GLACIER VIEW MEADOWS

ECOLOGY COMMITTEE

Est. 1997
Revised Charter: August, 2008

 

History

The Glacier View Meadows (GVM) Ecology Committee was established in 1997 as an advisory committee to the Road and Recreation Board. Information is disseminated to property owners through:

1. Oral presentations at monthly R & R Board meetings and at Annual Meetings of the Association
2. Written handouts
3. Articles published in the GVM newsletter Glacier Viewpoint.

Membership on the committee is open to any Glacier View member in good standing. Meetings are held monthly, April through October. Initial development of the demonstration garden was aided through a series of small grants awarded by the Larimer County Open Lands Program in 1998, 2000 and 2001. Acceptance of grant money is contingent on the garden being maintained for a period of 10 years from the date of the last grant. Recently, the committee has received a small grant award from the Larimer County Parks and Open Lands for noxious weed cleanup of our Open Space and Greenbelt Areas and a Larimer County 2007 Environmental Stewardship Award.

Mandate

• To serve as an advisory committee to the Glacier View manager and Road and Recreation Board (R&R) regarding ecological issues that affect the Glacier View community and make recommendations to the Board regarding land stewardship and restoration projects.
• To take measures that may be necessary to improve and maintain the native ecology of the area.
• To provide written information to Glacier View property owners regarding ecological issues that affect the well being of the Glacier View community and private property.
• To work with Larimer County agents and other professionals to achieve committee goals.

Objectives

 

• Maintain the Glacier View Demonstration Garden for the purpose of identifying plants that are water-wise, deer-resistant, fire resistant (if possible), and conducive to Glacier View’s harsh and dry environment, and to maintain the garden in accordance with agreements established with the Larimer County Open Lands and Small Grants Program. Informational handouts to be available at garden site.
• Encourage water conservation for landscapes by maintaining a drip watering system in the demonstration garden and providing written instructions at garden site.
• Maintain the Crellin Canyon Nature Trail in Glacier View, identify flora along the trail, and provide interpretive handouts at the trailhead.
• Control noxious weeds (i.e., Canada thistle, musk thistle, diffuse knapweed, leafy spurge, and Dalmatian toadflax) in Glacier View greenbelts and on private property, per Colorado statute. Provide written information to property owners regarding identification and control of noxious weeds.

• Control tree disease (e.g., Mountain Pine beetle (MPB), Ips beetle, and Dwarf mistletoe). Strategies for identifying and managing tree disease include (1) roadside surveys, (2) letters to property owners with infested trees on their property outlining control measures, and (3) mountain pine beetle samples and information regarding control measures at Annual Meeting.
• Identify land stewardship and restoration projects.
• Identify and encourage protection of wetland and riparian areas.
• Maintain a bulletin board at the Association office that displays (1) photos of noxious weeds found throughout Glacier View, which can help property owners identify and eradicate noxious weeds on their private properties in compliance with state statute; (2) Ecology “green tips”; and (3) other information as applicable.
• Submit Ecology articles to the Glacier Viewpoint.
• Provide Ecology updates for the GVM website.
• Maintain a wildflower/plant photo identification album, to be displayed at the GVM Association office (but not checked out).

Funding

1. Road & Recreation annual line item
2. Grants
Donations

Glacier View Meadows Ecology Committee/Rev. August, 2008 SEL, EMH