WILDLIFEWILDLIFEWildlife needs should be considered in land use decisions. While some species of wildlife can adapt to human encroachment to a certain extent, careful planning is needed to ensure that important wildlife habitats are not destroyed and that wildlife/human conflicts are minimized.
Enhance, maintain, and manage a balanced wildlife habitat to ensure the continued biological, economic, and aesthetic value of this resource.
1. Wildlife needs should be accommodated as development occurs.
2. Wildlife should be managed in relationship to available habitat.
In addition to the following policies, the criteria in the Mountain Site Design Criteria section which apply to wildlife should be followed.
Red text identifies policies which can be applied in the land use review processes.
1. The following habitats are designated critical wildlife habitats:
a. Habitat of threatened or endangered species
b. Riparian habitat
c. Wetlands
d. Elk calving areas
e. Raptor nesting sites
f. Critical wildlife movement corridors
2. The designation of critical habitats should be applied in a reasoned way, not solely relying on lines drawn on a map. For instance, if those parcels mapped as "elk calving area" are selected for protection and the surrounding area allowed to build with high density housing, the value of these areas to species may disappear since the animals might not be able to reach the ground which is undeveloped. Each development proposal still needs to be analyzed and evaluated individually with the "critical" areas as a guide. In general, there should not be any structures, grading, or fences within the critical wildlife habitats. Road crossings in these habitats should be avoided, but may be allowed if they are designated on an Official Development Plan, their location is the only viable option to access developable land, and their presence does not unreasonably affect the viability of these habitats. The number of housing units which would be earned, based on the slope category, should be transferred to another portion of the site. In no case should this policy be interpreted to prohibit reasonable development of private property.
3. Critical wildlife habitat may be used for lot area subject to the restrictions outlined in Policy #2. However, appropriate buffers should be provided between human activity and critical wildlife habitat. The extent of these buffers should be defined in consultation with the Division of Wildlife and should consider the needs of wildlife for cover, food supply, and water. Development encroachment on wildlife habitat should be minimized by using effective mitigation techniques.
4. Where severe winter range areas exist, the appropriateness of development proposals should be evaluated case-by-case and:
a. mitigation plans and recommendations from the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the Colorado State University wildlife experts or comparable source, should be a significant factor in development review, and
b. conformance with applicable criteria in the Mountain Site Design Criteria section should be demonstrated.
5. The Division of Wildlife should review all development proposals for impacts on wildlife to:
a. ensure the preservation of viable wildlife habitats. Open lands which contain diverse food and cover should be consolidated or inter-connected whenever possible. Those habitats not designated as "critical" may nonetheless have important wildlife values which should be considered during evaluation of each proposed development.
b. identify vegetation important to wildlife which should be preserved to the maximum extent possible.
c. ensure that water quality in bodies of water used by wildlife are not degraded to a degree which would be detrimental to wildlife.
d. ensure that wildlife populations are managed in relationship to available habitat and to minimize human/wildlife conflicts.
6. The Jefferson County Planning and Mapping Departments, in conjunction with the Division of Wildlife, should map the critical wildlife habitats.
7. The Jefferson County Planning Department and Division of Wildlife should:
a. prepare and distribute guides for use by the public and developers to provide education on the needs of wildlife; and
b. explore offering incentives to those who accommodate wildlife needs in the planning of their projects.
8. Public and private interests should be encouraged to cooperate in the development and implementation of a wildlife management program, preferably supervised by the state Division of Wildlife.
9. Critical wildlife habitat which should be preserved in perpetuity should be identified and mapped by the State Division of Wildlife and then acquired through the use of fee-simple purchase, conservation easements, or some other techniques. See Open Space, Trails & Recreation for additional acquisition techniques.