Open space sets aside river access

By Cherry Sokoloski
Fossil Creek Current

A recent tour of the River Bluffs Open Space west of Windsor gave several people a glimpse of good times to come. The 160-acre parcel, which Larimer County recently purchased from Fort Collins, is a peaceful retreat from city life. For nature lovers this is entertainment, with songs of meadowlarks and red-winged blackbirds providing a soundtrack and the Cache la Poudre River, running high with spring snowmelt, supplying the action.

The open space won't be open to the public for a few years, but the county's parks and open lands department gives occasional tours of the property. The department also plans to hold public meetings to discuss management plans for the new acquisition.

One thing is sure, according to Ann Montoya, education coordinator for parks and open lands: River Bluffs will provide an important piece of the Poudre River Trail as it meanders from Greeley to Fort Collins.

River Bluffs, formerly called the Jacoby Open Space, was originally purchased by Fort Collins for use as a regional sewer treatment plant. Larimer County bought the property in 2004 for $1.9 million, using a GOCO grant and proceeds from the Help Preserve Open Space tax. The land is bordered on the south by the Frank State Wildlife Area.

The river corridor, with its cottonwoods, willows, mountain mahogany and rabbitbrush, provides habitat for a variety of birds, fish and amphibians as well as mule deer, rattlesnakes, foxes and coyotes.

Those wanting information about future tours and public meetings may call Montoya at 679-4561.