 8485 Kipling, Arvada. Give something to your community and become part of this exciting challenge. Thank you for all your past support and interest in Two Ponds, and remember: "We have not inherited the Earth from our ancestors, but we are borrowing it from our children." John M. Kalkhorst