Plans, Reports and Advisory Boards
2025
2024
Quarterly Board Report Q1: January, February, March
Landscape-scale conservation project Completed in Livermore Valley
Larimer County’s Department of Natural Resources recently completed efforts to conserve three contiguous ranches totaling 4,856 acres in Livermore, Colorado. The ranches are being conserved in partnership with the landowners via conservation easements, to permanently protect their intact, diverse native ecosystems and a 4-mile iconic viewshed. For five generations, these ranches have been well stewarded for sustainable livestock grazing and hay operations, supported by senior water rights that are tied to the conservation easements. The ranches are located in Larimer County’s Livermore Priority Conservation Area where significant land conservation efforts have already been completed by federal, state, county, city, and land trust partners. Conservation of these three ranches creates a contiguous landscape connection between over 100,000 acres of existing conserved lands. Partners in funding the conservation easements included the City of Fort Collins, Great Outdoors Colorado, The Nature Conservancy, a private individual donor, Gates Family Foundation and the Friends of Larimer County Parks and Open Lands.
Red-tail Ridge Open Space grows
In late January, Larimer County closed on the purchase of a 196-acre addition to Red-tail Ridge Open Space, located on the Larimer-Boulder county line. Located within the Little Thompson River and Blue Mountain conservation priority areas, the addition protects the viewshed west of Berthoud, provides a buffer to existing conserved lands and boasts a mix of wildlife habitats. In addition to the county’s Help Preserve Open Spaces sales tax dollars, support came from the City of Loveland, the Town of Berthoud and a private individual donor.
County makes progress towards climate goals
LCDNR has recently made significant progress towards countywide climate goals established in 2022. One countywide goal is to reduce county facility greenhouse gas emissions by 62% by 2030. Our department has contributed to those goals by installing solar power at the following facilities:
• Aquatic Nuisance Species shelter at Satanka
Bay, on the north end of Horsetooth Reservoir
• Pavilion at Hermit Park Open Space (currently
underway)
• RV dump stations at select campgrounds
We have also installed highly efficient LED lights throughout South Bay of Horsetooth Reservoir, and we are helping meet the countywide goal of installing electric vehicle (EV) chargers, specifically four electric vehicle (EV) DC fast chargers and four level 2 EV chargers on county property by 2025. With the help of the facilities department, we installed a level 2 EV charger at our main Administrative Office near Flatiron Reservoir and another at the Horsetooth Area Information Center.
Meadow Hawkweed makes noxious weed list
A showy yellow perennial sunflower has found its way onto Larimer County’s noxious weed list. Meadow hawkweed (Hieracium caespitosum), an exotic plant species that is highly invasive in other parts of the U.S. was identified in the Estes Valley in 2022. This plant was most likely brought into Larimer County on heavy equipment during Highway 7 road work. To mitigate the environmental and economic risk this plant poses to Larimer County, the Board of County Commissioners has mandated that it be eradicated. Starting in 2025, landowners who do not voluntarily manage this noxious weed on their property will receive notices of enforcement, which if unabated could lead to county staff managing it and charging the landowner for the cost of removal. Meadow hawkweed is identifiable as a 1-3 foot tall perennial with hairy leaves at the base of the plant and a cluster of yellow flowers. Please report any possible sightings at Larimer.org/weeds or by calling the Larimer County Land Stewardship office at (970) 498-5768.
New era for our shorelines
The Department of Natural Resources has begun upgrading the boat docks at Carter Lake and Horsetooth reservoirs. Staff carefully removed the outdated structures to allow for recycling the aluminum materials. The proceeds from that recycling effort went back into the green infrastructure budget, helping to support future sustainability projects.
The new boat docks arrived in December, and over the winter staff assembled the new structures, ensuring the docks would be ready to welcome boaters for the 2025 season. The new docks are safer, more durable, and built with longevity and user experience in mind.
Another successful year for the marina slip lottery
The second successful year of the marina slip lottery finished in February with more than 400 entries from boat owners hoping to be randomly selected for a slip or mooring at Carter Lake or Horsetooth Reservoir.
LCDNR launched the annual lottery in 2024 to ensure an open process for rental reservation of slips and moorings. After a successful first year, the department conducted the same lottery by inviting boat owners to submit their names over two months. Staff then randomly selected finalists for the marinas to interview and vet. The process ensured a fair chance for all, with extra weight given to Larimer County residents. Approximately 60% of the finalists were Larimer County residents. This year, the marinas were able to offer 26 slips/moorings to the lottery.
Nature-based community projects benefit from DNR’s small grants program
Earlier this year, LCDNR announced $30,863 in grants to be given to nature-based community projects as part of the 2025 Small Grants for Community Partnering program. Eight remarkable organizations received grant money for initiatives that connect people with nature. These include the American Adventure Sports Club, Colorado Youth Outdoors, Estes Valley Recreation and Park Foundation, Hispanic Women’s Farming Project, Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, Fort Collins Montessori, Fossil Creek HOA, and Sproutin’ Up. Their impactful projects range from creating vibrant educational gardens in schools and community spaces to managing invasive species, developing engaging live programming for a special nature exhibit, and offering outdoor experiences for underrepresented youth.
Financials
Larimer County Department of Natural Resources has five primary revenue sources including Colorado Lottery proceeds, the Help Preserve Open Space Sales Tax, user fees on open spaces, user fees on reservoir parks, and the weed district property tax. Below are the Jan. 1 through March 31 revenue summaries and operating expenses as compared to the same period the previous year.
Open Spaces
Revenue
Help Preserve Open Space Tax
2024:
$791,604
2025:
$777,371
User Fees Revenue
2024: $362,399
2025: $293,110
Service Charges Revenue
2024: $73,845
2025:
Miscellaneous Revenue
2024: $3,000
2025: $152,000
Grants/Partnerships
2024: $7,146
2025: $2,150,000
Interest/Revenue
2024: $211,756
2025: $193,886
Total
2024: $1,449,750
2025: $3,630,911
150% increase
Expense
Personnel Expense
2024: $399,355
2025: $328,237
Operating Expense
2024: $213,728
2025: $142,586
Total
2024: $613,083
2025: $470,823
23% decrease
Countywide Indirects
2024: $53,830
2025: $43,998
18% decrease
Acquisitions
2024: $9,827
2025: $14,855,771
Conservation Trust - Lottery
2024: $264,859
2025: $246,439
7% decrease
Reservoir Parks
Revenue
User Fees Revenue
2024: $1,618,168
2025: $1,224,427
Service Charge Revenue
2024: $44,388
2025: $45,198
Grants/Partnerships
2024: -
2025: $2,548
General Fund
2024: $33,520
2025: $67,000
Miscellaneous Revenue
2024: $6,000
2025: $2,061
Total
2024: $1,702,077
2025: $1,341,234
21% decrease
Operating Expense
2024: $518,921
2025: $442,207
Total
2024: $1,505,057
2025: $1,561,195
4% increase
Countywide Indirects
2024: $131,028
2025: $128,324 -2%
Projects
2024: $43,044
2025: $2,379
County Weed District and Enterprise
Revenue
Property Taxes
2024: $448,485
2025: $461,984
Service Charges Revenue
2024: $1,016
2025: $11,438
General Fund
2024: $26,287
2025: $108,000
Miscellaneous Revenue
2024: -
2025: -
Total: $475,789 $581,422 22%
Significant Donation/Other Revenue
Sale of Mulberry Building:
2024: 516,386
2025: -
Expense
Personnel Expenses
2024: $121,413
2025: $124,162
Operating Expenses
2024: $39,629
2025: $48,34
Total:
2024: $161,041
2025: $172,503 7%
Countywide Indirects
2024: $5,855
2025: -
100% decrease
Chimney Hollow Open Space Adaptive Management Plan moves forward
After nearly a year-long public process, the adaptive management plan for Chimney Hollow Open Space is complete, and this plan will guide the initial capital development and ongoing management of this open space. Public access amenities will include parking and trailhead areas, a boat ramp, 10-12 miles of naturalsurface trail, and accessible day-use facilities. Construction starts in 2025 and continues through an anticipated grand opening date in 2027. Ongoing ecological improvement activities will consist of vegetation management, restoration, and ongoing monitoring. Together, these ecological practices and the addition of nature-based public access are intended to provide a quality outdoor experience for generations of visitors. The public process included input from community stakeholders, citizen advisory board members, and the general public. The resulting plan supports DNR’s objectives to maintain high natural resource values while providing appropriate public access. To read the finalized plan, please visit https://larimer.gov/naturalresources/plans-reports-advisory-boards.
On-time, under-budget capital projects improve visitor experience and much more
In 2024, the Department made large strides in creating safer experiences, visitor amenities, and financial sustainability through the completion of seven capital projects. These projects included building a new maintenance shop and installing a wastewater treatment system at Hermit Park Open Space; adding an Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) inspection building, an ANS decontamination station, and a flush toilet at Horsetooth Reservoir; installing shoreline protections for the Horsetooth Area Information Center; and upgrading four RV dump stations system-wide. These projects were all completed on time and under budget with high quality outcomes ensuring greater efficiencies and improvements for visitors.
Rate Your Day 2024: Results are in
The Department of Natural Resources is pleased to report that respondents to our 2024 Rate Your Day visitor satisfaction survey gave an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars (a “satisfied” rating). Key findings revealed: • 52% of total respondents gave a 5-star rating. • 79% of total respondents gave a “satisfied” or “very satisfied” rating (4 or 5-stars). • 87% of total respondents reported feeling safe and welcome. • 78% of total respondents provided comments about their visit. A total of 1,112 respondents participated in the survey facilitated through a QR code on posters, flyers, social media, and signage at trailheads, campgrounds, visitor centers and email. Launched in 2023, “Rate Your Day” is conducted to get a self-reported measure of visitor satisfaction and identify areas for continuous improvement. A third cycle of “Rate Your Day” will occur in 2025.
Text-2-Park pay system launches
Larimer County launched its new Text-2-Park parking payment system in late October and is progressively rolling out signage to all paid parking areas. This program offers visitors another option to purchase day passes for their vehicles via a unique QR or text code. Text2-Park purchases of passes will link to the visitor’s vehicle license plate, enabling staff to verify them in real-time using an enforcement application. The program complements Larimer County’s existing payment options, helping to decrease wait times at pay stations and fulfilling a crucial payment collection need when pay stations are down or gatehouses are closed. The initial implementation of the program cost Larimer County approximately $2,000 and has so far brought in over $15,000 in revenue.
A more sustainable RV dump station
This quarter, LCDNR staff were able to complete a programmatic shift in the way we provide RV dump services to the public. In the past, RV dump stations were free of charge and were being used by the general public, not just visitors to county open spaces and parks. We were able to partner with a company to deploy their latest technology to both automate and charge a fee for dump station use. Consequently, the new solar powered RV dump system and fee will help the Department ensure long-term financial sustainability with maintenance and replacement costs to continue to provide this service. In the first few weeks following installation, these units are working successfully and cost recovery has been right on target.
Hello to same-day camping reservations
To gain further efficiencies and aid the public in securing campsites year-round, Larimer County Natural Resources moved to a same-day camping reservation window. Previously, same-day reservations were only available during the off season, or winter months, when staffing reductions made paying for walk-in camping difficult. Campers wanting to camp during the peak season could make reservations up to one day in advance, but had to either visit one of the county buildings during open hours or fill out a temporary card and pay an invoice sent at a later time for day-of campsite availability. Campers can now use a QR code located at each individual campsite, or follow a link directly to the reservation page to reserve their campsite. This means more time to relax and enjoy all that Larimer County’s campgrounds have to offer.
A successful grant year brings in $2.7 million in critical funds
In 2024, the Department of Natural Resources secured six grants totaling $2.7 million, supporting land acquisition, capital construction, native wildlife habitat enhancement, and trail maintenance projects across the department. Grant funders include Great Outdoors Colorado, the Bureau of Reclamation, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and the Colorado Department of Agriculture. The grants provided critical funds to support the acquisition of Canyon Edge Open Space, parking area improvements at Horsetooth and Carter Lake reservoirs, the hiring of temporary trail management staff to address trail maintenance needs following severe rain events of 2023 and locating and monitoring List A and List B invasive weeds throughout the county.
Conservation easements play winning role in stewardship excellence
Conservation easements (CEs) are an invaluable tool in Larimer County Natural Resources efforts to conserve land and protect ecological, scenic, agricultural, and recreational values in Larimer County. By partnering with private landowners and agency partners to restrict development and promote these values, Larimer County has conserved over 21,000 acres in CEs that provide buffers to other protected lands. Since CEs protect land that is typically in private ownership, these ecological and community values can be protected at a relatively low ongoing cost to DNR when compared to land that the county owns in fee-title. Through a certification from the State of Colorado, DNR annually monitors and ensures that the conservation values on each of the over 50 easements we hold are maintained. In 2024, all CEs were monitored, and no new issues or violations were identified. Fortunately, this is a typical outcome from the monitoring season which is a testament to DNR’s partnership with dedicated landowners and a commitment to excellent stewardship.
Financial Summary
Larimer County Department of Natural Resources has five primary revenue sources including Colorado Lottery proceeds, the Help Preserve Open Space Sales Tax, user fees on open spaces, user fees on reservoir parks, and the weed district property tax. Below is the preliminary financial comparison* (2023 vs 2024), including revenue summaries and operating expenses.
Open Spaces
Revenue
Help Preserve Open Space Tax
2023:
$11,650,660
2024:
$10,653,033
User Fees Revenue
2023:
$1,597,697
2024:
$1,498,332
Service Charges Revenue
2023:
$166,938
2024:
$170,221
Miscellaneous Revenue
2023: $53,050
2024: $12,440
Grants/Partnerships
2023: $331,680
2024: $1,804,786
Interest Revenue
2023: $1,093,848
2024: $1,398,010
Total:
2023: $14,893,873
2024: $15,536,823
4% increase
Expense
Personnel Expenses
2023: $2,302,465
2024: 2,060,774
Operating Expenses
2023: $4,036,972
2024: $3,378,332
Total
2023: $6,339,437
2024: $5,439,107
-14% decrease
Countywide Indirects
2023: $7,935
2024: $227,427
Acquisitions/Projects
2023: $359,793
2024: $1,069,088
Land Stewardship Building
2023: $418,000
Conservation Trust - Lottery
Revenue Conservation Trust/Lottery
2023: $1,117,989
2024: $1,045,412
-6% change
Reservoir Parks
Revenue
User Fees Revenue
2023: $4,715,656
2024: $4,549,643
Service Charges Revenue
2023: $282,491
2024: $421,784
Grants/Partnerships
2023: $334,287
2024: $373,749
General Fund
2023: $198,146
2024: $134,081
Miscellaneous Revenue
2023: $64,671
2024: -
Total:
2023: $5,595,250
2024: $5,479,257
-2% decrease
Expense Personnel Expenses
2023: $5,350,889
2024: $5,614,021
Operating Expenses
2023: $146,644
2024: $35,885
Total
2023: $5,497,533
2024: $5,649,906
3% decrease
Countywide Indirects
2023: $247,468
2024: $621,496
151% increase
Projects
2023: $106,491
2024: $606,755
Other
2023: $154,000
County Weed District & Enterprise
Revenue Property Taxes
2023: $895,837
2024: $1,087,403
Service Charges Revenue
2023: $414,298
2024: $470,655
General Fund
2023: $111,795
2024: $105,149
Miscellaneous Revenue
2023: $163,939
2024: $225,585
Total
2023: $1,585,869
2024: $1,888,792
19% increase
Significant Donation/Other Revenue
2024: Sale of Mulberry Building - $516,474
Expense Personnel Expenses
2023: $678,041
2024: $697,790
Operating Expenses
2023: $813,804
2024: $797,749
Total
2023: $1,491,845
2024: $1,495,539
-0%
Countywide Indirects
2023: $34,386
2024: $39,422 15%
Capital Expenses Land Stewardship Building
2023: $1,631,980
Annual Reports
Master Plans
Stewardship and Management Plans
- Chimney Hollow Open Space
- Devil's Backbone Open Space
- Eagle's Nest Open Space
- Hermit Park Open Space
- Horsetooth Mountain Open Space
- Horsetooth Mountain Open Space - Adaptive Plan (2022)
- Little Thompson Farm Stewardship Plan
- Long View Farm Open Space
- Ramsay-Shockey Open Space
- Red Mountain Open Space
- Red-tail Ridge Open Space
- River Bluffs Management Plan
Other Plans, Reports, Studies
Our Lands Our Future: Recreation and Conservation Choices for Northern Colorado
Agricultural Lands
- Agricultural Lands Strategy (2021)
Devil's Backbone Visitor Use Study
- Executive Summary (2020)
Understanding Our Visitors: 2017-18 Larimer County Visitor Use Study
- Executive Summary (2019)
