Shelf Road Recreation Area 2015 BLM Annual Report of Rocky Mountain Field Institute Stewardship

Under BLM Agreement L12AC20483 November 19, 2015

Summary Managed by the BLM Royal Gorge Field Office, Shelf Road is visited primarily for its world-class rock climbing and proximity to the Gold Belt Tour National Scenic Byway. Horseback riding, mountain biking, and OHV use are also popular in the area. Since 1991, Rocky Mountain Field Institute (RMFI) has led the effort at Shelf Road to link climbing areas, parking lots, and campgrounds via a network of properly constructed trails. Visitation numbers, recorded by BLM in 2008 at approximately 64,000 visitors, constituted a three-fold increase since 2005 and there is reason to believe that visitation has continued to grow in recent years. As user demand on facilities, access trails, and the surrounding natural resources of the recreation area have increased, the role for a primary stewardship organization has never been more important. RMFI continued its decades-long stewardship of Shelf Road Recreation Area in 2015, focusing work on high priority areas identified by RMFI and BLM staff on a 2011 site visit and on areas identified during follow-up site visits in 2015. Priority areas were selected for their potential impact to natural resources, level of use, safety, and accessibility. Over the calendar year 2015, RMFI lead or co-lead 4 stewardship work events. As detailed in an earlier Quarterly Report (July 23, 2015), RMFI has continued to assist a new Colorado Springs volunteer-based group, Pikes Peak Climbers Alliance (PPCA), in its establishment and capacity-building towards readiness to assume a primary stewardship role in partnership with the BLM of this recreation area; 2015 was the second year during which the two organizations co-organized and co-lead multiple stewardship work events. A Shelf Road user survey, developed and administered by RMFI between November 2014 and January 2015, obtained significant response. This response provided insight into user opinion concerning current and future usage, facilities demand, and management of the area. RMFI analyzed results of the survey and prepared a report for the BLM, which provided background for a 2015 proposal by the Royal Gorge Field Office to expand campgrounds, day-use parking, and restrooms serving the recreation area. Work Overview Over calendar year 2015, RMFI continued goals to address both stewardship requirements in the recreational rock-climbing areas and to assist PPCA with stewardship capacity-

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building at Shelf Road. RMFI addressed these goals with 4 volunteer-based stewardship events over 6 total workdays in 2015. Details of each event are included below. April 25: RMFI assisted PPCA in organizing and equipping a PPCA-led “Shelf Road Appreciation Weekend” engaging 26 volunteers with 117 volunteer hours focused on the Cactus Cliff climbing area and the approach trail to this area. PPCA built 3 rock retaining walls totaling 150 square feet, closed and restored 4 short social trails totaling 170 linear feet, and conducted trail corridor clearance of the approach trail. A second workday for this event on April 26, on which RMFI was to co-lead, was cancelled due to adverse weather. August 20-21: RMFI hosted and led a stewardship service project as part of an annual “Colorado College New Student Orientation” engaging 17 volunteers with 344 volunteer hours (and 60 staff hours) focused on the Piggy Bank climbing area. This project improved and better-delineated two sustainable short access trails from the crag trail to two concentrations of climbing routes between the Piggy Bank and the 2150 walls. This work should reduce off-trail and braided access through the area. Volunteers improved and delineated 166 linear feet of access trail, including building 28 rock steps and 85 square feet of rock retaining walls, and cleared 900 linear feet of approach trail corridor. There was a significant increase in vegetation along and into trail corridors this season due to well-above average spring rains. Figures 1 and 2, at the end of this report, show some of this work. September 26-27: RMFI co-organized and co-led a combined “National Public Lands Day and American Alpine Club Adopt-a-Crag” event with PPCA, engaging 18 volunteers with 154 volunteer hours (and 44 staff hours). This effort improved crag trail and belay stations along the Piggy Wall, prior to seasonal increased usage later in the fall. Over two workdays, volunteers improved 44 linear feet of trail and 3 belay stations with 116 square feet of rock retaining wall, closed and restored 107 linear feet of undesignated trail, and constructed 40 linear feet of new trail with 12 rock steps at the top branch of the Piggy Bank access trail. The new trail alignment was determined to be within cleared area by BLM staff. Figures 3 and 4 show some of this work. November 1: RMFI co-organized and co-led a short workday with PPCA as part of a “Craggin’ Classic” event, engaging 23 volunteers with 70.5 volunteer hours (and 8 staff hours). The workday focused on the Cactus Cliff climbing area where volunteers constructed 7 steps, improved 30 linear feet of trail, and constructed 32 square feet of rock retaining wall. Total Volunteer Statistics

• 84 volunteers o 686 volunteer hours (valued at $15,826 - reference independentsector.com)

• 6 staff o 112 staff hours

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Total Work Accomplishments • 47 rock steps constructed • 383 square feet of rock retaining wall constructed • 240 linear feet of trail tread improved • 40 linear feet of new trail constructed • 277 linear feet of social trail closed and restored • 900+ linear feet of trail corridor clearance (maintenance)

Future Work Schedule At the completion of scheduled 2015 stewardship work at Shelf Road, RMFI believes that with continued expansion of climbing walls, there will continue to be requirements to construct and to improve sustainable climbing access and approach trails, crag trails, and belay stations. This is in addition to requirements for periodic maintenance of existing trails and belay stations and restoration of undesignated trails. Maintenance will likely be a continual and indefinite-term requirement of some stewardship organization. RMFI expects to continue in 2016 with the PPCA to co-organize and co-lead stewardship activities at the recreational area under the current BLM agreement set to expire in July 2017. RMFI anticipates multiple stewardship workday opportunities in 2016, including a May multi-day event with Fountain Valley High School and possibly a September weekend for the 24th Annual National Public Lands Day.

In August 2015, the BLM added an additional $31,500 to the existing RMFI assistance agreement for campground expansion support. It would be beneficial for RMFI and PPCA to meet with the Royal Gorge Field Office Program Officer/ Outdoor Recreational Planner to discuss prioritized objectives for 2016.

Expenditure and Income Summary An overview of calendar year 2015 expenditures by budget category will be included in RMFI’s January 2016 submission of an annual Federal Financial Report and RMFI financial details report. Contact Information

Andy Riter Program Coordinator Rocky Mountain Field Institute (719)471-7736, ext 2# andy@rmfi.org

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Figure 1. Before and after photos of retaining wall and step construction to better-delineate a sustainable climbing access trail between the crag trail and climbing wall.

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Figure 2. Before and after photos of step construction to better-delineate a safer, sustainable climbing access trail between the crag trail and wall.

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Figure 3. Before and after photos of retaining wall construction at a belay station on the Piggy Wall.

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Figure 4. 12-step rock staircase constructed at the top-branch of Piggy Bank Trail (part of new trail segment)