Trappers Point homeowner wins stewardship award

A resident of Trappers Point subdivision east of Interstate 25 is one of three to receive an environmental stewardship award from Larimer County this year.

The recipient, Bob Streeter, was instrumental in building an artificial nest for ospreys that was featured in the January 2005 issue of the North Forty News. As wildlife commons committee chair of the Trappers Point Homeowners' Association, Streeter has headed up conservation activities on the association's eight-acre open space. Streeter is a retired assistant director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Through the association, he led efforts to transform a parcel of reverted farmland covered with weeds to a seasonal wetland surrounded by a mosaic of native grasses, wildflowers and shrubs. The revegetation plan was designed to attract breeding and migrating birds to a semblance of native prairie no longer present in the surrounding farmlands and developments. Management of the area will be an ongoing homeowners' association responsibility.

Streeter conceived the initial concept for the restoration project, developed the plans, obtained support of the homeowners and coordinated the work. The project involved coordination with the Larimer County Open Lands Department, the Colorado Division of Wildlife, Ducks Unlimited, Western Area Power Authority, the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service, and neighboring farmers and landowners.

Those who made the stewardship award said this conservation project is an example for individual landowners, especially those in other rural residential developments that own and manage private open space. The community receives benefits ranging from water quality improvement to wildlife enhancement.

Larimer County Commissioners initiated the environmental stewardship awards in 1995.

Other honorees this year are the Environmental Club at Rocky Mountain High School and sponsor Dave Swartz and the town of Estes Park and its Knolls-Willows conservation project.