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The I-70 Scout & Eastern Colorado News

Author: I-70 Scout

  • Cast Your Vote Colorado – 8th Annual “Best Looking Cruiser” Contest

  • State Labor Dept. enhancing security measures for unemployment accounts

    Fraud prevention protocols will remain a constant in the new normal of unemployment insurance

    (DENVER) — In order to better safeguard Colorado unemployment claimants against scams and other attempts to compromise their accounts, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) is implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) as part of the MyUI+ login process. MyUI+ is the state’s new, modernized online portal used to file unemployment insurance claims that was launched in January of this year. 

    Beginning in early August, Colorado unemployment claimants logging into their MyUI+ accounts will be required to set up MFA. Multi-factor authentication — also referred to as 2-factor authentication — simply means the user will need more than one method to verify they are who they claim to be by entering both a password as well as a code that is sent to a verified phone number, email address, or authenticator app. MFA is a common best practice tool that is often required to access a variety of websites, banking portals and financial applications.

    Worldwide scammers continue to target unemployed Coloradans using phishing scams, with the goal of gaining access to their unemployment accounts and stealing benefits. The use of MFA will significantly enhance the security of claimants’ MyUI+ accounts and make it much harder for scammers to compromise account info. 

    ID.me, CDLE’S trusted and federally-certified technology partner for secure digital identity verification, has also seen an increase in scammers using social engineering tactics here in Colorado and across the country. Oftentimes these scammers are targeting unemployed workers on social media with advertisements for job openings, then tricking the claimant into handing over personally identifiable information, banking information and more under the guise of a fake hiring process. Claimants are willingly giving up this sensitive data thinking they are being offered a new job. 

    “As Coloradans get comfortable with our new normal way of life, our UI Division is also preparing to transition into a new normal way of operation that includes combating fraud and focusing on our standard state unemployment programs,” said Joe Barela, Executive Director of CDLE. “The fraud detection and prevention measures we’ve put in place over the past year, including ID.me and now MFA, are here to stay as attempts to commit UI fraud show no signs of slowing.”

    Colorado remains committed to participating in the federal pandemic unemployment benefit programs as long as the federal funds are available to eligible unemployed workers in our state. The week ending September 4, 2021 is the last week claimants can request payment on the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program for gig workers, the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) extension, or receive the supplemental Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) payment of $300/week.

    With the state’s renewed focus on economic recovery, CDLE is increasing its outreach efforts to claimants who are still receiving federally funded unemployment benefits. With targeted emails, direct mail, social media posts and the use of both traditional and digital media, the department is focused on connecting unemployed workers with career counseling, job search assistance, training opportunities and more. CDLE and its partners hold regular, no-cost training that can help unemployed Coloradans get rehired. A complete list of upcoming events is available on the CDLE website, and there are more than 107,000 job postings currently listed on ConnectingColorado.com, the state’s jobs database.

  • Full weekend closure of eastbound I-70 from Brighton Boulevard to I-270 starts July 16

    Westbound full weekend closure rescheduled
     
    DENVER — As part of the Colorado Department of Transportation’s Central 70 Project, eastbound Interstate 70 will close between I-270 and Brighton Boulevard starting at 10 p.m., Friday, July 16, through 5 a.m., Monday, July 19, for final paving operations. The Central 70 Project is nearly finished constructing the new three-mile stretch of I-70 between Colorado Boulevard and Quebec Street. Before reaching this major milestone, there will be two weekend-long closures of I-70 to complete final paving, one in each direction. 

    By conducting these full weekend closures crews will be able to finish paving and other construction activities in this area several weeks early providing relief to both motorists and businesses. Traffic will be in its final alignment by the end of July and crews will be finished with this section by fall 2021.

    In addition, the westbound I-70 closure between I-270 and Colorado Boulevard that was originally scheduled to occur the weekend of July 23 has been postponed. A new date is tentatively scheduled for the weekend of July 30.

    TRAFFIC IMPACTS:

    • Eastbound I-70 from Brighton Boulevard to I-270 will be closed from 10 p.m., Friday, July 16, through 5 a.m., Monday, July 19.

    This work is weather and site condition dependent and is subject to change. Follow the Project on Facebook at facebook.com/central70project for the latest information.

    Detour map: 
     
     
    About CDOT
    CDOT’s Whole System-Whole Safety program has one simple mission — to get everyone home safely, and our approximately 3,000 employees work tirelessly to reduce the rate and severity of crashes and improve the safety of all modes of transportation. The department manages more than 23,000 lane miles of highway, more than 3,000 bridges and 35 mountain passes. CDOT also manages grant partnerships with a range of agencies, including metropolitan planning organizations, local governments and airports. It also operates Bustang, the state-owned interregional express bus service. Gov. Jared Polis has charged CDOT to further build on the state’s intermodal mobility options. 
     
    About the Central 70 Project
    The Central 70 Project will reconstruct a 10-mile stretch of I-70, add one new Express Lane in each direction, remove the aging 57-year-old viaduct and lower the interstate between Brighton and Colorado boulevards. More information on the Project, including a list of the Project’s community commitments, are available at central70.codot.gov.
     
    Stay Informed
    • Text Alerts – Text Central70 to 77948
    • Email Updates – Sign up for Project updates at c70.codot.gov 
    • Website – c70.codot.gov – Traffic Impacts page 
    • Watch progress on the webcam 

  • Tree Watering Necessary During Drought Conditions

    FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Despite occasional rain showers in areas of western Colorado over the spring and summer, persistent drought conditions have parched soil over much of the western part of the state, stressing irrigated lawns and larger landscape trees. During these periods of drought, residents should consider supplemental watering to keep their trees healthy.

    “Adequately watering your trees is the best way to ensure optimum growth and vigor during the summer months,” said Donna Davis, urban and community forestry specialist for the Colorado State Forest Service. “Drought-stressed trees become susceptible to root and branch die-back and subsequent insect and disease problems.”

    According to the latest data from the National Drought Mitigation Center, much of western Colorado is currently experiencing some drought, with conditions being “extreme” and “exceptional,” which is the highest rating from the center, across the western third of the state.
    U.S. Drought Monitor Map for Colorado released July 8, 2021. Map courtesy of National Drought Mitigation Center
    The CSFS offers the following tips to keep trees healthy during summer drought:

    • Mulch. Mulch is an inexpensive solution to retain soil moisture and save water. Apply 4 inches of organic mulch onto bare soil within 2 to 3 feet from the base of the trunk of a newly planted or small tree, and up to as wide as the branches of a large tree (removing any grass first, if necessary). Do not allow the mulch to contact the trunk directly.
    • Water a wide area. Tree roots can spread much wider than the height of a tree, with most absorbing roots in the top foot of soil. Apply water to soak the entire area underneath the full span of a tree’s branches.
    • Water slowly. To ensure soil penetration, use a deep root fork (inserted 8 inches or less), soaker hose on low setting or soft spray wand to apply water gradually to the full area.
    • Keep the yard green. Trees located in irrigated lawns generally do not require additional water, as long as the area surrounding the tree receives adequate moisture. Conversely, a dry, yellowish yard means the roots of any trees are also dry.
    • Provide enough water. Use a ruler to measure your tree’s diameter at 6 inches above ground level. For trees with trunks 1-3 inches in diameter, apply 10 gallons of water for each inch of tree trunk diameter once a week. For medium-sized trees (4-9 inches in diameter), apply 10 gallons of water for each inch of trunk diameter three times a month. For trees over 10 inches in diameter, apply 15 gallons of water for each inch of trunk diameter twice a month.
    • Focus on new and non-irrigated trees. Water newly planted trees and seedlings more frequently than once a week, following the rates listed above, as they have less-extensive root systems. To avoid stress during drought conditions, trees that do not receive water from sprinkler systems or irrigation can also benefit from additional water.

    Please visit csfs.colostate.edu/colorado-trees/selecting-planting-and-caring-for-trees for more tips on tree watering, planting and general care.
     

  • Denver Sweep Data Shows City’s Efforts to Hide Homelessness Ahead of All-Star Gam

    By Robert Davis

    The Associated Press

    An analysis of city data shows the recent uptick in homeless encampment sweeps is more closely connected to the Major League All-Star Game than Denver Mayor Michael Hancock claims. 

    According to data on homeless encampments sweeps that Denver VOICE obtained from Councilwoman Candi CdeBaca’s (District 9) office, nearly 90% of the sweeps that occurred between April 6—the day it was announced Denver would host the midsummer classic—and July 1 occurred at camps located along roads and multiuse pathways leading to Coors Field.

    To make this determination, Denver VOICE cross-referenced the sweep data with documentation of each sweep posted on Denver Homeless Out Loud’s (DHOL) Facebook page. Denver VOICE used DHOL’s documentation to determine geographical markers that could be used to better determine the locations of the sweeps and plot them on a map. In instances where an exact address could not be obtained, we used the address of a neighboring business, building, or used the closest intersection to the sweep. 

    Only sweeps that could be verified with DHOL’s video or photographic evidence were included in the analysis. Denver VOICE then plotted each location using Google My Maps and compared the locations with transportation routes, bike lanes, walking paths, shuttle service lines, and routes GoGo Charters recommends for charter buses to access Coors Field. We also included the locations of several All-Star Game Weekend events in its analysis. 

    Through this process, Denver VOICE verified 26 of the 36 sweeps that city data says occurred between April 6 and July 1. After mapping the data, Denver VOICE found that the city focused its sweep efforts in two areas: Civic Center Park and areas of the Curtis Park neighborhood that host some local businesses with national clout. 

    At the same time, seven of the sweeps occurred close to All-Star Game events despite Mayor Hancock’s claim that the two are unrelated. Six of those sweeps were at Civic Center Park, which hosts the All-Star Game 5K Race and Fun Run and the U.S. Conference of Mayors Play Ball Event on July 10. The other sweep near an All-Star Game event occurred on June 20 at the intersection of 20th St. and Wewatta St. in the shadow of Coors Field.

    Denver VOICE’s map also shows that 23 of the 26 sweeps occurred near roadways that pass Coors Field or along multi-modal transportation paths leading to Denver’s downtown core and entertainment districts.  

    According to the map, 11 of the sweeps occurred along the Broadway and Colfax corridors. These areas are loaded with local flavors from restaurants like City O’ City, Exile Kitchen, and La Loma. They also bisect a dedicated bike lane on E 18th Ave. and bike-friendly roads such as Sherman St. and Grant St. 

    Five more sweeps occurred in the intersections of Park Ave. West, Broadway, and California St. One of the sweeps occurred in April; three occurred in June, and one in July. This area between Curtis Park and Five Points is resource-rich for people experiencing homelessness. It contains a day work center, a behavioral health clinic, and several service providers. 

    However, it also contains two dedicated bike lanes across Champa and Stout streets. The area is also near well-known breweries like Great Divide and restaurants like Yazoo BBQ. 

    At the same time, the area contains three routes that GoGo Charters recommends taking to get to Coors Field from I-25. Those routes include the Blake St., Park Ave. West, or 22nd St. exits. Nine of the documented sweeps occurred along these streets. 

    Ten sweeps occurred along the shuttle line between the J.W. Marriott in Cherry Creek North and Coors field. The hotel says on their website that shuttles will run at the top of each hour to take guests to the field. 

    Two sweeps occurred in River North. One was a block away from The Denver Central Market while the other occurred near the 38th & Blake RTD Light Rail station. 

    None of the sweeps occurred within a half-mile of events such as MLB Jr. Home Run Derby at Metropolitan State University or Day 1 of the 2021 MLB Draft at the Bellco Theatre. 

    Denver VOICE reached out to Mayor Hancock’s office for comment on the data but did not receive a reply before press time. 

    For the city’s part, Mayor Hancock told reporters at a press conference on June 30 that Denver “is enforcing the law” as it looks past the pandemic. 

    As of July 1, Denver has conducted 51 sweeps compared to the 49 it conducted throughout all of 2020. However, the 2020 figures include a three-month gap as the city paused the practice during the pandemic. 

    But, for outreach workers like Ana Cornelius, with Denver Homeless Out Loud, the way Denver conducts its sweeps is demeaning to all of those involved. She points out that the e fencing used to keep camp residents isolated from the public during the sweeps often is the source of tension between city workers and camp residents, adding, “It’s almost as if nobody likes being caged.” 

  • Phase one of the Staunton cabin restoration complete

    Over a nine-week period, volunteers spent 2,435 hours working on the historic Staunton cabin restoration project

    PINE, Colo. – Despite all the physical challenges such as cold, snow and extreme heat, and the technical obstacles encountered in a 103 year old cabin, the crew from HistoriCorps and 70 volunteers completed phase one of the Staunton cabin restoration on June 18 at Staunton State Park.

    In nine weeks from the start back on April 5, and with 2,435 volunteer hours (valued at $81,840), a new shake roof, internal structural supports, a new porch and a drainage ditch were constructed. All were completed within the guidelines set forth by History Colorado and the National Register of Historic Places (through the Department of the Interior).

    HistoriCorps’ mission is to foster a preservation ethic by engaging volunteers and youth in saving historic places. Participants work alongside HistoriCorps’ seasoned professionals to learn preservation skills and put those skills to work on projects across the country.

    Funding was provided by the State Historic Fund of History Colorado, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Friends of Staunton State Park.

    The Staunton cabin was built as a homestead in 1918, by Dr. Archibald and Dr. Rachael Staunton, two physicians who settled in the area along with their only child, daughter Frances. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012.

    Friends of Staunton State Park 501(c)(3), park management, the volunteers of Staunton State Park and park visitors are all keenly focused on restoring the Staunton Homestead cabin due to its historical significance and the educational opportunities it represents to future generations. Of major concern is the condition of the Staunton cabin, which has deteriorated over the years making both stabilization and preservation an urgent need to avoid losing the park’s namesake altogether. The restoration of the Staunton cabin is a cornerstone project of Friends of Staunton State Park and fundraising for this goal is actively underway. Community involvement is essential in acquiring grants needed to help restore this local treasure.

    For more information on the upcoming restoration phases of the Staunton cabin or to make a donation on the Friends of Staunton State Park website.

    Photos below
    Top: photo from Sept. 7, 2018, showing the deteriorating condition of the Staunton cabin.
    Bottom: Some of the volunteer crews working on the cabin restoration

  • Wildlife officers remove mountain lion from underneath a deck in Englewood

    Pictured is the mountain lion inside the transport trailer after wildlife officers removed it from underneath the deck

    ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers relocated a mountain lion late Thursday night that was found under a deck at a residence near South Broadway St. and East Oxford Ave.

    Around 9 p.m. Thursday, wildlife officers were able to tranquilize the mountain lion to remove it from underneath the resident’s deck. That lion was released Friday morning in more appropriate habitat in Douglas County.

    The 60-pound female mountain lion was estimated to be two-years-old and was in good body condition. 

    “The reason we chose to go hands on with this mountain lion was because it was so deep in the heart of the city,” said Area Wildlife Manager Matt Martinez. “We are glad this operation worked out so smoothly for that neighborhood and for the mountain lion. We’d like to thank the Englewood Police Department and Code Enforcement for assisting us in getting that lion out safely.”

    CPW did have one credible report of a mountain lion in Centennial by E. Mineral Ave. and S. Quebec St. on July 6, roughly 10 miles as the crow flies from where the mountain lion was relocated out of Thursday night. It is possible it could be from the same mountain lion, which may have navigated northwest up Willow Creek and Little Dry Creek and into Englewood, but there is no way of definitively knowing that is the case.

    Mountain lions do come into urban areas to utilize prey resources, which could be deer in the greenbelts in the city, skunks, raccoons or even pets or hobby livestock. To learn more about mountains lions and what to do should you encounter one, please visit our website by clicking here.

    Video of the mountain lion being released Friday morning will be posted on our regional Twitter account, @CPW_NE.

  • Healthy Farmer’s Markets increase food accessibility in Thornton

    Two weekly outdoor markets will offer affordable, healthy produce  
    THORNTON, Colo.–July 13, 2021–The Healthy Farmer’s Markets return to Anythink with two weekly opportunities for community members to purchase fresh produce from local farmers. Hosted with the City of Thornton Community Connections, Tri-County Health Department, the American Heart Association and Lulu’s Farm, these outdoor markets help increase food and nutrition access in Thornton. The markets will open on Tuesday, July 13 at Anythink Huron Street and on Thursday, July 15 at Anythink Wright Farms, and will continue through the fall. 
     
    The Healthy Farmer’s Markets bring nutritious produce to areas that have limited access to healthy, affordable foods, while also promoting an environment of health. Attendees learn more about cooking and nutrition through demonstrations, obtain health screenings and discover more health resources available to them. Importantly, and unlike most other farmer’s markets, food assistance services like SNAP and WIC are accepted. In 2020, the farmer’s markets were able to serve more than 4,000 individuals with $55,477 in fresh produce provided via vouchers at no cost to aging adults, as well as WIC and SNAP recipients.   
     
    “As a trusted source of information and resources, the library serves as an ideal location to promote community health and wellness,” says Anythink Director of Strategic Partnerships Stacie Ledden. “The Healthy Farmer’s Markets are just one way that our collaborative partnerships serve the people of Adams County in ways that help them thrive.”  
     
    “As our community travels the seemingly arduous path of recovering from the pandemic, we want to be conscientious of the role healthy food can play in restoring normalcy and strengthening households,” says Jaylin Stotler, community connections manager at City of Thornton. “The colorful, fresh produce from these markets not only provides nourishment, but can be the centerpiece for the gatherings we’ve been missing, the tools for healthier and more resilient lifestyles, the fuel for our learning and working minds, and a stabilizer for those that are food insecure.”  
     
    “The Healthy Farmers Market partnership has helped us to increase access to affordable and healthy foods to community members and our WIC participants,” says Jill Bonczynski, nutrition director at Tri-County Health Department. “Not only are they getting fresh, local, and nutritious produce, but also connections to community resources that can benefit their families.” 
     
    “Healthy eating starts with access to readily available, nutritious food. The American Heart Association is committed to providing tangible solutions that help ensure Colorado residents have access to wholesome, affordable foots in a comfortable setting,” says Maddie Philley, community impact director at the American Heart Association. “We know that access to healthy food plays a critical role in overall heart health. By supporting the Healthy Farmer’s Markets, the AHA aims to provide residents with critical nutrition information and affordable, locally grown fruits and vegetables in their community to help build lasting healthy habits.”  
     
    Healthy Farmer’s Market 
    Anythink Huron Street 
    9417 Huron St., Thornton, CO 80260 
    Tuesdays, July 13-Sept. 28, 2021 
    9 am-1 pm 
    Anythink Wright Farms 
    5877 E. 120th Ave., Thornton, CO 80602 
    Thursdays, July 15-Sept. 30, 2021 
    9 am-1 pm 
     
    Hosted in conjunction with City of Thornton, Tri-County Health Department, the American Heart Association and Lulu’s Farm, Anythink hosts a weekly farmer’s market at two of its Thornton locations. Access healthy, fresh produce provided by local farmers, as well as information about cooking and nutrition. Food assistance services including SNAP and WIC are accepted. Free and open to all; more information available at anythinklibraries.org/farmers-markets. 
     
    About Anythink™ 
    Anythink is a new style of library – a place of unlimited imagination, where play inspires creativity and lifelong learning. Anythink serves the residents of Adams County, Colo., with seven libraries and a bookmobile. With a focus on innovation, Anythink’s award-winning approach to library service is recognized by industry leaders and organizations across the globe. For more information, visit anythinklibraries.org.  
     

  • State adds 650 historical COVID-19 cases to data dashboard

    REMOTE, (July 9, 2021): Today’s data dashboard updates will add 650 positive COVID-19 cases to the state’s historical totals. These cases come from manual reports submitted to CDPHE by providers and labs covering the results of 24,714 tests conducted between March 2020 and May 2021. Testing providers notified people with positive results, but today CDPHE is adding them to the state’s case totals on the data dashboard. 
     
    Today’s update will not affect any recent incidence metrics. CDPHE is continually checking data for quality and completeness and strives to be transparent in any necessary adjustments.  
     
    Continue to stay up to date by visiting covid19.colorado.gov.

    ~~~~

    El estado agrega 650 resultados de pruebas de detección del COVID-19 al tablero de datos

    REMOTO, (9 de julio de 2021): La actualización de hoy del tablero de datos agregará a 650 casos positivos del COVID-19 al número total en el estado. Estos casos provienen de reportes hechos manualmente que fueron enviados al CDPHE por proveedores y laboratorios que cubrían los resultados de 24,714 pruebas realizadas entre marzo de 2020 y mayo de 2021. Los proveedores de las pruebas notificaron a las personas que obtuvieron pruebas positivas, pero hoy, el CDPHE los agregará al número total de casos representados en el tablero de datos. 
     
    La actualización de hoy no afectará a las métricas de incidencia reciente. El CDPHE está verificando continuamente a los datos para mantener calidad, ser exhaustivo y transparente ante cualquier ajuste necesario.
     
    Continúe manteniéndose informado visitando covid19.colorado.gov.

  • Researchers and biologists begin study of bald eagles along Colorado’s Front Range

    Bruce Snyder of the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies releases a bald eagle that researchers placed a GPS-GSM transmitter on in Golden on June 5, 2021 (photo by Jason Clay/CPW)

    DENVER – Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) along with numerous project partners have embarked on a four-year study to help better understand current population trends, habitat use and impacts of human disturbance on bald eagles along the state’s most densely populated corridor. 

    The Front Range corridor of northern Colorado is an area that is experiencing rapid human population growth — up 18 percent since 2000. Between 2019 and 2029, the state is forecasted to grow by 832,000 people with 87 percent of that taking place in the Front Range. 

    Amazingly, this densely developed area also contains a high concentration of bald eagles. In CPW’s raptor-nest database, as of 2020, there were more than 90 breeding pairs of bald eagles in this corridor from the Denver metro area to the Wyoming state line. 

    “The reason we are focused on this area is the concentration of bald eagles along the Front Range, juxtaposed with the concentration of humans and human infrastructure along the Front Range,” said CPW Avian Researcher Reesa Conrey. “That intersection is a huge part of this project, in addition to monitoring what the eagles are doing in terms of their nest numbers and nest success.”

    Populations of the American bald eagle — the bold national symbol of the United States — have quadrupled since 2009, according to a new report by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its partners.

    However, eagles did not always thrive in this urban corridor.  

    By the end of the 1970s there were only three known bald eagle nests in Colorado with none on the Front Range. Bald eagle populations declined in the early- to mid-20th century due to pesticides (primarily DDT), human disturbance, land conversion and loss of trees for nesting habitat.

    Thanks to protections implemented for the species and DDT being banned for general use back in 1972, the slow recovery process started. In Colorado, that rebound has accelerated over the past few decades, concurrent with human population growth along the Front Range. The bald eagle was deliste​d from Endangered Species Act prote​​ction in 2007, although they still are protected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under both the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. CPW classifies the bald eagle as a Tier 2 “Species of Greatest Conservation Need.” 

    Off-setting some of the urban development over the years was the construction of numerous reservoirs, which provide potentially usable habitat. Reservoirs, rivers and large streams surrounded by large cottonwood trees and riparian areas provide most of the conventional nest sites in the South Platte River Basin where the Front Range lies. 

    However, discovery of new nest locations has revealed the presence of bald eagles nesting in upland locations far removed from conventional nesting locations. CPW’s study could help explain why bald eagles chose such unconventional settings. And though reduced in area and number, prairie dog colonies in this region still serve as an important year-round food source for raptors. Now, Colorado is home to eagles that live here year-round as well as a wintering population that breeds elsewhere.

    Researchers, biologists and volunteers from CPW, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies (BCR), along with numerous city and county agencies have been working together for years to monitor Colorado’s bald eagles to better understand their environmental needs and disturbance tolerances. These partners are coming together to help with this new research project that launched in the second half of 2020 and is expected to have management implications to help conserve bald eagles in a region that will continue to see rapid human development and land use conversions. 

    The study is expected to last four years and will be the most comprehensive bald eagle monitoring project ever done by CPW.

    “We are looking at nest sites along a gradient of human activities and disturbances from urban to rural areas,” Conrey said. “We are especially interested in comparing areas expected to remain stable with those expected to see new development within the next few years. We can use spatial data over the past several decades to get at land use change as this area has been developed for residential and commercial uses, agricultural conversions, sand and gravel mining and energy, including oil and gas wells, solar, and wind energy facilities. We’re getting more transmission lines, cell towers, road traffic, use of trails and boating areas and all the other things that go along with human activity and an increasing human population.”

    Researchers will mark a sample of bald eagles nesting along the northern Front Range with GPS-GSM transmitters. The transmitter data will allow them to intensively monitor habitat use and eagle movements year-round, during both the breeding and nonbreeding seasons. At the same time, staff and a large number of dedicated volunteers will continue to monitor reproductive effort and success by conducting observations at nest sites.

    “The transmitters that we are using for this project are different from what typically have been used,” Conrey said. “Previous generations of wildlife transmitters required biologists to use antennae to pick up the signals or they connected to satellite networks. But these transmitters connect to the cellular communications network. It allows our transmitters to be lighter in weight. That reduces potential stress on the eagles and it was a good choice for us in the Front Range because we have a lot of cell towers in this area.” 

    The transmitters can provide frequent location data – with time intervals as little as four seconds between locations. They’ll be placed on 25-30 bald eagles. The original transmitters plus harness weighed under 70 grams (0.15 pounds), but with continued innovation, the new units deployed in 2021 weigh less than 50 grams (0.11 pounds) – which is about one percent of the body mass of an average adult male. Each captured eagle is weighed, carefully inspected to assess its health and fitted with a numbered leg band as an identifier.

    The first transmitter went out in July 2020 and the second in October. Further deployments continue, but most of the 14 marked eagles to date were captured from May to early July, the time of year when many adults are feeding large, hungry “teenage” eaglets preparing to fledge from the nest.

    An army of volunteers, many from the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies and staff from city, county, state and federal agencies will all play a crucial role in data collection for this study. 

    “We’re thrilled to see data collected by our volunteers contribute to this research effort,” said Matt Smith, outreach biologist with BCR. “Bird Conservancy has been monitoring the expansion of the bald eagle nesting population across the Front Range for 30 years and while eagle numbers have steadily increased during that time, so has the human population of the region. This gives us an opportunity to put those data to work and learn more about how eagles are adapting to the changes we’re making to the landscape. Hopefully, this will tell us more about what the future looks like for bald eagles in the years to come and what management actions can be undertaken to ensure a healthy population of this iconic bird in our state in perpetuity.”

    BCR’s Bald Eagle Watch (BEW) program has a volunteer citizen science network that monitors nesting bald eagles along the Front Range and elsewhere. The program has been steadily increasing its number of citizen volunteers as well as its scope and intensity of monitoring.

    “Observations from the BEW program complement the data gathering and population evaluations performed by CPW,” said Bruce Snyder, who began as a BEW volunteer in 2013 monitoring the bald eagle nest that at the time was located at the Applewood Golf Course. “BEW volunteer information fills gaps that CPW is unable to acquire because of resource and manpower limitations, but is important for making wise protection and mitigation decisions. CPW is able to more efficiently plan and implement its GPS tracking study because of the detailed observation information BEW observers provide.

    “The things that continually have impressed me are the adaptability, hardiness and dedication of the bald eagle during the nesting phase,” Snyder added. “As one example, almost all nesting eagles continued incubating their eggs during the March 2021 snowstorm that dropped two feet of snow across much of the Front Range.”

    Results from the monitoring effort will be used to model the bald eagle population trajectory and expected impacts of predicted future land use change. Biologists will then make data-driven recommendations on minimizing and mitigating disturbances of the bald eagle’s environment essential to its survival. It is anticipated that study results will identify opportunities for conserving and possibly developing key habitat conditions during the planning, permitting and implementation of various human developments along the Front Range. 

    “The study will give us a better understanding of this species’ tolerance of and adaptability to human activities and land use changes,” Conrey said. “The results will greatly improve long-term bald eagle monitoring, conservation and management efforts in Colorado.”

    Photos below
    Row 1    : Reesa Conrey releases a bald ealge along the St. Vrain River, July 3, 2021
    Row 2: picture showing the GPS-GSM transmitters being used in the study
    Row 3: Wildlife biologist Lance Carpenter holding the bald eagle pre-release on June 5, 2021
    Row 4: Wildlife biologist Mike Sherman releasing a bald eagle