County backs Taylor‑Kennedy acquisition ask to NOCO; commissioners push for regional human‑waste study

Clear Creek County commissioners on July 15 told staff to ask NOCO Places — a Colorado Parks and Wildlife regional partnership — to include Taylor‑Kennedy property acquisition for preservation and to pursue study funding to address human waste and trailhead management in the watershed.

Commissioner Jody (last name on record) and county staff described NOCO Places’ new CPW funding round: CPW has about $10 million available, and regional partnerships are assembling multi‑county applications. The county’s early list includes land acquisition, trails planning and watershed‑scale projects. "NOCO is going to apply… it's kind of an environmental land management type group," the commissioner said.

County staff and the Open Space Commission recommended focusing the county’s NOCO request on acquisition of the historic Taylor‑Kennedy parcel near Silver Plume and on complementary proposals that would fund a human‑waste impact study, trailhead improvements and trail maintenance work. That mix was pitched as a package that could be more competitive than a single‑line application.

"Our vision right now… is between the Taylor‑Kennedy property acquisition and Silver Plume Mountain Park completion and then, a human waste impact study, some trailhead maintenance, signage," the commissioner said, outlining how the projects could be joined into 1 application. She added that NOCO prefers multi‑jurisdictional partnerships and that the county may seek to partner with neighboring counties to strengthen competitiveness.

Commissioners discussed risks: some expressed concern that adding a formal trail could overwhelm a small mountain community without a management plan. County staff said acquisition is likely to be favored by CPW because of the property’s wildlife and watershed values, and that the human‑waste study is intended to identify cost‑effective management strategies (restrooms, education, signage and volunteer or paid ambassadors) before any major trail construction.

The board voted to approve a priority letter for NOCO reflecting that direction; staff will finalize the application details and refine the funding request before NOCO’s August deadline.

Ending: Staff will circulate the draft NOCO application and the county priority letter to commissioners for review; county leaders said they expect to continue refining the project scope, partnerships and funding targets ahead of the regional grant submission.