Balancing Agricultural Heritage, Land Stewardship, and Future Public Access

Arapahoe County’s Bijou Basin Open Space represents an opportunity to protect Colorado’s prairie landscape, preserve its agricultural heritage, and create new outdoor recreation opportunities. Located approximately five miles south of Byers, Colorado, along West Bijou Creek, this expansive property features native shortgrass prairie, winding creek corridors, diverse wildlife habitat, and a landscape shaped by generations of agricultural use.

As the County plans for the property's future as a public open space park, maintaining the viability of its working agricultural operations remains an important part of the vision. AGPROfessionals contributed its agricultural expertise to help make that vision possible, supporting an evaluation and making recommendations for the Agricultural Management Plan (AMP) incorporated into the Bijou Basin Open Space Master Plan.

Approved by the Arapahoe County Open Space & Trails Advisory Board and the Board of County Commissioners in 2025, the Master Plan establishes a framework to balance conservation, passive recreation, and continued agricultural use.

Bringing Agricultural Expertise to the Planning Process

AGPROfessionals’ Agronomists played a key role in evaluating existing conditions and identifying practical management strategies to support the property's long-term agricultural potential.

Developing the Agricultural Management Plan required a comprehensive review of the land, its resources, and its current operations. The team gathered field data, reviewed previous range management reports, and conducted on-site assessments and inventories to better understand the property's current conditions and management needs.

Their evaluations covered a range of factors, including:

• Rangeland and forage conditions: Assessing vegetation communities, forage availability, and existing grazing practices to inform future pasture management.
• Weeds and invasive plants: Identifying infestations and evaluating conditions that could affect pasture health and productivity.
• Wildlife and natural resources: Considering wildlife use, foraging needs, wetlands, and the relationship between agricultural activities and the surrounding ecosystem.
• Infrastructure and water resources: Evaluating existing infrastructure, wells, and water lines to help identify future management and improvement needs.

The team also prepared maps and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) databases to support planning and decision-making. Together, these efforts provided a clearer picture of the property's agricultural resources, existing conditions, and opportunities for improved management.

Turning Field Assessments into Practical Recommendations

Beyond documenting existing conditions, AGPROfessionals developed recommendations to help guide future grazing and farming activities.

The Agricultural Management Plan provides guidance for grazing and farming operations across 1,288 acres of the 2,854-acre Bijou Basin Open Space. It also evaluates the viability of continued farming on approximately 1,515 acres, including 548 acres identified as available for cultivation.

Recommendations address pasture enhancement, future infrastructure and amenities, Animal Unit Months (AUM) guidelines, and best management practices for grazing and farming. These considerations are intended to help the County and its agricultural lessees make informed decisions about livestock management, land productivity, and the property's ongoing agricultural use.

Evaluating the potential for crop production required additional analysis. AGPROfessionals’ Agronomists conducted soil profiling and chemical analyses in Unit Four and evaluated potential crop yields and higher-value crop options. The team also examined lease types and potential revenue to help identify opportunities for productive, economically viable agricultural use.

This combination of field-based assessments, technical analysis, and practical recommendations gives the County a stronger foundation for managing its agricultural resources as the property evolves.

Supporting a Vision for Conservation and Recreation

Bijou Basin's future park experience will emphasize quiet recreation, wildlife viewing, and opportunities to learn about the area's natural resources and ranching heritage. Planned amenities include approximately seven miles of natural-surface trails arranged in four loops, horse-trailer parking, picnic areas, scenic viewing locations, and educational signage.

To protect wildlife, maintain a quiet recreation experience, and accommodate continued cattle grazing, bicycles and dogs will not be permitted. The property is intended to offer visitors a backcountry-style experience while retaining its agricultural character.

Agricultural management planning is an important part of making that balance work. By evaluating existing resources and recommending strategies for future grazing and farming, AGPROfessionals helped establish a foundation for continued agricultural operations alongside the County's conservation and recreation goals.

Land-use approvals and design work began in 2026, with construction expected to begin in 2027 and public access potentially opening as early as 2028.

A Foundation for Long-Term Land Stewardship

Bijou Basin is part of a broader landscape of conserved lands, with more than 12,000 acres of surrounding protected properties. Approximately half of the property is also protected by two conservation easements held by the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust.

As Arapahoe County moves forward with its plans, the Agricultural Management Plan will help guide decisions affecting the land's productivity, infrastructure, and ongoing agricultural use.

AGPROfessionals is proud to contribute its agronomic expertise to projects that support responsible land management and the future of agriculture. At Bijou Basin, that work connects today's agricultural practices with tomorrow's conservation and recreation opportunities—protecting the landscape's character while supporting its continued use as a working property.

Learn more: Visit Arapahoe County's Bijou Basin Open Space project page for additional information about the Master Plan and the property's future development HERE