• Client: City of Manitou Springs, El Paso County
• Date: Mar 2016
• Info: The City of Manitou Springs retained Blue Mountain Environmental Consulting (BMEC) to assist in the development of the Black Canyon Road Land Stewardship Plan. The plan is a working document that establishes open space goals, existing conditions, and recommendations for short- and long-term management and monitoring.

Black Canyon Road Open Space is adjacent to Manitou Springs and allows public access for passive recreation. The property serves as part of the mountain backdrop and as an aesthetic resource for Manitou Springs. It offers seclusion and an outstanding view of Pikes Peak and the surrounding mountain range.

The 33-acre property supports recreation, education, natural habitat, open space and historical conservation values of the local area. As part of they City of Manitou Springs Open Space Program, a trail will be developed on the property. This will be available to the general public thereby supporting recreation, education and open space conservation values.

Blue Mountain Environmental Consulting visited the site to document baseline conditions for the conservation easement baseline report. Blue Mountain also participated in two Open Space Advisory Committee meetings to discuss project needs and priorities. A final Black Canyon Open Space Land Stewardship Plan was completed in February of 2017. It includes goals and objectives related to open space, recreational use, trail safety, wildfire hazard, transient populations and signage.