From High Plains View 4/3/08

Proposed Off Highway Vehicle Park at Corral Bluffs threatens ancient ruins

Chief Curator says site is one of the top 25 in the world

By Toni Gibbons

For some it was about rocks, trees, grass and motor bikes; for others it was about an area so vastly unique that it contains one of the three best exposures in the Cretaceous-Tertiary (K-T) boundary in the Denver Basin and one of the top 25 in the world according to Kirk Johnson, Ph.D., Chief Curator and Vice President of Research and Collections at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. The K-T boundary is famous because it coincides with the extinction of the dinosaur.  In spite of this, on April 1, the El Paso County Parks Department had the first in a series of planning meetings for the proposed Off-Highway Vehicle Park that would encompass approximately 800 acres of this land simply known to the locals as Corral Bluffs. 

The Bluffs located west of Ellicott off U.S. Highway 94 have been the center of an ongoing controversy since the county was approached by the Aztec Family Raceway with a proposal to enlarge their business.  Corral Bluffs is adjacent to Aztec, owned by the Case family and ready for sale.

Those who attended the meeting had the opportunity to visit four discussion groups on:  flora, fauna, cultural resources and noise abatement.  Amber Jack led the discussion on cultural resources assisted by Dr. David Hill, who has been assigned the task to gather the information regarding the cultural resources of the area.  Midway through the discussion, Jerry Haile, Director of Environmental Services Department challenged Dr. Johnson regarding the primary work he done on the bluffs.  During the ensuing conversation, Johnson said, “You will destroy the paleontological resource if you put a trail system in.” Johnson went on to describe in detail the basic prehistoric value of the bluffs, which can be viewed at www.highplainsview.com.

Haile said that while respected Dr. Johnson’s opinion and thoughts on the matter, “we are in the very early stages of this planning process.  It doesn’t make sense to spend thousands of dollars on paleontological study if the park doesn’t go through.

“The Bluffs are a site of extreme importance,” said Dr. Johnson, while acknowledging that it is not well documented due to the land being privately owned.

Jack noted that she and Dr. Hill had covered approximately 75 percent of the area and most of that on foot.  When asked what his general overview of Corral Bluffs was, Dr. Hill said, “Rocks, trees, grass.  What do want me to say?  Some of it is flat, some of it is not flat.  Some of it is up and down.”

One resident noted that there is not much in the County that supports single track motor bike use.  “Most trails accommodate horse and hikers as well as motor bikes.  This would give us our own trail without having to worry about offending other trail users. We are all just trying to get out and enjoy the outdoors as responsible motor bike owners.”

Another resident acknowledged that while there are “a lot of responsible drivers, there are those who are even opposed to hiking in this area because of its fragile nature.”

“I am disappointed that the Parks department is only allowing three months to study this area,” said yet another resident.  “Because it does not allow for an understanding of the seasonal changes, the plant life, the animals; we are not getting a thorough snap shot.”

Still others addressed issues on:

·     “the bad apples” who don’t adhere to the trail;

·     the long term future of the park as more development encroaches the area;

·     the noise and dust created by the riders;

·     disturbance of the wildlife:

·     plant identification; and

·     use of unbiased resources outside the county, like the Colorado Natural Areas program and the Colorado Heritage program.

According to the savecorralbluffs.com website, “The choice of Corral Bluffs as the site has been justified by a broad generalization that this area is already a wasteland because of the existing dirt bike park, Waste Management landfill, salvage yards and a shooting range near U.S. Highway 94.” But for those who live within shadows of the Bluffs that can rise nearly 400 feet into the air, it is a place worth preserving, it is piece of human history that can never be lost.

Since 1910 geologists and paleontologists have searched and studied the area.  As privately owned land, it has not always been easy to encompass extensive studies but in 2000, The Denver Museum of Nature and Science (DMNS) excavated a nearly complete skull of an unnamed crocodile and they believe the potential for discovering more dinosaur bones is high. An extremely rare fossil bird feather and highly unusual salamander footprints have been found. Corral Bluffs is the best site in Colorado and one of the top 20 sites in the world for mammals from the first one million years of the age of mammals.

While the roar of the dinosaurs fades from the cliffs with extreme passage of time, it is tough for the cowboys and lovers of western history to let go of an important piece of our eastern plains history.  From 1867 to 1890 an estimated 10 million cattle were moved from Texas to Denver on the Goodnight-Loving Trail. These same cattle were routinely corralled for a night in the naturally forming walls of Corral Bluffs, hence the name.

It is estimated that more than 500 residents live within earshot of the proposed park, and those who live next door found out about the matter through articles published in the newspapers.  The county did not notify the affected residents of the proposal.  Norman Bishop, owner of the 200 plus acres surrounded by the proposed park, said the article in the newspaper came as quite a shock.

In spite of letters, editorials and articles from prominent groups like the Pikes Peak Sierra Club and the Open Spaces and Trails organization decrying the creation of the OHV park, Tim Wolken, Director of the El Paso County Parks, said the committee was moving forward on hiring an outside consultant to help plan out the proposed 20 miles of 18 to 24 inch wide motorcycle trail. “We will have six to eight master planning meetings in which we will determine the sensitive natural resource areas,” said Wolken.  “We are hoping to hire a national consultant for the Off Highway Vehicle trail design and are hoping to have a public meeting on site in May.”

Before Wolken broke up the meeting into the four group sessions, he encouraged the attendees to listen first and reserve judgment.  “Keep an open mind.  We can have a good spirited discussion because we all want what is best for the community.”

It is estimated by some groups that in five to 10 years this OHV park will be closed due to the development of the area, and when the dust settles and the roar of bikes fade, what will we tell the world about the lost pieces history that we failed to preserve.  When asked about this, Dr. Hill said, “We cannot tell what will happen in the future.”

Jack noted that she and Hill were there “to find out the facts.  We are conducting an unbiased, professional comprehensive study.  The results are the results.”  When asked what her job was, Jack said she assisted Dr. Hill through “typing reports and carrying the GPS.”

As one resident said, “A lot of us believe this is a special place.  There is even a belief that an old buffalo run exists within the area, possibly more than one.” 

If plans of the Parks Department succeed aided by the efforts of El Paso County Commissioner Jim Bensberg and Aztec, the future generations of the world might never have a chance to discover this piece of their heritage, a piece that is priceless and piece that might be gone in less than a year.

The next two planning meetings are scheduled for April 15 and 19 with the place and time to be determined.

Wolken said he welcomed comments and questions from the community and anyone is welcome to call or email him at:  (719)520-6981 or timwolken@elpasoco.com.