1997-06-13_REPORT - M1981302 ‎(19)‎

• Permit No: M1981302
• IBM Index Class Name: Report
• Doc Date: 6/13/1997
• Doc Name: EXHIBIT A
• From: CITY OF BOULDER OPEN SPACES OPERATIONS
• To: USFWS
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

r 5419CEIVED JAN2 61996
999 III RFCEIVED
JUN 13 1997
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j� CITY OF BMg9Mia16Vf0§PACE OPERATIONS
66 S. CHERRYVALE ROAD,BOULDER,CO 80303
[phone] FAX: [phone]
January 26, 1996
Field Supervisor
U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
145 E. 1'00 South, Suite 404
Salt Lake City, Utah 84115
Dear Field Supervisor,
Enclosed are comments on the Public and Agency Review Draft of the Ute ladies'-tresses
(Spiranthes diluvialis) Recovery Plan (the Plan) (Sept., 1995). Thank you for the opportunity to
review the Plan. The City of Boulder Open Space Department (the Open Space Department) is
charged with habitat protection and management for a significant portion of the total number of
orchids known throughout the species' range. In order to conduct a thorough evaluation of the Plan,
the Open Space Department has consulted with Ute ladies'-tresses recovery team members who are
familiar with local, Colorado Front Range populations of the orchid. The resulting comments have
been compiled by a recovery team member on the Open Space Department staff.
General Comments
The framework for watershed-level management recommended by the Plan is an excellent model
for ecosystem management planning. As suggested in the Plan, the recovery implementation
designed by interdisciplinary teams could benefit numerous native plant and animal species that
depend on functioning natural processes in riparian and wet meadow systems. The concept of
natural processes-oriented management of hydrologic, and biotic resources is compatible with recent
planning efforts in ecosystem management in the Boulder Valley and vicinity. As landscape-level
natural resource management is developed in our area, interdisciplinary watershed management can
be addressed.
It is difficult to predict the time frame in which the Plan recommendations could be initiated and
implemented in the greater Boulder area. Existing interdisciplinary natural resource teams may or
may not be the appropriate entities to take on the tasks of recovery implementation. It is clear that
the organization and long-term direction of an interdisciplinary watershed management team will
be labor-intensive, requiring a significant staff time commitment. Presently, Open Space