L E G A C Y
Conservation Land Planning in the American West
LAND PLANNING IN THE AMERICAN WEST 01-04 UCROSS RANCH . WYOMING 05-24 CLEAR W RANCH . COLORADO 25-38 WILDHORSE RANCH . OREGON 39-56
Wildhorse Ranch
Ucross Ranch
Clear W Ranch
DHM DESIGN PROJECTS IN THE AMERICAN WEST NATIONAL PARK SERVICE WORK PRIVATE WORK SELECTED RANCHES
PREVIOUS WORK
DHM has a long history of working with the National Park Service throughout the country in an effort to preserve our Nation’s treasures. This care for the land and our natural and cultural history extends into the work we do with private owners of large tracts of land in the American West. These ranches, which often contain remnants of the original homesteads, continue to function as active ranching operations and are being preserved from development pressures with conservation easements or simply by family tradition. Frequently, inadequate management and land use practices over the last 100 years have resulted in the degradation of the land and necessitate significant efforts towards the reclamation of natural habitat. The following pages describe our work on three such parcels of land.
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Our work across the rural west provides us with an opportunity for collaboration, synthesis, and prosperity. We work to support and encourage vibrant economies, restore environmental health, and preserve our cultural heritage. The landscape of the American West has been drastically altered as a result of population growth, energy development and unsustainable land management practices which threaten the aesthetic, cultural and ecological integrity of an entire region. In developing and implementing sustainable land use management policies, DHM Design demonstrates progressive land stewardship and serves as a model for other public and private land holders. An in-depth and cohesive site analysis, knowledge of ecology, and an understanding of the varying and often conflicting land uses are only the first steps toward regenerative land management planning. Our greater role, as landscape architects, is to synthesize these individual layers of information and provide pragmatic solutions for implementation by land owners. This unified effort of consultants and land owners will foster a deeper connection to the land and contribute to the success of holistic and progressive land stewardship.
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Ucross Ranch
UCROSS RANCH . wyoming ASLA Colorado President’s Award of Excellence in Planning 2011 ASLA Colorado Land Stewardship Award 2011 The Ucross Ranch Master Plan addresses the connectivity between environmental systems, agricultural practices, and human interventions, consequently engaging people with the land and strengthening their dedication to its preservation. The Master Plan provides a comprehensive site analysis and proposes simple and impactful mitigation strategies for restoration of native habitat, preservation of valuable resources, and planning for a regenerative future. Master planning solutions allow for incremental implementation that is manageable both financially and operationally.
22,000 ACRES SITE INVENTORY + ANALYSIS
regenerative land management planning habitat and water systems restoration maintain and protect historic, cultural, and natural resources
MASTER PLANNING GOALS
foster creative exploration for artists, writers, and composers serve as a sustainable planning model for other public and private landholders create strategies to eliminate overgrazing mitigate negative impacts of aerial herbicide spraying restore degraded waterways mitigation strategies for coalbed methane extraction
PROJECT TEAM
Lake|Flato Architects Ellsperman Ecological Services Tad Savinar DHM Design
Located on the High Plains in northeastern Wyoming near the Bighorn Mountains, Ucross has been operating as a working cattle ranch since the late 1800’s. Nearly 35 square miles of sweeping native grassland, wetland ecosystems and shrubland steppe make up the ranch and provide habitat for an abundance of wildlife. Recognized by organizations such as the Nature Conservancy for its commitment to conservation and preservation, Ucross Ranch had begun to implement sustainable agricultural practices but soon realized that a more holistic land management policy was required.
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PROJECT BACKGROUND
A comprehensive site analysis which included interviews with residents, inventory of existing conditions, mapping of the site, and collaboration with environmental consultants brought into focus the variety of interconnected challenges facing the ranch. A combination of large and small scale strategies were identified to reverse damaging land use practices and to regenerate native ecosystems.
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SITE INVENTORY + ANALYSIS
UCROSS MASTER PLAN
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SITE INVENTORY + ANALYSIS
OVERGRAZING Livestock grazing along Piney and Clear creeks have trampled and consumed riparian vegetation, inhibiting its regeneration and consequently limiting shade and habitat. Additionally, water flows have accelerated, significantly increasing bank erosion. Creek health is complex and site specific. However, three simple restorative solutions were recommended: Limit grazing; install straw wattles on cut banks; and plant cottonwood saplings in flood zones to facilitate natural cottonwood seed distribution.
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SITE INVENTORY + ANALYSIS
AERIAL SPRAYING OF HERBICIDES
SITE INVENTORY + ANALYSIS
Aerial spraying to eradicate leafy spurge (an invasive weed poisonous to cattle) on adjacent properties has destroyed much of the native woody vegetation in the draws and gulches of Ucross Ranch. Alternative weed eradication methods will be undertaken to combat the spread of leafy spurge. Native species, including willows, cottonwoods, alders, and chokecherries will be grown at an on-site nursery and used for the revegetation of damaged areas. Restoring the natural ecology of the draws and gulches is an important priority for the long-term health of the land and will improve native habitat, restoring the natural diversity of plant and animal species that has eroded over the decades.
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In 1981, the Ucross Foundation was formed as a non-profit organization to protect historic resources and to establish a resident artist program on the property. Competitively selected artists stay at the ranch for up to 2 months, living in studios located in the historic core of the property. Uninterrupted time, ample space and access to the wild and expansive geography of the ranch fosters inspiration for the artists. The creative expression of their experiences at Ucross often communicates a renewed desire for preserving, enhancing, and understanding the natural world.
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CAMPUS CORE ANALYSIS Analysis of the campus core focused on opportunities and methods for sustainable expansion. The Ucross Foundation occupies a culturally historic landscape: the original Pratt and Ferris Cattle Company house, barn, garn (heating facility), and cottonwood-lined yard.
The site plan emphasizes the historic core with a low stone wall and locates new facilities between the core and the creek confluence. New facilities include artist studios (on stilts over the creek) and a new commons/bunkhouse (sodbuster style).
SITE SPECIFIC DESIGN
CAMPUS CORE MASTER PLAN
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NATURAL + CULTURAL LANDMARKS Interviews identified natural and cultural landmarks of special significance on the ranch. Because of the scale of the property, visitors often lose their way or encounter ranching operations as they travel across the landscape searching for these places.
A trail map was developed, identifying landmarks with routes and distances to and from the Ucross Campus Core. Well-marked pathways direct human activity, thereby limiting conflicts with ranching operations.
SITE SPECIFIC DESIGN
TRAILS MASTER PLAN
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PROJECT RESULTS
Through this master planning process we provided a clear and practical plan, based on restraint and thoughtful interaction, that balances livability with sustainability. This project will contribute to the advancement of a progressive land stewardship ethic that harmonizes environmental, social, and economic values and as such, can be used as a model for other projects in the west.
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Clear W Ranch
CLEAR W RANCH . colorado DHM developed a master plan for the ranch, which is comprised of approximately 550 acres of a historic homestead. Located in a secluded valley near Snowmass, the site has a variety of diverse ecosystems including pasture grasslands, mixed sagebrush, native grasslands, east and west facing oak brush, aspen forests, and wetlands. Portions of the site have been identified by the Colorado Department of Wildlife as primary elk production habitat within the Roaring Fork Valley. The master planning process aligned development goals with environmental concerns and initiated the restoration and expansion of wetland habitat that extends the length of the property.
550 ACRES SITE INVENTORY + ANALYSIS
diverse ecosystems elk migration and reproduction corridor wetland restoration and expansion
MASTER PLANNING GOALS
coexistence, preservation, enhancement new ranching facilities
PROJECT TEAM
POSS Architecture + Planning Ellsperman Ecological Services Structural Associates DHM Design
SITE OVERVIEW
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SITE INVENTORY + ANALYSIS
MASTER PLANNING Prior to any master planning efforts, the DHM team conducted a thorough analysis of the conservation values of the property. Using species occurrence data from the CDOW and physical observation of the site, we identified specific areas that currently suppor t abundant wildlife populations and found a unique combination of riparian corridors and steep slopes that provide superb elk production habitat. The subsequent master plan includes proposals for protecting areas of critical habitat for n at i ve s p e c i e s a n d t h e re s to rat i o n o f degraded wetlands. The protection of these environmentally sensitive areas created a framework for the design of the final master plan, which is predicated on the goals of coexistence, enhancement, and preservation of the natural character of the site . The plan includes 15 acres of wetland restoration and new ranch facilities.
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POND + WETLAND RESTORATION ZONE
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CONCEPTUAL RENDERING
WETLAND RESTORATION Wetland restoration is a complex process that requires planning, implementation, monitoring, and management. We collaborate closely with ecologists who study the project site and advise us regarding substrate conditions, hydrology, and plant material selection and handling, ensuring the long-term viability of our projects. Following a detailed analysis, we obtained US Army Corps. approvals for a Nationwide Permit to complete wetland restoration.
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WETLAND RESTORATION
PROJECT RESULTS
Our thorough analysis of the site created a clear understanding of the ranch’s unique character, and a deep appreciation for the special places abundant on this historic ranching homestead. This connection with the land resulted in a sensitively conceived and integrated master plan that accommodates the owner’s use of the property while respecting and protecting the natural and historic character of this quintessential Colorado Rocky Mountain landscape.
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Wildhorse Ranch
WILDHORSE RANCH . oregon ASLA Award of Honor, Analysis & Planning 2007 ASLA Oregon Award for Excellence 2008 Wildhorse Ranch is adjacent to the Steens Mountain Wilderness in southeastern Oregon, contained by descending ridges of Steens Mountain and the Alvord Desert, and bisected by Wildhorse Creek. The ranch represents a significant private ownership within the Great Basin Ranching territory and lies within the Pacific Flyway, thirty miles from the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. The ranch reveals generations of occupancy by ranchers, cattle, and wildlife. Under the current ownership, the ranch is evolving with renewed purpose to establish balanced land management solutions that are ecologically sustainable and culturally appropriate. The resulting ranch management program supports on-going ranching operations, prioritizes the restoration of native habitat, and integrates a building program informed by the cultural and natural landscape.
10,000 ACRES SITE INVENTORY + ANALYSIS
habitat and water systems restoration migration corridor
MASTER PLANNING GOALS
cultural preservation habitat restoration
PROJECT TEAM
ZGF Architects Ellsperman Ecological Services
Tad Savinar
DHM Design
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The current owner of Wildhorse Ranch developed a love for this land as a young man, walking its hills and valleys. His personal history with the region and appreciation for the land provided a central focus for our design and guided our interventions to assert the long-lasting environmental health of the land. The inventory and analysis phase of a project is frequently overlooked or rushed in search of solutions, but the ultimate success of this project lies in the patience afforded these efforts. In every case, the planning and design solutions for Wildhorse Ranch evolved from the combination of understanding good regional ranches (those which have withstood the test of time) and the specific knowledge derived from a thorough exploration of the land. A comprehensive analysis of the land provided insight into the intrinsic qualities of each place within the ranch property, past alterations, localized ecosystems, and opportunities for future use. Tours of large ranches in the region began to shed light on ways of planning and designing that were not only appropriate but of lasting quality.
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CULTURAL HISTORY + PRESERVATION
HABITAT RESTORATION Water is certainly precious in this semi-arid environment and an understanding of both current and historic water patterns allows for the restoration of lost riparian zones and development of more efficient irrigation in the agricultural zone. Ea rly settlers diverted water from Wildhorse Creek into manmade irrigation channels which caused once active stream braids to stop flowing. These historic braids remain evident in the landscape today, marked by sage covered channels and huge decaying cottonwood stumps. The ranch’s current manmade irrigation channels were not properly maintained and did not function well. Further analysis found that a more efficient irrigation system could be created by restoring the historic braided channels and establishing small reservoirs along their course. These water bodies create a logical uphill boundary for the agricultural activities while Wildhorse Creek, which bisects the property, serves as an obvious downhill boundary for the edge of this zone. The reintroduction of water into these channels provides an opportunity to not only restore but also to enhance the property’s riparian habitat.
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WATER SYSTEMS INVENTORY + ANALYSIS
This dramatic increase in habitat was a wish of the owners and is consistent with habitat that might have existed historically on the ranch. Given the migratory patterns of wildlife and waterfowl within the region, these improvements should encourage a variety of species that likely once lived on the ranch to return. We created cross-sections of six different water bodies, indicating the distinct characteristics and potential habitat of each. The cross-sections are a tool to guide restoration of these channels in both design and construction.
WATER SYSTEMS RESTORATION
Species occurrence data from GIS mapping provided an understanding of significant indicator species for this area and guided decisions with regard to habitat restoration. An analysis of the historic drainage channels exposed opportunities to develop a variety of distinct water bodies. Steep gradients (over 2%) typical of the northern half of the historic watercourses are optimal for fast moving streams; lesser gradients (less than 2%) are ideal for slow moving streams. Within these two zones, there exists a variety of opportunities for riparian habitat. Floodplains and sandbar deposits are ideal roosts for birds feeding on the water’s abundant insect life. Existing depressions provide natural locations for ponds of varying size, depth and bank conditions. Undercut banks, steep banks and gradual banks each create habitat for invertebrates, fish, and birds who feed on the insects that live in the sedges and rushes. The open water of a pond is an invitation to migrating waterfowl. Relatively level areas are optimal for development into meadow marsh, shallow marsh and deepwater marshes. Marsh habitat attracts small mammals, frogs, egrets, cranes, herons and other migratory birds. Mature and dead cottonwood trees in these areas provide roosts for raptors that depend on marsh habitat for hunting.
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Ranchlands in this semi-arid environment have been grazed for over 100 years; coupled with inefficient irrigation practices, the result has led to significant disturbance and degradation of the land. Wildhorse Ranch offered an opportunity to address grazing operations in a manner that would be more sustainable. With an understanding of holistic ranch management and an in-depth analysis of this property, we defined areas for agricultural use and areas for native habitat restoration. Active management of the livestock focuses grazing within the agricultural zone on those portions of the land most accepting of high intensity usage and protects more sensitive areas from erosion.
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LOCAL MATERIALS + METHODS
LOCAL MATERIALS
Regional architecture informed our design decisions and direction. New construction is traditional in form, tied directly to function, and grounded in a philosophy that structures should carefully occupy the landscape. Construction utilizes indigenous approaches to building, where materials, crafts and solutions are available. Local stone and local masonry construction techniques provide a durable, handsome and efficient means to continue a regional and sustainable architecture.
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MASTER PLAN The master plan considered the building program and vehicular circulation in a holistic and integrated manner. The design for the ranch focused on three considerations: 1) how it would be integrated within this special landscape; 2) how it would be experienced; and 3) how it would be occupied. A series of studies were explored in an effort to achieve a natural settlement, both in program allocation and site distribution. Existing and potential building locations were evaluated in combination with an understanding of cultural building patterns in the Great Basin. A working ranch requires a barn and a variety of out buildings along with access to each of the building sites; the family requires living quarters; and all must be evaluated within the context of the landscape.
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We are committed to a holistic approach that highly values the region’s environmental health and cultural heritage, and aspires to a sustainable future for the American West. For each of these projects we are grateful to have been part of a team of experts and led by visionary landowners. The results of our efforts are directly attributable to the owners’ commitment to the land and the vast knowledge and collaboration of each of our team members.
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