Table Of ContentW e l c o m e t o t h e
Hunter Creek-Smuggler
mountain
Cooperative plan
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Hunter Creek-Smuggler mountain Cooperative plan
H u n t e r C r e e k -
W h a t i s t h e
Smuggler Mountain Cooperative Plan?
Why here, why now?
Recreation and scenic beauty bring millions of people to Aspen every year. Smuggler Mountain and
the Hunter Creek Valley contain some of the most heavily used trails and scenic beauty in Aspen, as
well as important wildlife habitat. However, the area has lacked cohesive management and vision,
and thus, is now seeing degradation of trails, wildlife habitat, and forest health. With multiple
jurisdictions managing this land, seamless management will be critical for the public’s enjoyment
and protection of natural resources in the future. This area also includes Aspen’s wildland/urban
interface (WUI), which needs interagency cooperation to plan for how the built community can
coexist with the wildlands. Seamless management and planning will address the following goals:
• Enhance wildlife habitat;
• Manage for a more diverse, healthy and sustainable forest;
• Work with partners to assess and manage wildfire risk;
• Maintain a safe recreational setting and enhance recreation opportunities for residents and
visitors to sustain tourism as the main economic driver for the Aspen area;
• Coordinate on recreation signage;
• Promote educational opportunities through interpretation and outreach;
• Protect water quality and greater watershed health;
• Identify, reclaim and interpret historic mines;
• Identify opportunities for economic development that may result from management activities;
• Sustainably maintain existing infrastructure;
• Develop a monitoring program to gauge the Plan’s effectiveness and adapt the Plan as needed.
Partnerships and Process
The Plan recognizes the extensive forest and recreation management efforts of the City of Aspen
and Pitkin County on Smuggler Mountain and seeks to extend those efforts from the Smuggler
Mountain Open Space (SMOS) onto adjacent USFS administered lands. The seamless management
planning of the adjacent federal and SMOS properties is a way to increase the sustainability and
resilience of these public lands, as well as their value to the public.
The Plan is being conducted under the guidance of the USFS. The City of Aspen, Pitkin County, For
the Forest, and the Roaring Fork Future Forest Roundtable is assisting the USFS by sharing ideas
and suggestions regarding the project goals. Having began in June 2011, the Plan includes three
phases: Community Engagement/Visioning, Master Planning, and NEPA Compliance. The process is
expected to take approximately one year to complete.
Hunter Creek-Smuggler mountain Cooperative plan
Planning Area
H u n t e r C r e e k - S m u g g l e r M o u n t a i n C o o p e r a t i v e P l a n
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erena Mallory Trail
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Roaring Fork River
Warren
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Urban Road Path/Urban Roadless Areas
Planning Area
4WD Road Historic Aspen Valley Land Trust
Four or Double Track Closed Public Open Space
Single Track Non-System White River National Forest
Private
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0 0.25 0.5
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Smuggler mountain Cooperative plan
Process
3 Planning Phases:
th
1. Visioning
• August 30 Open House
• Extensive stakeholder input
• Vision Document
2. Master Planning
• Identification of opportunities to meet the Vision
• Resource-specific
• Zone Approach composite analysis
• Management direction and toolkits
3. NEPA
• Technical evaluation of each zone and its toolkit
• Phasing
• Additional opportunites for public comment
we are here
I
Phase 1: Phase 2: Phase 3: M
P
Visioning Master Planning NEPA
L
E
M
E
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T
A
june july aug sept oct nov dec jan feb mar apr may T
I
O
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visioning open house
public workshop
public meeting
Smuggler mountain Cooperative plan
Zone management
What is Zone Management?
Zone management is a planning approach that will allow an array of
projects, or tools, to be considered for management within a generally-
defined area. This approach does not require projects to be identified
at specific locations, but instead, to be identified within portions of the
planning area where they would be most beneficial and suitable.
How are Zones defined?
A Zone is a conceptual management unit that has a distinct character and
vision, and consistent set of constraints and resources. Zone boundaries
were delineated based on these characteristics, breaks in topography, and
other natural boundaries.
How will Zones be implemented?
The Master Plan will set management direction and recommendations
for each Zone. The tools that are included in those recommendations will
then be evaluated through the NEPA process, to analyze their impacts to
environmental resources. Once the NEPA process has been completed,
resource managers may use the potentially approved NEPA document
as a framework for implementing projects within each Zone. Project
implementation would involve additional site-specific, detailed resource
analysis (e.g. locations of rare plants) and design (e.g. specific trail
realignment).
Smuggler mountain Cooperative plan
Zone management
H u n t e r C r e e k - S m u g g l e r M o u n t a i n C o o p e r a t i v e P l a n
Zones
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Hunter Valley - North Hunter Valley
Hunter Cr e e k
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McCloskey Lot n Short Cut Hunter Valley - South
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Roaring Fork River
Warren
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Zones Path/Urban Aspen Valley Land Trust
Zones
Urban Road Historic Public Open Space
4WD Road Closed White River National Forest
Four or Double Track Non-System Private
Single Track
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0 0.25 0.5
Miles
Hunter Creek-Smuggler mountain Cooperative plan
ForeSt HealtH / veg
O v e r v i e w o f O p p o r t u n i t i e s
Improve the Condition of Gambel Oak Stands.
• Beyond range of variability from fire disturbance (<30 years);
stands are too thick and old, resulting in poor wildlife habitat.
• Increasing diversity improves ratio of forage to cover, improves
Achieved Through:
wildlife habitat, as well as fire management benefits.
Patch cuts (2–10 acres) to mimic fire disturbance.
Manage for Disturbance in Lodgepole Stands.
• Lodgepole forests depend on disturbance to maintain diversity and health; the last
major disturbance 100 plus years ago, producing an old, even aged stand.
• MPB outbreaks are a component of a healthy forest, though
not under these conditions or at this scale; all stands at high
risk currently
• There is an opportunity to increase the forest’s resiliency to
further MBP outbreak by increasing age class and species
diversity.
• Improving age class and species diversity also has benefits to
Achieved Through:
wildlife habitat.
Patch cuts to increase age class diversity; and thinning, brood tree
removal and verbenone to reduce densities and stress specific to MPB.
Improve the Condition and Extent of Aspen Stands.
• Without disturbance to limit the extent of conifers, they eventually out-competes Aspen,
and reduce forest health values, especially species diversity and wildlife habitat.
• Encouraging growth of new young aspen stands increases age
class diversity that would normally occur with the presence of
disturbance.
• There is also evidence of Sudden Aspen Decline (SAD), related
to stress and lack of disturbance; improving regeneration would
Achieved Through:
improve overall forest health and wildlife habitat.
Removal of lodgepole pine within 100 – 200 feet of aspen stands to
discourage conifer encroachment; identification of SAD and cutting of mature trees and sub-
soil to encourage sprouting.
Hunter Creek-Smuggler mountain CooperatHiuvn t e r eC r e e k -pS m ulg g lae r M onu n t a i n C o o p e r a t i v e P l a n
ForeSt HealtH / veg 10
9 12
8
WHITE RIVER NATIONAL FOREST
P r i o r i t y Z o n e s
11
7
1
6
SMUGGLER MTN
2
OPEN SPACE
3
4
ZONES 2 & 3: 5
ASPEN
Allows for expansion of forest health treatments done on SMOS.
Roaring Fork River
LWaakreresn
Zones Path/Urban Aspen Valley Land Trust
Zones
Urban Road Historic Public Open Space
4WD Road Closed White River National Forest
Four or Double Track Non-System Private
Single Track
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0 0.25 0.5Miles
Toolkit:
• Harvest lodgepole around aspen stands – treat 10-25 acres.
• Harvest or burn aspen stands to instigate new regeneration in potential SAD stands
(5-10 acres).
• Create age class diversity by using Group Selection (GS) Silviculture in conjunction with
H u n t e r C r e e k - S m u g g l e r M o u n t a i n C o o p e r a t i v e P l a n
Variable Retention (retain valuable wildlife elements), thinning and brood tree removal
(BTR) with verbenone as MPB populations justify.
High Priority Lodgepole
Potentially Impacted Aspen Stands Four Corners
• Use GS on 25% of area (30-40 acres Aspen-Conifer Encroachment
Gambel Oak Potential Treatment Stands
in each) and BTR with verbenone on Hunter Creek Toll Rd
Hobbit
100% of LP stands. Repeater Rd Hobbit / Gandolf Hobbit Crossover Burnt Hole Burnt Hole Spur
• Harvest may involve the use of Repeater Rd Shadyside Repeater Rd Secret Singletrack/Jedi Four Corners Rd Van Horn Park Hunter Creek Toll Rd
helicopters, and occur only in the fall.
ZONES 8 & 10: Sunnyside Plunge Bald Knob Rd
Sunnyside Van Horn Park Rd Dry Set Rd
Hunter Creek Rim
Highly diverse area in terms of vegetation
types and recreational use, relatively close to Sunnyside Plunge
Hunter Valley - North Hunter Valley
Aspen. Hunter Creek
BLM Parking Lot Access Verena Mallory Trail Limited Access Hunter Creek ToHll uMnRtcdeCrl Coresekk eCyS uoLtuoottfhf Spur North Spur HuInotwera V Sahlalfety - South
BLM Parking Lot
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Toolkit: Williams Ranch Picnic Tootsie Roll
Aspen
• Apply group selection to 10% of spruce Smuggler Mt. TrailhMoellie Gibsoand Center Stock Drive Way
stands and 25% of lodgepole (125-175 E Hopkins Mascotte 99 Smuggler n tMRd
Snyder Park
ac. +/-). Balcony Trail Path
Balcony Trail
UteUte Ave Aspen Club
• Apply BTR to all of stands with
East of Aspen£¤82
lodgepole and verbenone as MPB
population dictates (greater than 1%) Roaring Fork River
Warren
Lakes
(300-600 acres).
Zones
• Remove conifers from around aspen stands to increase acres of aspen habitat (20-40 ac).
[
• Develop defensible space around radio towers (5-10 acres) fire in Zone0 25 05080 1,00.0 1,500
Feet
• Prescribed fire may include both broadcast and pile burning.
Hunter Creek-Smuggler mountain Cooperative plan
WilDliFe Habitat
O v e r v i e w o f O p p o r t u n i t i e s
Improve the Condition of Aspen Stands.
• Beyond range of variability from fire disturbance (<20 years); stands are too thick and
old, resulting in poor wildlife habitat
• Increasing diversity improves ratio of forage to cover, improves wildlife habitat, as well
Achieved Through:
as fire management benefits
Cut decadent, stagnant aspen & small cuts (~0.1 acre) of declining
aspen stands followed by mechanical root stimulation to increase representation and
quality of aspen; remove conifers inhibiting regeneration; band cuts at periphery of aspen to
sIntimcruelaatsee r eAggenee Craltaiosns, aexnpdan Sdp aescpieens s Dtainvde. rsity of Lodgepole Stands.
• Lodgepole within the PA dominated by even-aged stands with little wildlife value
• Absence of understory vegetation; little structural diversity; few species use pure
lodgepole
• Lack of early seral lodgepole reduces snowshoe hare forage, which decreases winter
Achieved Through:
habitat suitability for Canada lynx, a Threatened Species
Improve ExistingP aatnchd c Puotst teon inticarel aLsye nagxe H claabssi tdaivte.rsity; concurrent with Forest Health.
• Mature multistory spruce-fir or mixed conifer stands with dense horizontal cover
are especially important to Canada lynx. Optimal winter foraging conditions of dense
(>35%) horizontal conifer cover at or above the snow.
• Regenerating, mature and late-successional spruce-fir forests with high horizontal cover
may constitute some of the most important habitat for lynx.
Achieved Through:
• Provide components necessary for denning habitat
Can be by patch cuts, blocks, or strips but usually no larger than 20-acre
openings or 4-5 times tree height; on south slopes, openings should be smaller, about 2-3
Itimmpesr torveee htehigeh Ct.ondition of Gambel Oak Stands.
• Stands are too dense and over-mature; poor forage & restrict seasonal movement of elk
• Winter range is limiting factor but much of it is over-used and provides sub-optimal
forage for wintering elk
• Acorns are most important fall forage for bears – Poor acorn production increases
Achieved Through:
likelihood of human-bear conflicts
Preserve Value oPf aEtcxhis ctuitns g(2 Q-1u0a alcirteys )H toa bmiitmaitc Afirree daisst.urbance.
Achieved Through:
Leave alone; approx. 60% of planning area.
H u n t e r C r e e k - S m u g g l e r M o u n t a i n C o o p e r a t i v e P l a n
Hunter Creek-Smuggler mountain Cooperative plan
10
WilDliFe Habitat
9 12
8
WHITE RIVER NATIONAL FOREST
P r i o r i t y Z o n e s
11
7
1
6
SMUGGLER MTN
2
OPEN SPACE
3
4
5
ZONE 3:
ASPEN
Nearly pure lodgepole provides little wildlife habitat. Aspen on west
Roaring Fork River
side is declining due in part to conifer encroachment. Little to no horizontal cover or understorLWaakreresn y
Zones Path/Urban Aspen Valley Land Trust
Zones
Urban Road Historic Public Open Space
4WD Road Closed White River National Forest
Four or Double Track Non-System Private
Single Track
vegetation.
[
0 0.25 0.5Miles
Toolkit:
• Harvest lodgepole around aspen stands – treat 10-25 acres.
• Harvest or burn aspen stands to instigate new regeneration in potential SAD stands –
5-10 acres.
• Create age class diversity by using Group Selection (GS) Silviculture in conjunction with
Variable Retention (retain valuable wildlife elements) on 25% of area (30-40 acres).
ZONE 4:
Over-mature and dense Gambel oak shrublands hinder movement of large animals. Decadent
oak provides reduced palatability and nutrient content as well as decrease in acorn production.
H u n t e r C r e e k - S m u g g l e r M o u n t a i n C o o p e r a t i v e P l a n
Horizontal Cover
0-34% (Low value)
Toolkit:
35-40% (Moderate)
>40% (High value)
Wildlife Priority Stands
• Treat Gambel oak to instigate regeneration.
Potential Lynx Habitat
Denning
Winter
• Prescribed fire – best choice; results in most
nutritious re-growth.
• Mechanically treat where slopes will allow
(hydro-axe) – Treat approximately 50% of
Gambel oak in several smaller units (10-15%).
Hunter Creek
Treatments to occur over period of years to
Limited Access
create diverse age classes.
BLM Parking Lot
ZONES 8 & 9:
PPIITTKKII NN CCOOUUNNTTYY
HLaallkaem
Aspen
Diverse habitat types including mixed conifer, spruce-
Smuggler Mt. Trailhead
fir, aspen, Gambel oak and sagebrush dominated
shrublands.
£¤
82
Roaring Fork River
WLaakreresn
Toolkit:
Zones
• Harvest conifers around aspen stands.
[
0250500 1,000 1,500
Feet
• Harvest or burn aspen stands to instigate new regeneration – 5-10 acre patches.
• Create age class diversity by using GS in conjunction with Variable Retention (retain
valuable wildlife elements) on 25% of area.
• Prescribed fire or mechanically treat where slopes will allow (hydro-axe) – Treat
approximately 50% of Gambel oak in several smaller units (10-15%).
