jefferssn - center for collaborative conservation€¦ · staff liaison: andrew valdez, planner,...

JEFFERSSNCOUNTY COLORADO Open Space

JEFFERSON COUNTY OPEN SPACESMALL RESEARCH GRANTS PROGRAM

Jefferson County Open Space (Jeffco Open Space) would like to increase scientificinvestigations, inventories, and monitoring projects that will inform the management of JeffcoOpen Space lands. Important deadlines are listed below.

Date Deadline

November 10, 2017 2018 Call for Proposals

December 11, 2017 Deadline to contact the Program Coordinator

January 16, 2018 Proposals due

February 26, 2018 Award announcements

July 13, 2018 Mid project check-in deadline

October 31, 2018 Draft report due

November 29, 2018 Review comments provided to researcher

December 21, 2018 Final report due

Guidelines and Instructions for Researchers:

• Contact the Program Coordinator to discuss the feasibility of the project by December11, 2017.

• Grant proposals must be submitted via email by January 16, 2018. Email a PDF toOSSRgrantsffijeffco.us, with the email subject line as "Small Research Grants ProgramProposal." If your proposal is found to be missing any component, you will have 24hours to correct it.

• Applicants will be notified of the status of their proposals by February 26, 2018. Thecontracting process will then take several weeks.

• A draft of the report is due October 31, 2018. The report should be largely complete atthis point, needing only minor revisions for the final report submittal.

• Grant funded projects must be completed by December 21, 2018.• Funding will be available in amounts up to $10,000, with most projects funded in the

$1,000 to $5,000 range. Multi-year projects can receive guaranteed funding for up totwo years. Special projects with long-term benefits or schedules may receive fundinggreater than $10,000.

700 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden, Colorado 80401

JEFFERSSNCOUNTY COLORADO

Open Space

November 10, 2017

To: Potential Researchers

Re: Jefferson County Open Space Small Research Grants Program

Jefferson County Open Space (Jeffco Open Space) will offer Small Research Grants to individualsor groups to perform research or inventories on Jeffco Open Space lands. The goal of thisprogram is to fund research that will inform the management of natural, cultural, andrecreational resources.

Jeffco Open Space has budgeted $40,000 for small grants in 2018, with awards typically in the$1,000 to $5,000 range, although grants up to $10,000 may be awarded. All research must becompleted within the 2018 calendar year, unless otherwise approved. Multi-year projects canreceive guaranteed funding for up to two years.

Applicants may choose a topic suggested by Jeffco Open Space staff or propose an alternativetopic of their own interest if it has significance to resource management or visitor experienceissues. All projects must take place on Jeffco Open Space property. Investigators must provideJeffco Open Space with their results in the form of a scientific paper due Friday, December 21st,2018.

To apply for a research grant, applicants must first contact the Program Coordinator, HillaryKing, by December 11th, 2017 at 303-271-5924 or hking(5) jeffco. us to discuss the feasibility ofthe project.

Proposals are due to Jeffco Open Space by Tuesday, January 16th, 2018.

The following pages provide application details for the Small Research Grants Program includingdeadlines, requirements for the proposal, and a list of priority research topics.

Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this program. I look forward toreceiving your proposals.

Sincerely,

Hillary KingResearch and Grants Coordinator303-271-5924hking(5)ieffco.us


J E F F E R S O NCOUNTY COLORADO

Open Space

• All research conducted on Jeffco Open Space property requires a General Use Researchand Collections permit, available on the Jeffco Open Space website.

• Collection of specimens or artifacts and placement of objects or markers are strictlyregulated. Researchers are responsible for contacting the appropriate agency forspecific regulations regarding these activities. Researchers are also required to obtain alnecessary permits before initiating their project. All specimens and artifacts collectedare considered the property of Jefferson County.

• If this research is turned into a manuscript, Jeffco Open Space must be named in theacknowledgements.

• Researchers are responsible for knowing and adhering to all applicable policies and

regulations set forth by Jeffco Open Space.• Jeffco Open Space will only pay university overhead expenses up to 10%.• Researchers' names, institution, and research topic may be posted on the Jeffco Open

Space website. Final reports may also be posted at the discretion of Jeffco Open Space.• Proposals where no funds are requested will be accepted throughout the year with a

four- to six-week review period. This also includes class projects. For projects with asimple scope, review time may be reduced.

Proposals must include the following information:

Administrative Information

• The precise name of the entity that will be signing the grant contract, if awarded. (E.g.

your organization or institution.)• The names and titles of the persons signing for the entity.• Proof that this person has the authority to sign on behalf of their entity.

Section 1: Abstract, Objective, Hypothesis, and Anticipated Value

• Provide a one-paragraph summary (abstract) of the proposal that describes objectives,

general methods, and anticipated value to Jeffco Open Space.• Describe the overall objective to be addressed by the research.• State the hypothesis related to the objective.• State how the proposal will contribute to the needs of Jeffco Open Space.• Describe how the proposal relates to completed or ongoing studies concerning Jeffco

Open Space resources.• Describe the anticipated value of the proposal to further scientific knowledge and for

educating the public.Section 2: Methodology

• Literature review.• Explanation of sampling or survey methods.• Project requirements (including logistics), necessary permits, and levels of coordination

with Jeffco Open Space staff.


JEFFERS#NCOUNTY COLORADO

Open Space

Cliff Vegetation Assessment: Increased climbing pressure may be negatively impactingsensitive cliff vegetation communities in Clear Creek Canyon Park. We are interested ina survey of cliff vegetation in areas currently used for climbing, compared to similarareas that are not. Results will help the Natural Resources team develop a balancedapproach to recreation and resource protection in this Park.Staff Liaison: Irene Weber, Senior Plant Ecologist, iweber@ jeffco.us

Pollinator Diversity at "Island Parks": Jeffco Open Space Parks such as North TableMountain Park, South Table Mountain Park, Van Bibber Park, and Crown Hill Park serveas "islands" of habitat within a matrix of urban development. We are interested in theusage of such parks by native pollinators, to better understand the degree to whichthese parks serve as native pollinator refugia. We would also be interested incomparisons between low- and high-quality habitat within such parks (such ascomparisons between lower-diversity, heavily-invaded grasslands and high-qualitygrasslands at South Table Mountain Park). Results will inform the Natural Resourcesteam's efforts to conserve native pollinators, as well support efforts to enhance andrestore degraded grasslands with native forbs in addition to grasses.

Staff Liaison: Steve Murdock, Natural Resources Lead, smurdock@jeffco. us



2018 Priority Research Topics

If you have questions about a specific project, contact the Staff Liaison listed with the topic. Seethe attached map for Jeffco Open Space park locations.

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Visitor Counts: Review existing methods to obtain an accurate count of visitors and usetypes in open space parks. Provide recommendations for the best two methods toobtain this data. Implement these methods concurrently in one Jeffco Open Space parkfor a given period. Provide results and analysis of visitor use data, as well as anevaluation of tested methods.

Staff Liaison: Andrew Valdez, Planner, avaldez(5)jeffco. us

Recreation Preferences: Conduct a survey of visitor preferences and opinions regardingvarious recreation management scenarios including alternating use, designated use,directional trails, and permits to access certain areas. Summarize results and providerecommendations.

Staff Liaison: Eric Krause, Visitor Relations Coordinator, ekrause@ieffco. us

Economic Impacts of Open Space: Assess the economic impacts of Jeffco Open Spaceland on the local Jefferson County economy.

Staff Liaison: Shaun Howard, Park Ranger Lead, showard@jeffco. us

Raptor Habitat Suitability Analysis: Jeffco Open Space invests significant resourcesannually to monitor and protect cliff-nesting raptors. However, there are likely moreestablished territories than are being monitored by the Natural Resources team andvolunteers. Given the size and complexity of the landscape in Jefferson County, we areinterested in a habitat suitability analysis to identify suitable cliff habitat for goldeneagles and other priority raptor species. Results will allow the Natural Resources teamto strategically expand the raptor monitoring program to ensure wildlife conservationgoals are being met.

Staff Liaison: Chelsea Beebe, Senior Wildlife Ecologist, [email protected]

Cliff Habitat Use by Native Bats: While Jeffco Open Space is focusing mostly onconservation of nesting raptors in parks with cliff habitats, native bats are known toutilize cliff habitats for roosting. We are interested in a habitat suitability assessmentand/or bat survey in Clear Creek Canyon Park and potentially other Parks or propertieswith significant cliff habitat. Results will inform the Natural Resources team's wildlifeconservation efforts, as well as the Climbing Committee's approach to routeestablishment and management.

Staff Liaison: Chelsea Beebe, Senior Wildlife Ecologist, [email protected]


J E F F E R S S NCOUNTY COLORADO

Open Space

management recommendations based on the result of the research• Conclusion• Bibliography

Student reports should be reviewed by their faculty sponsor prior to the draft submittal. Finalreports may be published on the Jeffco Open Space Website, or in other materials produced byJeffco Open Space. An oral presentation of the research may be requested.

Disclaimer

• All successful proposals are required to abide by Jeffco Open Space rules and

regulations.• A Jeffco Open Space Staff Liaison will coordinate with each grant recipient.• Payment of grant funds prior to project completion will be determined on a case-by-

case basis. Final payment will not be made until the final report is received, reviewed,and accepted by Jeffco Open Space.

• All successful applicants must provide proof of insurance per the terms of the grant

agreement.• Jeffco Open Space employees are not eligible for grants directly related to their primary

job duties.



• Discussion of data analysis techniques.• Detailed project schedule.• Map or location of research activities.• Detailed description of any potential negative impacts to resources on Jeffco Open

Space property.Section 3: Budget

• If funding is requested, provide an itemized annual budget that includes fundingrequirements for salaries, equipment, travel, supplies, report preparation, andoverhead, if applicable. Note that university overhead is capped at 10%.

• Provide information about sources of cooperative funding or assistance-in-kind. Pleaseinclude appropriate supporting documentation.

Section 4: Qualifications of Researchers

• Provide a resume or curriculum vitae of the investigator(s). For student projects, attacha signed statement from a faculty advisor validating the nature of the proposal anddescribing the degree of faculty involvement and supervision. Faculty sponsors areresponsible for providing final reports to Jeffco Open Space should the student fail to doso. Future requests by students of a faculty advisor who has not provided requiredreports may not be processed.

To apply, please email a digital version of each proposal, in PDF format, toOSSRgrants(5)jeffco.us, with the email subject line as "Small Research Grants ProgramProposal."

Draft and Final Reports

A draft report must be emailed to OSSRgrants(5)ieffco.us in Microsoft Word format by October31st, 2018, with the email subject line as "Small Research Grants Program Draft Report." Thereport should be largely complete at this point, needing only minor revisions for the final reportsubmittal.

A final report must be completed and emailed to OSSRgrants(5)ieffco.us in PDF format byDecember 21st, 2018, with the email subject line as "Small Research Grants Program FinalReport."

The report should include the following information:

• Abstract• Introduction and statement of objectives and hypothesis• Methods• Results• Discussion, including a description of the value of the results to Jeffco Open Space and

7 0 0 J e f f e r s o n C o u n t y P a r k w a y, G o l d e n , C o l o r a d o 8 0 4 0 1 4

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